Rothko and Bugs Bunny

 Cocktail Correspondent: Weldon Gardner Hunter

Recently I ventured to a very placid part of downtown - the 1300 block of Hornby Street. That's where The Desi Lounge is located (1355 Hornby Street, Vancouver). 

I went with my Desi-est friend and we enjoyed a sumptuous meal of Chili Paneer and Shimla Kebab (appetizers), Soya Chaap and Malvani Chicken (mains), and of course, rice and naan. It was delicious, and I was too busy enjoying the food and service to take pictures.

But my friend did take a picture of my drink: a Harvest Reverie

Nodo Tequiliana, Sour Carrot, Cardamom Syrup, Cardamom Bitters

The actual colour of the drink was more orange IRL. It looked like a Mark Rothko painting.

Orange and Yellow, 1956

Compare with my own photo:

Another study in orange and yellow. Contemplate Rothko's palette: a yellow radiance above a slightly more dominant orange which suggests soil and secrets. Just like a carrot pushing its way through the earth - in this case, the little lime derby the drink wears is redolent of the green carrot top. As the drink menu's precis puts it, "a vibrant blend inspired by Punjab's harvest warmth, evoking the comforting essence of Gajar Ka Halwa*."

As Bugs Bunny puts it, "Carrots are divine." And so was the drink. I took no notes - I never do when I drink with friends. I can say that the earthiness of the Tequiliana - a Tequila "alternative" because it is made outside of Zacatecas - pairs well with the vegetal carrot. The cardamom adds those nice, complex citrus-and-floral notes. 

The Desi Lounge must be commended for making South Asian-inspired drinks. I'll be back to try the Valley of the Spirits - a drink led by an Indian whiskey called "Amrut" - which the lovely Nepali hostess told me sells out every weekend. 

Guess I'll see you there on Wednesday, then!

*a sweet Indian dessert made with grated carrots, water, sugar, milk, and cardamom.

Two Drinks at Dusk

 Cocktail Correspondent: Weldon Gardner Hunter

There's a new spring menu at Mum's The Word and I am here at dusk to drink some new drinks and listen to a questionable playlist. A certain song promised that Happy Hour was here, but it was false advertising. It's ok, though - another tune clarified that This Must Be The Place.

1. Piña Verde

Pina Verde

The Green Elixir des Moines, Toasted Coconut, Lime, Pineapple, Ms. Better’s Lime Leaf Bitters

The Green Elixir is a mysterious locally made concoction reminiscent of Chartreuse. The original Elixir des Moines is a recipe from a Monastery in Germany - not sure about the French name, though. Anyways, the drink is herbal, sweet, with lots of lime – a nice slice of the cocktail is pineapple and there's a teeny bit of mint notes. Very creamy - a perfect summer sipper and we are now in Meteorological Summer as of June 1. Served in a long tumbler full of ice. I downed it in less than 15 minutes. 

2. Airmail

Rum, Orange Flower, Honey, Lime, Sparkling Wine

Wine really changes the complexion of any cocktail. It’s like a fancy friend who does a pretty good job of hanging out with their economy companions, but can't hide the Old Money. Or is it New Money, in the case of sparkling wine?

The Air Mail is fragrant and floral altogether with the orange flower and honey matching the wine’s vivacious energy. Meanwhile, the Rum and Lime bring the broth a brash Hawaiian shirt kind of counterpoint. It’s a nice pairing after drinking the Piña Verde, as it provides another tropical thirstquench and summer vacation vibes.

Two and through! Took a nice atmospheric walk down Odlum Drive and then caught the #7 bus - the real working class chariot of the city - up crepuscular Clark Drive/Knight Street back to my farflung Southwestern home.

Surrealist Cocktail #8: Elixir de la Alquemista

 Cocktail Correspondent: Weldon Gardner Hunter

 Elixír de la Alquimista: A Cocktail Inspired by the paintings of  Remedios Varo

Alchemy, or, the Useless Science, Remedios Varo, 1958

1 oz Absinthe – for the Green Ray,  a flash of green light that is said to appear immediately after the sun sets on the horizon

La Creación con Rayos Astrales, 1955

1 oz Pear Eau-de-Vie (Poire Williams) – the fruit must be conjured from a surreal orchard

A "prisonnière" Poire Williams

0.5 oz Velvet Falernum – sweet spice, echoing ancient potions

0.5 oz Lemon Juice – the Yellow Moon in a cloudy astral sky

Valley of the Moon, 1950

0.5 oz Saffron-Honey Syrup – golden, alchemical, mysterious

1 dash Orange Blossom Water – floral, dreamlike

Floral Bouquet with Birds, 1960

Garnish with edible gold dust or a tiny sprig of lavender – to suggest apocalyptic horizons, or an easy passage into the dreamworld. Release 101 tropical birds into the room as you serve the cocktail.

Renacer, 1960

The Green Hour

 Cocktail Correspondent: Weldon Gardner Hunter

For the last two weeks, I've been plant-sitting for a friend on vacation. I agreed to water her plants while she jet-sets around Europe because I am trying to acquire a green thumb, and also because I liked pretending to have a pied-a-terre for a fortnight.

Before I dropped in on the plants for a final time this Saturday, I decided to spend Happy Hour at Bartholomew (1026 Mainland Street, Vancouver). On Saturday, it's a literal happy hour - from 5-6pm. Oh, and the selected cocktails are 11 bucks. Of course, I had two, in order to make a wish...

1.  Pandan Sour

Flor de Cana 7 year, Coconut, Pandan, Lime, Egg White, Cinnamon

Pandan, also known as Annapurna, is a fragrant tropical plant used in South and Southeast Asian cooking. It's making inroads into the Western beverage world, and that world is better for it.

Vanilla flavours abound.  Aromatic, and slightly nutty. The lime adds such a nice undercurrent. I keep thinking about it, like a spy in the house of love. The drink is desserty,  and might remind some of a Brandy Alexander - probably not the hip younger clientele of Bartholomew, though.

The room is reminiscent of Bar Corso on the Drive – a very long bar, with small, intimate booths on the other side of the aisle. It also has a spectacular, industrial wine-rack straight out of German Expressionist design (please correct me of the correct school in the comments):

The crowd is a mix of upscale and casual. The bar is in Yaletown, so expect a tonier atmosphere. A very cool feature of the menu is that it informs you of what glass your cocktail will come in: Coupe, Rocks, Nick and Nora, etc.  

Service is friendly and flash – just as I was about to put my second drink down, a bartender flung a cocktail napkin right underneath it before it touched the counter. 

Drink 2 was a Barrel-Aged Boulevardier

Bearface Triple Oak, Amaro Montenegro, Campari, Sweet Vermouth

The Canuck Bourbon boycott means many Paper Planes and Boulevardiers are subbed with Bearface whisky, which is a single grain variety that is aged in old Kentucky bourbon barrels. It works just fine in this variation-on-a-variation of a Negroni. At my favourite Happy Hour spot - Novo (2118 Burrard Street, Vancouver), they still have a large stash of Maker's Mark and their Boulevardier has cherry notes which I cherish. Here, the Amaro Montenegro gives it an earthy, rich bittersweet flavour.

All that for $22, plus tax and tip. I emerged from the dark bar into the late Spring afternoon sun, towards my appointment with a West End watering can and about twenty plants.