Boobs, Booze, & Beignets! – October party/charity event

  
The header of this blog reminds readers of this fun fact about LUPEC Seattle: “Occasionally we throw a party and use our power to raise money for local charities.” This is exactly what went down at the Rob Roy in Belltown on Thursday night. It was a perfect mixture of Seattle Cocktail Week and Breast Cancer Awareness month that led the throwing of “Boobs, Booze, and Beignets,” a New Orleans themed party that stretched from the street to the very back of the bar.



The official menu for the evening...















 But let’s start with the middle of the bar – or rather, the bar itself. Anu Apte and crew at the Rob Roy crafted a special Big Easy-themed drink menu for the evening, including four cocktails and a traditional serve Absinthe. Besides the Sazerac, also known as the official cocktail of New Orleans, the Bourbon St. Slushie was a popular choice among LUPEC members and other party-goers. Other options included a Ramos Gin Fizz and a Vieux Carre, another New Orleans classic. The miniature bottle of Angostura bitters that accompanied it may have been added incentive for this order!

Sazerac and raffle ticket

And now onto that part about the street – what New Orleans-themed party would be complete without food? Not one, in fact. Thank goodness for the Where Ya At Matt truck being there. Party-goers braved the chilly (but dry!) October air while stepping out onto the street for everything from Jambalaya croquettes to spicy shrimp bread to po boy sliders. The hot beignets lived up to their placement in the event’s name delighting many with their doughy-deliciousness and excessive covering of very powdery sugar.  

Where Ya At Matt shrimp bread and spicy sauce

 And finally, we get to the “boobs” part of the evening. Besides enjoying excellent cocktails and delicious food, the goal for the event was to raise $500 to contribute to the National Breast Cancer Foundation during Breast Cancer awareness month. Local bars and businesses generously donated (full list of donors below) everything from gift certificates to bottles of booze to a whiskey making kit! Raffle tickets went for $5 and each purchase got an attendee a bead necklace to add a bit of Mardi Gras-like flair to the evening. Early reports had the total amount of tickets sold at over $1000! As everything from envelopes to bags to boxes was passed across the bar to winners, ticket holders swirled their drinks and hoped their number would come up next. Many of them did!

Wendy was handing out raffle prizes left and right!

                                                                                                           

A huge thank you to our raffle donors:

• Gilt Group -  Totes
• Left Coast Libations/Inner Chapter Books - Autographed Copy of Left Coast Libations
• Sound Spirits - Ebb & Flow Gin, Ebb & Flow Vodka
• Scrappys Bitters - Grapefruit Bitters, Cardamon Bitters, Lavender Bitters, Celery Bitters, bitters travel pack
• Woodinville Whiskey    - Barrel Aging Kit with 2 Bottles of White Dog
• Estrella Salon    - choice of $150 worth of Skin Treatments
• Mulleady's Pub - gift Card
• Cooper & Sons - Pierre Ferand Cognac, Crop Organic Vodka
• Pur Spirits - Blood Orange Liquor, Pear Williams Liquor
• Novo Fogo - Cachaca Kit with Silver & Gold Novo Fogo, Muddler & Recipe cards
• Tales of the Cocktail - Two Party Passes to the invite only Opening & Closing parties, Meet the Distillers event and 5 Tasting rooms at TOTC on tour in Vancouver this Feb
• Small Screen Network - A guest spot on Kathy Casey’s Liquid Kitchen, a web based video series. You'll step behind the bar and infront of the cameras to mix up a cocktail with Kathy!
• Liberty - gift cards (several!)    
• Daniel's Broiler - dinner for two
• Poquitos - dinner for two
• Bathtub Gin - gift card
• Rabbit Hole - gift card
• The Living Room Bar - gift Card
• Bastille - dinner for two
• Hotel 1000 - Spahhh Retreat: Two Spa Treatments & Lunch/Dinner
• Piscologia- Basket of Piscologia, Peruvian Bitters, recipe and t-shirt, leather handbag from Argentina

Thanks to everyone else who contributed to the great success that was Boobs, Booze, & Beignets. It was an excellent kick-off to the first annual Seattle Cocktail Week, indeed. More photos can be found here. Laissez les bons temps rouler!  

Big thanks to my lady on the street Chelsea for taking pictures during the event and writing this great post! Also big thanks to Rob Roy, Anu Apte & Trickey who shook to donate $5 per drink from the special menu. Where Ya At Matt, who donated 100% of money from the beignet sales. All the donors for the fab prizes and of course all of you for participating. Our goal was $500 and we did a total of... drumroll please... $2,360.00!!!! ~Wendy                                                         

LUPEC October meeting Swig Well inaugural "Memories in a Glass"

Many thanks to Cameo for writing this month's blog post. And congratulations to her and her new gig as Chef of re-opening bar Vessel! -WM

Sometimes a drink is just a drink; spirits, ice, glass. Those of us who appreciate the craft, appreciate properly measured spirits, cold clear ice, and delicately etched glass expertly chosen.   Sometimes all that is rubbish.  

 A margarita poolside under a palm palapa, an absinthe slushy on bourbon street, a glass of bubbly in Paris. Sometimes, memory is the secret ingredient. Nevermind the jigger, or the tincture the hand pressed juice, the moment is in the memory. That feeling of being lifted from your barstool and delivered back to that moment in time where your toes dangled in the water or the rain locked you indoors in a foreign place. 

“Memories in a Glass”, the theme of Swig Well, the newest collaboration of Seattle's top shelf bartender started by  Rob Roy's lovely owner Anu Apte along with the effervescent, Hallie McGee. Swig Well will hold classes for the cocktail curious and the cocktail elite by-weekly or so in a ‘belly up to the bar’ atmosphere at Rob Roy. 

The first of many classes to come, “Memories in a glass” served as this months LUPEC meeting. The course outline is loose and comfortable, just the way it's intended. Designed to be one to two hour classes for those of us with 'short attention spans' and truth be told in the discussion of spirits how much do we really remember after a couple? 

Inspired by her recent, well deserved, vacation, 'Memories in a Glass' unveiled the distinction between a recipe and a the palpable memory of flavor, and how sometimes it’s the salt air or even the exhaust from a passing bus that can change the way you remember what you eat or drink. 

We started the evening with a little bubbly, what I believe is universal in capturing memories in it’s tiny bubbles only to remind us latter of how sweet life is.  Next tried two versions of  the sweetest, sourest, and often tragic of memory makers,  the Margarita, Rob Roy’s version, and a version closest to Anu’s memory from the beach.  The differences were subtle but significant, Rob Roy opts for a reposado tequila which has a little deeper flavor, perfect for a grey Seattle mental escape south of the border. The 'memory' margarita was made with Plata, tequila giving it more of a straight from the sun flavor.  We experienced perfectly the idea that if you free yourselves from believing perfection is in the recipe, that something so simple as a ½ ounce of lime can differ in taste so significantly, it holds the key to a portal of time travel, where a lime is not simply a lime, and a drink is not simply a drink, that a memory is often the perfect garnish.

Swig Well’s inaugural class was a perfect introduction to the ‘feel’ of  what is to come.  An informal discussion over the subtleties of citrus, or the smell of scotch and leather, a well stocked bar at home or a well filled flask in the woods. 

Mexican version of Angostura was the magic ingredient to the Platino Fresco

Thank you for the introduction and cheers to your success!!

Reporting from the field... Cameo McRoberts

All photos here
And recipes from the evening are here

June LUPEC Homework Assignments

June's meeting was a homework assignment:

The mission: to pick one bar to revisit from our last 12months, one that you haven't been to since that meeting (or didn't get to join us at), and give us the scoop on what you had, what you thought, etc. of any of the following:

Zig Zag
Sambar
Copper Gate
MistralKitchen
Mulleady's
Naga Lounge
Liberty Bar
Suite 410
BOKA 

Denise, being the consummate professional at all things photography and writing turned hers in first:  

Old Cuban, Meet the New/Old Brazilian

I sidled up to the bar at Naga, in Chantanee and was glad to see Michael Kostin at the helm, handling a busy Monday evening crowd with typical charm and humor, and of course giving me well-deserved ribbing that it had been too long since I’d visited. Someone should send me to the chalkboard to write: “I will drink at Naga more often” over a hundred times, with a chaser of a neon-pink Cosmopolitan. But seriously, if I’m at a bar that’s spirits-smart, it’s usually bartender’s choice over what he or she is feeling like shaking up. This time I had a plan: Something Old, Something New. I just told Michael I was looking to have two cocktails, something classic and something newfangled. Maybe it was the “old” part of the cocktalian riddle that caught his fancy, but he presented me with these two offerings: the classic Old Cuban, and his latest riff, the Old Brazilian.

The Old Cuban is a rum-based cocktail, originated at the Pegu Club in NYC. It’s a bit like a Mojito with the use of lime and mint, but no seltzer or crushed ice – think of the Old Cuban as the Mojito’s older, more mature sibling who just wants their drink without a fuss. That’s not to say it’s not an elegant drink -- the Old Cuban was served up in a lovely chilled cocktail glass with a delicate mint leaf floating on top. Despite the name, which makes it sound a little like something Hemingway would have asked for with a snarl, it’s quite summery, refreshingly tart with the fresh lime, and the aged rum gives it a sweet richness. Fast forward to the “new” part of the themed cocktail combo – the new/Old Brazilian. Michael swapped out the rum with cachaça, along with some behind the scenes bar magic to modify the recipe to balance it out, and the resulting drink is really smooth and sophisticated. It doesn’t have as strong of a tart citrus edge as its Old Cuban counterpart; the cachaça mellows the drink out, lending a more rounded flavor. It’s actually a great combination to enjoy in that order – the Old Cuban, to sort of wake up your palate with the tartness, and then the Old Brazilian to help one ease into the evening.

As always, letting the bartender design the cocktails for the evening is never a bad thing, and even more of a reminder that yes, I need to get out more.

Well done Denise, A+ for you (and apologies if I mixed the photos up, let us know in the comments please)

New member Chelsea took this homework on as her very first LUPEC project!

je vois la vie en rose
Since sometime last year, I've had half of a page torn out of Sunset Magazine lying somewhere in the proximity of my desk/record player stand right next to it. I think that my Dad tore it out of an issue and then showed my Mom who then passed it on to me. This torn half-page details Sambar, a southeast Ballard bar located right next to Le Gourmand. The photo in the Sunset blurb shows two tables in a garden and the words tell of a cocktails and French-tinged loveliness. We were all intrigued, but I still hadn't been.

My recent acceptance into Ladies United for the Preservation of Endangered Cocktails (LUPEC) found me with a homework assignment: attend one of ten or so bars around Seattle known for well-crafted cocktails and report back. Sambar and I finally had an excuse to meet. Here is the result, illustrated by my photos.

The entrance reminds you that Sambar is closed on Sunday and Monday.

The weather was close to warm, so I took a seat in the garden, facing out to the street. Lined with roses and a variety of potted plants, you could be just about anywhere when you're ensconced there.

My favorite cocktails include rum, so I started with La Martinique, which had rhum agricole vieux (old sugar-cane based rum from Martinique), lime juice, and Clement Creole Shrubb (a rhum agricole-based orange liqueur). Served in a martini glass, it came with a large piece of orange peel, which you don't see everywhere. The drink was well-made, having that general citrus-y bite you get when you combine rum, citrus, and citrus-based liqueur. Could the glass have been a little bit more full? Hard to say, but I'd have ordered another one either way.

Oh, and I ordered the very French cheese board to accompany my cocktails which came with plenty of delicious bread.

I branched out for my second cocktail and tried the Freya, made of aquavit, kirsh, sour cherry, lemon, and maraschino. Aquavit on its own is not my thing (much to my aquavit-loving Father's chagrin) but I thought the other ingredients would balance it out nicely. They did! And it was nice to look at too - such a beautiful ruby color in the highball glass! The taste was fruity but not too fruity and sweet but not too sweet. A perfect refreshment for a late spring day.

I can do no comparing to past cocktails at Sambar, but these were as well-crafted as any others I've consumed around Seattle, including the Zig Zag. I'll visit Sambar again this summer and while the garden was lovely, I really enjoy watching my drinks being made, so next time I'll sit at the bar. But if Seattle ever sees a hot summer day this year, look for me back in the garden, cocktail in hand.

Sambar is located at 425 N.W. Market Street | Seattle, WA 98107

More photos of Sambar on my flickr page.

Kudos Chelsea for the great write up and photos! A+!

Leslie sent in her report about Mulleady's after heading there with Jan one night:

Travis was there last evening and brought over our aged negroni's.  Soooo smooth & delicious!  Travis said that it could be considered a Negroni for beginners as it's so smooth.  That was my favorite cocktail of the evening.  I don't even remember seeing it on the menu, either. 

I had high hopes for one of their 'sour's as you know I like a little egg in my drink sometimes.  The waitress said she doesn't get many orders for either of the ones on the menu, but said out of the 2 she would recommend the *Trinidad* -- Angostura, Lemon, Orgeat, Wild Turley 101.  Neither Jan nor I cared for it as it has some kind of strange spicing to it not unlike pumpkin spicing, which neither of us care for in drinks.  The waitress said that flavor could have come from the amount of angostura they use (which I normally like), or maybe their housemade Orgeat. 

My 3rd drink was the

London Calling

Plymouth Gin, Grapefruit, Juniper Syrup, Pechauds ... I was ready for something refreshing after the pumpkin spice-ish drink (which I didn't finish) and this hit the mark.  It had a good grapefruit flavor, that would make it a good choice for a brunch cocktail.

I had a taste of Jan's Manhatten...*Peaty Burns* – Scotch, Lagavulin, Dolin Sweet Vermouth, Benedictine, Pimento Dram.  It was quite strong and excellent...

Out of all the food dishes we tried, the Fried Oyster Po Boy was the winner of the night... Jan also really liked the pickled fruit and veggies.  I liked the curried Cauliflower dip with pita more than her.  We both liked the rhubarb goat cheese tart to some extent.  I want to go back to try their burger, which I've heard excellent things about and to try more cocktails!  Great place!

Thanks Leslie! I'm a big fan of the London Calling and the Aged Negroni also. A only for the absence of photos :)

Jan recounted her evening at Mulleady’s also:

On Friday night, Leslie and I went to Mulleady’s Irish Pub to do some serious LUPEC homework.  It was my second visit (the first being our LUPEC event) and Leslie’s first.  We arrived around 7:00, found a good table and were welcomed warmly by our server who went over the specials.  Leslie mentioned to her that we knew Wendy Miller and that she had suggested the cask-aged Negroni, so we both started off with that.  In a couple of minutes, the bartender came over to welcome us, chat for a bit about LUPEC, the cask-aged Negroni and to thank us for coming in.  The Negronis arrived and we thought they were delicious…a bit more round and smooth than a regular Negroni…sort of a Negroni for beginners as our server put it.

For nibbles, we ordered the Savory Rhubarb tart  with goat cheese, garlic and pine nuts (light, savory and quite tasty); the Curried Cauliflower dip (fine, but not very curryish); the Pot of Pickles (Leslie found these on the sweet side, but I thought they were good and quite tart—who’s right?) and then we shared an Oyster Po’boy (crunchy, perfectly fried oysters with a slightly spicy slaw--the hit of the evening!). 

We also ordered another round of drinks.  I had the Peaty Burns, made with Lagavulin Scotch, Dolin Sweet Vermouth, Benedictine, Pimento Dram and comes in an old-fashioned glass with a big, round ice ball in it.  I’d had it before and it was just as good this time as the last…smokey, sweet and strong, but perfectly balanced.  Leslie ordered the Trinidad Sour (Angostura, Lemon, Orgeat, Wild Turkey and an egg white) which was good but had a stronger taste of allspice than she cared for.  When we asked about it, we were told that there’s quite a large amount of the Angostura in it.   Last up was the London Calling:  Plymouth Gin, Grapefruit, Juniper Syrup, Pechauds which was very good and we both agreed would make a lovely brunch drink.  We also gave in to temptation at this point and ordered the fries with tomato jam and aioli…they were really good fries!

I really wish Mulleady’s was closer to my neighborhood.  It’s a great mix of casual and delicious pub fare, great cocktails and friendly, efficient service.  Can’t wait to go back, have another Peaty Burns,  a Po’ Boy and try the burger!
 

Jan also gets an A, should of had that camera with ya!

Karen Ann Kenyon did double duty by posting her review in the Seattle Cocktail Culture App comments regarding Zig Zag:

The ever charming and eminently professional Erik Hakkinen is now on Th-Su. Sad for those of us that enjoyed his endless supply of Simpsons quotes, stories from his travels, and extra attention on slower Mondays. But the Thursday crowd I witnessed last week seemed unfazed by Murray's departure and drinking some of the city's best cocktails with gusto. And I still got a couple of stories.

When your proteges can carry on without faltering, you know you've done well. Bravo Zulu, Murray!

Even though there are no pictures and we don't know what she drank she still gets an A cuz she plugged my App :p

Lauren chose an outing at Rob Roy with some poor ladies not lucky enough to be in LUPEC:

I was meeting some non-LUPEC friends for dinner at Tàvolata and they were wanting to go someplace for drinks first so, naturally, I suggested Rob Roy. We sat on one of the comfy couches up front and sampled cocktails from their Happy Hour menu. A couple of them ordered the Italian Buck and I ordered the Dark and Fernet-y. How could I resist? I loves me some Fernet. That turned out to be the girls favorite drink and they each ordered one for their second round. Me? I had my usual classic martini – which they do oh so well. I love Rob Roy.

Lauren gets an A even though I know she has been to Rob Roy both during the meeting there and multiple occasions before and after that because she did not divulge all our LUPEC secrets to non LUPEC ladies!

Our fabulous Venezuelan Valentina wrote:

June was LUPEC homework month. I'm still very shy when it comes to giving my impressions about cocktails, spirits and liqueur. So my report is going to be done within the limits of my comfort zone this time, and I'm going to tell the two things I discovered during June thanks to our assignment. The first one is that cocktails have been the ones helping me to fall in love with a flavor I did not like before: bitter. Growing up in the Caribbean area of South America, I was exposed to diverse flavors BUT despite this, bitterness has a very small space in my country's cuisine. I used to frown at it and stay away when it was present in food or beverages. Now, when I get that first kick of bitter, I let the liquid touch and linger around the roof of my mouth, then soak my taste buds to finally let it go while breathing in. I'm deeply in love with it, and that sentiment applies to food, too. One of my "bitter" but super sweet discoveries of this Summer was Cocchi Americano. Thanks to Artusi for that!

The second thing I discovered is that the more I dive into the cocktail world, the more I pace myself when going out to drink. Not that I used to get wasted before, but now I can live happily if I do two cocktails per night. I spend more time with my drink and enjoy it almost like a dinner course. Plus, I've incorporated drinking water into the dynamic which helps me not only to feel hydrate but to taste the drinks better. I'm not going to go to much into it because, as I said, I'm a novice.

Of course, I'm sharing more than words. I made some photos of my favorite drinks around Seattle and I'm passing them along. Enjoy y ¡salud!

Game (bourbon, Grand Marnier, Luxardo and Rachel's Ginger Beer) at La Bete in Capitol Hill. It's my favorite drink here, and one of my favorite in Seattle. After the cocktail is crafted, the bartender sprinkles it with a tiny bit of salt. The salt  falls onto the bottom of the glass so the last sip is salty and delicious. 

Star Gazer (rye, Lillet Blanc, hourse orange bitters) at La Bete in Capitol Hill. My husband's favorite (yes, he came along most of the times I was doing homework!)

Hot Charlotte at Tavern Law. Yes, I cheated on Zig Zag.

A for Valentina for although she didn't go to any of the places she was suppose to she takes amazing photos and has a way with words, even the ones that aren't natively hers!

And last but not lease Courtney says:

For the first of the month's LUPEC excursions, Tracy Meeker and I, along with several other ladies, descended upon the crew at Sambar. It seemed fitting as it was where last summer's homework took place, and also marked my one-year anniversary with the ladies who liquid lunch. To start the evening off, I ordered the Le Zefir, a combination of old Tom gin, Gran Classico and lavender bitters. The drink was a wonderful combination of bitter and sweet and the lavender petals sprinkled on top served as a sophisticated, aromatic  garnish. For my second drink, I put myself in Jay's capable hands and ordered a spirit-forward pisco drink. What I received highlighted the spirit very well and was also very tasty, though I can't exactly remember what the other ingredients were. And as far as food goes, we couldn't help ourselves and ordered some of Sambar's fabulous frites.

For my second outing, Tracy and I made our way to Magnolia to revisit Mulleady's Pub. My first drink was the Oaxacan Old Fashioned from their menu. It came with a sphere of ice and a lime covered in salt that was balanced over the mixture of agave nectar, mescal and mole bitters. As time passed, the salt added more depth and flavor to the cocktail. It was smoky and delicious. For my second drink I ordered the Red Hook, which is one of my favorites and it didn't disappoint. Tracy and I also ate dinner there and enjoyed a savory rhubarb tart, the homemade veggie burger, and some of Mulleady's homemade pickles that arrived at our table in their own mason jar. It was a lovely evening.

An A+ for Courtney and Tracy because even though there are no pictures they went to TWO places!!

I almost missed the note from Rachel, sorry about that lady!! Here's her account of Sambar:

As mentioned here before, I belong to LUPEC Seattle — the local branch of Ladies United for the Preservation of Endangered Cocktails. Our monthly outings are masterfully organized by Wendy Miller.
For June, in lieu of our traditional LUPEC gathering, she assigned homework: visit any of the bars LUPEC visited in the last year.
Sambar stood out from her list, but led me to question whether it was really a year ago that I visited last. Turns out, yes, it had been too long. So, when Courtney suggested a few of us gather for a study session, I jumped at the offer.
We convened soon after our workdays, as the sun was still pretty high. I took notes:
- My warm up — Noir Satiné. Rye Whiskey, Strega, Cocchi Vermouth, Black Tea, Lemon Bitters. This worked. I liked the hint of black tea and lemon. The complex combination defeated lingering negative side effects of a challenging workday. Our merry little group was rolling right along.
- When it was time to order again, my eyes drifted to the food menu, despite original intentions to the contrary. I’d coveted Valentina’s Croque-Monsieur across the table, and ham and grilled cheese turned out to be a delicious accompaniment for the next cocktail.
- Clémence. Genever, Pineau-des-Charentes, Apricot, Créme de Pêche, Lemon, Pastis. The Genever and Pastis bookends in the listing jumped out, and when the drink arrived, it was a refreshing hit with the whole table.
- There was opportunity for more, but responsibility was calling my name.
- Then, right after the tab was settled, I noticed several no-octane options that I would have chosen had I noticed. Ah, next time.
And there will be a next time, especially with Courtney, Tracy, Valentina, Cameo, and Heather. Thank you, ladies, for the great evening!

Rachel gets an A+ cuz her write up and pictures are AWESOME and she has not bitched me out for missing her entry on the first go round :)

Well done ladies, I don't know what your rep was like in school but you're all honor students here. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and hopefully encouraging others to get out there and revisit the places that sometimes drop off our radar for whatever the reason. 

Cheers!

Cocktails for a Cause, Success!

It was LUPEC Seattle's first ticketed event to raise money for a local women's charity, this time the Jubilee Women's Center, and it was a great success!

Held in the Aspira Penthouse in downtown Seattle, we couldn't have asked for a more perfect evening. Clear skies coupled with floor to ceiling windows equaled amazing views of Seattle, the Sound and Lake Union. You know the view is gorgeous when everyone who enters stops to gaze before even ordering a cocktail!

Anu Apte, owner of Rob Roy created all the wonderful libations while LUPEC Portland lady Jenn Hegstrom and LCL creator Ted Munat shook and served. We were so lucky to have such great sponsors: Makers 46, Voyager Gin, Corrido Tequilla and Ebb & Flow Vodka. Everyone got 2 cocktails included with their ticket price, those who brought a clothing donation got 1 more. And all the drinks were only $8!

Ethan Stowell Restaurants provided us with delicious bar snacks like bruschetta with fresh ricotta & white anchovy or smoked tuna spread; buffalo milk mozzarella; spicy Copa and soft boiled eggs with a dried tuna loin shaving.

Christina Kuypers was there with the gorgeous Left Coast Libations cocktail book for purchase. Between shaking cocktails Ted was poised with a pen- the autograph king!

And of course we have all these beautiful pictures taken by Chad Pryor. He's in the process of building a new site but for now you can find him at www.chadwiki.com

But of course one of the main reasons were were having this party is to give back to our community. On Monday I went to Jubilee with a whole car load full of clothes. The center was so surprised and excited, we filled their lobby with bags and bags of really nice stuff. And then I mentioned I had a check for them for $500 and they were THRILLED! This was all a surprise and they couldn't believe we picked them as a worthy cause and donated.

So THANK YOU again to all of you who bought tickets and came out in support of LUPEC and Seattle's community. And THANK YOU to our sponsors and worker bees. We hope to do more of these types of events this year. Suggestions? Put them in the comments please!

LUPEC Seattle is Having a Party & Even Boys are Invited!

LUPEC Seattle Cocktails for a Cause

Saturday February 19, 2011

8pm- 12am

$40 in advance/ $50 at the door

Limited Space!

Join the ladies of LUPEC Seattle at The Penthouse, A Rob Roy Collaboration, for a cocktail party benefiting Jubilee Women’s Center. Enjoy drinks & Seattle’s best view from 37 floors up!  

Ticket price includes 2 cocktails by Anu Apte of Rob Roy & Jenn Hegstrom of LUPEC Portland as well as light hors d’Oeuvres.  Additional drinks available at the cash bar.

Special guest Ted Munat of the recently published “Left Coast Libations” will be signing copies of his book. Kristina Barnes, owner of Inner Chapters Books will have books for cash or credit card sale $24.95+tax.  And who knows which other esteemed bartenders may be on hand to lend a signature as well!

A portion of the proceeds from this event will go to the Jubilee Women’s Center whose mission is “To provide women a safe and supportive place to live and an opportunity to learn while becoming self-reliant in housing and employment”. http://jwcenter.org/index.php/home

Please bring an article of winter women’s or children’s clothing to give to the Center & get an additional drink on us!

Special thanks to our sponsors Makers Mark Whiskey, Ebb&Flow Vodka, Corrido Tequila & Voyager Gin!

Buy your tickets today!

http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/154764

   

10 Q's For a LUPEC Lady- Anu Apte

LUPEC Seattle- What is your name, your LUPEC cocktail name & why did you pick that?

Anu Apte- My LUPEC name is 20th Century.  I chose this name for many reasons, here are two: The ingredients are unique and so different, but once mixed they balance each other out in such a lovely manner and obviously I was born in the 20th century.

LS- What is your profession? 

AA- I am a bartender/owner at Rob Roy.  

LS- What was your favorite cocktail before you knew any better?

AA- I turned 21 in the early 2000's so of course I was all about Cosmo's, Lemon drops, and Kamikazes.  Apparently, I was really into citrus.  

LS-  What's the worst cocktail you ever drank and where did you drink it?

AA- A lady never tells.

LS-  If you could ban 1 drink what would it be?

AA- None.  I think people should be able to drink what they want even if I don't like it or like making it.

LS- If you could have a drink with anyone, living/dead, who would it be and why?

AA- Gandhi, because after one drink he would be wasted!  It would be fun to hang out with drunk Gandhi and pick his brain.

LS- What are your favorite non cocktail activities/hobbies/interests?

AA- I'm really looking forward to pulling my long board out of storage for the summer.  I just got into yoga in a major way.

LS-  How did you first hear about LUPEC? 

AA- I first heard about LUPEC while searching blogs online then I met some wonderful LUPEC ladies in New Orleans 2009 and fell in love with the idea of Seattle having one.

LS- What is your go to drink or spirit?

AA- Don't really have a go to.  Is that weird?  I guess since I bartender and literally have hundreds of bottles to choose from it is easy for me to switch it up on a nightly basis.

LS- What is your favorite cocktail bar and/or bartender right now? 

AA- Rob Roy, of course!  I'm biased obviously, but I love the vibe, the guests, the music, the location, and of course the wonderful staff.

Zane, Philip, and Bryn really know how to create phenomenal cocktails, and fast too!

As Anu mentioned you can find her at Rob Roy in Belltown. We had a fantastic meeting there in March and if you haven't been you really should go! Additionally Anu has been written up for her cocktail creations on other sites-  Seattle Met, -Metblogs, - SFGate 
Bonus points for wanting to get Gandhi drunk!

LUPEC Member Denise Sakaki

LUPEC Seattle member Denise Sakaki has a delicious blog entitled Wasabi Prime where she writes about food and drink. My apologies for the blurry photo but hey, there were some cocktails you know? I'm always lucky to remember to take any photos! :)

Among other things Denise (pictured here at Olivers Twist) has been writing about our LUPEC meetings.

Check out her posts about our December meeting at SPUR, February meeting at Olivers Twist (where we texted to help raise money for Haiti Relief), and most recently our March event at Rob Roy.

I love Denise's blog and think you will too, even when she's not talking about our cocktail adventures!