Reformed Cynic

Margarita Mashup: Waltham, MA and Montpelier, VT

Hello cocktail-living friends! Following an admittedly too-long (and unannounced) pause, I have returned with a double cocktail review of everyone's favorite, oft-frozen and oversalted drink.

I recently visited Margaritas on Moody Street in Waltham on a cold, cold night. Imagining that a restaurant so named would not be a slouch in the drinks department, I ordered an Original Margarita, made with Patron, rim salted. No, it was definitely not frozen, thanks very much.

What arrived was a pleasant drink of generous proportions. The tequila was not skimped on, and the glass' rim was just coated enough - I really don't like it when bits of salt (or sugar) fall into your drink, victim of overenthusiastic application. The drink had a nice little bite to it, and while not stellar, is definitely a solid performer and one I would have again.

The second Margarita hails from Julio's in Montpelier, VT. On a recent drive home from Vermont, my boyfriend and I took a quick detour in the hope of finding somewhere open late on a Monday night. While most of the downtown area slept, Julio's was open and a tad bit rowdy. While waiting for our appetizers, I ordered a Pomegranate Margarita on the rocks.

Presented with a Ruby-red concoction, I found it to be enjoyably sweet and moderately alcoholic. The amount of ice was a bit disappointing, far too "rocky" for my taste, but the drink itself cannot be faulted. Pretty good value for what you'll pay, and I do belive that the restaurant has a $2.50 house margarita night as well.

On the Road: A Punchy Mai Tai at Koto in Lebanon, NH

On a long, dark drive to Vermont, my boyfriend and I were in need of a hot meal and a pause to refresh. Being an avid skier, he has a mental stash of restaurants along the way where one can refuel and continue north into the darkness.

We stopped at Koto in Lebanon, NH - a Benihana style restaurant, which was incredibly empty on a Saturday night. Perhaps folks go to bed earlier in New Hampshire, or maybe there's a newer hibachi grill down the road, but we were the lone diners at the cooking tables. After ordering and watching our meal cooked by a rather tired-looking chef (who tried to flip a zucchini slice into my open mouth, only to have it bounce awkwardly off my face), my drink arrived - a coral colored Mai Tai.

Remarkably alcoholic and birthday party fruit punch like - anyone remember bowls of Kool Aid with cut-up fruit & Ginger Ale? - it could have cleansed my sinsues. Far too much light rum, but on the other hand, they *did not* skimp on the booze. Lots of non-standard fruit floating in it, too:

Can't argue with two whole cherries, now can you? Authenticity, Schmauthenticity.

The food, I might add, was excellent. Granted, we were hungry, but each of our seafood grills - red snapper with noodles for me, salmon with the same for him - were skillfully cooked so that the fish was firm, flaky and tender and the vegetables crisp. We'll be giving this another try in the near future, and if you are heading to VT or NH ski country, you ought to do the same.

 

Summer’s End: Sangria at Jaleo Washington DC

On a recent trip to Washington, DC with my Darling, we made the fantastic discovery that it was Restaurant Week! I set out at once to find the most appealing participants within an easy walk of our lodgings, and settled on Jaleo ,a tapas-chain restaurant, thinking that if it were horrible we'd be out of the door after a plate or two.

We were pleasantly surprised to find that not only was the food superb – jamon wrapped figs, deep fried, anyone? – but our choice of cocktail, the oft attempted and frequently dishonored Sangria , was a delight to both behold and to drink:

Ruby-red and apple filled, this version of Sangria was not overpowered by the too-generous addition of brandy, but was instead perfectly proportioned. While the addition of apples instead of the usual citrus cocktail was a departure, they added just the right amount of palate-cleansing tartness. We'll definitely be back for more Sangria, even if in the dead of winter, and for more of those marvelous tapas..

Cocktails of Mad Men S4: Show and Tell

Peggy pays a game of bare-all and wins, we see the ascendancy of both Don and Joan, and proof positive thata  little bit of Betty goes a very long way.. even if her tirade was justified..

In honor of Peggy and her game of bluff with the douchebag, our first drink was the Johnny Handsome: Leblon Cachaca muddled with fresh lime and rasberries, then tempered with rhubarb simple syrup. It sparkles on the tongue (due to the lime, I think), and is delightfully both tropical yet tart.

Our second drink of the evening was the health-oriented Naughty O'Pear, a 5-servings-per-day oriented concoction of Stoli Vanilla, Belle de Brillet, and Pear Nectar topped up with Champagne.

Slightly thick, yet wonderfully alcoholic, it has the sweet taste and pureed consistency of the lovely Goya fruit nectars I consumed whilst growing up. If, like me, you strive to consume enough life-giving fruits and vegetables each day, have one of these and call it even.

Pure health, I tell you!

Next week I'll be sampling the clean fresh air and bucolic delights of VT, so I'll be on the prowl for great drinks in the Mad River Valley. Do let me know if you have any favorites!

Curious Liquids at the Blue Cat Cafe, Burlington VT

On a weekend jaunt filled with hiking, clean air, and all things pertinent to good mental and physical health, I knew that I'd need a cocktail or two to complete my pleasure. After wandering around Church Street Marketplace and its environs, we stumbled-upon the The Blue Cat, nestled in a building down an alleyway.

Dimly lit yet full of cheer, the drink menu was perused, and the Sophisticated Skyman and the Renka were our pre-dinner choices. The Sophisticated Skyman is first and foremost a lovely shade of Kool-Aid Blueberry Blue, created by mixing Curacao, Smirnoff PassionFruit, Pineapple Juice and Club Soda. It sparkles, and does taste somewhat like a carbonated fruit punch which somehow doesn't melt into a misery of sweet.

The Renka was an innovative Margarita hybrid of Jose Cuervo, Grand Marnier, Lime, Orange Juice, and yes, an Olive. In the dim light, it was a pale orange, salty-sweet-with-a-hint-of-savoury, and POWERFUL, so much so that the wine list was declined with dinner as it overloaded taste buds. Definitely a stand-alone drink, to be enjoyed a few hours before dinner by a true tequila lover..

As much as the cocktails were enjoyed, the real delight of the evening was the locally-sourced menu, which was absolutely delicious - my boyfriend enjoyed a steak, and I enjoyed lamb, plus a delicious assortment of Vermont cheeses. The Blue Cat is a little out of the way, but is not only a good value (each cocktail was under $10, which is not a given in this town), but a find..