Orange County Restaurant Week may be over, but OC Cocktail Week takes over through Saturday. In its inaugural year, they're offering $20.14 beverage and appetizer pairings at a slew of locations throughout the county. For aspiring bartenders, some of my favorite watering holes are even conducting demonstrations on liquid refreshment.
]
Tonight features a duo of presentations. At Downtown Fullerton's HopScotch, $10 will include you in a discussion on a specific sous vide technique called infusions. The fee includes a cocktail and small bites. Costa Mesa's Mesa restaurant (Who remembers when it didn't have a name on the building?) will have representatives from Infinium Spirits on hand, talking about classic combinations. Our friends at The Cellar and 320 Main keep the party going Wednesday and Saturday, respectively. You can look up specifics on all these events by clicking on their Events tab.
While variety may be the spice of life, I'm intrigued by a few of the options. At Tamarind of London, Scott's and Lark Creek, they pair the beverages and bites ahead of time, taking the guesswork out of that dubious task for novices. Newcomer solita in Huntington Beach is offering only one specific margarita made from Don Julio 1942, shaken tableside for your amusement. And for those who prefer a sweet ending, Chapter One is one-upping things with dessert cocktails. And yes, bacon is in one of the desserts.
Follow Stick a Fork In It on Twitter @ocweeklyfood or on Facebook! And don't forget to download our free Best Of App here!
A contributing writer for OC Weekly, Anne Marie freelances for multiple online and print publications, and guest judges for culinary competitions. A Bay Area transplant, she graduated with a degree in Hospitality Management from Cal Poly Pomona. Find her on Instagram as brekkiefan.