J. Gold's 2nd Annual Union Station Zocalo Speakeasy Cocktail Fundraiser And Finally Being Legal To Go

What's The Password?: 213


Oh, how does time fly. I swear it was just a couple of months ago that I was on The New Yorker for not being able to attend this very event last year!

What can I say other than it was pretty cool, especially since I was asked by the charming Zocalo girls to cover the event.

I got there a little after it started as I had a long night of other destinations ahead of me. The password to get in was "213".



Braised Pork, Squash Flan, Smoked Sage Jus: Grace Restaurant


Despite my 21 year old stereotype, I dug into the food before the booze. Stand outs were the obvious, providence went all out and was serving the straight up good shit. Buttery pieces of Japanese Kanpachi Sashimi with a sliver of tendon and Vietnamese style fish sauced slaw. While Grace Restaurant (pictured above) went for comfort and served smoky, tender joy.

The drinks were awesome as well with my favorites being the conservative style of The Varnish's hand shaken Plymouth Fitzgerald. Simple with Plymouth Gin, lemon juice, sugar and Angostura Bitters but effective with its spicy, sour taste. Caña's "Cruzan Rum Ace Of Spades" was more complex and not bad at all neither, basically a Daiquiri with Cruzan 9 Spiced Rum and Cacao bitters.



A Twain Of Plymouth Fitzerald's: The Varnish


It was nice to see everybody in da' club all snazzed up in their speakeasy best but I made like a banana and split after a while, The Gears were playing a show at The Redwood and my jet white T.U.K faux dress shoes needed to be dirtied up a bit.

Salud! to Jonathan Gold for being bad ass and basically making me. And to Zocalo for keeping it real and supporting the scene.

Looking forward to even more controversial panel topics and even more eating and drinking next year!


Zocalo Public Square

UPCOMING BAD ASS WEEKEND ALERT: Real De Mexico Tequila & Bad Brains At The Sunset Junction (August 21 & 22)

*UPCOMING BAD ASS WEEKEND ALERT*

For Immediate Puro Pinche Pari Release:




Announcing the sole Tequila sponsors of this years Sunset Junction:


Real De Mexico Tequila


Real De Mexico will be hand muddling their signature Real Mexican cocktails all day, both days for only--you ready?

$5 each!


The Real Mexican: Jalapeño, Cilantro, Agave, Lime Y Es Todo


A glutster cocktail favorite indeed! As...I will actually be guest muddling all that Jalapeño and Cilantro with agave syrup for your smooth and spicy sipping pleasure.

As if that wasn't enough. Apparently, The Bad Brains (DC 80's Hardcore Legends are gonna be playing all of a sudden on Saturday night)



So come out and sip, smoke, skank and hopefully...pit!

(Bad Brains are now mostly reggae but have your tight pants and doc martins steel toe boots ready just in case...)

Aprovecha!

Buy your tickets for Sunset Junction Here

Ask The Glutster: Ideas For O.G Mexican Mothers Day?

Hola Javier,

We met once at a talk that Daniel Hernandez did for Zocalo at MOMA. We were supposed to check out barbacoa de contrabando...sorry i did not get back to you, man.
Hope it was good.

Oye, question?

Where should we take our Mom for Mother's Day?
She is og mexican, so we need smoething that tastes good, and is a little special for Mother's Day, tal vez un mariachi? no se? Que recomiendas?

Hope you are doing well.

francisco




Sup' Panchito?

There is a great Mexican proverb out there that says: “Madre no hay más que una” (Mother there is, but only one).

And well, for all the times she would not eat to make sure you do, for all those times she made you lunch when you were running late to school, for all those times she picked you up no matter where were you were at, regardless of the time or what she was doing. And for being the only woman to love you as unconditionally as she does…

I think she deserves absolutely nothing short but the best all day on this magnificent day, hell if not every day for that matter. And since she is "o.g Mexican" and happens to reside here in the good ol' El Norte, she will most likely get spoiled twice. One on the American Mother's Day followed by Dia De Las Madres, as she should!

For an enticing but still traditional breakfast, why not try the Chilaquiles at Guelaguetza? This leftover tortilla breakfast of champions gets the Southern Oaxacan treatment here, being made from the heftier daily tortilla known as Clayudas that Oaxacans take pride in. And I just called up the homie--owner of the Olympic location--confirmed that they will have live music all day Sunday and dinner Monday.

Another awesome brunch spot would be the Vallarta prided Pescado Zarandeado over at Mariscos Martin in El Monte. The adobo-rubbed, charred whole fish is legit and ranks in my top 3 Mexican in L.A, and am pretty sure you can give a couple of dollars to the roaming musicians in return for a heartfelt performance of "Por El Amor De Mi Madre".

And last but not definitely least, I am willing to put my word that La Casita Mexicana will not disappoint. There might not be live music, but there will be the deftly prepared northern Mexican antojitos classics and the two most genuine, lovable Mexican chefs in the world probably. Jaime and Ramiro do not have their own weekly segment on Univision's Despierta American for nothing. And they just informed me that they will have 4 additional special dishes on both Sunday and Monday, including their juicy Cochinita Pibil, a Chamorro (braised beef shank) dish, and the elusive Mole Blanco. And of course their crack filled churritos!

If you're really down, why not bond over a fine drink together at Las Perlas Tequila/Mezcal bar in downtown. I know it was considered disrespectful in old times to drink with your parents but "pero no mas una copita mami, andale!"

buen provecho and mucho love to your mom.

Glutster
(El O.G "Hijo Desobediente")



Guelaguetza
Olympic
3014 W. Olympic Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90006
(213)427-0608

Mariscos Martin
13430 Valley Blvd
La Puente, CA 91746
(626) 330-5722

La Casita Mexicana
4030 Gage Ave Bell,
CA 90201
(323) 773-1898

Las Perlas
103 East 6th Street
Los Angeles
CA 90014
(213) 988-8355

The Radio Room at The Edison: Puro Pinche Pari No Mas!

Puro Pinche Pari No Mas Hombre: The Radio Room

I'm pretty sure you guys have noticed that I have been straight out lagging it with the blog lately, ok, to the max. Well, The Adverts (late British 77 Punk band) said it best...NO TIME TO BE 21!.

No excuses!

...Yes, Yes, I know but between school, revamping my site, that internship at NPR West (Word Commentaries, Youth Radio, Huffington Post Duties), and my Hopeless Romantic PURO PINCHE PARI ways--time has become of the valuable essence lately.

I post more regularly on NPR blog now (for you die hard Glutster heads out there...)


The Speak Easy Feel of The Edison: Angel Shot

Amidst all this senseless partying, a couple of new drinking experiences have bubbled up. Like that of The Radio Room at The Edison in Downtown. Never in my days of drinking 40 oz. Cobras on buses with the homiez would I have expected to be sipping on Fresh Nutmeg laced Infante's Tequila mixed drinks...


Giuseppe Gonzales's Infante: Tequila, Lime, Orgeat, Fresh Nutmeg

I still have a lot to learn as I showed up to the first one in my Chuck Taylor's but Oh! How I live for the bouncer confrontations at food or wine events. I love seeing their face as they realize that this tall, lanky long haired Latino guy ACTUALLY IS on the list and YES, I AM TEENAGE EFFIN GLUTSTER.

In a nutshell, The Radio Room gathers four bartenders from around the U.S at a time and has them all behind a bar, rhythmically shaking and showing off as they pour two custom drinks that they create just for the event. It happens just above the month count and it is awesome.


A Guy On Stilts: I'm Telling You, This Shizz Always Cracks

Ok, it gets uncomfortably packed during peak hours, with waits up to half an hour for a drink sometime. But, the 1920's prohibtion ambiance all but makes up for it. It used to be a steam room I hear, and they project your early film history essentials on almost every wall. And they always have a bad ass live band.


Ambiance: The 20's Were The Days

How freaking flattered I was to find out that Joseph Brooke, the Director of Spirits at The Edison, is apparently a HUGE fan of my blog!


Joseph Brooke: Getting Crazy!

And he took care of me and my guest rather finely, introducing me to my first S.F standard, Tommy's Marguerita, an Agave-sweetened Marguerita. And sharing some of his favorite Mexican spirits with me.


Sombra: Smoky, Caramel Notes w/ an Elegant Burn


Ocho Tequila: A Shot Here, A Shot There

Several drinks later, he absolutely swooped me off my feet with impromptu drink he ingeniously named the "Oaxaca Wacka-Wacka", a mixed drink of Mezcal, Hibiscus Liquor and other things lost in those brain cells I killed that night...

In my buzzed munchy induced flurry, I got a chance to talk Oysters with Christophe Happillon, went on for almost an hour actually. Talking about how different plankton affect the taste of each and he has a secure, sustainable and tasty source from this guy in Carlsbad. He shucks regularly at Joes in Venice every Friday night.


Christophe Hapillon: In My Point Of View That Time Of Night

By the end of the night, I was feeling pretty damn good and satiated for the night, but as I was leaving I smelled my Lavender and I saw fire; two of my favorite things in life.


Zane Harris Of Seattle: Pyro Mixologist

Ok, one more drink to cap the night off I guess! Like a whiff of the first Lavender buds in season but...boozier!

I'm looking forward to coming here next time.

Ok...I'll put on some stupid dress shoes.

I hear they are opening up one in New York for all you East Coasters.

The Edison
108 W 2nd St
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 613-0000
www.edisondowntown.com