Summer sunlight illuminates the room at Fort Oak, where Bar Manager Jess Stewart offers a warm welcome. Royal blue surfaces pop against crisp white tile, gold details, and earthy accents such as a vase of …
July 6, 2023
Fort Oak’s Fleetwood: find seasonal chamomile sourced from Specialty Produce
Kindred’s Sundance No. 2: where winter crushes summer
Krisan Fromm"Sundance…number two?” I ask with piqued curiosity. Raising her voice above heavy metal music riffing throughout Kindred, bar lead Krisan Fromm replies, “We updated our ‘winter Sundance’ with a newer version that has a …
August 10, 2023
The Lafayette Lobby Bar’s Brandy Crusta: a slushie that drinks like a drink
Anthony Schmidt“All the drinks from the Lobby Bar are a slight twist on classic New Orleans,” says Anthony Schmidt, Beverage Director for The Lafayette. And the Brandy Crusta is a no-brainer for this particularly warm …
September 6, 2023
The Lion’s Share’s Dark Therapy: Ms. Bobyr’s variation on a Boulevardier
Alina Bobyr“Guam is a whiskey desert,” says Joe, the guy next to me at this, his favorite bar in San Diego ever since he was first stationed here in 2014. The feel of the place …
October 12, 2023
Cerveza Jack’s Chai Spiced & Everything Nice: a rich-yet-refreshing drink that tastes like vanilla Coke
Taylor Giangola“I haven’t got an official name yet,” says Cerveza Jack’s Bar Lead & Manager Taylor Giangola, giving me an advance tasting of this month’s newest cocktail creation. “It’ll probably be ‘Chai Spiced and Everything …
November 2, 2023
California English’s London Fog: a glassy, iridescent smoke bubble top made with Storyhouse Coastal Gin
Video:DRINK RECIPES: California English’s London Fog cocktailSUBSCRIBE to the READER YOUTUBE CHANNEL for the latest.Lee CarreOn a cool, overcast day, I pop into California English. Instantly, I spot a yowza of a drink being served …
December 7, 2023
Pacific Coast Spirits’ Good morning, Cowboy: almost straight coffee whiskey courtesy of First Light
The smell of barbecue permeates Pacific Coast Spirits, setting the tone for the Good Morning, Cowboy cocktail I’m about to sample. Lead bartender Ashley Soto recommends smoked brisket to go with the drink, “because you’re …
January 4, 2024
George’s at the Cove’s Curioso: a subtle, tiki-inspired play off of Curious George
Mike GraveIt’s a fine day for sipping cocktails cliffside in La Jolla. (But then, most days are.) Mike Grave, General Manager for George’s at the Cove, slides me a new concoction called the Curioso. “The …
February 1, 2024
Alejandra’s Hibiscus Margarita is popular but not too sweet
Yesareni RicoThey say there’s no problem that margaritas and Mexican food can’t solve. Thankfully, my only problem on this sunny afternoon is finding a really good happy hour while I’m in North County. It’s the …
March 7, 2024
You & Yours puts peppers in its Spring Salad
Video:You & Yours puts peppers in its Spring SaladAfter scoring a sweet parking spot in East Village, I pass by a man using his skateboard to move a couch down the sidewalk. Seems right. Then …
April 5, 2024