San Francisco Home > Food > Killer Tomatoes
08/15/08
In the spirit of Heirloom Tomato Week—and Friday—we figured we'd bring you a few of the city's best boozy, drinkable ways to take down that luscious red vegetable/fruit. Hail Mary.
THE CLASSIC MARY
Zuni Cafe's Balsamic Bloody Mary
Zuni is famous as much for this salsa-spiced drink as its Chicken for Two, and if you ask your
server for the recipe, she'll happily print you one. (Phone numbers require a little more finesse.)
- 411:
- 411: $9.25, Zuni Cafe, 1658 Market St (at Gough), 415-552-2522
THE MEAL MARY
Bacon and Eggs Bloody Mary at Lingba
Lingba tosses out the celery stalk in favor of an applewood smoked bacon spear, then floats a couple of
quail eggs on top for good measure. Whenever anyone asks us how we take our bacon and eggs, we tell them
this way.
- 411:
- 411: $10, weekends 11am-3:30pm, Lingba Lounge, 1469 18th St (at Connecticut), 415-355-0001
THE ROYAL MARY
Absinthe's Real Maria
Served in a martini glass, this one features pepper-infused blanco tequila, tomato "water" made from a puree
of rosemary- and sea salt-seasoned heirloom tomatoes and a splash of sherry vinegar gastrique. To call it a
drink is to call a filet mignon a piece of meat.
- 411:
- 411: $10, Absinthe, 398 Hayes St (at Gough), 415-551-1590
THE SEVEN-SPICE MARY
O Izakaya's Togarashi Bloody Mary
A good sinus clearer, O's comes with wasabi powder and shochu infused with togarashi (the Japanese
seven-flavor chili pepper). So prepare for a one-two punch, maybe even a one-two-three punch.
- 411:
- 411: $8, breakfast and dinner until midnight, O Izakaya, Hotel Kabuki, 1625 Post St (at Laguna), 415-614-5431
THE DIY MARY
Elixir's Vodka Salad Bar
Leave it to a saloon opened in 1858 to serve up the most potent "salad bar" in town. Once the vodka has been
poured in your pint glass, it's on you to craft your own Mary from a selection of tomato juices, hot sauces
and spices. Easy on the Old Bay.
- 411:
- 411: $7 and up, weekends 11am-5pm, Elixir, 3200 16th St (at Guerrero), 415-552-1633
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