So Where Are You Drinking Tonight?

  Being a Southern California native, my first outings in Little Rock were basically down by The River Market which was fine because I was probably not so concerned with the taste of my drinks as I was the party. Now, a few years older and wiser, I'm finding myself more interested in the process of my drinks. The flavor, how it's made, what you should mix with it or eat with it.
  I owe credit to Ian Beard of Stone's Throw Brewery for making me think about beer. I first met Ian working on The Southern Gourmasian food truck at The Little Rock Film Festival last year. He had come to discuss his upcoming brewery with Chef Justin Patterson and we got to talking about beer. I may have been avoiding craft beer because I thought it was sour but he really got me thinking I needed to give it another chance. One of the great benefits I had working with Chef Justin was the monthly beer dinner he does with Stone's Throw. Each month these two forces combine and pair 5 beers with 5 dishes. Yes it is just as amazing as you think. I started paying attention to all the hidden flavors. The dark, coffee-like flavor of a Black IPA, light crisp flavors that wake your senses in a Heff, differences in carbonation to maintain it's integrity. It is like I had rediscovered beer all together. It was no longer a vessel for beer pong but it had purpose. It could be paired with a carefully thought out dish and made to be something complete.
  I started really paying attention to mixology at John Currence's Snack Bar in Oxford, Ms. this last year. I'm going to say that if you are at The Kentucky Derby, You get a mint julep [proper], if you are in Louisiana, you get a Hurricane and if you are in Oxford, Ms., you get a City Grocery Bloody Mary. Little Rock is so diverse that it gets a little of everything.

 

  Working at Big Orange, I am privileged to be around the great drink creations of Lee Edwards and our band of wonderful bartenders. Big Orange is known for making a great Old Fashioned but did you know about the Blood and Sand with Mezcal? It's smoky and citrusy and surprisingly clean and it rocked my world. Another recent favorite has been The Fold at the base of Cantrell Hill. This place has a lot of fun spins on the Margarita but they nail whiskey with The Apple Fold Fix. It's similar to a whiskey sour to me, but more refreshing. It's a perfect summer drink and it goes great with the shrimp tacos. Speaking of margaritas and tacos, Local Lime makes the best skinny margarita. It seems that everyone wants to dump a pound of splenda into every skinny drink and this ones sweetness is subtle. It really plays on it's fresh flavors. I always get it with the chorizo tacos which makes me feel like I just super sized my meal at McDonald's and then asked for a diet coke ha! I absolutely love sitting on the patio on industry night (Mondays) at Ciao Baci and sharing a bucket of fizz. Full disclosure: I typically like anything that involves champagne. I can honestly say I have never had a bad drink at Ciao Baci. Or dessert for that matter!
  Of course, what would Little Rock be without Pizza and beer at Vino's, or Gut Busters and beer at Midtown (surely at 4 in the morning), or just beer at a Trav's game? This place is full of small spots that we like to have a few. I feel like you haven't experienced this town without grabbing a jack and coke at The Town Pump. These are those hang on the patio till the wee hours of morning type places.
Where I find myself with other chefs talking about new dishes and ideas; who's opening a new restaurant and who's working where now a days.
 Really grabbing a drink has been a long time excuse for social occasion and all these places set the mood for one occasion or another. What more could I say than here are a few suggestions Little Rock. Drink Responsibly!