Market Fresh Cocktails at Casa Del Mar
The 1920’s Renaissance Revival styled hotel set on the shores of the Pacific Ocean has long been an iconic spot in Santa Monica. You can still see the signature style and design of esteemed early 20th century architect Charles F. Plummer who envisioned a traditional yet elegant place to entice the elite when he designed the 1926 beach club, then called Club Casa Del Mar.
Today Casa Del Mar continues to tantalize taste buds and tastemakers. Never one to ever rest on their laurels or their liquid legacy, Casa is always on the cutting edge of cocktails, cuisine and the Southern California lifestyle.
This summer they have really mixed it up with their Boozey, Bikes and Beach program. Bourbon snow cones any one? Even in the heat of the summer, they can’t keep their barrel aged cocktails at the bar. So, claim your Negroni.
As far signature spins at the bar, their Spiced Cucumber Collins is perfect for the summer season with St. George Gin, Lime Sour, fresh cucumber, mint, jalapeño peppers and ginger beer. If looking for frothy summer fun, perhaps the signature Pisco Rose is just the liquid ticket made with Porton, St. Germain, Agave Lime Sour, raspberries and pasteurized egg white.
Now if you're one to follow The Market, you’re in luck as Casa just recently rolled out their latest liquid endeavor, their Market Fresh Mixology.
Each week a guest mixologist prepares a new menu full of creative cocktails made with ingredients sourced from the Santa Monica Farmers Market. Recipes aren’t prepared ahead of time as mixologists create them after he/she hits the market and picks up ingredients for the evening.
Orange, mint, lime, lemon, basil, rosemary, red pepper, jalapeño, blackberries are just a few of the fresh ingredients used by Blake Landis, one of the recent guest mixologists featured at Casa.
Landis left his spirited stamp at Casa with his Lost In Paradise Market Fresh cocktail made with Dos Maderas Rum, Cointreau, Lime Juice, blackberries and mints sprigs. His Basil Lemonade was a summer stunner with Millers Gin, St. Germain, Lemon and Basil Sprigs. For those that Like it Hot, they were all about Landis’ San Pedro made with Los Nahuales Mezcal, Cointreau, lime, red pepper and jalapeño. It was hot, hot, hot.
The mixologist believe in a fresh investment and in starting at the farmers market. If buying citrus ask farmers which oranges have the thickest peels as they are packed with essential oils. If juicing, find oranges that look they are going to burst. The same goes for lemons and limes.
If buying mint at the market, it is much less expensive, organic, and more robust than those overpriced plastic packs at the store. While making your fresh basil lemonade, place the basil in your hands and clap them together to release and intensify the scent and flavor.
Consider your cocktail a joint venture as guests are encouraged to interact with their mixologists to customize drinks to suit their personal taste.
This year's market is proving to be very strong and is sure to provide great returns on your liquid investment.
Casa Del Mar, 1910 Ocean Way, Santa Monica, CA 90405
