Ryan and Brianne's passes were due to expire. I decided to join them. Before they joined me I elected to put a checkmark next to the Bloody Mary: Belvedere Bloody Mary Vodka, Bloody Mary Mix, Barbecue Bitters, and Dill Pickle Brine garnished with a locally grown Organic Dill Sprig and a dehydrated Horseradish-crusted Tomato Slice.
I wish I had more bloody mary experience to compare this to. Every time I drink one I feel like I'm trying to bully my taste buds into growing up again rather than react with the same bewilderment they possessed in trying V8 or tomato juice as a child.
This version is much kinder to my sensibilities, and packed with plenty of pungency, needing not even a drop of tabasco, which it did not have, and neither Worcestershire sauce. It has enough gusto to smother the awkward flavor of tomato juice. It's strange that I should find tomato juice to be such a strange flavor when the tomato is my second favorite fruit. I oftentimes just eat tomatoes as a hand fruit, especially the Roma variety.
It was a cold day (by Southland standards). I derived guilty pleasure in seeing tourists leave their cars wearing t-shirts and carrying no extra layering, assuming the sunshine boded a warm day, not a wind-chilled afternoon and shivering dusk.
Day drinking with Ryan and Brianne is like an impromptu holiday; and a marathon event.
And no day at the Park with them is complete without warming the soles of our shoes on the patio of Napa Rose. Should you find yourself in said lounge, see if Matt is working. He may be the best bartender in Orange County (with apologies to the excellent and skilled Carthay staff, who haven't as much license to experiment).
Ryan and Brianne will resume having passes in the Fall. Their myrth will be missed.
No comments:
Post a Comment