Curry Bloody Mary: A New Drink for a New Season

Sunday September 11, 2011

PHOENIX, AZ - As summertime winds down, District American Kitchen & Wine Bar spices up the restaurant's menu.

Autumn is the time to awaken your palate with drinks and entr�es that incorporate an ingredient that is typically found in a different geographic region. Chefs are still serving up your favorite American comfort foods, but this time your senses will be aroused with curry, a spicy and earthy herb that warms and stimulates your taste buds.

Grown on District American Kitchen & Wine Bar's rooftop garden, the curry plant prefers a warm, dry climate similar to its native Turkey land. Its leaves shed a fragrantly spicy aroma and oddly enough, the curry plant looks similar to rosemary or lavender with a whiter hue.

The curry plants found in the restaurant's garden at Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel are locally sourced from Singh Farms. Meticulously cared after by the restaurant's Chef de Cuisine Jay Bogsinske and experts at Singh Farms the garden flourishes day and night, and produces only the freshest ingredients.

"A gentleman pulled me aside in the restaurant one day, held up a curry sprig and asked me if I'd like to experience something like never before," said Chef de Cuisine Bogsinske.

"Of course I said yes - especially because the gentleman was referring to some sort of culinary experience. At that moment, the man stripped the curry leaves off its stem, placed it up to my nose and with one whiff, we had a partnership lift off! All I could smell was the purest curry essence with its robust earthiness. So, we moved forward to support the local growers at Singh Farms and immediately made space on the rooftop for our own curry seedlings to begin sprouting."

By adding a little curry into the mix, the restaurant's American dishes will surely have a contemporary twist that will help your appetite segue from summer into fall. The restaurant's menu always showcases artisan products as well as seasonal herbs from its very own rooftop garden.

A sure way to spice it up this time of year with an earthly flavor is to try the Curry Bloody Mary.

Curry Bloody Mary

"A gentleman pulled me aside in the restaurant one day, held up a curry sprig and asked me if I'd like to experience something like never before," said Chef de Cuisine Bogsinske. "Of course I said yes."

1.5oz Tito Vodka

Fill rest of shaker with house made Bloody Mary mix (6oz)

Shake with one sprig of curry

Strain into glass.

Garnish with green olives, lime, pepper and new fresh curry sprig.

DETAILS:

WHERE: District American Kitchen & Wine Bar

(Located at the northwest corner of Third Street and Van Buren in Downtown Phoenix)

320 N. 3rd Street

Phoenix, AZ 85004

WHO: Chef de Cuisine Jay Bogsinske

MORE: District is open daily for breakfast, lunch, dinner and happy hour. The summer menu selections are available until the end of September 2011.

For restaurant reservations, please call (602) 817-5400 or take a peek at www.districtrestaurant.com .