Speakeasy and hang loose!

Memorial Day weekend is always a crazy whirlwind of activities but more so this year because I was summoned to New York at short notice. Summoned with vivid descriptions of a fantastic dinner at the Macao Trading Co. in Tribeca, a unique restaurant that reflects the best combination of Portuguese and Chinese cuisines indigenous to Macao, just off the coast of Hong Kong. So there I was, overnight bag in hand at her doorstep. The food was impeccable and memorable but not as much as the bar hopping that ensued.

We hit several venues as the evening progressed each one more bizarre than the last. The Biergarten, a gay bar (this was not a deliberate or sober decision), a Blues bar and a Speakeasy called The Raines Law Room. This last one fit the New York stereo type perfectly with its pseudo Nineteenth century Prohibition era decor and ambiance. New Yorkers, like no other race on the planet, thrive on the unique and especially on fantasy and this place more than ever fit the bill. The rooms were divided into sections with translucent curtains and even the furniture is a throwback with dark velvety chaise lounges and wing chairs. We almost expected a cabaret troupe to make an appearance but were left to entertain ourselves at the expense of the waitstaff who looked like they had stepped out the backdoor of an off Broadway production of "Thoroughly Modern Millie". The only way to get their attention was to tug on a elasticated pull in the wall.

The Mixologist in my opinion is this bar's best asset. The cocktails are amazingly complicated and appear to have several perceptible layers of flavor. My pick was the San Luis Cup, a concoction of Mezcal, Ancho Chili syrup, muddled lime and cucumber, sea salt and black pepper and served over cracked ice. Mezcal, like Tequila, is extracted from the Agave plant but is distinctly different. The smoky Ancho chili added a distinct smoky flavor and a definite kick, something of a novelty for me. At $ 13 a piece this was not a place for binging but more for teasing the taste buds. Delicious as they were the glasses were artfully filled with ice with only a small doze of the real deal, leaving one craving for more. Like the Chef's beautifully decorated plate with only a bite or two, this bar gives you Ambrosia in minute doses and leaves you wanting more...