The best thing that’s ever happened to me was being stood up by Aidan Demarest, owner of Neat bar in Glendale and Stoli Elit ambassador. One night we were supposed to meet at Mixology 101 at the Farmers Market but after an hour and a cocktail and still no Aidan, I figured he was either…
Recently I’ve become a big fan of vacationing in my own town, or “staycationing” as the kids are calling it these days. What better way to get to know Los Angeles’ neighborhoods than shacking up for a bit and exploring the surroundings? Sure, it’s an exercise in luxury but then again, if you can find…
Most bloggers are expert drinkers. Hey, we like our booze. If there’s a cocktail tasting, a new bartender and a new bar, you can bet the crowd will be overrun by bloggers armed with cameras and recording devices. Naturally, that means we drink. A lot. And consequently, we know what we like and what we…
Just because I know how to enjoy a well-made cocktail doesn’t mean I know how to make one. (Although I do make a mean Boulevardier, hee.) So when I was invited to the Gin Master Class hosted by Beefeater Gin at the Eveleigh bar/restaurant on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood, you know I jumped at…
Hi Caroline! Me (mom) and my daughter (19-year-old college student) are taking a trip over her spring break to L.A. and then down to San Diego. We are fairly conservative but adventurous and love to have fun (people watch, music, good food and a good cocktail [me only of course] daughter would have a Shirley…
You’re out and about in LA and in need of the nearest watering hole. But being a connoisseur of fine cocktails and/or craft beers, you only want to find the very best places in your immediate area. Searching for bars via Yelp will pull up too many options. And then there’s that matter of having…
When I first started drinking booze, my first favorite cocktail was the White Russian. Creamy, sweet and coffee-flavored, it was the perfect entry-level drink for someone with a sweettooth who was big into coffee. It was the first cocktail that made me feel like a grownup, like I knew what I was doing ordering a…
A couple of years ago Esquire Magazine released a list of “Signs You’re in a Bad Bar.” On there were things like “Jager shot machine” and “kid-friendly.” But like most cocktail geeks and regular bar hoppers, I’ve got my own list in my back pocket. And when I walked into Bugatta on Melrose for the…
Renowned chocolatier Jacques Torres, aka Mr. Chocolate, makes one of the most amazing hot chocolate mixes I’ve ever had: Wicked Chocolate. The spiciness of ancho chili, allspice, cinnamon and chipotle chili peppers with that rich chocolate. The perfect mid-afternoon pick-me-up when mixed with steamed vanilla soy. Um. Yum! When I was visiting New York years…
Last night’s boozy Boxing Day Social charity affair at the Hollywood Roosevelt’s Spare Room raised about $2,000 in addition to collecting blankets and clothes for downtown’s Hospitality Kitchen. For the $10 donation at the door, guests were treated to turkey-on-rye sandwiches, Wild Geese Irish whiskey tastings and a Jenga tournament as well as three free-flowing…
