Taste CHEERS
SAKE SIPPER
Blue Hound Kitchen and Cocktails debuts a new Chinese zodiac-inspired menu
Blue Hound Kitchen and Cocktails recently rolled out a new cocktail menu in honor of the Year of the Dog on the Chinese zodiac. “This menu pays homage to the Asian food menus you see everywhere and is designed to be reminiscent of those. The experience-based phenomenon of ‘eat with your eyes first’ is on full display with this courageous and inventive 48-cocktail menu,” explains Lead Bartender Phil Clark That’s right. Diners have 48 cocktails to choose from. One might think that the prospect of having so many libations on one menu might be overwhelming, however the first page of the guide even has a “How to Use This Menu” memo, helping guests decode as they flip through. The offerings are broken out into sections by type and there are images of each one throughout. “There are subsections that guide the customer to an era, profile, or taste that will truly give them a unique experience,” Clark says. “Our skilled staff is right alongside to work the customer through and heighten the visit.” One option on the menu, which will run through the end of 2018, that is taking the spotlight early on is No. 35, New Japanese Cocktail ($16). You can find it under the Contemporary Cocktails subhead of the guide. Clark created the cocktail as a happy accident. It’s made with sake, gin, orgeat and fresh lemon. According to Clark, the combination of sake and orgeat is what makes this sipper unique, resulting in an east-meets-west harmony. His inspiration? “[It’s] a reimagining of a 19th century Japanese cocktail,” Clark explains. The taste is tart, dry and – as Clark describes – fluffy. Most importantly, the cocktail has no garnishes, showing the simple, straightforward style of it. Blue Hound Kitchen and Cocktails, 2 E. Jefferson St., Phoenix; 602.258.0231; www.bluehoundkitchen.com.
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Uptown April '18
BY GABBY RICHMAN / PHOTO BY DEBBY WOLVOS