Originally Posted by
JBord
Early welcome back! Not sure what area you're heading to, but if you need any food or drink recs when you get back, I know the city and the north burbs restaurants about as well as anyone (and I'm humble
), and would be happy to offer suggestions. Of course, as things reopen here, it may be a slightly new landscape for both of us.
Thanks! My new colleagues just went to Cafe Babareeba on Friday for happy hour and I was pleased to see it's still around. We are definitely looking forward to all the great restaurants Chicago has to offer. Portland's restaurant scene is really excellent, especially for a city its size, so we haven't been lacking for options here either.
You reminded me, my wife sometimes uses Cointreau instead of Triple Sec. I prefer her homemade style to even most restaurant margaritas, so couldn't agree with you more about this.
I find Cointreau is a nice middle ground between triple sec and Grand Marnier.
Would love to try the green. Here's my first rec for Chicago that may change your mind about Bloody Marys. Bub City in River North, for brunch. I assume their "make your own Bloody Mary" bar is closed during COVID, but if/when it reopens, check it out. The drink is not the point...the bar has about 50 toppings with long skewers...sliders, shrimp, grilled cheese sandwiches, etc. IIRC, one drink costs about $16, but if you know what you're doing you can fit about $40 worth of food on top. First time we went, we met friends who picked the place. We got there first, I made a drink and thought it was good. Then our friends showed up and I learned from the masters. They didn't even order from the meu.
If the restaurant is good with it then so am I! Sounds decadent lol
I used to like them with just a splash of Vermouth. Still fine that way, but I've also graduated to about a 1-3 ratio. In general, I have a new appreciation for Vermouth in general after visiting northern Spain in 2019. Unfortunately, that means I've found myself going to the fancy liquor store and spending more on it than just picking up a bottle of Martini & Rossi at the grocery store.
Blech! Martini and Rossi is the vermouth equivalent of jug wine. I usually buy Dolin or Noilly Prat. The bottle is like $20 I think but I buy it so infrequently that I don't care. And my mantra is that life is too short for cheap booze.
Originally Posted by
corky
I use Cuervo but I use the "light" version so it is not all sugar, nor is it artificial tasting or overly sweet. I do add my own triple sec to up the orange flavor & I would use Cointreau or Grand Marnier if I wanted to splurge. I would disagree with buying lime juice....only fresh squeezed. I would never use bottled lime or lemon juice in cooking and I don't in drinks either. I think it is a noticeable difference.
In the summer I like to make all kinds of versions of margaritas.....strawberry with basil, mango, cilantro & jalapeno, peach. etc. This is where the cuervo mix really comes in handy.
You're probably right but then I'd have to buy all those limes and juice them. Sounds like a lot of work and I am a lazy lazy man. So I buy a bottle of Fresh Lime and it's more than good enough for me. I also live in the great frozen north so the taste of fresh squeezed lime juice is but a rumor.