Saturday, October 18, 2003
Best of Tucson (Weekly) by Karyn Zoldan
Yep, I wrote these for the 2003 BoT Weekly issue that had a circus-ish theme so if you see references to beared ladies and flying trapeze you comprehend my point of reference. The area code is 520 for all venues in case you’re just tuning in.
READERS CHOICE
Best Upscale Bar Ambiance
Sullivan’s Steak House – 1785 E. River Road – 299-4275
The crossroads of River and Campbell frame all things reflecting Tucson’s wealth on the move. Deeply tanned women with perfect blonde highlights scan the movers and shakers and real estate makers while sipping Grey Goose vodka martinis in the clubby bar setting of polished mahogany wood, plush vinyl studded seating and a larger-than-life 40’s prize fighting mural around the perimeter of the room. Wealthy masculinity pervades the air along with cigarette smoke and expensive perfume—a high roller cocktail of sorts. Swing and jazzy jazz CDs blare making meaningful conversation impossible…maybe that’s the point. Every night a live jazz combo lets its fingers carouse over the keyboard. A magnet for music or an electric rendez-vous? Anything is possible.
.
Best Cocktail Menu
Kon Tiki - 4625 E. Broadway – 323-7193
Aloha. Mix a jigger of Disneyland’s enchanted tiki room with equal parts cigarette smoke infested dive and schmaltzy Tiki gods for the best known cocktail menu south of Mt. Lemmon. During the past 40 years, Kon Tiki’s reputation evolved as that special place to legally celebrate a 21st birthday (I.D. required). The fish bowl sized scorpion reigns as the most popular but the mai tai and blue Hawaii vie for runners-up. Feeling like a zombie or an Oahu island iced tea? Try the C.A.P. water; though brown in color it’s not lethal like Tucson water. Banana split tastes like an alcoholic Dairy Queen and the bartender only knows the recipe for the K.T. mystery drink. Sip on a grasshopper or alexander. No wiki wiki here. B.Y.O. designated driver.
STAFF PICKS which means these are my personal favorites
Best Mojito
J-Bar -3770 E. Sunrise Drive in the Westin La Paloma Resort -615-6100
Forget the margarita. As taste makers embrace Nuevo Latino cuisine and libations, the mojito (moe-hee-toe) sweeps the planet with the greatest of ease, the daring exotic drink on the flying trapeze. Rum is classically Cuban so take a long sip and let the lively combination sensation massage your mouth. It’s like a liquid Ricky Ricardo in a glass where you can close your eyes, swivel your hips and hear the bongo drums from another dimension. Although the Bamboo Club makes a decent mojito, the very best is served at J-Bar in a medium-sized tumbler with ice, imported white rum, sprigs of fresh muddled mint, simple syrup, a squeeze of lime and spritz of soda. Refreshing and oh so baa-baa-loo.
Best $20 Wine Tasting
The Feast – 4122 E. Speedway – 326-9363
It’s Sunday afternoon and the mister sits glued to directTV watching 89 channels of sporting events. What are you gonna do? Leave! Take your best friend and go to The Feast for the last Sunday of the month wine tasting event. In a town that’s a circus with over the big top of expensive wine tasting events, The Feast invites best affordable wine tasting for $20. Not only can you swirl and swallow inexpensive to quite pricey sips of wine but can clear your palate on more than just a mouthful of soda crackers. What makes the last Sunday wine tasting so special is the array of deliciously original snacks complementing each round of wine and an engaging narrative describing all the wines’ nuances.
Best Named Drink
Lady in Red
Cup Café – in the Hotel Congress – 798-1618
Blondes may have more fun but redheads get under your skin and we’re not talking about a rash. The memory of a red shines brightly, capturing the imagination and refusing to let go. So much can be said for this cute cousin of that lusty, clowning Bloody Mary mama -- the Lady in Red is more refined and a helluva lot more hip. She fits nicely in a martini glass which makes just about everything taste magical. Into the shapely chilled glass goes Absolut Citron vodka, Bloody Mary fixings such as tomato juice, Worcestershire sauce and Tabasco; salt, olives and onions. She’s not the type to guzzle or do raucous shots with but likes dancing cheek to cheek in the bluesy moonlight.
Yep, I wrote these for the 2003 BoT Weekly issue that had a circus-ish theme so if you see references to beared ladies and flying trapeze you comprehend my point of reference. The area code is 520 for all venues in case you’re just tuning in.
READERS CHOICE
Best Upscale Bar Ambiance
Sullivan’s Steak House – 1785 E. River Road – 299-4275
The crossroads of River and Campbell frame all things reflecting Tucson’s wealth on the move. Deeply tanned women with perfect blonde highlights scan the movers and shakers and real estate makers while sipping Grey Goose vodka martinis in the clubby bar setting of polished mahogany wood, plush vinyl studded seating and a larger-than-life 40’s prize fighting mural around the perimeter of the room. Wealthy masculinity pervades the air along with cigarette smoke and expensive perfume—a high roller cocktail of sorts. Swing and jazzy jazz CDs blare making meaningful conversation impossible…maybe that’s the point. Every night a live jazz combo lets its fingers carouse over the keyboard. A magnet for music or an electric rendez-vous? Anything is possible.
.
Best Cocktail Menu
Kon Tiki - 4625 E. Broadway – 323-7193
Aloha. Mix a jigger of Disneyland’s enchanted tiki room with equal parts cigarette smoke infested dive and schmaltzy Tiki gods for the best known cocktail menu south of Mt. Lemmon. During the past 40 years, Kon Tiki’s reputation evolved as that special place to legally celebrate a 21st birthday (I.D. required). The fish bowl sized scorpion reigns as the most popular but the mai tai and blue Hawaii vie for runners-up. Feeling like a zombie or an Oahu island iced tea? Try the C.A.P. water; though brown in color it’s not lethal like Tucson water. Banana split tastes like an alcoholic Dairy Queen and the bartender only knows the recipe for the K.T. mystery drink. Sip on a grasshopper or alexander. No wiki wiki here. B.Y.O. designated driver.
STAFF PICKS which means these are my personal favorites
Best Mojito
J-Bar -3770 E. Sunrise Drive in the Westin La Paloma Resort -615-6100
Forget the margarita. As taste makers embrace Nuevo Latino cuisine and libations, the mojito (moe-hee-toe) sweeps the planet with the greatest of ease, the daring exotic drink on the flying trapeze. Rum is classically Cuban so take a long sip and let the lively combination sensation massage your mouth. It’s like a liquid Ricky Ricardo in a glass where you can close your eyes, swivel your hips and hear the bongo drums from another dimension. Although the Bamboo Club makes a decent mojito, the very best is served at J-Bar in a medium-sized tumbler with ice, imported white rum, sprigs of fresh muddled mint, simple syrup, a squeeze of lime and spritz of soda. Refreshing and oh so baa-baa-loo.
Best $20 Wine Tasting
The Feast – 4122 E. Speedway – 326-9363
It’s Sunday afternoon and the mister sits glued to directTV watching 89 channels of sporting events. What are you gonna do? Leave! Take your best friend and go to The Feast for the last Sunday of the month wine tasting event. In a town that’s a circus with over the big top of expensive wine tasting events, The Feast invites best affordable wine tasting for $20. Not only can you swirl and swallow inexpensive to quite pricey sips of wine but can clear your palate on more than just a mouthful of soda crackers. What makes the last Sunday wine tasting so special is the array of deliciously original snacks complementing each round of wine and an engaging narrative describing all the wines’ nuances.
Best Named Drink
Lady in Red
Cup Café – in the Hotel Congress – 798-1618
Blondes may have more fun but redheads get under your skin and we’re not talking about a rash. The memory of a red shines brightly, capturing the imagination and refusing to let go. So much can be said for this cute cousin of that lusty, clowning Bloody Mary mama -- the Lady in Red is more refined and a helluva lot more hip. She fits nicely in a martini glass which makes just about everything taste magical. Into the shapely chilled glass goes Absolut Citron vodka, Bloody Mary fixings such as tomato juice, Worcestershire sauce and Tabasco; salt, olives and onions. She’s not the type to guzzle or do raucous shots with but likes dancing cheek to cheek in the bluesy moonlight.
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