A few quick updates: first, swing by the bar at ~JARDINIÈRE~ this Thursday January 26th for a cocktail from guest bartenders David Lytle and Stephen Bassman from Frommer’s Travel Guides. They are serving dueling Manhattans ($9 each), and there is going to be a special pastrami slider, also $9. Proceeds go to Family Builders. 6pm-8pm.
Over at HARRY DENTON’S STARLIGHT ROOM, bar manager Joel Teitelbaum has put a carbonated, pre-bottled Negroni on the menu (it’s the first of what will likely grow to become a separate carbonated section of the menu). The Negronis are carbonated and sealed in a 375mL bottle, and opened and poured tableside over a glass of ice with an orange garnish. Fizzy Negroni, sign me up. Sir Francis Drake Hotel, 21st floor, 450 Powell St. at Sutter, 415-395-8595.
Alcademics has all the details on the latest incarnation of the sherry-centric cocktail program over at ~GITANE~ by lead barman Ramon Garcia (“with some aid from Neyah White [formerly of NOPA]”). Of the many new drinks, there’s a Sherry Shrub, and a Smoked Palomino with crema de mezcal, amontillado sherry, grapefruit, lime, and soda water.
And over at ~QUINCE~ and ~COTOGNA~, wine director David Lynch’s replacement has been named: Chris Baggetta of New York’s Eleven Madison Park. She begins February 6th as Lynch’s St. Vincent project in the Mission gets underway. Note: the press release states Cotogna’s $40 by-the-bottle and $10 by-the-glass selections will continue.