Hey, whatcha doing next Thursday evening (June 4th)? Hopefully your calendar is wide open, because I’m hosting another tablehopper cocktail crawl in North Beach, and this time it’s in celebration of Negroni Week, which runs from June 1st-7th. I’ll be taking you to three North Beach establishments that have a deeper history than you may realize, and we’ll be drinking variations of the Negroni at each location (did you know the original cocktail dates back to 1919?).
First stop is the flagship GOORIN BROS. NORTH BEACH shop, where you’ll be served a Negroni Sbagliato (Campari, sweet vermouth, sparkling wine) crafted by Rye on the Road while you pick out a spiffy lid for 15 percent off (there will also be a donation to the SF-Marin Food Bank for each hat sold!). Bonus: did you know this Goorin shop is located above a former speakeasy? You’ll have a chance to check it out on this tour.
Second stop is THE SQUARE, home of the former Washington Square Bar & Grill, famously the watering hole of Herb Caen and his writer cronies. We’ll raise our glasses of classic Negronis (Campari, gin, sweet vermouth), and it will also be time for some ballast, with family-style tater tots (hand-rolled!) and other bar snacks, plus your choice of a larger dish, like their cheeseburger, banh mi pork belly sliders, a flatbread, and more (all come with fries or salad).
The third and final stop is at 9pm at the new DEVIL’S ACRE, which was once a pharmacy (and a hotel!), and will be doling out some special cocktail medicine for you: the Old Pal (Campari, rye, dry vermouth).
So, you ready for this? The entire night is only $25! Each stop includes one cocktail (additional cocktails are your responsibility) and the set menu at The Square is also covered (plus the tax and tip). Obviously these tickets are gonna fly, so hop to it! The first stop at Goorin Bros. North Beach (1612 Stockton St. at Union) is 6:30pm-7:30pm, and then we’ll be off to The Square, so don’t be too late. And please, don’t drive. See you!
UPDATE: THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT. THANKS EVERYONE! CIN CIN!
There are many fantastic events and specials going on next week for Negroni Week—here are more things to look for, my fellow Negroni fans! The first thing to know is that every bar participating in Negroni Week (2,600 around the world and counting!) will each be making a donation to a charity of their choice (most places are donating $1 per Negroni sold, some more!). Campari has also committed to donating $10,000 to the charity chosen by the bar/restaurant that raises the most money during Negroni Week.
Can you believe the evil geniuses at MR. HOLMES BAKEHOUSE have created something in honor of the week? Oh yeah! Meet the DOUGHGRONI, a light brioche doughnut, dusted with sugar and filled with a dual core of Campari jelly alongside a Negroni and blood orange custard, and for a final flourish, it’s served with a pipette of Negroni syrup. A donation will be made to Raphael House.
More treats: the other evil geniuses, at ~HUMPHRY SLOCOMBE~, are hosting a Negroni Week Ice Cream Social on Thursday June 4th, from 12pm-2pm (new time!). You can come by for their new Negroni Ice Cream, and they’ll be bringing back their boozy summer popsicle treat, the Negroni Pop. Here’s the amazing part: from 1pm-3pm, they will be giving away both offerings, and for each Negroni Ice Cream cone and Negroni Pop handed out during the charitable celebration, they will be donating $4 to Project Open Hand. Wow. Go boys! Can’t make it to the social? Both treats will also be available at their Ferry Building location (for $4 each) throughout Negroni Week.
While you’re at ~ABV~, not only can you enjoy a Negroni Rosa (Campari, Brooklyn Gin, Imbue Petal & Thorn Vermouth, Dolin Blanc Vermouth), benefitting the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, but there’s also Negroni pie, a mini custard pie made with Campari, Cinzano 1757, and a juniper syrup, and topped with sweet vermouth whipped cream and orange zest.
There are Negroni marshmallows at ~CRAFTSMAN AND WOLVES~, a fantastic White Negroni cocktail (Campari caviar, London dry gin, gentian aperitif, blanc vermouth, lemon bitters) at BENJAMIN COOPER, and you know ~POGGIO~’s Tony Diiori (aka Tony Negroni!) will be serving his Tony Negroni (Campari, Bombay Sapphire gin, and Vya red vermouth), plus a Negrosky with vodka, the Dirty Negroni with dry vermouth, or the Negroni Sbagliato with sparkling wine ($1 from every Negroni sale will go to Willow Creek Academy).
As you can see, there are many, many options. Take a look at the list of participating bars here! Follow Negroni Week happenings on Imbibe’s Instagram and Twitter (@imbibe) feeds, and by following and using the #NegroniWeek hashtag!
Event Info
Thursday Jun 4, 2015 6:30pm–9:30pm $25 First stop: Goorin Bros. North Beach 1612 Stockton St. at Union
