BLT Steak

I enjoy restaurant week for all the obvious reasons, but mostly so I can try something new.  The Green Cucumber Martini is a very pleasant summer libation featuring gin, simple syrup, basil, and cucumber puree.  The glass is chilled and garnished with a sliver of cucumber.  Bits of basil are suspended in the liquid, and provide little pops of licorice in some sips.  Although a smidge on the sweet side for me, the Green Cucumber Martini is very pleasant, and I'll be trying to recreate it at home. 

Dinner was a spectacular event as well, with the highlight being a duo of petits fours that tasted like pecan pie batter filling.  WOW - with a sip of the Chateauneuf-Du-Pape that I saved for the desert! 

Absolutely superb!  9

Cosmic Martinis

Yes, it's always plural - I cannot think of the last time I had one martini...

It is always pleasant when a plan comes together.  I appreciate when people say they are going to do something and then they come through on it.  A few weeks ago at a housewarming party for a very successful friend of mine, Laura, we had the brilliant idea to take advantage of one of Charlotte's true excellent values - Wednesday evening at Cosmos. 

I really enjoy Cosmos, even though I haven't made it a regular establishment, tonight reminded me that I could, if I wanted to.  It's not too crowded, but it is busy enough during happy hour.  Because I have all this long hair now I am perpetually late to things, and tonight was no special circumstance.  I assumed since I had an hour to get ready I would be sitting twiddling my thumbs waiting for the girls to arrive.  But, instead, I was the last one to there. 

Small plates from a restricted yet delicious menu are buy one get one.  It's decidedly one of the ways I prefer to eat, lots of little different bits.  The girls had already ordered some small plates, and I only had a few minutes before 7:00 to decide what to order, so before I even ordered my drink (gasp) I ordered my two apps. 

But on to the cocktails.  Cosmos has a respectable martini menu.  Oh and did I mention that on Wednesdays they are half price?  Yes - serious value.  So the menu is two pages with classics, fruity concoctions, classics with a twist (I think the pun is intended) and then there are the dessert martinis. 

Laura had her standard apple martini - and typically along with Laura's martini comes a heavy load of criticism on the preparation.  But not this time. She simply drank it and ordered another one!  I'd say that is a strong endorsement. 

I am not sure what Christie was drinking, but I know it had Malibu rum in it...

I ventured (shocking!) away from my standard gin martini to a Lemon Lady (or something like that - I can't believe I forgot the name).  No fear, this one still had gin (Sapphire nonetheless), but it had fresh lemon juice and something a bit sweet about it.  Typically not my style, but on a hot summer night it was fantastic.  And at half price - yes please!

And while I enjoy eating good food and having a cocktail, it is so much better when you are with interesting people.  There was not one point tonight where I felt the urge to look around and observe what the other diners and bar goers where doing or chatting about.  We talked about jobs and hot tubs and stock and the faves and the senior girls. 

The best part - we all got home safe with happy thoughts and no drama. 

Cosmos - 9

martinis that aren't

This almost became the pork blog. But more on that later. I am sitting right now in a restaurant in Philly, writing on (well WITH) my blackberry. And although I had some incredible drinks over the weekend, I want to sit and write about those properly. Expect more soon.

Those of you who know me know how much I hate to eat alone. So I guess that is what has me typing furiously on this little keyboard in between looking out the window. My dinner date (for work) cancelled on me this morning, so I am alone. I vowed not to eat in the restaurant at the hotel when I am in this great city, so I walked out looking for Fogo de Chao - Brazilian fare. But I was distracted by this cute little corner restaurant with black leather couches and cute chairs, it's called Q lounge.

I just finished a gin and chronic. Gin, elder flower liqueur, cucumber puree, lime and grapefruit juice. YUM!!!

I like how the first one came with a lemon and this one came with a lime...oh yes, I got two! There's something ethereal and soothing in this concoction,

And the spicy pulled pork sandwich with broccoli rabe...look out coleslaw - you have been replaced.

So why the martini that isn't? Well, it isn't up - it's on the rocks. 7

Let me count the ways

Although I am not really a fan of Valentine's Day, for all the Hallmark Cards and overpriced flowers and other nonsense, I think it merits a moment to think about those we love UNROMANTICALLY. For example, my parents have always sent my sister and I Valentine notes, my grandma too - and I always feel love from my family. I feel love for my family, my husband and my friends; those who are there with me throughout the year as I celebrate and struggle with life. And although unconditional love is something we all hope for and revel in, I think we experience it sparingly.

My adoration (love is a bit too strong for these conversations) for the martini is not unconditional. In fact, it is in the conditions (chilled glass, just the right amount of vermouth, no fruit, no olives) that has made the search for the perfect Charlotte martini so intoxicating (pardon the pun).

And despite the lack of writing over the past several months, have no fear, I have continued the quest - just not much worth writing about. As a result of Mandy's fine taste I have in my possession a bottle of St. Germain - and elixir that could elevate most cocktails to a more noble stature. When shaken with Gin, it creates an ethereal beverage that highlights the acidity of the gin, the floral notes of the berries, and the sweetness of the elderflower. Perhaps having this in my house is the sole reason I have stopped going out for martinis recently.

Unfortunately for the local bars and pubs, I still have more than a 4 months' supply, so it may be a while yet before I try a new place. But Fat Tuesday is just around the corner...

Happy Valentines Day, martini lovers - and if this day isn't so happy for you; a few martinis will at the very least change your perspective.

Chicago Style Dog

There's something about flying into Chicago that always makes me think of that Liz Phair song...I was flying into Chicago at night...and it puts me in a REALLY good mood. I successfully navigated my way out of the airport, broke a wheel on my suitcase (which was half empty so I could stash all my shopping goodies on the way back), and made it to the train station, on the train, un harrassed, and into the streets of Boystown where Katie was waiting at the top of the stairs!



We had a pretty quiet night one (I remembered my wallet) and were well rested for shopping on Saturday. After 4 hours of shops and 15 ill fitting pairs of shoes later I found:

THE BOOTS.

Beautiful, handmade, Italian leather knee high, three styles in one, perfect timeless toe and heel, and they didn't fit. Not only did they not fit, they DON'T MAKE THEM IN YOUR SIZE says the super "helpful" sales assistant (assistant bitch is more like it). So I am completely devastated and whining - I hate whiners - and I convince Katie (it didn't take long) that we should get a martini and drown our (ok MY) sorrows.

We find a great little Italian cafe and ask about the specials. $6 cosmos - in Chicago? Ok so what if they're pink! We'll take 2. And an appetizer so we can keep our wits about us. They went down so easy that we had to get another. But we responsibly stopped there.

On to showers and hair and makeup and fabulous clothes...

And dinner. Cucumber martini - with Gin - YUM! Let's make that 2.

And then to pharmacy. No, not THE pharmacy - we were fine, very fine. Had an excellent meal and went to a great little bar with the electric green cross you see on all the pharmacies in France. Great memories. And two more martinis.

Chicago - I give you a sensational 10 for your excellent martinis and even better company - love you Katie!

Nous Sommes Nombrueses

I LOVE my girlfriends. There is no one else on the planet that can so consistently provide what you need to hear, want to hear, don't want to hear all while showing that they still care about your feelings.

So a weekend with our darling, Katie, is just what the mixologist ordered. I had the pleasure of picking her up from the airport for an ON TIME flight and then we went to dinner. We could gloss over the fact that I forgot my wallet, but that would take some of the fun out of the story, so here it is. We pulled up in NoDa and found a parking space. Then we got out of the car, Katie is trying to figure out what she wants to change into for dinner, and I suddenly realize that I don't have my wallet. So we get back in the car, drive back to my house, pick up the wallet, Katie changes, and we leave for the restaurant, again.

We pull up and decide with Mandy that we are going to the Crepe Cellar - good call.

We sit at the bar because there are not any tables left. The bartender eventually acknowledges our presence, and takes our drink orders. Vodka martini for Mandy, extra dirty. Vodka martini for Katie, with a twist. Gin martini for me, no fruit, no olives. Thanks.

The cocktails were good, despite stemless glasses! Dinner was better, and the wine was pretty fine as well.

Saturday night we visited the Cajun Queen. (I know I skipped Friday but we didn't have any martinis that night...don't worry, we still drank!) We had to wait for a table for a few minutes, which was fine - we went to the bar! We ordered three martinis (same as before). What is the allure of the martini glass? And oh how does the taste of the martini change when you are drinking out of a wine glass...that's right, a wine glass. They ran out of martini glasses so we each had our martinis in a wine glass.

Enough said. Well, the service was mediocre, but the wine selection was good and the food was excellent. Now if we can just get Charlotte to kick it in gear with the stemware...The martinis we made at the house were much better, all 3 of them!

So if we count the number of martinis between the three of us for the whole 5 days...well, this girl won't sip and tell, alors - nous sommes nombrueses et quand meme les martinis!

Airport Martini

Have you ever missed a flight?

It sucks. At least the next flight out was only a few hours later, but I decided to go ahead and get dinner at the airport - IN CHARLOTTE, my home city, I am eating dinner at the airport. Sigh. What are you going to do?

So I ordered a Sapphire martini at the FOX News lounge and it was good. I ate dinner, still had an hour and a half to kill, so I ordered another.

Reading Oscar Wilde in an airport bar sipping a martini. Despite the circumstances, it wasn't half bad.

So if you have some time to kill at the Charlotte airport and you want to have a martini - go to Fox.