Glassaholic: Seelbach
November 30, 2014
The Seelbach is one of our favorite time-warp inducing cocktails. Named after either a Kentucky hotel or an upstate NY hotel depending on who you ask, this drink has been around since 1917.
The delightfully dangerous thing about a Seelbach is that you get an instant champagne buzz when you start drinking it, and when you’re done, you’ve just had a shot of bourbon.
We shot this episode of glassaholic at Nother’s Day.
The Seelbach
1 oz bourbon
.5 oz cointreau
7 dashes Angostura’s
7 dashes Peychaud’s
stir with a sterling silver spoon then top with dry champagne. Add a lemon twist to fancy it up.
Back home at Hotel George (Thanks Steph!)
October 23, 2014
This is only my second time at the Hotel George (probably because it is so close to my actual home), but it already feels like home. Super friendly staff who have fun at checkin. Plus my friend Steph Vogel runs the place. You can tell his positive nature has sunk into the roots around here.
The presidential suite (or is it the royal suite??) is great (room number is 801). Nicely appointed rooms with the absolute best shower to be found in all Kimpton properties.
We’ll start with the shower. Glass and marble with a bench and its own window. Awesomeness.
the best @kimpton shower in the entire chain @kimptonindc hotel george. thanks steph! https://t.co/Nc0t0nuyFm
— noplasticshower (@noplasticshower) October 23, 2014
When we got up to the room, we were greeted with excellent charcuterie from bistrot bis and a bottle of Côtes du Rhone. Delish. And some san pellegrino.
Meat!
Here is the sitting room.
royal suite @kimptonindc @kimpton hotel george https://t.co/AC0HEUkFaR
— noplasticshower (@noplasticshower) October 23, 2014
Messy bedroom
Tonight we’re off to an adventure at the Columbia Room (tucked in the back at The Passenger, and Steph is coming with us.
The Columbia Room was absolutely fantastic as always. It is an oasis of calm and a great place to relax, converse, and maybe learn a little something about great cocktails. We chose to go à la carte this visit and were ably served by JP Featherston and Tyler. The food was particularly outstanding and only outdone by the phenomenal beverages.
Drink of the night was The Archimboldi (by JP Featherston):
1 oz Blanco or Resposado Tequila
.75 oz Punt et Mes
.75 oz Rainwater Madeira
.5 oz Nux Alpina
Stir down. Strain into a coupe.
The Columbia Room is absolutely worth a visit each trip to DC. And the George is a fiver showerheads plus hotel. Magic.
Hiatus at the Highball Lounge (Boston)
October 17, 2014
Of course the United flight up to Boston was delayed (90 minutes) and of course there was no wifi on the flight. You see, United spent all kinds of money on that stupid DirecTV system as if everyone in the universe does not have their own nexus or ipad. United, you guys are truly behind the technology curve by a decade. Oh, and there was no food on the flight…at all.
So I was hungry when we finally landed 90 minutes late. We hightailed it to the Highball Lounge to visit my friend Shaher Misif. Shaher Misif is a dangerous man.
made it to @highballlounge where @smisif remains a dangerous man https://t.co/ETxANlBV0E
— noplasticshower (@noplasticshower) October 17, 2014
The Highball Lounge rocks. After an obligatory authentication shot, we had a delightful Barnyard Punch, recently added to the cocktail list and made as follows:
1.5 oz Bourbon
.5 oz Falernum
.5 oz Suze
.5 oz Lemon juice
.5 oz Raw sugar
2-3 dashes celery bitters
shake, strain, serve on rocks. garnish with mint and lemon moon. (I will cut the sugar down myself when I make this one.)
We also had an outstanding bacon cheeseburger and some tater tot nachos. Delicious.
Then we drove to NH with a warm fuzzy feeling.
The leaves are peaking in NH
Hotel Fabian in Helsinki has the Best Showers
October 2, 2014
The Hotel Fabian has a computer now and they know I have been here before! Yay. On this nth visit I was upgraded to a very sweet suite 412. Thanks Fabian!
Room 412 has a table
And a living area
And a big old bed
The best part of room 412 and Hotel Fabian is the incredibly great shower. I mean great. Best shower in Europe great.
412 bathroom
This shower is just so good
I guess hot showers may just feel better when it is -2C outside in the morning.
The lobby downstairs is an excellent place for a glass of wine after travel (or a long day of BSIMM interviews).
The high art lobby at Hotel Fabian
Five plus showerheads for the Hotel Fabian.
A fancy pants dinner at Spis was very interesting, but more interesting than good. Subdued flavors that clim to be Nordic. Some surprising combinations. Ultimately I think the are just trying too hard. The dessert stuff was best constructed and world class.
Then it was off to Liberty or Death, a fantastic cocktail bar. (Someone needs to get them the memo that the Partrick Henry quote their name is from was hijacked by the right wing Tea Party morons in the United States…because these people are clearly liberal as all get out.) We were served by two “cocktail bastards” Andreas Cederström and Jaakko Väyrynen. Jaakko was super and in edition to making us a liberal (with red vermouth that was way too good), we tried some house made drinks.
The Red Shoe
40 ml monkey 47 gin (german)
30 ml creme de framboise
2 dashes Peychauds bitters
5 ml Raspberry red wine vinegar (house made)
1 t or less simple syrup
Mix together and then carbonate! quite a gorgeous concoction indeed. looks like we will be adding carbonation capability to the bar.
La Mancha Negra
25 ml Poli Morbida (grappa moscato)
10 ml cynar
10 ml aperol
5 ml Francaise guy (absynthe)
1 t simple syrup
3 dashes The Bitter Truth Jerry Thomas bitters (a fruity thing)
shake. strain in to cocktail glass. this one is missing something in the middle but a fine start. the grappa is too think. I think working it with a harsher grappa might help. And a deeper bitters.
We had an absolute blast at Liberty or Death which is by far the best bar in Helsinki. The people at Son of a Punch do great work. They are distilling spirits (tried the gin which is very very aromatic), importing great stuff, and staffing excellent bars. Note that we did attain a new target speakeasy not yet marked or marketed (Katariinankatu).
Final thought of the night: “A tattoo without equity is madness.”
Then it will drag tomorrow on my 8.5 hour United airlines international flight with no upgrade. United just sucks.
How to charge your phone (kludge) at F-Secure
The Driskill: Old School in Austin
September 23, 2014
Austin, TX. You can’t help but think of live music of course…which can be found in the airport BTW. But there is old school elegance here too from the early days of the “Republic.” Well, elegance if you’re into spittoons.
Checkin is efficient, Texas-friendly, and slides in the upsell without even blinking a lash or ruffling a feather. That’s just what happens when you have a glass shower problem!
The Driskill Lobby screams cattle baron
Where I’m Blogging From (apologies to Raymond)
I found myself in a corner suite due to the glass shower issue. Accounting may be mad, but we’ll get it handled. 536 is the “bridal suite.” Must be the hot tub. So Texas cheerleader.
536. Corner balcony.
Outside looking good.
Of course it’s hot out since it’s Texas. But no so very. Only 85 today, which compared to the 105 I know from my High School days is downright cool. Sadly, the view from the balcony has changed somewhat since 1886.
view from 536 balcony @thedriskill. austin not so pretty as i bet it once was. https://t.co/CulLuoGnZD
— noplasticshower (@noplasticshower) September 23, 2014
Reality check on the view. About as awesome as downtown Austin gets though. This is not Buenos Aires Toto.
But we’re all about the bathroom on NPS. Marble. 1886. Plus a Texas cheerleader hot tub (cheerleader not included).
This shower no plastic has.
The powder room has his and her sinks (no hers and hers in TX!)
Three showerheads. Hot damn!
And then there is this (literally through glass).
536 has a ceiling fan.
536 is a nice room, and rumored to be the best one. It could use an ipod player from this decade (nano no worky). But what it really needs is some outlets. Any outlets. The bedside tables have none. The TV dresser has none. There are no outlets. Better hurry up and post this before my mac dies.
When I came back from cocktail hour at the very interesting bar in the Driskill, there was a note, some sparkling water and some fruit waiting for me. Thanks!
Amenity and personal note. Nice touch Driskill.
Four very high showerheads for the Driskill (oh so close to five). Just goes to show you how spoiled we are…and addicted to our machines.
A workaday “Italian” dinner can be procured at Carmelos. Skip it. There have to be better places to eat in Austin!
Drinks at the speakeasy Midnight Cowboy were very well made. Old school with a west coast flare. We did get one experimental beverage but neglected to write down the recipe. The interior reminds me of Bourbon and Branch. In a twist, the bartender comes to your table with a trolley to make drinks.
Late night pretzel and some William Larue Weller at Easy Tiger seemed like a good idea at the time. Real bourbon.
Fleming’s Steakhouse is pretty straight down the Bell curve in steakhouse-land. Good meat. Butter heavy sides. But the wine list is pretty lame. It’s as if TX is trapped in the ’80s wine wise.
Half Step is a world class bar with very talented barkeeps. About the only complaint about our visit was that the band was great but WAY too loud. Had to yell to talk. Every old cocktail we ordered was made to perfection (sazarac, corpse reviver #2). Whitney Hobbs materfully triangulated a Paige Ellis as follows:
1.5 bourbon (whiney used dickel 8 yr, I would use something hotter)
.75 suze
.75 barolo chinato
stir down, serve up with a big ice cube (drape drink over cube), express orange peel and slip down the side.
Hotel Monaco Denver: Mile High Karma With an (Immediately Fixed) Exercise Problem
September 17, 2014
I love it when a good plan comes together. Years ago, each Kimpton property had to be trained (eagerly I might add) one at a time. These days the Kimptons all share data on guests. So before I have ever stayed here in Denver, the Monaco knows about my plastic shower problem and that I dig a great cocktail.
It’s a joy to travel like this. Thanks Hotel Monaco (and Panzano).
The poor goldfish in 532 has no name
I am in room 532 which is spacious and very nice. The shower is not plastic (and, yes, there is a huge tub in here too). Perusing the map on the wall, it looks like the corner rooms might be even cooler, but I can’t complain about this great room on a first stay. They hit all of the parameters!
Well, all except one. It turns out that 532 is right next to the fitness center and at 5am in the morning it sounds like a marching band. Or maybe a herd of elephants. With beeping. Want to sleep in? Forget it. Sure hope I can get a different room!
To make matters worse, a busybody guest from 430 called my room at 6 and asked me to stop exercising?! It’s a serious problem.
Denver bed in 532
Really the only drawback to this room is the very plain design. But you know, that’s just how Denver looks architecturally. Plain and boxy.
Maybe a little too plain.
The bathroom is great. And the shower is glass.
The all important non-plastic shower.
Gigantic tub will likely never be used. So sad.
I spent some time catching up with work since United had no wifi (again) on my plane. United did manage to stay inside my good graces by upgrading me on both legs of this trip. We like that United. Well done.
When I was almost done working, “walter” showed up with a superb cheese plate and best of all some manhattan cocktails all ready to go. Awesome. Thanks to Panzano for putting everything together.
Are we spoiled? Heck yes.
Signature cocktail is just what the doctor ordered.
I went downstairs early in the morning after the exercise fiasco and the front desk staff were all over solving the problem. They agreed to comp the night and switch me as soon as possible to another room. Quick solutions to fire drills is classic Kimpton excellence. Great staff.
The only question I have is this: doesn’t this exercise noise problem happen all the time?! Apparently it does happen occasionally, but not all the time. Personally I think something needs to be done to move the exercise room elsewhere. (I let Mike Defrino know what I thought.)
Just before noon I came back to switch rooms. The delightful K-state Kevin helped me move and we chatted about Kimpton and how well they treat their employees for a while. It is a testament to great management that the concierge/bellman has such good things to say about where he works.
I am now in one of those corner rooms that I was eyeing on the door map yesterday—730. Lots of light and interesting design.
Anteroom in 730 through the door
730 king bed surrounded by windows.
High corner is nice. Interesting corner angle in 730.
The only NPS quirk about 730 is that the shower is build over a big hot tub. (This bathroom design reminds of of room 1115 at 70Park in NY.) No glass cube. But need for sleep is greater than need for glass shower, and the rest of the room is awesome.
A shower curtain. Run away!
One of those weird hot tub tub things with a shower over it.
We’ll stick it at a high four showerheads for the Hotel Monaco Denver, somebody needs to move the exercise room or make some usage rules. (Turns out that sleep is more important than a shower.) Instant response saves the day. Thanks for being you Kimpton.
As for the rest of Denver. A dinner at Guard and Grace was very good indeed. Great sommelier, though the wine list needs some propping up in the South American and Italian sectors. The bar made a superb drink whose name sadly did not make it on the recipe card. We’ll just call it A Stitch in Thyme :
.25 oz simple syrup with thyme infusion (1:1 and a 20 minute steep)
.25 oz lemon juice
3 dashes orange bitters
muddle with 1 slice grapefruit
.25 oz Génépydes Alpes
1.5 oz Bulleit rye
shake. double strain over large cube with thyme sprig and lemon wheel
The drink was invented by Katie Shank (and mixed/served expertly by Morgan)
Turns out that Panzano (associated with the Monaco Denver) is absolutely excellent. Best carbonara in north america bar none.
Stranahan’s distillery makes a malted barley whiskey. Here’s how.
Step 1: make wort with malted barley (as if creating a stout)
Step 3: pot still
Step 4: white dog second distilling
Step 5: put in charred white oak for at least 2 years. Water down first. Angel share less that 8%
Step 6: Wait around and then marry 2,3,4 in a 16-20 barrel mix plus water
End product is a fairly hot spicy whiskey way more like bourbon than scotch.
Williams and Graham is an excellent cocktail bar. (Thank you Jacques for the heads up and the string pulling.) We were served by Chad Michael George who made us a Sexual Chocolate :
2 oz Rittenhouse Rye
.75 cocchi torino vermouth
.5 cynar
teaspoon leopold’s marischino
7 drops bitterman’s mole bitters
stir. strain. serve over big cube with a luxardo cherry on a skewer
Moo.
Glassaholic: Mojito
September 3, 2014
The Mojito is a popular drink that you can find all over the place these days, even in bars that otherwise suck. The key to a good mojito is simplicity: fresh mint, fresh lime, simple syrup and a good muddling stick.
We make mojitos around here in the summertime when the mint is growing like crazy.
The Mojito
3 oz dark rum (my gay eclipse)
8 mint leaves (and the top of a sprig to garnish)
1/2 lime quartered
1 t simple syrup 1:1 (cane sugar)
Muddle the mint, simple syrup, and lime in the bottom of a sturdy glass. Add 3 oz of rum and stir. Fill glass with ice and top with sparkling water. Top with a mint garnish.
Delicious and summery.
Palomar, San Francisco, Now With a New Coat of Shininess
August 26, 2014
Last time I was here in San Francisco, the Palomar was being renovated. The renovation is done (in the lobby anyway and in the restaurant/bar) and Dirty Habits has a new patio outside. The new stuff is all shiny.
The week I picked to visit San Francisco is not a good one. The city is filled to the gills with VMWare types who have all of the prices in town through the roof. Even the airport hotels are full and overpriced. I am being seriously overcharged here at the Palomar this time and even the GM Christopher Smith feels guilty about it. [Accounting, if you’re reading this, it’s not my fault!] Ah, capitalism.
I am in 802 again this time, which is a very nice room, though the shower is beginning to get rickety. Sadly, there is no gigantic flower arrangement to greet me. I guess we’ll have to chalk one up to Chicago?! Walter is here though, wondering in his fishy way where the flowers are.
Hi Walter.
Without further ado, a few more 802 pictures.
802 bedland at the Palomar
Bathroomland in 802 at the Palomar
Though this shower is not plastic, it is ready to be nuked and replaced with a glass cube.
I got here way too early today and snuck into the patio at Dirty Habits to work while my room was readied. A couple of hours after getting into 802, a very nice amenity arrived with a note from Sara (who checked me in, thanks Sara) and JP (the invisible)—replete with my favorite sparkling water. Now I have something to rehydrate myself with after I sample a cocktail from Mr. Means.
Sparkling water, fruit, cheese and a nice note.
Anyway, 4.5 showerheads for the SF Palomar (and more for those with a closer read).
Here’s the problem. NPS is way spoiled. Steph in DC? Personal to the max. Love spending time with you. Joe in Boston? This is how it should be done—with an excellent team! Maximizing mind space (which the marketing people approximate with Kimpton Karma). Donation to boat only found on twitter feed? Astounding. Palomar SF? By comparison, some attention to detail missing. Maybe too close to corporate? Maybe too busy a week? Maybe managing to the numbers? Or maybe senior leadership has moved well beyond one property? But we’re staying here now. Anyway enough of that first world problem.
Positives. Dirty Habits barkeep Sarah rocks. Great fun experimenting.
Experiment One:
2 oz pepper rye
1 oz jelinik
.5 oz malort
.5 dry curacao
This one is so close. We were going to try a version with Yellow Chartreuse, but we ran out of jelinik. We also discussed a creme de menthe high note wash.
Experiment Two
1.5 oz banks 5 year
1 oz puerto fino sherry (trying to get Means to Spain apparently)
.75 oz china china
Brian Means, the masterful head barkeep at Dirty Habits is incredibly great. I was lucky enough to get one of his experiments. Wow.
Experiment Three
2 oz Henry McKesson 10yr bourbon
.75 oz byrrh
.75 montenegro
2 dashes reagans orange bitters
This one will go into the book.
And then out to the city. Why not Spruce in SF? Meh. Nice restaurant, but not that great for SF really. Great company. OK food. Cantina is a superb place to host an event, especially if Alexa Weber-Morales is singing. Great sushi in Cupertino at Sushi Kuni (a delightful tiny hole in the wall). Excellent Italian at Perbacco though it is still too noisy in there.
Hotel George a Washington DC Gem
August 22, 2014
Leave it to my friend Stephane Vogel to arrange for the presidential suite! My first stay at Hotel George (a Kimpton hotel) was super fantastic. And the shower is simply not to be beat.
Room 801 (the presidential suite) at Hotel George
After a warm greeting by Blair at the front desk, I headed up to 801 where I was greeted with: note, wine, cheese, and sparkling water. A superb welcome. Thanks Steph, for the hospitality and the room! This is Kimpton Karma in action.
801 bedroom at Hotel George
The bathroom is fantastic.
Best shower in DC.
A glass shower with a view. And a bench! NPS is in love.
Five showerheads and a free lunch for the George and its staff!
Dinner at Proof was good. Proof has a reasonable bar program and a great wine list. After dinner we somehow got trapped at the Bistro Bis bar which though not owned by Kimpton is associated with the George by reference of being attached to it. Ouch.
Among other cocktails and before absinthe hour, barman Ed Jenks created an experimental Essay #3
2 oz Laird 7.5 yr apple brandy
.5 oz Leizzaroni Amaretto
.5 oz malmsey madeira
.5 oz sour mix (fresh)
.5 oz chilli honey syrup
dash angostura
Stir. Strain. Serve with lemon twist. (In general, too much going on with this drink. Still needs work.)
Steph and I had a delicious lunch at Bistrot Bis next day after my talk. It’s always fun to catch up and learn more about the hospitality business.
Manet at the cusp of impressionism and the academy.
The afternoon yielded some time to a visit to the National Art Gallery with Richard. An afternoon of art and discussion is just what the doctor ordered in late August.
As early evening rain fell, we made another fantastic visit to the incomparable Columbia Room where mel mixed some excellent drinks including the Leap Year Cocktail
2 oz plymouth gin
.5 oz sweet vermouth (cocci)
.5 oz royal combier
.25 oz lemon juice
shake. strain. garnish with lemon peel.
Dinner and bad bluegrass at Argonaut rounded out the visit.
Hotel Marlowe in Boston = Best Kimpton Karma Ever
August 14, 2014
It’s true that NPS has been here countless bajillions of times. And it is true that like in all relationships we’ve had our ups and downs. But the Hotel Marlowe staff (ably led by GM Joe Capalbo) outdid themselves this time. Best amenity ever. Wait for it…
Team Tartan sailing in the 2013 Leukemia Cup.
The staff made a sizeable donation to my Leukemia Cup sailing team. Holy cow you guys absolutely rock. (You, dear reader can join em here.) We’re trying to raise $22,000 this year, and every penny counts. Just wow.
Thanks Amanda and Ryan and everyone else involved.
I am in 621 which seems to be my default room these days (though I do fondly recall the Presidential Suite…yes I do…love that prosthetic blog memory unit!). Things are very nice here with plenty of room to relax and get some work done before the work starts…or something.
Bedroom 621 at Hotel Marlowe.
Living room with really TALL furniture in 621 at Hotel Marlowe
I do really like the bathroom part of this room, though I still have never been in that huge tub. One of these years, I swear.
What is that in the mirror?
The shower is definitely not plastic. NPS approved.
No plastic to be seen near the shower in 621 at Hotel Marlowe
Though I am missing my rock in the middle of the Shenandoah River now that no fly July has come to an end, Hotel Marlowe and their killer staff are a home away from home. Five showerheads plus two.
The evening started with a delicious cocktail at Brick and Mortar. Great space. Great vibe. Great cocktails. Good place for a business chat. After a Greenpoint, we tried a house invented More Than Classic:
1 oz wild turkey 101
1 oz Aperol
1 oz Braulio
.25 oz demarara syrup
2 dashes Angostura bitters
A roller coaster of a drink that starts bitter and is a bit too sweet in the end. Not much in the middle. But a decent experiment.
Dinner at Bondir was nice, but they are trying too hard. The first three courses (bread included) were a veritable confusion of great tastes. Too much going on. But some sublime ideas in there. Main course and desert were much better. All in all, Bondir seems overpriced to me. The atmosphere is nice and homey though.
All this and a telescope to boot.
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