While taking advantage of an unusually warm summer day in this city, we headed to La Mar – a staple of San Francisco, and a culinary (and cocktail) gem that we need to sometimes be reminded to visit every once in a while. Peru has always had interesting ties to San Francisco. Back before the gold rush, Pisco was imported to our fine city and shaken up in cocktails not far from where we sat down to have dinner. Located along the Embarcadero, the Peruvian hot-spot would have been close to where seamen offloaded their goods from Peru over 150 years ago. La Mar (now managed by Joselino Solis) continues to be a pisco haven that helps give San FranPisco its name. With locations across the world, from Santiago, Chile to Bogota, Columbia to Lima, Peru, La Mar’s San Francisco location continues to shake up some amazing cocktails to compliment one of [...]

Pisco Party #1 When: June 7th, 2012 Where: Pisco Latin Lounge, SF Who: You (21+), dressed up in your swankiest attire What: San Francisco’s first pisco party. The first of many with all sorts of free-flowing pisco, bacchanalia, costumes, music, food, cocktails, and maybe even some nudity. Drink your way through 4 kinds of pisco, pisco cocktails, and show off at San FranPisco’s greatest party. Ticket includes all drinks, food, and ridiculous entertainment. Why: Because we’re bringing back the spirit to Pisco Buy tickets here (none sold at door): piscoparty.eventbrite.com  Sponsors: PISCO PORTON (VIP too!) ENCANTO PISCO PISCO ORO KAPPA PISCO

In honor of our favorite San Francisco lady’s 75th birthday, we thought it only proper to bring you a cocktail named after the Golden Gate Bridge’s SF-side resting place, the Presidio. H. Joseph Ehrmann of Elixir brings us this recipe, which also appears on the bar’s brand new Golden Gate Bridge Edition spring menu. Presidio Punch #2 1 oz Barsol Pisco Quebranta .5 oz Barsol Pisco Italia 1.5 oz Cranberry Juice 1 oz Mighty Tea Leaf Chamomile Tea Syrup* .5 oz lemon juice In a mixing glass, add all ingredients, fill with ice, shake for 10 seconds. Strain over ice, and garnish with a wide lemon twist. *to make syrup, brew Mighty Leaf Chamomile Tea at one bag per 6oz water and mix at a 1:1 ratio by volume with sugar (6oz tea to 6oz sugar).

Today’s recipe is a crafty little variation of a South American classic, which I would have run a few weeks ago for International Pisco Day but we were relaunching the website (ain’t it purdy?). The process of making pisco (aka South American brandy) was brought to Peru by Spanish immigrants from as early as the 1500s and continues today in both Peru and Chile, with both countries claiming it as their own. The pisco in this recipe was awarded the Gran Medalla de Oro in 2010—the highest honor this particular liquor can receive. Campo de Encanto, meaning “field of enchantment” en español, is the culmination of two-and-a-half years by three partners all bringing different skills to the project to produce a wonderfully bright and floral libation with hints of citrus and vanilla. In this recipe, we will be enhancing Encanto’s bouquet with a lavender syrup and fresh Meyer lemon juice.

by Kevin Blum, City Dish SF 1) Brazilian Night at Pisco Lounge Wednesday, May 26th. 6:00pm – 12:00am Pisco Latin Lounge 1817 Market St. @ Octavia Pisco Latin Lounge is turning up the heat this Wednesday night. Enjoy complimentary Sagatiba Cachaca drink specials and giveaways from 6pm – 7pm. After 7pm, there will be $5 Sagatiba cocktails and a hot DJ! Muy caliente! 2) $20 Greek Food & Wine Every Wednesday at Mezes Every Wednesday. 5:30pm – 10pm Mezes 2373 Chestnut St @ Divisadero Every Wednesday, the Greek shall inherit the earth! Join Mezes Restaurant in the Marina for Piatela Wednesdays. Diners can choose from three huge Greek platter options. And if you sit at the bar, they’ll treat you to complimentary wine tasting! Guests can choose from the Veggie Platter ($20), the Meat Platter ($25), and the Seafood Platter ($25). Delicious Greek food and free  wine? Sounds like the [...]

More Happy Hours from Kevin Blum, City Dish 1) Free Cocktails at Pisco Lounge – Tuesday Whether you’re a pisco virgin or a pisco lover, Pisco Latin Lounge is offering you a unique opportunity to be initiated into the pleasures of ultra premium Pisco 100 “acholado.” Enjoy FREE Pisco 100 cocktails from 6:30pm – 8pm on Tuesday – this includes your choice of a Pisco Sour or a Peruvian Patada (a refreshing combo of pisco and ginger beer that will have you saying “más, por favor”). Plus, experience $5 Pisco shots and meet renowned Master Distiller Guillermo Ferreyros, a modern cocktail conquistador. So hop on the F streetcar after work; get off at the Guerrero stop for some Peruvian inspired fun.

Refreshing Summertime Drinks for Peruvian Independence Day By Guillermo L. Toro-Lira San Francisco has always been a city that perseveres. Burned to the ground three times in six months in 1850, it continued to rise again from its ashes like the mythological phoenix, forever cast in the official seal of the City. Now, after being obliterated 90 years ago by the infamous Prohibition Act of 1919, another phoenix is flying again. This bird is pisco, a grape brandy that was the base of a punch that had its own mythological characteristics in the early 1900s. Pisco Punch is San Francisco’s first known mixed cocktail created in the late 1800s and the older sibling to the popular Pisco Sour. With Peruvian Independence Day on July 28, what better way to celebrate than with a piece of cocktail history linking the ports of San Francisco and Peru?