Counter Intuitive's 1929 Agua Caliente Racetrack Episode
Little Nymph (all photos by Jenelle Bonifield of Food & Lifestyles)
The third episode for Counter Intuitive launched this weekend, along with new hours of 8 pm to 2 a.m on Friday and Saturday nights. For more details, visit Counter Intuitive: Prohibition, Agave Spirits, and the Agua Caliente Racetrack for the story behind this theme set in Prohibition-era Tijuana. On Thursday, May 5th, I attended a media preview to sample cocktails as an introduction to this festive cocktail premise and to admire the new decor including Mexican art, vintage racetrack photos, a "betting" counter with a horse racing machine, pressed tin ceiling, and a sparkling chandelier.
The talented team: Kirti Dwivedi of Diya Marketing, Executive Director Rich Furnari, cocktail pros Sean Traynor, Clint "Spotty" Spotleson, Keifer Gilbert, and Mari Howe, barback Patrick, and Jason Asher, consultant in beverage development
Also new is a large mural inspired by Agua Caliente's menu cover of Xavier Cugart's caricatures of Hollywood celebrities. Here at CI it is illustrated with the familiar faces of local and national professionals in the beverage industry.
The menu is cleverly designed as a racing program, and we were greeted with samples of frozen Agua Calientes, Counter Intuitive's version of the iconic Tequila Sunrise. Order one of these and it will be served in a signature CI margarita glass to take home.
Special guests included Marcos Tello and Leann Kruger of Mezcal El Silencio.
Marcos educated the crowd about the history of mezcal and El Silencio, a small batch, artisanal mezcal crafted in San Baltazar Guelavila in Oaxaca, Mexico.
Kailee Asher of Azuñia Tequila walked us through a tasting of reposado and añejo as she talked about this premium tequila aged in American oak barrels.
After enjoying delicious breakfast burritos with housemade chorizo and sampling two more cocktails - the Sh'maker (blood orange, fennel, lime, El Silencio Espadin mezcal, Tapatio Blanco 110) and the Cantarito (Azuñia Reposado, Mexican Squirt, grapefruit, lime, orange) - the doors opened for a private VIP reception to welcome local industry professionals.
Look for more exciting news regarding Counter Intuitive in the coming weeks.
