Hot summer brings with it delicious cold beer, champagne, and other drinks. Coupled with the open-air atmosphere, it's easy to find yourself reaching for two or three drinks. With the increasing allure of outdoor beer halls and rooftop bars, this is a season when alcohol consumption is sure to increase.
How do you recover from a hangover the day after a night of drinking? Some say praying to the gods, or traditional clam miso soup or egg dishes are effective. Or maybe even drinking alcohol at home?
As opportunities to drink increase, it's important to take care of yourself while you're drinking. We asked Los Angeles bartenders and bar staff who specialize in detoxifying the body to share their original cocktail recipes, perfect for hangovers.
■ Library Bar at THE HOLLYWOOD ROOSEVELT
This bar, with its dark wood counter and leather sofas, is incredibly dapper. There's no set menu; instead, the skilled bartenders will create cocktails incorporating seasonal ingredients to your liking. They shake the shaker while listening to customers' preferences, such as, "Sweet? Spicy? Or maybe a slightly herbal flavor?" Their recipes, using fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs from the local farmers market, are healthy despite the alcohol content. Here are two original recipes created by the two head bartenders.
"Plan C"
- 2/3 oz. lime juice
- 1/2 oz. simple syrup
- 1 oz. coconut water
- 1/2 oz. elderflower liqueur infused with arbol chilies
- 2 oz. gin
Put the above ingredients in a shaker with ice, strain, and pour into a glass with a large ice cube. Serve with the following garnishes:
Garnish: 2-3 pieces of pineapple, 1 slice of avocado, 1 kaffir lime leaf
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"Morning Medicina"
- Mezcal
- Lime juice
- Agave syrup
- Grated ginger
- Coriander
- Pepper
- Cucumber
- Basil
- Wild arugula
Put an appropriate amount of each ingredient into a shaker, mash the ingredients with a muddler, and shake. Pour through a strainer into a glass filled with ice. Finish by sprinkling on a little powdered Bhut Jolokia and sea salt.
■Commissary at THE LINE HOTEL
The cocktail menu at THE LINE HOTEL is designed by Matthew Biancaniello, one of the top bartenders in the LA cocktail scene, and Roy Choi, a leading figure in the city's street food scene. Popular favorites include classic cocktails such as the White Russian, made with mushroom-flavored vodka, which are adapted using fruits and vegetables sourced directly from the hotel's own vegetable garden and farms in Southern California. When asked, "What would you like to drink the morning after a night of drinking?", they suggested an original recipe using okra and scallion-flavored cachaça.
"Tomato & Okra"
- 2/3 oz. lime juice
- 2/3 oz. agave syrup (we recommend organic Monin syrup)
- A little chopped scallions or green onions
- 2 oz. "Novo Fogo" cachaça (flavor by adding 8 oz. of okra to a bottle one week in advance)
Mix the above ingredients in a shaker, strain through a strainer and strain into a highball glass filled with ice. Finish by garnish with cherry tomatoes and scallions. ■ The Butterfly Bar at Petit Ermitage
The Petit Ermitage's rooftop garden is a butterfly and hummingbird sanctuary recognized by the local chapter of the National Wildlife Federation. The rooftop bar also attracts the hotel's sophisticated, bohemian clientele. Despite being located in the heart of Los Angeles, this sanctuary is so quiet you can hear the flapping of wings. Why not try one of the extensive mezcal selections? At the very least, you'll avoid any noise headaches. For a non-alcoholic option, stay hydrated with the "Stay Well," a blend of four citrus juices. But while you're there, try this unique take on a Bloody Mary.
"Bloody Mezcalada"
- Freshly squeezed tomato juice
- Olive juice
- Worcestershire sauce
- "Enmascarado 45" mezcal
- Freshly grated horseradish, your favorite herbs, spices, and bitters
Mix the above ingredients and strain into a salt-rimmed glass filled with ice. Finish with a dash of Corona beer and olives and bacon as garnish.
■ "Suite 700" at HOTEL SHANGRI-LA AT THE OCEAN
This hotel was completed by renovating a 1939 Art Deco building on Ocean Avenue. The glamorous and chic penthouse suite has been transformed into a bar rather than a guest room. Although the bar has a formal dress code (no sandals allowed for men on weekends), its lovely outdoor terrace overlooking Santa Monica and the Pacific Ocean ensures that it remains popular. Even if you're hungover, this bar is worth a visit. Here's a sneak peek at the recipe for their original martini, known for its romantic flavor. Since they can't reveal the full recipe, you'll have to try it at the bar first to find out the secret ingredient.
"Diamond Jubilee Martini"
- "Effen" Cucumber Vodka 2 oz.
- Elderflower Liqueur 1 1/3 oz.
- Lemon and Lime Juice 1 oz.
- Gum Syrup 1 oz.
- Secret Ingredient 1 1/3 oz.
Mix the above ingredients in a shaker and strain through a strainer into a chilled martini glass. ■The Beverly Hills Hotel's Polo Lounge
Since its opening in 1941, this bar has been visited by many discerning and selfish celebrities, and there are countless anecdotes surrounding it. Marilyn Monroe and Yves Montand had a great time, Frank Sinatra and his pals had a wild time, Hunter S. Thompson got completely drunk (as usual), and it was here that young Laura Dern took her first steps... If Robert Rouleau, who currently oversees all of the restaurant menus at the Beverly Hills Hotel, had been there back then, Hunter Thompson might have been saved by choosing this healthy cocktail instead of Chivas.
"Polo Garden Gimlet"
- "Absolut Elyx" vodka
- cucumber
- coriander
- jalapeno
- lime juice
Mash the cucumber with a muddler and mix everything in a shaker. Pour through a strainer into a glass and you're done.
●All of the above hotels can be booked through TABLET. (a hotel booking site).
https://www.tablethotels.com
