Drink in the new year

There is always the traditional option of Champagne or sparkling wine.

"You always want to end with the best because once you start you can’t go back,” said Andrew Frieden, owner of Cellar 227 in San Mateo.

Frieden said Champagne will cover two of the three taste sections on the tongue, sour and sweet. Pairing it with something salty will cover the entire pallet. For those feeling a bit homebound this year, he suggested spending the evening with a movie, popcorn and some champagne.

For those seeking a bit of a change, Sixteen Mile House in Millbrae’s owner Bret Bottarini said try a cosmopolitan. He said it’s basically a cranberry martini but seems to be the drink of choice for both men and women this year.

3rd Avenue Sports Bar and Grill bartender Fred Maru suggested throwing sake into the mix with a saketini or mojito made with sake. Maru said mixing plum-flavored sake with cranberry juice creates a nice non-traditional drink.

Duane Beadles, bartender at the Carlos Club in San Carlos, like a cham-cran. The drink mixes Champagne, Chambord and cranberry juice.

The Steelhead Brewing Company in Burlingame General Manager Domingo Garcia said it’s all about the classics.

"It’s all about the classic cocktail. Cosmopolitans are played out. The "Sex and the City” series had its finale already. It’s time for traditional drinks like Manhattans, martinis and side cars,” he said.

With drink choices taken care of, it’s time to start planning for the dreaded day after. The key to success is planning ahead.

For Frieden, treatment starts with the first drink. He said taking two chaser pills with the first drink and a water between each drink makes for a happy morning after. The pills, Frieden said, soak up the negative elements of the drinks. They can be picked up at local drug stores in small travel packs for a few dollars.

Friends of Maru use the beer in the shower trick. He said it’s simple. Stick a beer in the shower before heading out for the night. In the morning, drink while getting clean.

But Maru suggested a red eye, a drink that substitutes beer for the vodka in a bloody mary. Maru said it might not taste good but it will work.

Beadles has his own twist on the red eye he calls the Mexican bloody mary because he first had it in Mexico. He said drink half of a traditional bloody mary then fill the glass up with beer of your choice.

Adding ginger to the drink will offer an added bonus.

"People chew ginger to calm their stomach, for nausea and air sickness. If you can get a little fresh ginger in your morning after beverage or even food, it’s better than nothing,” said Garcia.

Heather Murtagh can be reached by e-mail: heather@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 105. What do you think of this story? Send a letter to the editor: letters@smdailyjournal.com.

INFORMATION BOX: Drink Recipes

Saketini

2 1/2 oz gin

1 1/2 tsp sake rice wine

1 cocktail olive

directions: In a mixing glass half-filled with ice cubes, combine the gin or vodka with the sake. Stir well. Strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with the olive.

Cham-Cran

2 shots Chambord

Champagne

1 fill cranberry juice

directions: Take a tall glass and fill with ice. Pour in Chambord and half fill with

Champagne and fill remaining with cranberry juice. Stir lightly.

Bloody Mary

1 1/2 oz vodka

3 oz tomato juice

1 dash lemon juice

1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

2 - 3 drops Tabasco sauce

1 lime wedge

directions: Shake all ingredients (except lime wedge) with ice and strain into an old-fashioned glass over ice cubes. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add the wedge of lime and serve.

Red Eye

Use the bloody mary instructions but substitute the beer of choice for vodka.

Champagne Cocktail

6 ounces chilled champagne

1 cube sugar

Angostura bitters

directions: Soak sugar cube with

Angostura bitters. Place the cube in the bottom of a champagne flute. Fill with champagne. Garnish with a lemon twist.

Side Car

1 oz. brandy

1/2 oz. Triple Sec

Splash of sour mix

directions: Shake with ice. Serve on the rocks or strain to serve up in a sugar frosted chilled cocktail glass.

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