Answer me this one, sports fans: why would a popular, one-eyed café on the sunny sidewalk along First Avenue-why would any café, anywhere, for that matter-turn away a couple of hungry, thirsty customers at 2:05 on a Sunday afternoon, with a curt, "Sorry, we're closed"? Closed? At five past two? In Belltown? Hey, it happened to me just a couple of weeks ago. But it's their candy store, and they can close whenever they feel like it, even if it's bad for biz.
No matter, I'll know better next time, and head up to Jim and Joseph Buchanan's hot new spot at Second and Lenora, where they serve a hearty brunch that keeps civilized Sunday hours, namely 11 AM to 3:30 PM. Omelets, grits, waffles, peach cobbler ... Yes. Must ... stop ... writing ... about ... Alexandria's. .... But there's more to tell, and it might not be in season much longer.
Hurry on over and order a Strawberry Lemon Drop, created by bar manager Alberto Maza. The plethora of cosmos and kazis has numbed us to the pleasures of a real fruit drink; this one will awaken your senses. To a base line of Grey Goose vodka, Alberto adds fresh, cholesterol-lowering blueberries, fresh raspberries, fresh strawberries, a splash of sweet-&-sour mix, a splash of Cointreau and a splash of Chambord. He runs it through the blender and serves it in a giant, sugar-rimmed martini glass. Ambrosia. It's like test-driving a Maserati; you can go back to your Miata, but you'll always remember handling the Real Thing. No wonder Alberto was inducted into the Bartender Hall of Fame three years ago. Bravissimo, Alberto!
Posted by Ronald Holden at August 23, 2004 4:45 PM
The International Kitchen
Cooking school vacations in Italy, France & Spain.
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