I was a Girl at Bar...last Friday!

Yes, sometimes Moms do make it out of the house on a Friday night spontaneously! I get a text from a girlfriend that has not been out for impromptu cocktail night probably since her son was born - about 6yrs ago.

Clearly, I had to go since who knows when I'd get this kind of giddy text again.

I know it's been a while but yes - BOOZE Review is back!

The Scafflow from one of my favorite SF Restaurants - Gitane. This is a place I urge my husband to take me back to for date night - it's funky, in that 70's Euro-bohemian way and I find it super sexy! I also love it for cocktails just with the girls.

Back to the cocktail - 4 ingredients: Rye, Dry Vermouth, Grenadine, Lemon
So simple and oh so yummy - this is a type of drink for warm, balmy summer nights (which are far and few between in SF, sadly). Do not let the rye scare you. This would be a sneaker drink - the more you drink it, it will sneak up and knock you on your ass. Luckily, I just had one but I'm craving another! Before you sip, you smell the fresh lemon and a bit of sweetness from the grenadine - it's lovely. Then you sip, you don't get too much of a bite from the rye but the after taste lets you know it's there. My tried and true favorite cocktail, The Kentucky Buck has met its match!

The second drink I tried out was the Coctel Carnival: apple brandy, ramazzotti, caramel, amaretto, lemon

You're probably thinking that this would be an acoholic version of a caramel apple but actually it was stronger than it was sweet. I tasted a lot of the apple brandy above anything else and something that was oddly herbal. Then after some investigation, I discover it was the Italian bitter, Ramazzotti (blend of orange peel, anise, herbs and roots). Ramazzotti is a tonic and can be digested as an apertif or digestif. I'm still trying to decide if I like this one or not. Actually, I am glad it wasn't too sweet but I don't know if I like the mixture of this cocktail. I think I'm more of a fan of The Scafflow.

I may have to return to Gitane to do another taste sipping!

As you can see this rare occassion called for a dramatic smoky eye!




Happy Monday, I hope you all had a lovely weekend and those of you that celebrated, a great Father's Day.