Zahra Bates at B-Side

On Wednesday B-Side Lounge at Rolling Stone continued its weekly guest bartender series with Zahra Bates of Providence behind the stick.  The proceeds of the evening went to benefit Japanese relief efforts towards the recent earthquake and tsunami tragedies.  Tricia Alley has been curating the series and on Wednesday Bates was not only making her own cocktail recipes but those of several other local bartenders such as Jason Bran, Brent Falco and Alley.

A highlight of the menu was Bates's Bamboo Gen made with Bols Genever, tokjai, manzanilla sherry, shiso bitters and a shiso leaf.  Genever can be hard to work with but when it works it really works and it did in the Bamboo Gen.  The shiso flavor acted as a unifying influence, bringing together the spirit and the two wines.  The Bamboo Gen is also a salute to two Los Angeles bartenders, Marcos Tello who has evangelized about Genever and Alex Day who has advocated for sherry in cocktails.

Go and see Bates at the bar at Providence to explore her other creations and be sure to stop by B-Side on Wednesday to see what Alley and her rotating guest bartender have up their sleeves this week.

Providence: 5955 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles. Phone: (323) 460-4170. Website: providencela.com

B-Side: 6801 Hollywood Blvd (entrance on Highland), Hollywood. Phone: (323) 464-4000

Who Says You Can't Get Blood from a Stone?: Cocktail of the Week

Tricia Alley, the head bartender at the new B-Side Lounge at Rolling Stone, originally created her Blood from a Stone cocktail at home for her boyfriend as a sort of joke.  She wanted to shock him and another friend, but instead they loved it and asked for refills.  Alley's boyfriend enjoyed it so much he encouraged me to try it on a recent visit to B-Side.  The cocktail is named Blood from a Stone because "it is what one is never meant to do, that is, Cask Strength Scotch in a cocktail", Alley said. This is a boozy drink with a citrus kick from the blood orange jucie and the orange bitters.  It is tasty and packs a wallop and is distinctive and delicious enough to deserve the title of Cocktail of the Week.

The recipe is below if you'd like to make one at home.  Cheers!

Blood from a Stone by Tricia Alley

Ingredients:
1 Dash Bitter Truth Orange Bitters
.75 oz Cara Cara Orange Juice
.75 oz Cherry Kijafa
.75 oz Carpanao Antica
.75 oz Lagavulin 12 Natural Cask Strength

Shake over ice and strain into a glass.
And then, if your socks are still intact:
Flamed Orange Peel Garnish

Bonus Tracks: B-Side at Rolling Stone Lounge

As you walk North on Highland Avenue by the Hollywood and Highland complex you may notice an unmarked door on the left side of the street.   What is behind this door you may wonder?  B-Side, a tiny bar serving bespoke and classic cocktails in a chill rock and roll environment.  Who could have conceived of such a dastardly scheme?  Only Tricia Alley (below), of Providence and Eva restaurants, working with the owners of the new Rolling Stone Lounge.

Alley has created a short menu of cocktails; there is also a brief food menu, which is available due to B Side's status as both its own entity and part of the Rolling Stone Lounge.  The capacity of B-Side is small so plan ahead.  A highlight of the menu is the Highlander, made with Famous Grouse blended scotch whiskey, freshly squeezed grapefruit juice, house made clover honey syrup and Regan’s No.6 orange bitters.

Each Wednesday night, Alley has invited a top bartender to show off their skills.  Last week Naomi Schimek of the Spare Room was the guest and tonight Marcos Tello of 1886 and The Varnish will be mixing cocktails during an evening sponsored by Cointreau.  The bouncer sometimes asks who you are there to see, so tonight the answer is Marcos Tello and any night the answer is Tricia Alley.  Just be prepared to drink something delicious.

B-Side: 6801 Hollywood Blvd (entrance on Highland), Hollywood.  Phone: (323) 464-4000