A Drink of History

From the Buena Vista Website. The Irish Coffee Lined-up

So I was reading

So I was reading, yes booze hounds and foodies read, a NY Times article (link) titled “Pub Crawl Through the Centuries” that talked about England’s oldest drinking establishments, some dating back to the 13th Century.

This got me thinking about some of the Bay Area’s more famous place to sit a while and have a libation. These places are not as deep rooted as the English Pubs, but still have great history for the West Coast of the Colony.

The Oldest is Tadich Grill, (1849) sitting at 240 California, San Francisco. Tadich Grill is a favorite among the Financial District crowd and the bar is always full.

Home of the first Irish Coffee is the Buena Vista, 2765 Hyde St (@ Beach) San Francisco, a bustling bar with locals and tourist. Although I believe that some Irish man was putting Irish Whisky in breakfast drink well before the Buena Vista perfected their receipt in 1952. Great marketing and a good drink, well worth stopping on a foggy San Francisco evening and watch the freezing tourist in their shorts and newly purchased fleece jackets.

One of a kind Trader Vic’s in Emeryville is a surviving location in a chain of Polynesian-themed restaurants that bore the nickname of founder Victor Jules Bergeron, Jr. Trader Vic, and one of two people who claimed to have invented the Mai Tai. Bergeron opened a small bar/restaurant across from his parent's grocery store in Oakland, California named Hinky Dink's, which soon became Trader Vic's during the Tiki fad of the 50’s. The Emeryville location is one of the last two in the Bay Area. The San Francisco location closed at the beginning of the year.

Right across the street from City Lights bookstore, the Beat Generation’s unofficial headquarter, is The Purple Onion. This North Beach Club, 140 Columbus (between Jackson and Pacific), offers an intimate, 80-person setting and was a popular influence in local music and entertainment during the Beat era. Lenny Bruce, Woody Allen, Maya Angelou, Phyllis Diller, the Kingston Trio, and the Smothers Brothers (who recorded their first album, Live at the Purple Onion there) all played the club in the 1950s and 1960s. Richard Pryor has also performed at The Purple Onion. Now day it is a shadow of its former self, but a place to have a private party or channel Allen Ginsberg and have your very own poetry reading.

Eli’s Mile High Club now The Mile High Club (3629 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Oakland, CA 94609) opened in 1974 by Eli and Alberta Thornton as a West Coast Blues venue. The club has had several owners but and is not the same in heyday, but for blues fans it is legendary.

A good start to the history, will try to do part II in a couple of weeks.

NY Times Story
http://travel.nytimes.com/2008/04/13/travel/13Journeys.html?st=cse&sq=Pubs&scp=1

TGIF

Thank God Its Friday , sans Donna Summers singing in the background, and with the terrific weather we are having today in the SF Bay Area I started think of great places to have an outdoor cocktail to enjoy the start of the weekend.

So with the Sound Track of the TGIF Movie as inspiration I will make a couple of suggestions.

"Easy" -- Right around the corner from the house is Speisekammer (2424 Lincoln Ave, Alameda, CA) . Large outdoor patio, great place to sit and drink German Beer. If you get a little hungry the Brawts are awesome.

"Take It to the Zoo" -- Lucky 13 (1301 Park Street, Alameda, CA) can get a little wild on Friday. Good size patio out back, real spartan setting but the music is loud and the drinks flow.

"Trapped In a Stairway" -- Forbidden Island (1304 Lincoln, Alameda, CA) Aloha, Mr. Hand! Although you will be inside it will feel like you are outdoors with the tropic theme. If you are into mixed rum drinks with little umbrellas, this is the place. Loud shirts are encouraged. The patio is pretty much for smokers.

"Too Hot To Trot" -- Pier 23 (the Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA). The deck is a great view of the water out on the deck and Coit Tower from the interior. This is a total outdoor hangout and the crowd is ready to have a good time. You can get buckets of beer and good cocktails. Bar food is available.

By the way, just in case you were wondering, the songs artist were: Commodores, Sunshine, Paul Jabara, Commodores.

Enjoy the weekend and remeber to save the last dace for LOVE.

Cheers

Old Standby

Just like anything in life, we have things we like to experiment with and some things we always fall back to out of comfort. A favorite t-shirt, a date buddy (someone that you can always call-on), and places we go to to eat, drink and be merry.

I tend to write about new places that I have tried in the last couple of days, but this past weekend I went back to a couple places that are tried and true. Places were you feel comfortable and treated like you are the friend of the owner. Think of "Cheers" without Sam Malone/Ted Danson.

On Friday Night, after sailing (opening of the season, very happy) and a few cocktails at the Fireside, my buddy and I traveled across the street to Nations Giant Hamburgers on Webster Street in Alameda. It had been a while, since I stop into the old burger joint and much of it had not changed over the years. It a simple menu, big old greasy burgers, but for a moment it brought me back to the countless runs we made to Nations for burgers over the past 20 years. These are burgers have all the fixings and my option of grilled onions and pickels. Fries and pie round out the menu. After midnight this is a great stop, not the best burger I have ever had, but a lot of memories waiting for my burger to come up. Some of the memories are little more difficult after some very late nights.

On Saturday, headed into McGees Bar and Grill on Park Street in Alameda. Owners John and Linda Costello are great people and treat every customer with care. Tim, the bar manager always calls me by name and looks to see if I have a drink. The NCAA Basketball games were on so it was a full house. McGees has a great pub menu burgers, wings, fries and few items with a slight mexican slant. I end up at McGees more often than I will admit because of their diverse menu. You don't need to know what you want until your are ready to order. McGees has a full bar and is well worth a stop.

Nations http://www.nationsrestaurants.com/

McGees
http://www.mcgeesbarandgrill.com/

See old review of Fireside
http://cocktailcocktailscocktails.blogspot.com/2007/12/fireside.html

HIGH ROLLER

Hard Rock Pool

Living like a HIGH ROLLER!!!

Some things do get better with age. As you get older and meet more people opportunities open up to experience things you never have had chance in the past. One person in our group of nearly 20 guys has become very successful in business and with it comes some very influential contacts. So, this trip to Vegas I got a chance to see what it was like to live like a High Roller.

A must, once in your life, you need to spend a day in a Cabana at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Pool. First, I was impressed that the Cabana was a comp but the location right next to the pool with an impressive service and a television to watch all the NCAA basketball games. The Hard Rock Pool is one of the most coveted locations in all of Vegas with its young and hip crowd that loves a good time. During the summer the Hard Rock’s ReHab is the best afternoon Sunday Party in town. So with the Captain and Cokes flowing, Sun and a Party atmosphere I was in prime real estate. Although I am way outside the target demo for the pool, it was good energy to let you know that you Vegas vacation is in full swing.

Pool Cam at Hard Rock: http://www.hardrockhotel.com/las-vegas/pool/pool-cams/

ReHab: http://www.hardrockhotel.com/las-vegas/pool/rehab/

The experience did not end with the pool. My buddy was also able to get us access to Body English one of the busiest Night Clubs in town. No cover charge, right pass the long line of anxious part goers and the velvet rope was opened and you could see many in the line envious that we did not have to wait. We were escorted right into the club just like I was one of Hollywood’s elite. The doorman treated me and our group like we played thousand dollar hands of blackjack and come to Vegas once a week, just like old friends. Cool experience.

Body English: http://www.bodyenglish.com/

So, I got to play like one of the big boys. It only took 10 minutes to break the spell as I entered the Airport. The Southwest Airlines Cattle line waiting for flight brought me back to reality, and those great little bags of peanuts. Oh well, I have next year.

This Ain't No Vegas Buffet

Why, Why, Why

Okay, I finally have enough energy to write after my return from Vegas. I know that the Blog is traditionally Bay Area, but this week’s posts will be all about “Sin City”. Today it is all about the food.

When it comes to food Vegas is no longer about cheap buffets. You can still find a buffet, not so cheap any more, but it really has become a city of fine dining. In past trips I have eaten at some very nice restaurants. Here are few places to try if you are planning a trip; followed by two new dining experiences.

Alize (Palm): Let’s start with the view. The Palm is West of the LV Strip and the restaurant is on the top floor. Late evening dining is spectacular, but once the Ghost Bar starts up one floor below the rhythmic thumping can be felt in the dining room, so about 8 PM is the best time, lights of LV and great food. Chef Andre Rochat brings his culinary expertise to a very French inspired menu complimented with an award-winning wine list.

Link to the menu: http://www.andrelv.com/alize/dinner

Commander’s Palace (Aladdin): The reason to go to the Las Vegas version of this classic New Orleans eatery is because you have no trip to the Big Easy planned. I normally would not recommend a restaurant that’s flagship is in other city, but this restaurant is renowned for its hospitality as its food and there is no drop in food quality. Besides I would go just for the Creole Bread Pudding Soufflé. Had the dessert in both cities and it is fantastic no matter where it is served.
Link to the menu: http://www.commanderspalace.com/las_vegas/menu_detail.php?menu=14

Okada (Wynn): A very tranquil restaurant in the sea of Vegas noise the space is surrounded by waterfalls, lush gardens and a koi filled lagoon. A table next to the water is a must, make sure you ask for a prime location with your reservation. Chef Masa Ishizawa serves up authentic teppanyaki (teppan , which means iron plate, and yaki, which means grille) and robata cooking (grilling skewered foods over charcoal), with modern Japanese Creations and Sushi that is top grade.
Link to menu: http://www.wynnlasvegas.com/pdf/Okada_Menu_Jan8_08.pdf

This weekend I left the Hard Rock Casino and Hotel just once but still had two great dining experiences on site. Here are the new:

AJ’s Steakhouse (Hard Rock Hotel and Casino): Las Vegas has plenty of steakhouses Morton’s and Ruth’s Chris have homes in LV and every top notch casino has one. AJ’s is reminiscent of an era when Las Vegas was defined by people who expected only the finest steaks and smoothest martinis. Dark ambiance and a very comfortable dining experience create the perfect setting for diners. I had the 22oz bone-in Rib Eye, done just right. The sides of Potatoes Gratin and Mac and Cheese were incredibly good. Two good bottles of wine from a strong list help to round out the meal.
Link to menu: http://www.hardrockhotel.com/las-vegas/dining/ajs-steakhouse/

Nobu (Hard Rock Hotel and Casino): Must confess been to Nobu in NY so I had very high expectations, which the staff delivered on to finish the weekend in grand style. The sushi is very high grade, and as a very fickly seafood eater it is very important for me to be satisfied. Master Chef Nobu Matsuhisa has the highest standard for the quality of food from his kitchens. The Toro and other sushi are excellent, the scallops were incredible and I do not like scallops. A must try if you are in NY or LV.
Link to menu: http://www.hardrockhotel.com/las-vegas/dining/nobu/

Happy Dining and Cheers