Its finally here, National Martini Day! The perfect day to have a Perfect Martini. Or to try a new Martini, or two?
Enjoy the day with friends, new and old, but which ever way you choose to celebrate, Celebrate Safely.
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The Grill on the Alley is located hidden in the back of a shopping complex. You have to drive past several other beckoning restaurants. But don’t be distracted, the Grill is where you want to be.
I’ve been here a few times and the food it always superb, the service is excellent, and the atmosphere is friendly and open. The roast beef was particularly noteworthy. Definitely worth a visit for that alone.
But I’m here for the Martini. And, as you’ve seen in past reviews, the food isn’t necessarily an indication of the Martini.
But today it is. They serve a great martini, really excellent. The stem was wonderfully frozen, the Martini very dry, well shaken, and served promptly before the stem started to warm up. Matthew was engaging while staying professional.
B+ for selection: Citadelle, Nolet’s, Tanqueray, Tanqueray Ten, Bombay, Bombay Sapphire, Boodles, Hendrick’s, Beefeater. I think just a few more selections, including something a bit ‘unusual’ or rare, would push this into the “A” category.
***** Rating Definitions ****
Two days to go to National Martini Day. How are you planning on celebrating? What type(s) of Martinis are you going to enjoy?
As always, drive safe or make sure you have a Designated Driver if you’re not celebrating at home
Hot on the heels of World Gin Day, National Martini Day is June 19. That’s only three days away. Not that we’ve sample several gins its time to consider which would be best for our Martini celebration. Or perhaps which ones?
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As you all know, last Saturday was World Gin Day. Some friends and I sampled a small collection of gins. It was a last minute, fun, and very informal event. I thought I would share the comments and ratings of our gins. The ratings were from 1 to 5 with 5 being best. There were no rules, guidelines, limitations, or expectations. It was just fun. I’ve also added whatever comments came first to mind.
Miller’s – 3.0 Spicy, Peppery
Broker’s – 3.25 Salty, Cedar, Woodsy
Beefeater – 3.5 Clean, Easy, Refreshing
Tanqueray – 2.0 Woody, ‘Bite’, Acidic, Harsh
New Amsterdam – 4.25 Sweet, Tangerine, Orange Peel, Citrus, Spicy
Seagram’s – 2.25 “Piny”, Bland, Blah
Hendrick’s – 3.75 “Not for a Martini”, Lavender, Smooth, Subtle, Peaty
Miller’s was controversial with its pepper taste, though everyone enjoyed it. Though not necessarily for a Martini – G&T seemed a better option. New Amsterdam was a nice surprise and universally liked. Seagram’s was universally panned as was Tanqueray, though for different reasons. The former was just “boring” while the latter was a bit harsh for this audience. Tanqueray might get better reviews if were mellowed in a Martini.
Next year I plan on expanding my sampling selections and invitees. I’m sure to add Bombay Sapphire, Bombay Sapphire East, Tanqueray Ten, and Tanqueray Rangpur. Any suggestions or requests will be gladly accepted. Keep watching for future notifications on time and place.
Happy World Gin Day to everyone.
I hope everyone has a great celebration but remember to have a Designated Driver if you’re out.
Putting together a few Gins for a fun taste comparison, on a budget.
A few 50ml gin samples for World Gin Day fun
Coming soon to a bar near you or anyplace you feel like celebrating – World Gin Day, June 13.
For celebration ideas, special events, or just for fun log into Twitter.com and check out @Shkn_Nt_Strrd or use #worldginday or #gin.
I normally wouldn’t review a chain restaurant but Bonefish Grill doesn’t ‘feel’ like a chain. Indeed, when I first walked in I thought it was a local establishment and didn’t realize it wasn’t until I looked online for the correct spelling of “Langhorne”. Turns out there are quite a few scattered across the US, including a couple very close to my home. Totally unbeknownst to me. But I’ll be visiting them in the future.
This particular restaurant is very near a hotel I stay at regularly when visiting eastern Pennsylvania and I’ve eaten there several times in the past. Bonefish Grill is, as its name would suggest, a seafood restaurant with daily fresh fish specials and a nice selection of regular items. Everything I’ve had has been very good; fresh, nicely prepared, good sides, ample portions, and served with a smile. The staff is friendly without being over bearing.
But this last visit I decided to focus on the Martini. Overall they serve a very good Martini. The stems are stored in the freezer, which is always a big plus in my book. The barkeep, Trish this evening, mixed the martini quickly with no fuss and no vermouth.
I do prefer a whisper of Vermouth so I wouldn’t elevate this to ‘Perfect’ status, but as Bond (Fleming) said, “Mais n’enculons pas des mouches”. My only real complaint about the martini, which keeps Bonefish Grill from a second martini glass, is the relatively small size of the martini.
“C” for selection, which is what I would expect from a restaurant chain. A sampling of their gins: Hendricks, Bombay, Sapphire, Beefeater, Bluecoat American Gin
***** Rating Definitions ****
Cafe Fiore is a small but busy trattoria located just off the ‘main drag’ in downtown Ventura, CA. The decor is rustic modern; very clean and comfortable with a lot of exposed woodwork. The bar is front and central in the restaurant, the very first thing you notice upon entering. The restaurant tables are spread around the bar itself. There is also an outside patio that looked very inviting. But I chose to sit at the bar.
The martini was ‘ok’; properly shaken with the right mix of Gin and Vermouth. However the glass was not chilled in any way; neither pre-chilled in the refrigerator or freezer nor even filled with ice water during preparation. Furthermore the Martini was not served in the preferred classic stem but in one of those horrid bulbous squat glasses.
On the plus side, we sampled several appetizers and they were really good. The other patrons appeared to also be very pleased by the food.
Cafe Fiore gets a “B” for number of gins; on the order of 12 from which to select. But for the martini itself they get a tipped stem: 