MockTails of the City #2: Clock Bar

In which I make my way around the City searching for sophisticated yet sober cocktails.

Cocktails, mocktails and local eats, like popcorn, nuts and salami meats.



Last week marked my return to a scene I had been taking a break from for the first half of 2009. A group of my friends get together on a regular basis, to try out cocktail bars all over the City. Initially I reigned in my attendance on account of the effects of the recession, but after cutting back on alcohol too, I wasn't sure if there would be any reason to ever return to these highly spirited gatherings. Eventually I missed the social aspect too much and I wanted back in. Plus, these days I am intrigued - just what is a mixologist who doesn't have alcohol to fall back on, capable of creating?

Clock Bar: Westin St. Francis, 335 Powell St, San Francisco, CA 94102, (415) 397 9222 [Website]
Visit: July 2009
Menu: No non-alcholic cocktails listed. [menu here]
Bartender's reaction: The first bartender I spoke to wasn't wildly enthusiastic at the notion of creating a non-alcholic cocktail. "It's just going to be juice", she remarked. After being pushed a little further by my requests for some something more imaginative she suggested making a dry version of their "Scottish Mule" - fresh lime, cucumber and ginger beer without the gin. The resulting drink, made by her male colleague, was great; refreshing, perfectly balanced and with very subtle nuances of cucumber. Bartender #2 was much more game for being experimental and he made me a second drink with lime and muddled rosemary. The result wasn't as successful, but I appreciated the attempt. Full marks for trying.
Price: Mocktails: $5 each.



Previously on Mocktails of the City: The Alembic.

© 2009 Sam Breach

MockTails of the City #2: Clock Bar

Drinkwell Soda, Lacto-Fermentation

Live probiotics, worth investigation.



I was pretty excited, a couple of months ago, when I was wandering around the Farmers' Market with my friend Jen and she stopped to chat with Nigel from Eatwell Farm, whom she knows. Accompanying Nigel on that particular Saturday was his fiance, Lorraine, who started telling us about her work with naturally fermented sodas. As someone who is currently interested in non-alcoholic libations, I was attentive and excited to learn that Lorraine would be selling her creations soon.

The time to try Lorraine's Drinkwell Sodas is now here. You will find her at the back of the San Francisco Ferry Building Farmers' Market on Saturday mornings, selling a selection of her sodas. I fell hook, line & sinker for the seasonal grapefruit flavour. I have always loved grapefruit drinks anyway, but this one, with it's muted fruit accents, gentle effervescence and softly tingling aftertaste was incredible. I bought a refillable Kanteen, priced at $20, so that I will be able to keep drinking Lorrain's sodas every Saturday, at $8 for 18 ounces. Alternatively, you can purchase by the cup in smaller amounts. Drinkwell Sodas cannot easily be bottled and sold through stores, they need to be consumed whilst fresh, which is why you will need to go to the source if you want to treat your tastebuds.

When you buy your soda, you can pick up an informational leaflet which will tell you about the lacto-fermentation process used to create the sodas, explaining that these sodas are live, active and containing probiotics which help you maintain healthy intestinal micro flora. At last we have something pure, natural and healthy that is local to boot and tastes really good too. If I were you, I'd give it a shot...




Archives
2008 2006

© 2009 Sam Breach

Drinkwell Soda, Lacto-Fermentation

MockTails of the City #1: The Alembic

In which I make my way around the City searching for sophisticated yet sober cocktails.

I might be pregnant, I might be an alcoholic, I might have a medical condition, I might not like the taste of alcohol, I might be training for a marathon, I might be taking antibiotics, I might need a clear head tomorrow morning, I might be driving or I might have another good reason to not be drinking tonight. If I am treating myself to a night out, but I choose to avoid alcohol, it doesn't mean I want to avoid indulging in an interesting well-crafted drink, the likes of which I wouldn't usually serve up at home. To the contrary, I love to be surprised. And I have started a search for the most sympathetic bartenders and the best non-alcoholic drinks in all of San Francisco...


The Alembic: 725 Haight Street, San Francisco, CA 94117 (415) 666-0822
Visit: July 2009
Menu: No non-alcholic cocktails or drinks listed.
Bartender's reaction: Unsympathetic and unenthusiastic. Needed to be cojoled.
Drink: Initial disinterest eventually resulted in an absolutely fantastic mystery mocktail topped with a little baby cilantro. So delicious, I had a second.
Price: $3 at the bar, $4 at the dinner table, as far as we recall (thanks Fatemeh).



Local Resources
My previous Alembic visit couldn't have been more different.

Archives
2008 2006

© 2009 Sam Breach

MockTails of the City #1: The Alembic

Raising a Toast,

To a lady on the Australian Coast



Today, in an event organised by Jennifer, I am honouring my friend, Barbara, of Winos and Foodies. Barbara recently completed a gruelling 6 months of Chemotherapy and so today several of Barbara's friends around the globe, including Bron who invited me to take part, are celebrating the end of her treatment by raising a glass of bubbles, to her. Until a few months ago Champagne was my favourite drink, but as Barbara knows, I have chosen to cut back on the alcohol recently, so instead I raised a glass of Sparkling water sweetened with a floral Elderflower Syrup that I picked up locally at Rainbow Grocery.

Cheers, Barbara, love from San Francisco, as always...




© 2009 Sam Breach

Raising a Toast,

Rocambole Stiff Neck Garlic from the Klamath River

Tomorrow is the last time, Hunter Orchards told me, that they will deliver


Hunter Orchards in Siskiyou only deliver their stiff neck garlic to the San Francisco Ferry Building Farmers' Market for a few weeks every year. They told me that tomorrow would be their last trip with this hard-to-source-in-California stiff neck garlic that will keep well in your cool pantry until Valentine's Day 2010. This could be your last chance to stock up.




Archives
2007 | Served on a pretty nasty plate.

© 2009 Sam Breach

Rocambole Stiff Neck Garlic from the Klamath River

Want to Eat Chocolate Every Day & Successfully Diet?

Then New Tree "Alpha" - I recommend you try it!

If there is one thing I am loathe to give up when I am dieting, it is chocolate and I've found that a little piece of dark chocolate every day satisfies any cravings. Recently, at Rainbow Grocery, I discovered range of Newtree's 'Alpha' range of chocolate discs that come in three flavours: Noir, Thym and Piment.

These small, but extremely satisfying 23 gram bars contain crisped rice and golden roasted flax seeds not only give each bite a pleasing nibbly effect and crunch, they provide 15% of the recommended daily amount of Omega 3 too. I don't pay any attention to the Omega 3's in my diet as a rule, but since Newtree's got it, I am not going to knock it.

For those who are calorie counting or 'Weightwatching', these small treats contain only 110 calories, or just 2 Weightwatcher points; very modest numbers in the world of chocolate eating.

I do have a certain amount of willpower, but perhaps not quite enough to stop myself sneaking 'just another square' once a larger bar has been unwrapped. That's why these tiny little 'Alpha' bars, help me overcome the issue of overindulging, by providing just enough chocolate to keep me happy, all in one small, handy package.

With its spicy kick, the 'Piment' is my favourite of the three flavours offered with the plain 'Noir' a close second. I would describe the 'Thym' as 'interesting' and although I don't dislike it, it does trail behind the other two in the desirability stakes.

And as for chocolate on a diet - you might be wondering - does it work? Well, I've lost over 20 pounds in just 14 weeks, so I'll let you be the judge of that...




Archives
2008 | Free Water for Life courtesy of Boccalone Salumeria
2006 | Lemony Yogurt
2005 | 2003 Vintage Coonawarra Majella Sparkling Shiraz
2004 | Restaurant Pizza "La Gioconda", Paris

© 2009 Sam Breach

Want to Eat Chocolate Every Day & Successfully Diet?