Friday, August 24, 2012

K&A's New York: Painkiller

Posted by Benson



Kelly and Andrew are a couple of my friends from grad school back in good ol' Muncie Indiana (every time I say that I feel like Norville Barnes).  Well, Kelly is actually a friend from grad school.  Andrew is her husband.  He is also an excellent friend in spite of the fact that he is not a historian.


Muncie: "At least you don't live in Cleveland!"

Kelly and Andrew moved to New York City about a year or so ago, and I always try to stop in and see them when I am in the Big Apple.  Kelly and Andrew are some my best friends.  One of the many great things about Kelly and Andrew is that notwithstanding their friendship with me, they have excellent taste and a nose for superb restaurants and bars.  In fact, one of the things that they love about New York, especially compared to Muncie or Indianapolis, is that the city is packed with a bewildering array of dining establishments across the spectrum.


Kelly and Andrew wound up in Matt Green's photo Blog of New York.  Andrew is the one examining the manhole cover.

Consequently, a side benefit of visiting with Kelly and Andrew is that I get a chance to experience some of the best restaurants and bars in New York.  Last month Kelly and Andrew took me to a mind-blowing little underground tiki bar called Painkiller.



Painkiller is a trendy bar on the Lower East Side, apparently cool enough to announce its presence with little more than a graffitied wall that reads "Tiki Bar."  The underground bar is slim and bustling. Patrons are greeted by a long bar in a narrow hallway that leads to a slightly more expansive area with booths.  



The bar has a definite "dive" atmosphere, which I am told is par for the course in the LES.  The interior is dark, lit predominantly by rows of neon lighting, and is bedecked in a bamboo-filled Tiki style.  If you venture past the booths, a funky little back room awaits, lit by slowly pulsing multi-colored LEDs of the sort that slowly brighten and dim in a rotating array of colors.  The resulting ambiance is close without being cozy, lending itself to something akin to privacy given the fact that you often can't see the people at next table over.


Painkiller's interior in the harsh light of non-business hours

Painkiller is strictly about the drinks, serving no food of any kind, unless you are willing to subsist on your cocktail's elaborate garnishing.  The menu is vast, but the bartender-server is an expert, so ordering off is fine, and I would recommend allowing the attending mixologist some freedom to innovate.


That's more like it

If you are into tiki bars, Painkiller does not disappoint, with a menu full of staples of the genre that are executed very well.  Painkiller claims that Doug's Pina Colada is the best in the city, but enthusiasts will have to judge that for themselves.  As I understand it, Painkiller has some stiff competition.  



Overall, if you're looking for a secluded spot and an expertly crafted cocktail, Painkiller is hard to beat.  Whether or not you are a fan of the tiki theme, Painkiller's mixologists are experienced enough to leave you satisfied.  



DGA Wine Club: Finca Libertad Pinot Noir

Posted by Benson


Finca Libertad (2009) is a Pinot Noir from Castilla VDT in Spain.  


The windswept plains of Castilla provide plenty of sun, and many ancient vines may be found there, yielding small amounts of grapes with intense flavor.  Pinot loves a cool climate, but famed winemaker Javier Murua, along with his dad, set out to see what he could do with it in hot, sunny Castilla.


The resulting wine is both surprising and delightful.  

The Wine

Finca Libertad is a bit different than what you would expect from a Pinot Noir.  It is unusually soft with mild tannin and a lusty fruit flavor.  The wine has a very floral aroma and a luxuriously long finish.  It lingers on the tongue with a distinct taste of herbs.


Food Pairing

This is an unusual wine, and it has some unusual pairings as well.  It pairs particularly well with a meaty fish like salmon or tuna.  For cheese, we suggest a creamy brie or a sharp, aged cheddar.  The creaminess mellows the already mild tannins, and the strength of the cheddar brings the herbal notes of the wine into the forefront and highlights its floral aroma.