One of the cool things about Calgary lately is it keeps opening these amazing restaurants and bars with fabulous cocktails. In recent memory there’s been Parc, followed by Proof and Pigeonhole. Now there’s Charbar in the East Village, which is practically in my backyard!
A couple weeks ago Blake and I biked there from Inglewood to check out the space and try some cocktails. We were blown away by the vista from the rooftop patio, which faces the Bow River and affords great views of The Bow (skyscraper) in one direction, and that new East Village bridge in the other.
Lovely view down the Bow River from the Charbar patio.
We started out with some appies and loved the eggplant and quinoa chips and the tableside ceviche. Watching the ceviche being made-to-order at your table isn’t as exciting as watching tableside guacamole, but it’s just as tasty.
The server sprinkles some giant corn-nut-like kernels onto our tableside ceviche.
Parched from the bike ride, we also ordered some cocktails including the spirit-forward, martini-like Aldeano for me, and the Local Derby — a deliciously strong bourbon, grapefruit juice and agave nectar number — for Blake. Round two shook up a Last Word for Blake, who loves all-things-Green-Chartreuse, and a Clover Club for me.
This drink was new to me, but it’s a classic that pre-dates prohibition. I love sours, and I liked the colour and flavour that raspberries bring to the drink, which is named for a Philadelphia men’s club that was open from 1882 until the 1920s. It’s a good summer evening drink: light, tart, slightly sweet and pretty on the patio.
The Clover Club is kind of like a gin sour… with raspberries.
Clover Club
- 1.5 oz gin
- 3/4 oz lemon juice
- 3/4 oz simple syrup
- 7 fresh raspberries
- 1 egg white
- Glass: Martini
- Garnish: Raspberry
In a Boston shaker, add the gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, egg white and raspberries. Dry shake. Add ice and shake vigorously. Double strain into a martini glass. Garnish with a raspberry on the edge of the martini glass.
— Recipe courtesy Charbar
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