A revival of the Rat Pack era has debuted in Manhattan, paying tribute not to jazz and acting, but rather to the art of the cocktail. As the 20s Prohibition-themed speakeasy pioneered by Milk and Honey is approaching its climax with a slew of piggybacking impersonators, partners Hamid Rashidzada and Greg Seider of The Summit Bar are spearheading the resurgence of 60s Sin City Vice, rapidly building popularity by its following of industry-heavy patrons.
The Graffiti of NYC street artist Chico eases the pretension often associated with venues dramatized by candle-illuminated exposed brick and crystal chandeliers, and a staff of easygoing, contemporary Cool Cats guarantees to make the journey to Alphabet City well worth your while. These playboys are notorious for kicking the night off with a “shot to the Gods” and orchestrating fire exposes across the bar with a heavy hand on the bottle and the flick of a match. Just keep in mind that the city doesn’t grant permits for arson, so it might be best to keep this last feature on the DL. For a moment of tranquility, the bar’s outdoor patio showcases the abundance of enormous weeping willows unique to the neighborhood—but if local arboriculture doesn’t inspire, then perhaps the prospects of a Jacuzzi will do the trick.
Although Seider’s exploits of launching Asia de Cuba and joining the Mercer Kitchen team have provided him with an extensive repertoire of mixology-masterpieces, none of these made the cut for the Summit’s drink list. In an effort to create a completely original menu, Seider drew on his experience working in kitchens and experimenting with unique flavors and spices, giving rise to “Ground to Glass,” a tequila-based cocktail enhanced by red pepper puree, cucumber, house bitters and hickory smoked salt ($12), as well as the fennel-infused “Shu Jam Fizz” shaken with gin, apricot jam, peach bitters and lemon ($12). Soon customers can special order “the Situation,” a distinctive whiskey cocktail, but beware of the garnish: these seemingly harmless dehydrated morsels are more ‘ruffie’ than ‘raisin’ and can feasibly provoke a morning-after version of exactly what the name suggests.
The cocktail has certainly come a long way since Carrie Bradshaw’s Cosmo, and with the rising establishment of venues like The Summit, metropolitan mixology is on the cusp of being considered an entirely new culinary culture. Be one of the first to check out Alphabet City’s promising newcomer so you can say you made it there before all the crowds did.
No Comments | Posted on December 6, 2009 | Categories: From the Blog, Lower East Side, Manhattan, Neighborhoods
