Shaken, Not Stirred

By HATTIE FOOTE

Ilove martinis. Dirty, extra cold, vodka martinis with regular olives if I’m being specific. Something about those frosty glasses, that burn, just makes me feel like a classy, mysterious broad. This classic cocktail can be quite polarizing; I have friends who will drink them happily with me, and others who proclaim I am a disgusting human drinking lighter fluid! I feel it is my neighborly duty to guide you to some of my local favorite spots to have a Tini Tuesday (or Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, or Sunday)!

First of all, glassware matters; I don’t make the rules, it just does. I was recently poolside and my drink was served in a small plastic water cup, which was finished with two olives stabbed with a toothpick. Not to be dramatic, but I wanted to cry. And to add insult to injury, it DID taste like lighter fluid. I also had one at The Little Club that was exactly what you would expect from The Little Club: short and stout. I like them just fine from The Henry, Serea, & Dive, but there is one spot that reigns supreme in my eyes. Stake is that girl. I will say with my whole chest that it is the best happy hour in town. Serving a martini so beautiful and so crisp, you hear angels sing when you take your first sip. Pair that with the most epic appetizers like oysters, flatbread, and filet mignon skewers, and you are locked in for a great night.

I have had the best martini of my life, and the worst, both while on vacation. My all-time favorite was a magical date night in London with James Bond, aka my husband Chris. We went to The Connaught, and they had a MARTINI TROLLEY! It was so posh, and I can’t believe I went 40 years without experiencing this. An experience I wish I could forget was just recently this past spring break. A big group of us headed to Palm Desert, looking for sunshine and swimming. We stayed at a resort with questionable pool water during not only a 3-day sandstorm, but a 3-day OB-GYN conference as well. Everyone was tired and hungry, and seeing as our dining choices were limited, we chose an Italian restaurant on the property that could accommodate 25 of us. Our table looked comical and reminiscent of a small wedding. We ordered probably 80 pounds of butter noodles for the kids and drinks for the adults. Now listen, we are not complainers; in fact, it is my nightmare to send things back that aren’t up to par. When I tell you we sent our martinis back multiple times, at one point, the waiter brought out a giant glass of vermouth that nobody knew what to do with. We one hundred percent were being judged by the amount of warm vodka we had sitting on our table. Sometimes a tini is just not meant to be!

There are so many variations of the drink, an espresso martini being one of them, and it’s having a moment! Hot tip: Always ask if you can get it decaf so you aren’t up and wired, and vacuuming at 3 a.m.! If you venture over the bridge, Nolita Hall has the best Girl Dinner special, truffle fries, Caesar salad, vodka pasta, and an espresso martini for $30. The vibes are immaculate, and fun fact, the owners are opening a new Coronado restaurant soon! It’s going to be fab, and I can guarantee they will serve A+ martinis! So, cheers to summer, everyone, and rest assured, despite the big vodka energy I’m giving this month, I also drink plenty of water and green juice. It’s called balance!