Panache blogs: #books; #entertainment; #nationalentertainment; #romance
National Martini Day is June 19 and a host of area establishments are pouring it on with both martini and food promotions.
Participants include:
Adorn Bar, seventh floor of Four Seasons Hotel Chicago, in addition to a sweeping view of the Mag Mile, offers table-side cocktail mixing experience to patrons. Among the venue's offerings:
‘The ‘Billionaire’s Last Word,’ a blend of: the rare Chartreuse VEP Green, Aviation gin, Luxardo maraschino, and a caviar-stuffed cherry.
Green Chartreuse is the only liqueur in the world with a completely natural green color. Only two Chartreuse monks know the identity of the 130 plants, how to blend them and how to distill them into this world famous liqueur. The slow aging process is done in oak casks. The bitter taste makes it the perfect after dinner drink
Located inside Kimpton the Forum Hotel in Charlottesville, VA, Birch & Bloom invites you to celebrate National Martini Day with their Rind & Brine Martini. This elevated cocktail features Parmesan & Black Pepper Infused Vodka, Hand Pressed Olive Brine, Dolin Blanc, and Blue Cheese Stuffed Olives. Crafted by beverage director Daniel Beedle, the Rind & Brine offers a savory twist on the classic martini, using fat washing techniques for precise flavor extraction. This method ensures the bold flavors of Parmesan and black pepper are perfectly balanced with the briny notes. Enjoy this standout drink on the terrace with sweeping views of the hotel’s lush five-acre botanical gardens.
Bloom Plant Based Kitchen from Chef Rodolfo Cuadros serves up Chicago’s best 100% plant based and vegan food, and it’s located right in the heart of Wicker Park. Bloom offers a surprise twist on the menu for National Martini Day with the restaurant’s Dirty Matcha Martini. The drink features Koloa spiced rum paired with vodka and topped off with a matcha cold brew.
BVD Steakhouse:
Chef Joe Flamm and BLVD Steakhouse: launched new daily specials along with offering a half-off martini initiative (featuring half off martini with choice of spirit) only.
What better way to celebrate National Martini Day than at a steakhouse with a South American twist. At El Che, Chef John Manion pays homage to South America through his innovative live-fire grilling. Similarly, its cocktail program focuses on riffs and twists on classic steakhouse cocktails. Sip on the Fifty-Fifty Martini featuring Principe Los Apostoles Mate Gin, and La Fuerza Blanco Vermouth.
Celebrate National Martini Day at the Michelin-starred Galit! Chef Zach Engel focuses on a seasonal and localized Midwest approach to dishes of the Middle East and cocktails are inspired by spice vendors. With spices being such an important part in Middle Eastern cuisine and Galit’s dishes, the team wanted to also make it as important within their cocktail program too. Beverage Director, Scott Stroemer, utilizes various spices and seasonings that one would typically find in the kitchen and not behind the bar. Cocktails are made with dried Hyssop, Sumac, Orchidea, Tellicherry Pepper, Cumin, Urfa, Zhoug Bitters, and more. The team infuses the spices into syrups or bitters all made in-house. This National Martini Day sip on the Za’atar Martini. Made with half Lebanese Gin and half vermouth that is infused in-house for 72 hours with dry Hyssop stems.
Gioia, 1123 W. Randolph St., offers a martini-specific menu featuring a playful selection of two savory and two sweet martinis directly inspired by Italian traditions and Chicago culture. For a savory sipper, try the Giardiniera martini made with Chicago's favorite condiment that actually originated in Italy. There’s also the Caprese Martini featuring the flavors of summer tomatoes and basil in a glass. For sweeter cravings, sip the Giacomilla martini with bursts of lemon and chamomile or the Frutti di Bosco Martini with floral notes, fresh mint, and berries. With every martini order, guests are served edible garnishes and a side serving of Italian snacks.
LG's Bar Kitchen, 1524 N. Wells St., highlight's its The Pornstar Martini (colorful drink is typically served with a champagne shooter or splash of champagne). The Irish-American bar is offering the the drink with a Prosecco split and “Drinking Buddy” garnish.
Pigtail, 500 N. Clark St., highlights its Inverted Dirty Martini by starting with a base of Spanish blanco vermouth. The cocktail swaps in malty Genever and bumps it all up a notch with a dash of saline. The team wanted to flip the classic Dirty Martini by highlighting the elegant aromatics and flavor of a Spanish vermouth. Instead of the classic olive brine and olive garnish, the Martini is finished with a Spherified olive, using Chef José Andrés’s liquid olive technique. The surprise is a bit of Valdeón blue cheese in the center, lending salinity and a savory note to the drink.
The Smith, spotlights: The Dirty Martini, Midtown Manhattan No. 3, Lychee Gimlet, Basil Lemon Drop, and more; $12. For those looking for a light bite, enjoy $2.00 oysters, and The Royale seafood platter which includes shrimp cocktail, oysters and salmon tartare for just $39.00. Other specialty bites such as the potato chips and Blue Cheese fondue, black truffle arancini, fries, and more.
PHOTO CREDIT: www.freeimages.com
.jpg)