It's getting close...
Greetings! Ok- first things first- The Kobe Special last Friday sold out fast! Yes we do read your requests so today it is the Kobe Wagyu New York, Ancho Truffle Butter, and my very very very favorite brussels sprouts ever- they are crispy and have a chile arbol aioli- and did I mention they are my favorite? OMG & a chorizo hash...and oh yeah, the brussels sprouts. The Herencia Tequila Cocktail tonight is my Fresh Blackberry & Thyme Margarita (it's pretty good too even better with those brussels sprouts).
May is right around the corner, it is the busiest month of the year for us with the annual Beach Cities Fundraiser on the 2nd, the Toma Tequila Contest on the 3rd, Tequila University on the 4th and Cinco on the cinco (lol), Mother's Day and the 2 year Anniversary of Ortega 120!
The Tri Sister Cities Fundraiser is: Manhattan, Hermosa and Redondo Beach's Sisiter City Associations group effort for the cities of Loredo, San Rosalia, La Paz & Ensenada (all in BC, Mex). In the past the various cities have contributed everything from medical supplies, clothing and cultural student exchange programs. It is completely volunteer based so none of the money raised goes to an administrator ( which I like). The flyer is to the right. Tickets are available thru www.hb-sistercity.org the tickets are not available thru the restaurant.
Toma Tequila! is an AMATEUR Tequila cocktail contest. It's already getting a lot of press (see below) you can submit your recipes by going to www.ortega120.com and click on the Toma Tequila Tab. Let's take a moment to reiterate the Amateur part of this... it's some thing you do for fun and in this case, for cool prizes. It is not a high pressure bottle flying event. There are absolutely no pros in this one. If you make a great cocktail with another type of liquor try it with a Tequila- here are some helpful hints- Blanco, Silver and Plata are the same animal, they are very strong and can take over a cocktail. Reposados are an easy flavor, they go well with fruits and or veggies that are yellow and orange.
Anejo- it helps to think about it along the lines of the type of barrel it has been aged in, often whiskey barrels, so if you would make the cocktail with whiskey you could try it with Anejo.
The last hint is ratio: if you know me, you know it is my number one gripe! A cocktail is easier to mess up than food- you are working in small quantity and even a small amount can spoil the brew- if you have been to Tequila University you will remember it is 3 parts liquor, 2 parts something sweet, 1 part something sour and .5 melted ice or water. The only thing I ask, as it is already happening is that the only advice/suggestions given by me are here, I cannot try all the cocktails as they are in production or tell you how to fix it- it's still a contest and I have to play fair.
Tequila University is officially sponsored by
Mutineer Magazine.( A Beverage Industry Magazine)
They did an article on Ortega 120 coming out in the May issue available in Barnes & Noble. There will be some copies here too. Tequila University for May 4 is sold out.
I'll tell you more about Cinco next Friday.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Demi, Tommy and the Ortega 120 cast & crew
