Washington, D.C.: Oyamel

Posted: August 28, 2015 in Uncategorized
Tags: , , , ,
0

Oyamel showed up on two sources that I generally trust when it comes to food and beverage: Anthony Bourdain’s D.C. list and Thrillist’s List of Best Bloody Marys in D.C.

When I happened to walk right by this restaurant, I thought it was a sign.

I sat at the bar and asked the bartender if they had their famous bloody marys. “Yeah, we make a good one,” she replied.

So shame on me for assuming the one she would make would be the same one that was written up…

According to Thrillist, “The Bloody at Oyamel proves something can be gross AND good. That’s because it’s rimmed with “sal de gusano”. For gringos, that means worm salt. The worms that inhabit the agave plant are dried and then ground down with chilies and sea salt. The wormy rim is your gateway to sips of a Bloody made with your pick of mezcal, tequila, or vodka, plus house-made tomato juice, lime juice, and guajillo chili. It’s garnished with cilantro and marigold.”

This place made Bourdain’s list simply on mezcal selection…

Anyway, here’s what I got:

Oyamel

 

Mix: Housemade, somewhat spicy

Chaser: None offered

Fixin’s: Cucumber

Price: $10

 

I have no idea if this bloody was rimmed with the “sal de gusano,” or not and the bartender just used vodka without asking if I had a preference, so I didn’t get to try that famous mezcal. It also was not garnished with cilantro and marigold.

Overall, this bloody mary was decent and I guess it was my fault for not inquiring further or specifying, but had I known, I would have probably tried the sangria or margarita to go with my food, which for the record, was fantastic.

The made-to-order guacamole was heavenly and melted right into the still-warm fresh-baked tortilla chips. I must admit I devoured way too much and could barely eat my meal, which was also top-notch.

Definitely a cool place to check out, but maybe skip the bloody to make more room for guac.

 

Washington, D.C.: Logan Tavern

Posted: August 27, 2015 in Uncategorized
Tags: , , , , , ,
0

When researching Bloody Marys in Washington, D.C., we came across several sites that recommended Logan Tavern.

The reason Logan Tavern’s Bloody Mary was voted “Best Bloody Mary in DC” by Washingtonian Magazine readers is because of their Ultimate Bloody Mary Menu, which is served on Saturdays, Sundays and Holiday Brunch.

We had a fun time plotting out our beverage using their menu:

Logan Tavern (1)

Here’s what we settled on for our creation…

Mix: Housemade. We chose infused cucumber vodka with horseradish, on the spicy side.

Chaser: None offered

Fixin’s: Olive, Cucumber, Green Beans

Price: $13 (which includes additional charges for bacon & shrimp)

Logan Tavern (2)

With a menu like this, if you don’t like your drink, quite frankly, the only person you have to blame is yourself. However, we were quite pleased with the Bloody we had made, considering ourselves somewhat experts in the field.

The difference between Logan Tavern and a Build-Your-Own-Bar, is that you choose options from the various categories and then they construct it for you. It’s the lazy-man’s build your own bloody and it’s better because there is a little bit of restraint built in (no I don’t really need 5 pieces of bacon in my glass…).

Definitely the best Bloody Mary we had in DC and we highly recommend you check it out! Tell us about your own creations in the comments below.

Washington, D.C.: Old Ebbitt Grill

Posted: August 27, 2015 in Uncategorized
Tags: , , , , ,
0

 

On a recent trip to Washington, D.C., we stopped at the historic Old Ebbitt Grill. 

Founded in 1856, this is known as Washington’s oldest saloon, frequented by many a president, such as McKinley, Grant, Johnson, Cleveland, Theodore Roosevelt and Harding.

The restaurant is also famous for its raw bar, so you have to order the Bloody Maryland.

Old Ebbitt Grill (2)

Mix: Housemade with Absolut Peppar

Chaser: None offered

Fixin’s: Celery, Olives, Lemon, a Jumbo Shrimp and rimmed with Old Bay Seasoning

Price: $13

Old Ebbitt Grill (1)

We started talking to our bartender at Old Ebbitt Grill and, once he realized we were from the Midwest, he told us that the Bloody Marys there were good; however, we might be disappointed if we were expecting your typical Midwest feast in a glass. We told him we were experienced travelers and knew that all Bloodies were not created equal. Still, “You’re not getting one of those beer backs here,” he reiterated.

And that was just fine with us because our Bloody Maryland stood on its own. It was very flavorful, with hints of horseradish, lemon and Old Bay… and it made the perfect beverage with which to wash down the oysters we ordered at happy hour.

This is definitely a DC tradition, so you’ll want to add this to your list when visiting the nation’s capital.

Kohler, Wisconsin: PGA Championship Bloody Mary

Posted: August 13, 2015 in Uncategorized
Tags: , , , ,
0

 

 

The world’s most elite golfers have made their way to Kohler, Wisconsin for the 2015 PGA Championship at Whistling Straits.

We were fortunate enough to attend a practice round this week where we watched this talented field while basking in the sun…with a bloody mary in hand.
PGA Championship Bloody Mary

When you attend events like these, you can expect to shell out some cash for food and beverages while captive on the course. Thus, $11 for a standard bloody mary was no shock to me.

MIX: Unsure, but the bartender in the Wanamaker Club made it spicy to my specification

CHASER: None offered

FIXIN’S: Lime and two olives

PRICE: $11

We enjoyed being able to sip on a bloody mary while out on the links. The last bloody mary we had at a golf tournament was at the Ryder Cup in 2012. This one was certainly “on par” with the “Best Bloody Mary at Medinah.”

Leroy’s Meats of Horicon: Bloody Mary Beef Jerky!

Posted: August 10, 2015 in Uncategorized
Tags: , , , , , ,
0

There is an amazing hidden gem of a meat market that’s just about 45 minutes northwest of Milwaukee: Leroy’s Meats of Horicon.

We stumbled upon it by accident, from playing golf at a nearby course, and we make at least one pilgrimage there per year.

One thing we love? Their Bloody Mary flavored offerings!

In the past we’ve had their Bloody Mary Brats (spicy!) and on our most recent visit, we found this:

Bloody Mary Beef Jerky

Yes, Bloody Mary Beef Jerky! Leroy’s has done a fabulous job of capturing the essence of a good bloody mary in dehydrated meat form. Warning: It’s spicy!

The only thing we haven’t done yet is tried it in a bloody mary, but it’s so good we might not get that far before we run out!

Milwaukee, WI: Rock Bottom Brewery

Posted: August 10, 2015 in Uncategorized
Tags: , ,
0

We recently visited Rock Bottom Brewery in downtown Milwaukee.

Although obviously known for their beer, we had to try their Bloody Mary.

Rock Bottom Brewery Bloody Mary

MIX: Housemande

CHASER: Their pale ale

FIXIN’S: Lime, olive and celery

PRICE: $9

This bloody mary had a nice overall flavor, but was pretty average by our standards. Not something we’d seek out for a brunch, but something we’d enjoy again while dining here.

Hollywood, CA: Hungry Cat

Posted: July 15, 2015 in Uncategorized
Tags: , , , ,
0

Also in Hollywood, we checked out a place called Hungry Cat on another recommendation by the Drunken Tomato.

Hungry Cat has three California locations and specializes in seafood and raw bar.

 

 

Hungry Cat (1)

 

That’s why it’s only natural that you can choose to add an oyster to your bloody mary:

Hungry Cat (5)

Mix: Homemade

Chaser: Yes

Fixin’s: Lemon, Lime, Carrot, Celery, Oyster and ??

Price: $15 for “Matchbox,” plus $3 for the oyster

Usually, we agree with Drunken Tomato on what constitutes a good bloody, so I’m going to say that maybe I just had a bad shake… As you can see by the photo, this Bloody Mary was almost translucent, so it was quite strong. Maybe not a good vodka-mix ratio.

We also still aren’t sure what the pink item in our drink was. It looked like ginger, but was rock hard… and we couldn’t place the taste.

The oyster was good, but it wasn’t served in a shell.

Finally, at $18, this was the steepest price we paid for a bloody.

We’d give Hungry Cat another shot for dinner, but think we’ll skip the bloody mary next time.

 

 

Hollywood, CA: The Belmont Cafe

Posted: July 15, 2015 in Uncategorized
Tags: , , , , , ,
0

 

On our trip to Los Angeles, we visited The Belmont Cafe in Hollywood for brunch on a Saturday morning.

We found it to be uncrowded and scored a primo spot on the patio.

On weekends, Belmont has a build your own bloody mary bar, which we naturally had to check out.

The Belmont (3)

Mix: Choose from the Belmont’s own mix, Clamato, or tomato juice

Chaser: None offered

Fixin’s: So many hot sauces to choose from! In addition, lots of olive varieties, celery, pickles, homemade bacon bits, beans and more. (This is California though, so no cheese chunks or beefsticks or fried somethings to be found!)

The Belmont (4)

Price: $12

Here’s the masterpiece we created:

The Belmont (7) The Belmont (6)

We adored the Belmont Cafe. In addition to the obvious perks of the Bloody Mary bar, their brunch was top-notch. We had the Avocado Breakfast Toast, which was very California and simply amazing:

The Belmont (1)Definitely a great spot to check out when you’re in town!

 

Pasadena, CA: Congregation Ale House

Posted: July 15, 2015 in Uncategorized
Tags: , , ,
0

In Pasadena, California, we stopped at Congregation Ale House on a recommendation by the Drunken Tomato.

There are three locations around Los Angeles for this church-themed restaurant and with all of their beers on tap, I can see why it’s so successful.

However, we weren’t here for the beer, we wer here for the bloody mary.

 

Congregation Ale House (1)

Mix: Homemade

Chaser: None offered

Fixin’s: Olive, lime

Price: $6

 

 

This mix was by far the best we tasted in Los Angeles. Very fresh, with the right amount of spice and a pleasant consistency. And at $6, you just can’t beat the price in LA! Their chalkboard touted a “Bloody Mary for 2” for just $10 on Sundays, which is also a great deal.

We also dined here on this occasion. There is no table service. You have to order at the counter. They have a limited menu of burgers/sandwiches and a wide array of dipping sauces to accompany their fries, wings, etc. In addition to loving our bloody mary, we also enjoyed our Grilled RibEye Burger with fries (and curry ketchup!) very much.

If you’re in the LA area, check out the “chapter” near you!

Los Angeles, CA: Little Dom’s

Posted: July 15, 2015 in Uncategorized
Tags: , , , , , ,
0

Travels recently took us to Los Angeles, California.

On our first night, we visited the Griffith Observatory where we enjoyed a gorgeous view of the city. Just down the hill, we stumbled upon Little Dom’s, in what is known as Los Feliz.

Little Dom's (2)

We loved everything about Little Dom’s…. except the bloody mary. Now we like spice, but unfortunately, this bloody mary was too spicy even for us.

Mix: Unsure

Chaser: None offered

Fixin’s: Olive, okra, lemon

Price: $10

If you’re ever in the area, you should absolutely visit Little Dom’s. The vibe here is awesome… very neighborhood/home-y, but also hipster/trendy, if that’s even possible.  Rumor has it that celebrities dine here often. There’s a plaque on a booth for Jon Hamm and his girlfriend, Jennifer Westfeldt and the night we were in there, we ran into a member of 90s band Spacehog.IMG_4804

 

They have a limited menu, but very delicious items–we can vouch for the pizza! Their bartenders are very friendly (shoutout to John and Vince!) and on a slower night, they might even buy you a drink. For the record, their Moscow Mule was amazing. Get that instead of a bloody and your night will be complete.

 

 

Older Entries
Newer Entries