Pairing food with cocktails can elevate the dining experience significantly. While wine and food pairings are traditional, matching dishes with classic cocktails offers a new level of delight for the palate. In Santa Barbara and Montecito, several restaurants curate menus specifically designed for cocktail pairings, featuring flavors that complement each other seamlessly.

Here are six iconic cocktails, their ideal dish pairings, and recipes for you to recreate these classic combinations at home:

1. Old Fashioned & Steak from Lucky’s

An Old Fashioned, with its bourbon base and depth, pairs excellently with a well-marbled steak, like the bone-in ribeye or filet mignon from Lucky’s. The rich flavors of the steak enhance the caramel and oak notes from the whiskey.

Old Fashioned Recipe

• Ingredients:

  • 2 ounces bourbon or rye whisky
  • 1 sugar cube (or ½ teaspoon simple syrup)
  • 2 dashes Angostura bitters
  • 1 orange peel
  • Ice cubes

• Instructions:

  1. Place the sugar cube in a glass and soak it with bitters.
  2. Add a splash of water and muddle until dissolved.
  3. Fill with ice, pour in the whiskey, stir gently, and garnish with an orange peel.

2. Classic Martini & Oysters from the Raw Bar

The crispness of a classic martini enhances the briny freshness of oysters. The herbal notes from the gin combined with dry vermouth make for an ideal complement.

Classic Martini Recipe

• Ingredients:

  • 2½ ounces gin
  • ½ ounce dry vermouth
  • Ice
  • Lemon twist or olives for garnish

• Instructions:

  1. Stir gin and vermouth with ice until well chilled.
  2. Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with a lemon twist or olives.

3. Negroni & Cicchetti at Pane e Vino Trattoria

Pairing small bites, like crostini with prosciutto, with a Negroni creates a wonderful synthesis of salty and savory flavors.

Negroni Recipe

• Ingredients:

  • 1 ounce gin
  • 1 ounce Campari
  • 1 ounce sweet vermouth
  • Ice
  • Orange peel for garnish

• Instructions:

  1. Stir all ingredients with ice until well mixed.
  2. Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice and garnish with an orange peel.

4. Manhattan & Roast Chicken

The robust flavors of a Manhattan stand up to the crispy skin and juicy meat of a roast chicken, making it a perfect pairing.

Manhattan Recipe

• Ingredients:

  • 2 ounces rye whisky
  • 1 ounce sweet vermouth
  • 2 dashes Angostura bitters
  • Ice
  • Cherry for garnish

• Instructions:

  1. Stir whiskey, vermouth, and bitters with ice until chilled.
  2. Strain into a chilled glass and garnish with a cherry.

5. Tom Collins & Caesar Salad

The refreshing effervescence of a Tom Collins makes it a fantastic match for a Caesar salad, balancing the acidity of the dressing with its citrusy profile.

Tom Collins Recipe

• Ingredients:

  • 2 ounces gin
  • ¾ ounce lemon juice
  • ¾ ounce simple syrup
  • Club soda
  • Ice
  • Lemon wheel for garnish

• Instructions:

  1. Shake gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup with ice.
  2. Strain into a tall glass filled with ice, top with club soda, and garnish with a lemon wheel.

6. Sazerac & Gumbo from The Palace Grill

A Sazerac, with its blend of rye whisky and absinthe, pairs beautifully with the rich, smoky flavors of gumbo, creating a bold dining experience.

Sazerac Recipe

• Ingredients:

  • 2 ounces rye whisky
  • ¼ ounce absinthe
  • 1 sugar cube
  • 2 dashes Peychaud’s bitters
  • Ice
  • Lemon peel for garnish

• Instructions:

  1. Rinse a chilled glass with absinthe and discard the excess.
  2. Muddle the sugar cube with bitters in a separate glass.
  3. Add rye whisky and stir with ice.
  4. Strain into the prepared glass and garnish with lemon peel.

Final Thoughts

The art of pairing cocktails with food is centered around balancing flavors to enhance both the drink and the dish. Whether you’re dining out or hosting a gathering at home, consider these pairings to elevate your meals. Cheers!

Chicago’s cocktail scene has become a vibrant tapestry, intertwining the city’s neighborhoods with creative, history-infused drinks. "Chicago Cocktails," a new book by Nicole Schnitzler, offers an insightful exploration of this culture, featuring 100 recipes organized by neighborhood. With contributions from numerous bartenders and industry insiders, the book captures the essence of the city’s evolving beverage landscape.

Schnitzler aims to celebrate Chicago’s unique cocktail creativity and hospitality. Her research highlights the transformation from a city known mainly for beer and shots to one where cocktails are crafted with intention and artistry. “My hope is that it is really an ode to Chicago and the ways in which the industry is showing up for its city,” she says.

The book also delves into the history of Chicago’s cocktail culture, tracing its roots back to the late 1800s. Notable drinks from that era include the Old Fashioned, documented in the 1888 “Bartenders Manual” by Theodore Proulx, and others like the "Cohasset Punch" and "South Side" cocktail, reportedly favored by Al Capone.

Modern Chicago bars reflect this renaissance, where places like The Violet Hour and The Whistler have cultivated an environment for thoughtful drinking experiences. As Schnitzler notes, today’s bars provide an opportunity for patrons to linger, enhancing both community and creativity.

Among the featured cocktails is the "Parallelogram," a unique twist on the Aperol margarita, created by Ryan Rezvani at The Long Room. Inspired by his background as a teacher, Rezvani enriched the drink with homemade bitters and a Mexican spice rub. "It got them thinking about language arts… it also helped them develop vocabulary," he explains, demonstrating how bartending and teaching share a fundamental connection.

Another standout is the "Amaro Daiquiri" from Billy Sunday, where Corban Kell substitutes rum with amaro, crafting a cocktail that balances herbaceousness, bitterness, and sweetness—a testament to innovation in drink making. Kell expresses pride in the bar’s reputation as an incubator for new ideas, which has led to some staff opening their own successful establishments.

“Chicago Cocktails” doesn’t just share recipes; it tells the stories behind the creations. Through interviews and historical anecdotes, it paints a picture of the influential figures who have shaped the city’s bar scene, allowing readers to craft not just drinks, but also connections to Chicago’s rich beverage heritage.

For cocktail enthusiasts looking to immerse themselves in Chicago’s unique flavors, this book serves as a guide to not only the recipes but also the communal spirit that defines the city’s drinking culture.

St. Patrick’s Day is a time to embrace all things green, from outfits to cocktails. Celebrating the holiday is incomplete without a good drink, so we’ve compiled a list of green cocktails perfect for March 17.

Popular Drinks for St. Patrick’s Day

Green beer, Guinness, and cocktails made with crème de menthe and Irish cream reign supreme during St. Patrick’s celebrations. Enjoying a green spirit is a festive and fun way to join in the festivities.

Irish Favorites

Though Americans enjoy themed drinks, Irish locals typically celebrate with pints of Guinness, local ciders, Dublin Mules, Irish whiskey shots, and Black and Blacks.

Cocktails to Try

• Green Beer: A classic American-Irish drink that’s simple to make.
• Cucumber Gin Slushie: A refreshing slushy made with just six ingredients, perfect for warmer weather.
• St. Patrick’s Day Green Shots: A fun dessert shot with a chocolate base, layered with boozy pudding.
• Pickleback: Made with green pickle juice and bacon bourbon in a salt-rimmed glass.
• Mezcalima Lime Cocktail: This citrusy margarita is invigorating and has ginger beer for a lighter option.
• Midori Lemonata: Tastes like melon-flavored lemonade with a boozy twist.
• Shamrock Sour Cocktail: A whiskey sour variant made with Irish whiskey.
• Luck of the Irish Sunrise: A colorful cocktail mixed with whiskey and blue curaçao.

More Unique Options

• Grasshopper Cocktail: A dessert-like drink made from green crème de menthe and crème de cacao.
• Mint Matcha Latte: Healthy and refreshing, this can be spiked with Irish cream if you prefer.
• Classic Mint Julep: A refreshing favorite that fits perfectly into the celebration.

Themed Mocktails

For those not drinking alcohol, a Bali Squeezed Mocktail made with nutrient-rich superfoods and coconut water can keep you festive without the booze.

With this array of cocktails, your St. Patrick’s Day celebration is sure to be a spirited affair! Enjoy the luck of the Irish!