Thank you Dalphne of Go Gastronomy for hosting an awesome Food Blogger Happy Hour earlier this month. Outstanding Mixologist, Anthony Rivery (of Last Exit/Tonic and Done Like Dundee Gone Like Ghandi) was on hand to make us some of his signature cocktails (he created Last Exit’s drink menu).

Off the Small Plates menu, I recommend the popcorn (the cinnamon sugar version is good but the smoked paprika version is outstanding), cheese/charcuterie plate, and flat bread. The soup du juor was the standout dish; it was the best Italian Wedding Soup I’ve had. The soup (which is available as a cup but unfortunately not as a bowl) consisted of a tasty clear both, spinach, tender beer/pork meatballs, and Ancini de Pepe pasta.

Anthony featured two of his creatons as drink specials, the Chelsea (Celery infused tequila, rosemary, Cocchi Americano, fresh lemon) and the Beatrice (Beet & ginger infused gin, Dolin Rouge Vermouth, fresh lemon, Bitter Truth Jerry Thomas’ Own Decanter Bitters, celery bitters). Both were excellent, and while several attendees preffered the Chelsea former, I was partial to the Beatrice (since I am a fan of beets and ginger).

Next time I am at Last Exit, I will try the Desiree (Pink peppercorn and cilantro-infused vodka, Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur, fresh grapefruit, lemon bitters).

-JAY