Mixing it up

So, earlier this week, I was interviewed by Amanda from Restaurant Business Magazine regarding my collaboration with the guys at Root on the beer dinner on the 27th of this month. We had a great conversation, and seemed to hit it off. So when she was in town for the Louisiana Restaurant Association's Restaurant Trade Show on Saturday, we made plans to meet up for a drink at the Avenue Pub. Well, one beer turned into 5, we ate burgers on the Balcony, and then headed out to a couple cocktail joints downtown.

3 beers

First up: loa in the International Hotel. Pretty swank, but actually also very comfy. I'd never been for some reason, so we enjoyed several cocktails, including: the Delilah (with London dry gin, st. germain, pineapple-balsamic– thai basil), the Park n' Fly (with anejo, sparkling rose, blood orange, and galangal) and something called a Haitian Sazerac made with rum and also of awesome? Great music and bar snacks as well. (very important!!)

3 cocktails

Next up: Belloq. We took advantage of the complimentary valet parking and sat at the bar. It was quiet so we had the opportunity to talk to the bartender, which is always fun. Tom had the rum cobbler, Amanda had the whiskey cobbler, and I had the "Bartender's choice" and he made up an awesome bitter cocktail with Fernet, Punt y Mas, and... other stuff. It was freaking delicious.

So it was a very chill but very New Orleans night of drinking, making friends, and having an awesome time. Can't wait to see what's in store next Saturday night!