Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

One of the most sublime, most simple desserts is fresh chèvre drizzled with acacia honey. Definitely my favorite way to enjoy goat's cheese.

Tarte au Citron.

I'm not saying that one shouldn't take advantage of a craft cocktail when in a place that offers them. Believe me, I would love the opportunity to go out and get one, but where I live these places don't exist. I just think that people getting their knickers in a twist over customers ordering what they think of as boring, non adventurous drinks is ridiculous.
What if you're meeting friends out for a drink and don't feel like a craft cocktail? What if you just want a glass of wine or a simple mixed drink?
Whereas most people wouldn't just meet up at a restaurant like Chez Panisse, a meal like that is more of an event, they will often meet up at a cocktail bar that has a wonderful, interesting cocktail menu. However it is, when it comes right down to it, a bar. With drinks.
No?

But does the customer have a responsibility as well? Possibly to distinguish the types of drinks they'll order based on the type of bar they're visiting?

Seriously? This is a question that needs asking?

It's a bar!

No, I wouldn't go into Chez Panisse and ask for something off the menu. Nor would I walk into any restaurant and order something off the menu.
But in a bar, I order what I want. It's a bar. Even if it has a cocktail menu they usually have most mixers and should, hopefully, have most spirits. If I feel like a greyhound or a Manhattan instead of a Silver 75 or a Champs-Elysées then I shouldn't feel shame for ordering it. If they don't have that particular mixer available, I'll order something else.
And I know they would be just as happy to pour me a glass of something fizzy from a bottle and charge me $30 for it, so why make a fuss over making a simple Jack and Coke?

Chez Loulou
Twitter: louloufrance
URL: chezlouloufrance.blogspot.com
Twitters about: cooking, food, French cheese, wine, life in the south of France