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The Raymond Restaurant Re-Opens and 1886 Bar Introduces Their New Spring Cocktail Menu!

Published on Monday, April 29, 2013 | 3:40 pm
 
Daisy de Santiago

Los Angeles always has the same telltale signs of spring: the Jacarandas offer their magnificent purple blooms, convertible owners start dropping their tops, but this time around, there’s even more reason to celebrate: The Raymond Restaurant & 1886 Bar officially re-open tonight after three weeks of a full kitchen remodel, and they’re kicking things off with the release of their latest spring cocktail list! And the 1886 crew is bringing in an even newer spin to their traditional four-category menu approach with four entirely new categories; Soda Pop Shop, Study of Charles Baker, Time For Tea, and Anatomy Of A Meal. For their latest list of libations, they dug deep for inspiration and found it in interesting and unlikely places, translating each concept into a collection of cocktails destined to capture your imagination along with your taste buds.

The menu had survived for so long and performed well with those staples, and I think we had played within those boundaries for a good long while,” explains consultant Marcos Tello. “It was time to push it to the next level, while also coloring outside the lines. We’re blessed with a very talented bar team that’s made up with a mix of original core members and some new up-and-comers. We have really created a culture at 1886, so it gives us the ability to stretch the limits of what we can do.”

Judging from this season’s list, there’s no limits to what the 1886 bar team is capable of. The first section of new spring libations is Soda Pop Shop, featuring a selection of four drinks that celebrate everything carbonated and refreshing. But the story goes deeper than that. As Tello tells it, not only is this section a nod to

Pasadena’s famed Fair Oaks Pharmacy and its old-school soda fountain, but back in the days of prohibition, many talented barkeeps had to take jobs as soda jerks to keep the money coming in. So which drink best exemplifies the spirit of the Soda Pop section? Says Tello, “I love Brady Weise’s Coke & A Smile. It’s just amazing, and it almost tastes like an egg cream phosphate, but it’s bitter and has a Coke flavor to it. It’s made with Rye whiskey, Fernet Menta, Galliano Ristretto, a whole egg, and Mexican Coke, and we then strain it back into a classic Coke bottle and serve.”

Next up, the inventive Study of Charles Baker. An esteemed writer who shared his views on traveling, food and drink with such esteemed publications such as Esquire, Town & Country and Gourmet Magazine, Baker eventually culled his favorite recipes in a two-volume book called The Gentleman’s Companion. “So many people have recreated the drinks exactly as they were done back in 1939 when the books came out, but you can’t really do that today, because they were using different ingredients back then,” Tello says. “Plus, the fact that Baker was a world traveler and his ingredients are hard to find. So, at 1886, we took the best versions of our favorite drinks from his travels, and tailored them to 1886 Bar so we could share them with everyone.”

Of the more notable cocktails in this section of four sips, Remember the Maine, a sweeter version of the classic Manhattan, hosts a glassful of Rye, Sweet Vermouth, Cherry Heering and Absinthe, while the Holland Razor Blade combines Bols Genever, sugar, lemon and cayenne.

If you’re looking for the perfect addition to a lovely afternoon, Time For Tea has you covered. This section’s trio of tea-infused libations comes courtesy of colleagues creating cocktails in New York and London, and each recalls the simple joys of having a mid-day break accompanied by a little cuppa. Of course, these cuppas have a little zing to them, but they’re still wonderfully refined and pair well with a stunning patio setting. Take, for example, the Earl Grey Martini, created by New York Mixologist Audrey Saunders. Its blend of Earl Grey-infused gin, lemon, sugar and egg white is sure to please.

And finally, the most ambitious section of all: Anatomy of a Meal. Though, the 1886 crew has collaborated with the kitchen to help create many new inventive additions to their signature cocktails in the past, they’ve never really delved into drafting drinks to pair with the kitchen’s meal offerings… until now. “At 1886, we like to do long explorations into things. People say, ‘I played with that,’ and my question is ‘Did you master it, or did you play with it?’ We like to master things,” Tello notes. “People think it’s easy to pair cocktails with meals, and it’s not. It’s something that we’re just barely trying to explore, and we’re sharing that exploration with our clientele by inviting them to try these new cocktails and give us feedback. The Raymond has a new kitchen and Executive Chef Tim Guiltinan and Pastry Chef Jeffrey Haines are firing on all cylinders, so now it’s time for us to play with some flavors.” And, all of the bases are covered in this section, from a palate cleanser in the form of the Sprezzatura, with Campari, Cynar and grapefruit soda to the shellfish dish-friendly Mama Loves Mango with Mezcal, tequila, mango, citrus, cayenne, and cocktails that compliment red meat and game dishes, as well as dessert.

So belly up to 1886 Bar at The Raymond Restaurant for a fabulous feast of liquid flavors that represent spring. The 1886 crew are waiting for you!

For more information about 1886 Bar’s new spring menu or reservations at The Raymond Restaurant, please call (626) 441-3136 or visit www.theraymond.com.

SPRING COCKTAIL MENU

SODA POP SHOP

As a tribute to all our barkeeps who had to hang up their shakers and turn to becoming “Soda Jerks” during the years of prohibition. We offer this section as a nod to everything carbonated & refreshing.

Gindonesian Whistle

Created by Greg Gertmentian

The spring release of our seasonal house bottled soda.

Damrak Gin, Strawberries, Lemon, Indonesian Long Pepper

“Coke & A Smile”

Created by Brady Weise

A boozy tribute to the American icon presented in its original packaging.

Rye, Fernet Menta, Galliano Ristretto, Whole Egg, Coca-Cola

Weisse Car

Created by Brady Weise

We recreated the timeless, classic “Sidecar” using a Weisse (complete with its own side car!). Cognac, Curacao, Lemon, Hefeweizen

Curry-ously Refreshing

Created by Lacey Murillo, Pete Lloyd-Jones & Gillian Georges

A refreshing toast to the East Indies and all the seamen who wish they had one of these on their long voyages. Batavia Arrack, Curry Lime Cordial, Soda

STUDY OF CHARLES BAKER

Baker spent much of his life traveling the world and chronicling food and drink recipes for such publications as Esquire, Town and Country, and Gourmet. He collected many of those recipes in his 2 volume set, “The Gentlemans Companion”, originally published in 1939. Here we share some of his travels with you.

Holland Razor Blade

Discovered in Batavia in 1931.

Bols Genver, Sugar, Lemon, Cayenne

Mexican Firing Squad

Created at the La Cucaracha Bar, Mexico City, 1937.

Tequila, Grenadine, Lime, Bitters

Daisy de Santiago

Introduced to Mr. Baker by Don Facundo Bacardi.

Rum, Lime, Yellow Chartreuse

Remember the Maine

“A hazy memory of night in Havana during the unpleasantness of 1933.”

Rye, Sweet Vermouth, Cherry Heering, Absinthe

TIME FOR TEA

Tea time is a time to set down and enjoy the afternoon with company. We’ve invited three of our most respected colleagues for tea, and would like to share their libations with you.

Earl Grey Martini

Created by Audrey Saunders, NY.

Earl Grey infused Gin, Lemon, Sugar, Egg White

Liquor-ish Whiskey Smash

Created by Chad Solomon, NY

Licorice infused Rye, Benedictine, Lemons, Mint

G,G, & T

Created by Nick Strangeway, LONDON

Gin, Galliano, Verbena Tea

ANATOMY OF A MEAL

So often people ask us what cocktails pair with which dish? We find this extremely difficult since each cocktail and every dish are so complex and different. We’ve set out four cocktails which we think pair well with different categories of food. Still a work in progress, we encourage your feedback.

Sprezzatura

Created by Pete Lloyd-Jones

Please consider trying before your meal to cleanse your palate

Campari, Cynar, Grapefruit Soda

Mama Loves Mango

Created by Rosie Ruiz

Try pairing with dishes where fish or shellfish take center stage.

Mezcal, Tequila, Mango, Citrus, Cayenne

Dinner at the Gamble House

Created by Nikita Minin

Try pairing with red meat or game.

Cedar infused Bourbon, East India Sherry, Sweet Vermouth

Rum Manhattan

Created by Greg Gertmenian

A good idea for dessert or along side it.

2 types of Rum, Sweet Vermouth, Amaro Cio Ciaro

 

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