Sac Mag - Drink Up!: Part II

This is Part II of the cover story ("Drink Up!") from the April 2011 Sacramento Magazine (www.sacmag.com).  It featured the top 10 cocktails and where to get them in Sacramento in addition to some of the top restaurants and bars serving up some quality, creative spirits.  Part I of this blog series covered swanky sipping, faux speakeasies, and lounge acts; Part II will cover new on the scene, a break from tradition, comfort zones, and expect the unexpected.

New On The Scene: 

The Press Bistro and Bar.  Bartenders: Scott Martin and Jordan Anderson.  Serves: seasonal menu with Mediterranean flavors and food-friendly cocktails.  Drinks to Try: Italian Lemonade (Citron vodka, Campari, lemon juice, and agave nectar) Hemingway (thyme simple syrup, rum, blood orange juice, and limoncello), and Spiced Pear Martini (spiced pear vodka, fresh-squeezed orange and lemon juices, muddled pear and balsamic reduction with a fresh-ground nutmeg and sugar rim).

Dive Bar.  Serves: compelling combinations made from scratch with fresh ingredients.  Drink to Try: Holy Mackerel (reposado tequila, ginger liqueur, mango, Tabasco, Thai basil, lime juice, and house-made simple syrup).

Kupros Bistro.  Executive Chef: Matthew Robinson.  Serves: a "Cheers"-esque friendly atmosphere.  Drink to Try: Kentucky Lemon Drop (bourbon, Cointreau, and fresh lemon).

A Break From Tradition:

Zocalo.  Beverage Director: Joe Anthony Savala.  Serves: Mexican fare, made-by-hand margaritas with fresh-squeezed limes, muddled seasonal fruits and quality Latin spirits.  Drink to Try: The Oaxacan Old-Fashioned (muddled orange peel, agave nectar, angostura bitters, anejo tequila, and mezcal).

Red Lotus Kitchen and Bar.  Bar Manager: Mark Neuhauser.  Serves: classic drink recipes with original taste combinations, unique dishes, and "impossible" drink combos.  Drink to Try: The Old-Fashioned (Jim Beam Black bourbon, simple syrup and angostura bitters served over hand-carved ice blocks, and garnished with a flamed orange peel).

Comfort Zones:

Bandera.  Serves: Straightforward, well-made drinks, efficient bartenders, upscale-casual vibe.  Drinks to Try: Basil Sidecar and Pimm's Cup.

Sienna.  Serves: contemporary comfort food in El Dorado Hills.  Drink to Try: Watermelon-And-Basil Martini (watermelon, basil, vodka, and lime juice).

Tazzina Bistro and Vintage Lounge.  Serves: house-specialty cocktails and tried-and-true classics in downtown Woodland.  Drink to Try: Sazerac.

Ten 22.  Serves: a relaxing patio in Old Sac and a ginger-and-fig cocktail in the fall.  Drink to Try: Bloody Mary with a spicy housemade mix and crispy bacon garnish.

Expect The Unexpected:

The Golden Bear.  Bartender: Russell Eastman.  Serves: revamped classic drinks for a modern audience using old recipe books and his creative processes.  Drink to Try: Bee's Knees (gin, fresh lemon juice, honey, Yellow Chartreuse, and grapefruit bitters).

Socal's Tavern.  Bartender: John Huerta.  Serves: sensible drinks by a 15-year veteran and devoted reader of cocktail columns in the San Francisco Chronicle.  Drinks to Try: Manhattans, Vodka Collinses, and fresh Strawberry Daiquiris.


So there you have it!  Get out and try a new bar, restaurant, or drink!  Coming later this summer: Midtown Cocktail Week! (Aug 15-21)

St. Patrick's Day in Sacramento: Part 1

Is this your event? Claim it

  Combine Cesar Chavez Park and deVere's and you get the biggest St. Patrick's Day party in the Sacramento area!  However, if you are looking for a new event this year (or something smaller or more intimate), we will be featuring various events from now until Thursday, so that you can pick the event that seems most appealing to you.  There is a full website dedicated to the de Vere's party where you can buy tickets for all of the day's events.  Events will be happening all day long and are listed in two parts below (courtesy of the Sacramento Bee):

Part I: de Vere's St. Pat's Pub Party 2011

Join us on St. Patrick’s Day for the ultimate authentic-Irish
experience. At de Vere’s Irish Pub, you can enjoy the beautiful
woodwork, family heirlooms, friendly banter, and of course, the perfect
pint of Guinness (a specialty we’ve mastered).
Our pub doors will open at 8am—and our famous Irish coffees will be piping hot and ready to serve.
At 11am, we will close down the sidewalks and open our outside
venue, which will include an outdoor kitchen serving traditional Irish
fare (like corned beef and cabbage) and a stage featuring live
entertainment throughout the day.
Bring your friends and family to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in true Irish fashion.

PUB Line Up
8:00 Am : Pub opens
11:00 Am : Our extended sidewalk party area opens
12:00 PM : Authentic corned beef and cabbage lunch
  2:00 PM : Cover-charge for the party begins
  2:30 PM : Pipes and Drums
  3:30 PM : Kennely School Dancers
  4:30 PM : Nine-8ths Irish
  7:00 PM : Kennel School Dancers
  8:30 PM : Whiskey and Stitches 

 

Part II: St. Patrick's Day Party in the Park 

Thursday, Mar 17 10:00a to 10:00p
at Cesar Chavez Plaza, Sacramento, CA 
Price: $25 at the door, $20 in advance



You know that Amazing St. Patricks Day party that de Vere's throws every year? (The one that inevitably sells out with a line down the block!?) This year, we're making sure that there's room for you and all your friends by moving the party to Cesar Chavez Plaza!   The de Vere's 3rd Annual St. Patricks Day Party is going to be bigger and better than ever! This year, de Vere’s Irish Pub and the Downtown Sacramento Partnership (DSP) are teaming up to host Sacramento’s biggest St. Patrick’s Day event at Cesar Chavez Plaza at 10th & J streets. The de Vere's St. Patrick's Day Party in the Park will be going strong all day long on St. Patricks Day, March 17 from 10 am to 10 pm. Tickets are $20 in advance / $25 at the door. (Please note: This is a 21 and older event. Id required at the door.)

Support a great cause: Proceeds from the event will benefit Maryhouse, a daytime women and children’s homeless shelter at Loaves and Fishes. Maryhouse provides much needed support and services for this
vulnerable population including the Hot Breakfast Meal Program and crisis counseling.

Event details: Sacramento's largest St. Patrick's Day party will feature food from local restaurants, signature irish drinks, and live entertainment throughout the day. See Irish dancers, Sacramento Firefighters Pipes and Drums, and live performances by local bands Nine 8ths Irish, Whiskey and Stitches, and the Black-Eyed Dempseys. The evening will end with headliner and San Francisco U2 tribute band, Zoo Station.