C’Viche

There’s a new chico in town … and his name is C’Viche. Get your ass into this play ASAP, because it’s f**king delicious.

Their cocktails pack a punch and are a perfect complement to their Mexican and South American food. They have an extensive full bar with some more exotic options, so you can get traditional margaritas or get a little crazy with Pisco drinks. Check out some details of my visit below.

We started with their complimentary chips & salsa while we poured over their menu. Their food options are limited in the most perfect way–they don’t do all that much, but what they do, they do really damn well. Their menu is literally five simple sections … ceviches (obvi.)and crudos, specialties, quesadillas, “snacks”, and tacos.

In the meantime, we ordered a couple drinks with the help of the owner and chef, Randall–Jackie* went with their mojito and I opted for a Pisco Sour … because Pisco. Jackie hadn’t tried Pisco, so we were given small tastes to sip. If you want to know more about Pisco, check out #SDDContributor Brian’s review or mine from ages ago!

Their bar is pretty extensive, offering “100% agave Mexican tequilas & mezcal, Caribbean rums, Brazilian cachaça and Argentinian Pisco”. You can also opt for their local or Mexican & South American beers on tap or some wine. But, when in C’Viche …

: Pisco Sour

: Pisco tasting

Their food is unexpectedly good. Though, they’re owned by the same guy as Clark Food & Wine Company, so I should have known better … because that place is legit.) The food is inspired by Mexican and South American cuisine and makes the food its own in a special and delicious way.

My absolute favorite food item we tried was the Tuna Crudo “Poke Style” (tuna crudo, tamari, ginger, and scallions). Jackie and I had a little fork fight over who got the last piece … I kid you not. We also got into some serious queso business along with their Street Style Corn and Avocado Fries. Not to be missed is their fresh fish, which you can choose which fish you prefer, chopped (ceviche) or sashimi style (crudo), which style you’d like (Baja, Peruvian, island, or Asian), and you can even have them make it into a salad for just $2.

: Chips and Salsa

: Street Style Corn

: Fried Egg Taco

: Queso and Chips

: Avocado Fries

: Ceviche

: Tuna Crudo “Poke Style”

The atmosphere is decided casual thanks to the nice natural light it lets in, red metal bar stools, industrial lights, and cement floors. The music keeps it light and the staff lights to kid around … which just makes things a little more fun.

Stop into C’Viche soon and get you some of their tuna crudo to accompany their new happy hour specials.
C’VICHE & TEQUILA BAR
www.cvicheandtequila.com
1922 Greenville Ave, Dallas, TX 75206
(214) 238-3509

*Jackie is my new friend who happens to be a fellow blogger … check her our at Pretty Petals! You’ll hear about her again.

The Second Floor Bar

I have visited the Dallas Galleria more than few times (women be shopping’, yo), and I’m kind of mad at myself that all along, I have been missing out on the greatness that is The Second Floor by Scott Gottlich.

Aptly named, this sleek, contemporary spot is nestled away on the second floor of the Westin Galleria, and just paces away from the interior mall entrance. I had a chance to belly up to the bar to check out The Second Floor’s liquid offerings. Let me tell you, they’ve got a lot going on here, folks. This is not your average hotel bar. It may be attached to the Westin, but the sippable menu at The Second Floor easily competes with offerings you would expect to find at some of the best watering holes in Dallas. If you haven’t discovered this spot yet, it could be a game changer. Ladies, is that shopping trip you dragged your guy on taking just a liiiitttle bit longer than originally advertised? Sit him down at the bar, and you’re solid for at least another hour. Better yet, are the odds ne’er in your favor when swim suit shopping? Screw swimsuits … they have cocktails.

When I say they do things differently here, I’m not kidding; I was impressed to learn that The Second Floor actually makes their own hand-crafted aromatic tonic, infused with orange bitters and burnt cinnamon. The Second Floor’s creative and thoughtful cocktail menu offers seasonal features in addition to old standbys; one fan favorite is the Cucumber Sip (Organic cucumber vodka, elderflower, strawberry, & soda, $12), which I’m told is The Second Floor’s most popular drink. I had the opportunity to sample the House Sangria ($8), which was chock-full of boozy berries that I’m told spent a good amount of time hanging out in a cognac-lemon-elderflower concoction prior to taking a dip in my glass. (Is it rude to ask for a fork to get these leftovers from the bottom of my glass?) The sangria was rich and bursting with fruity goodness, and ultimately waaayyyy too easy to drink.

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A few new inventions that are featured on The Second Floor’s spring cocktail menu include:

GRILLED MARGARITA – Char-grilled orange, El Jimador tequila, Combier, lime ($12)
CINNAMON SIDECAR – Four Roses bourbon, Combier, lemon, cinnamon, bubbly ($13)
CHAPALA – Hornitos Black Barrel tequila, mole bitters, grapefruit infused agave nectar, ground Mexican chocolate ($13)

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Perhaps the thing I was most impressed with overall about The Second Floor’s fleet of beverages is their extensive whiskey menu. With more than 70 American whiskey offerings in total, and an equally impressive Scotch list, the menu runs the gamut from old standards to Texas labels to far more exotic options. (18-year Japanese whiskey, anyone? ) Intriguingly, The Second Floor offers a very nice variety of whiskey tasting flights. Oh, yes. Flights start at just $12, but if you’re feeling saucy, go for “The Big Spender”–this flight features three whiskeys each aged 21 years or better (Hello, 25-year Macallan), and it can be yours for a mere $100.

Additionally, The Second Floor boasts a comprehensive wine list with more than 80 offerings by the bottle, 20 of them by the glass. If you are a beer drinker, they’ve got you covered, featuring 12 premiums, 12 Texas craft brews, and 5 domestic options. Pro-tip: With any food or beverage purchase, The Second Floor will validate your Westin Galleria parking, which is kind of awesome. Must remember this come holiday shopping.

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Stay tuned for another post soon about their new menu offerings for Summer 2015!
The Second Floor offers up some mighty fine happy hour specials.

Happy Hour- 4-6 PM, Monday- Friday

Specialty cocktail of the day (changes daily) $5
Domestic beer $4
“The Best $5 Wine in the City”- Honoro Vera, Garnacha OR Les Costières de Pomerols, Picpoul de Pinet

Various snacks and small bites, $2-5

The Second Floor by Scott Gottlich
The Westin Galleria Dallas, Level 2
13340 Dallas Parkway Dallas, TX 75240
(972) 450-2978

Grand Cercle: des Vines de Bordeaux (aka: a wholebunchawine)

I had the opportunity to attend an amazing wine tasting event hosted at The Tower at Cityplace: “Grand Cercle, des Vins de Bordeaux: From Barrel to Bottle”. As you may have guessed, this event featured wines from the Bordeaux region–34 wineries from the Left and Right banks were represented, to be precise. If you would like to learn more about the Bordeaux Region in France, and the fabulous wines it produces, here are some fabulous quick hits to bring you up to speed.

What made this event particularly unique was the fact that the wines we tasted were being poured not by their distributors, but by the winemakers or vineyard owners themselves, who came from France to be at the tasting. (Ooh, la la!) It made for a special opportunity to hear about what I was tasting directly from the vintner. While I certainly enjoy wine, the enthusiasm and expertise some of my fellow attendees appeared to bring to the table made me feel like a middle school kid who’d snuck into a high school dance. That said, I was fascinated listening to some of the super-fancy-pants Dallasites in attendance (some of whom donned an amazing array of bow ties, paisley suits, straw hats, and the likes) as they chatted up the super-fancy-pants French wine gurus.

Yes, I may have been a fish out of water at this event, but I was such a happy fish. A warm, toasty, happy fish; nearly 150 varieties and vintages of wines were poured that evening, and I’m always oddly intimidated by the spittoon concept. That said, it would be implausible for me to review more than a few of the wines I tasted (for several reasons…). While this event was definitely red-centric, I was pleased to see a handful of white Bordeauxs being poured throughout the evening. (After all, I’m a white girl…wait…I mean, I am a girl who enjoys white wines.) My favorite of the bunch may have been the 2011 Chateau Magrez Fombrauge Bordeaux Blanc, which was vibrant and lightly acidic, with hints of melon and citrus. It was perfectly drinkable. Maybe a little too drinkable. The 2010 Chateau Le Sartre Blanc was also lovely- medium bodied, with a juicy tropical citrus profile. That’s not to say I left this event without being blown away by an untold number of reds. Notably, I enjoyed the 2011 Chateau La Marzelle, which was rich yet soft and supple, with a hint of cherry and deep, peppery finish.

This event hosted a silent auction that took place throughout the evening, featuring a number of rare and hard to find bottles as well as limited releases. While I did not partake in the silent auction, I saw many guests enthusiastically scrawling down numbers that contained more digits than I personally have ever paid for a bottle of vino. What I did partake in was the tasty variety of hors de oeuvres that were made available throughout the evening, which were a vital component in maintaining the ability to walk in a straight line following this event.

This event gave me a new appreciation of wines from the Bordeaux region- excuse me, Vins de Bordeaux- and I’m pretty sure I’m like roughly 10-15% fancier now, having attended.

Lobby Lounge at the Mandarin Oriental (New York City)

My sister and I remembered the amazing experience we had more than eight years ago at this bar. We were there with friends and were absolutely floored by the view overlooking Central Park from the southwest corner in the Time Warner building.

The service is impeccable and the drinks are well-mixed. Order a drink and a couple of their tapas-style appetizers and watch the sun set over the park. It really is one of the best places to do it in the city. Just make sure to get a spot by the window!

Lobby Lounge at the Mandarin Oriental
MandarinOriental.com
80 Columbus Circle, New York, NY 10023
(212) 805-8800

HOURS:
9am – 1am (Sun – Thu)
9am – 2am (Fri & Sat)

TEA: 2:30 – 4:30pm (Daily)

Hilton@Play: Nick Jonas

Hilton has started a new series, Hilton @Play, a partnership with Live Nation, where Hilton HHonors members can experience private events at their properties. It’s part of an effort to give their hardworking guests the chance to play a little. (I like it.) HHonors members have the chance to reserve tickets with their points on the HHonors website.

For their Dallas Hilton @Play event, the brought Nick Jonas to the Hotel Anatole for a private concert. When you arrived, there was a red carpet experience followed by a VIP-style reception, complete with a live DJ, plenty of food, an open bar, a photo booth, and plenty of people with which to mingle.

: Strawberry Mojitos

: Photo Booth Experience

The concert itself was so small that everyone got a great place to watch. Even better, there was a bar inside the venue (sweet) and enough video coverage that you could see every second of the show in full HD glory.

Nick did his thing on stage and, I’m not the crazy Nick Jonas fan like the girls in front, but I really enjoyed the show. (He is really damn talented, after all.) The girls went extra wild when he mentioned that Dallas is his hometown — because we do breed talent in the Big D.

During the concert, they replaced the appetizers and savory food with a smorgasbord of deliciousness for concert-goers to enjoy after the show. On the way out, we even got goodie bags and the chance to snap a couple pap photos on the red carpet again.

The Chester (New York City)

I don’t know who Chester is, but I really like that dude. I was lucky enough to try out The Chester while in NYC this past April and have been haunted by some of the delicious dishes I had since. The Chester is an unassuming little restaurant in Midtown (with another location in The Meatpacking District in the Gansevoort) with traditional American fare … with a twist.

We hit The Chester up for brunch because we couldn’t have a big a dinner since we were running a half marathon the next morning. (Seriously. We’re nuts.) So we opted for a not-too-late brunch and hit it hard. Because … carbs are important. But, their dinner menu sounds absolutely amazing–I mean Orange-fennel Salad, Squid Ink Tagliarini, Eggplant Toast, Pork Belly … ugh, why didn’t we go for dinner?!

Their brunch menu has some of the more traditional options, but who needs traditional when you can have Breakfast Eggrolls!? They were packed with scrambled eggs and veggies and were fried to a perfect crisp. We also opted for the Blistered Shishito Peppers (lemon zest, fried garlic, and maldon sea salt). My sister said that, without a doubt, they were the best shishito peppers she’d ever had. I’d really have to agree. The garlic added a bunch of flavor and the best little hint of texture. I went with The Sawdust (Rosemary-infused Ketel One, Moet, lemon juice, and agave) to start light and it was a great choice.

The cocktail menu offered some classic options but mostly slightly remixed options. The West Side, Roosevelt, and Hellfire were all tempting!

: The Sawdust

: Breakfast Eggrolls

: Blistered Shishito Peppers with Fried Garlic

Entrees were a challenge. I mean … how do you choose between Eggs Benedict on a cheddar scone topped with chorizo hash and Banana Pancakes with rum-caramelized bananas and salted caramel?! I mean … my mouth is watering and I’m about to look at flights to head back up there right now. Luckily, someone had recommended their Fried Chicken (sweet tea brined chicken served with blistered shishito peppers and Thai dressing), so I at least had a hint. The sweet tea brine gave it a subtle sweetness that was irresistible. When the waitress came to clear our plates, I actually said to her “Don’t look at me … I’m hideous” because I’d gotten so into the chicken that I, quite literally, had it all over my hands and face.

My sister went with The Burger (hanger steak, pimento cheese, and miso-Russian dressing served on a homemade buns with steak fries) and really enjoyed it. (I actually don’t know if I’ve ever seen her eat as much as I did that day. No judgement.)

If I had ANY room left, I’d have opted for some of their fresh oysters. They offer a selection of East Coast and West Coast oysters. (Which look amazing.)

: Fried Chicken with Blistered Shishito Peppers

: The Burger with Steak Fries

: The Burger with Steak Fries

The drinks at The Chester were all unique, yet classic. Since we had a big race to run the next day*, I followed-up the meal with The Cobblestone (Tanqueray, mint, cucumber, rhubarb bitters) instead of dessert. It was all I could do to resist the Sweet Ginger (Jameson, mont, honey-ginger syrup, and lemon)

The Cobblestone

The restaurant itself was HUGE–especially for a New York City space. There were two full bars offering both liquor and a selection of local beers–one in front with windows that allowed an open facade for beautiful spring days and one in the back of the restaurant … for less pleasant days. The Meatpacking space looks a bit brighter and offers a large, wood patio.

I’ll be hitting up the Meatpacking location on my next visit to The City, so stay tuned for another report! (Apparently they have a club, The Arthur, hidden inside.* That’s happening.)

THE CHESTER
TheChesterNYC.com
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Midtown
45 East 33rd Street, NYC 10016
(212)201-1228

Gansevoort Meatpacking
18 Ninth Avenue, NYC 10014
(646) 253-2284

*The Arthur: Reservations required after 11 p.m. Contact: info@paigegroupny.com.

Maker’s Mark #JulepOff 2015

I was honored to have been recruited by Maker’s Mark to participate in their first-ever #JulepOff! The challenge: remix the Kentucky Derby classic, the Mint Julep.

Maker’s Mark Mint Julep

Their traditional julep is as follows:

1.5 parts Maker’s Mark Bourbon
Fresh mint
2 tablespoons simple syrup
Distilled water
Powdered sugar

Muddle mint and simple syrup. Mix with Maker’s Mark and distilled water. Fill a julep cup with crushed ice and pour the mixture over the top of the ice. Sprinkle a bit of powdered sugar over the ice and garnish the drink with a mint sprig.

While delicious, I think we can do better here at Susie Drinks Dallas! Presenting the Run for the Roses Julep! We decided that rosewater would give the traditional julep unique flavor … and it looks sexy as hell.

Run for the Roses Julep

~12 fresh mint leaves (stemmed)
5 drops rosewater
1 oz simple syrup
2 oz Maker’s Mark Bourbon
Crushed or shaved ice
Rose petals
Mint sprig
Powdered Sugar
Julep cup

Muddle the mint leaves and simple syrup. (Don’t overmuddle or you’ll be sad.) Add the bourbon and rosewater, stir lightly. Fill a julep cup with shaved or crushed ice then pour the mixture over the ice. Garnish with a rose petal and mint sprig. Lightly sprinkle powdered sugar over the drink.

Want to up the ante? How about some Mint Julep Jelly Shots!?

2 packets unflavored gelatin
2 C chilled water
1/2 C mint leaves (fresh is best)
1/2 C granulated sugar
3/4 C Maker’s Mark bourbon
Mint sprigs

Put gelatin into cold water in a saucepan then let sit for about 5 minutes. Add the mint leaves and sugar, then heat over medium heat for about 4 minutes, then turn the heat off and let sit for 15 minutes. Strain and then stir in the Maker’s Mark. Pour into shot glasses then refrigerate for at least 5 hours.

I’d greatly appreciate your support in the #JulepOff! Please visit the Maker’s Mark Pinterest starting 4/23 and REPIN my recipe! I have until May 1 to get as many REPINS as possible.

(Please only repin it once per account.)

Roses not your thing? Some other recipes I came up with are below!

Lavender Mint Julep
~12 fresh mint leaves (stemmed)
1 oz lavender syrup
2 oz Maker’s Mark Bourbon
Crushed or shaved ice
Lavender
Mint sprig
Powdered Sugar
Julep cup

Muddle the mint leaves and lavender simple syrup. (Don’t overmuddle or you’ll be sad.) Add the bourbon, stir lightly. Fill a julep cup with shaved or crushed ice then pour the mixture over the ice. Garnish with a lavender stem and mint sprig.

Mile High Julep
6-8 min leaves
1 3/4 oz Maker’s Mark Bourbon
1/2 oz Ancho Reyes Chile Liqueur
1/2 oz ginger syrup
1/4 oz fresh lemon juice
Mint sprig

Combine ingredients in a julep cup and lightly muddle. Add crushed ice and garnish with a mint sprig.

A huge thanks to my favorite guys over at The People’s Last Stand for their help getting the recipe perfect!

Dallas #BoozeNews: April 20, 2015

MORE BURGERS, PLEASE

TWISTED ROOT BURGER JOINT: They’ve done it … they’ve abandoned the beef (at least just for one menu item). Stop in and try TRBC’s newest option, the (vegan) Veggie Burger, made with black beans, hummus, quinoa, and more.

KENNY’S BURGER JOINT: Because burgers are not decadent enough – Kenny Bowers has launched a BIGGER option – the Ultimate Cheese Burger. Kenny’s Ultimate Cheeseburger is a ½ pound bacon cheeseburger sandwiched between two hand-crafted grilled cheese sandwiches.

MORE MALAI
So I’m excited about the first part of this news … West Village favorite, Malai Kitchen, will open another restaurant in Southlake’s Park Village this fall! Southlake residents will be able to enjoy their Southeast Asian cuisine this fall!

Even better, starting May 1, Malai WV will begin serving a chef’s tasting menu that will change each month that will cost $58/person with optional wine pairings for $30. The first month’s menu includes Smoked Duck Breast, Vietnamese Scampi Soup, Curried Beef Short Rib and Taro Root and Dark Rum Coconut Milk Custard.

WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU LEMONS …
CMYK Cruzan Rum has released a new product, Cruzan Blueberry Lemonade Rum, just in time for summer debauchery beside the pool. This new option “blends fine Cruzan Rum with the essence of ripe blueberries and vibrant citrus to create a well-rounded spirit bursting with the taste of fresh fruit.”

Cruzan® Blueberry Lemonade Cooler (by mixologist Jesse Card)
2 parts Cruzan® Blueberry Lemonade Rum
3/4 part Fresh Grapefruit Juice
1 small pinch Sea Salt
Club Soda

Combine rum, grapefruit juice and salt over ice in a shaker. Shake vigorously for 10 seconds. Double strain into a glass over ice and top with club soda. Garnish with a twist of lemon peel.

GET ARTSY FARTSY WITH PATRÓN
Patrón wants to see what you can do with their bottles! Through July 17, they’re accepting submissions from its drinkers showing what they’ve done to creatively repurpose their bottles for the chance to win up to $10,000. (Seriously). You can find out all of the info you need and enter to win at ArtofPatron.com.

CINCO WITH DEAN
Dean’s really done it now. He worked with Patrón’s distillers to come up with his own añejo tequila! It’s smooth, slightly sweet, caramel flavors will be available starting May 5 at Fearing’s first-ever Cinco de Mayo party.

As part of its May 5 first-pour celebration, Fearing’s will introduce three new añejo cocktails created by Patron’s lead mixologist, Andres Ismael Moran Gutierrez – a renowned name in the tequila world and bartender for 400 Conejos mezcaleria in Guadalajara. Fearing’s will also use Patrón’s own Silver Tequila in that evening’s Dean’s Margaritas.

C’MON, GET HAPPY
Front Room Tavern launched its happy hour (finally) and I’m all about this lineup! Check out their happy hour menu here featuring local drafts and other beers, wines by the glass, and cocktails like the Elevated Mule (vodka, turbinado, lime, ginger beer, lime bitters) and the SW Strawberry Sour (pisco, strawberries, citrus, jalapeño, soda).
Enjoy the specials M-F, 3-6pm.

Cocktails from Front Room Tavern

WING THINGS
Wingstop has released a new, saucy option, Serrano Pepper Glaze. “This Latin-inspired sauce features a kick of fresh citrus and a roasted serrano pepper heat that lingers. Its saucy tang meets a fiery bang for those wing fans seeking an adventurous flavor experience.”

THE SHED … NEWLY VISITED
Starting June 1, the Dallas Farmers Market will begin Farmers Market Days at The Shed where local artisans will offer their goods Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. More information here.

MORE FROM THE 2ND FLOOR!
The 2nd Floor by Scott Gottlich will release new breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus! Stay tuned for my take on some of the new items later this month!