by Kim Tronic, Resident Cocktail Mistress…
Like any good basic babe in Los Angeles, I’m a big fan of brunch:
Mimosas.
Bloody Marys.
20-pound omelettes.
And saucy gossip with BFF’s.
My infatuation with brunch initially led me to Alcove Café in Los Feliz, where I discovered that their lunch/dinner items deserve just as many culinary fistbumps. The patio seating shaded by umbrellas lends itself to people watching by day and morphs into a romantic atmosphere at night, illuminated by twinkly lights strung throughout the trees. The inviting indoor décor is eclectic, with mismatched chairs and a drool-inducing assortment of cakes that taunts you as you wait to order.
The cutest table in the back provides the best entertainment: two drawers stuffed with notes and drawings from previous customers, so you and your dining companion can read juicy secrets, embarrassing stories, and hilarious anecdotes over your turkey pesto panini and onion rings. I can’t divulge anything that I’ve written — suffice to say that some dudes would be horrified by what I jotted about them. (But I swear, the one about putting Visine in an ex-boyfriend’s water was not me.)
In its earlier days, Alcove’s interior side area housed exotic cheeses, bottles of great wine, and adorable picnic baskets. It then underwent renovations, reopened as Big Bar, and evolved from quenching my cravings for cheese to quenching my cravings for craft cocktails.
Pull up a stool at Big Bar for a shot of redemption.
Big Bar continues with the look and feel of Alcove, but boasts a shiny counter top and cushy stools that summon my spirit before I even walk in. Their friendly and knowledgeable bartenders will guide you through the interesting drink menu, but my personal preference rolls right through a raspberry rollercoaster of rad-ness.
The Redeemer
1.5 ounces Cachaca
.5 ounces St. Germain
.75 ounces lime juice
.25 ounce simple syrup
5 muddled raspberries
Never heard of Cachaca? Distilled from sugarcane juice, it’s among the most popular beverages in Brazil. One sip and you’ll understand why.
Note: the Redeemer should be enjoyed with caution. The raspberry and lime flawlessly complement one another, which creates the perfect blend of tart and sweet… but also makes for a cocktail so scarily scrumptious that I knocked it back in 3 sips.
My advice?
Get an Uber, grab a seat at the bar, and Redeem yourself all night long.
