Best Happy Hour in Downtown Los Angeles
FOUR isn’t your typical happy hour in Los Angeles. Every Thursday from 4 – 8 pm, Checkers Downtown features a revolving roster of renowned spirit makers pouring inspired versions of classic cocktails. Past purveyors include: Hendricks Gin, Ultimat Vodka, Cruzan Rum, Corzo Tequila, Maker’s Mark and Partida Tequila. But the event isn’t limited to just liquor, some weeks feature premier wineries such as Cambria Vineyards, Ferrari-Carano Wines and Foley Family Wines.
Executive Chef Todd Allison carefully creates a small plate to complement each special beverage. Working with a fresh palette and no limitations, Chef Todd creates masterful dishes that are truly enticing. Favorites include seared foie gras on a grilled peanut butter, jelly and banana sandwich; roasted shallot and Brussels sprouts gratin; Colorado lamb meatballs with rigatoni and crushed tomatoes; and grilled yellowtail with blood oranges, pomegranate and shaved sunchokes. And if you love any tapas in particular, it may just end up on Chef Todd’s dinner menu.
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September 2, 2010
Happy September, Friends of Checkers! -
Welcome to a particularly sophisticated edition of the coolest and best-value happy hour in town!
This week at FOUR we are tapping into the Sparkling Wine section of our little black book of cocktails, and showcasing delicately-flavored and creamy Piper Sonoma Sparkling Wine, made in Napa, utilizing the traditional méthode champenoise. The recipient of the silver medal in the 2008 Critics Challenge International Wine Competition, the crisp and clean flavor profile make it the perfect core ingredient for a dizzying array of classic and original cocktails!
On FOUR this Thursday we will be featuring FIVE cocktails – because that’s the way we roll here at Checkers!
· STARFISH COOLER – Official Cocktail of “Taste of the Cocktail” in 2007; a delectable combination of Piper Sonoma, artisanal limoncello, pomegranate liqueur, unsweetened iced tea, and muddled fresh mint and fresh-sliced orange.
· EL GOSTOSA – Brazil, Asia and France collide in this fascinating Checkers-original drink! Leblon Cachaça, Sake, muddled fresh lemongrass, fresh lemon juice, enhanced and inspired by Piper Sonoma...
· CRESCENT CITY BLOSSOM – Two of Churchill’s favorites in one drink! Piper Sonoma, Plymouth gin, elderflower liqueur, and orange bitters.
· THE FELLINI – A Checkers original, and a featured Wine & Sprits Magazine cocktail! Piper Sonoma, limoncello, orange liqueur, and fresh-squeezed tangerine juice, all in perfect balance.
· “KIR ROYALE” BAR – A selection of Kir variations! The classic, with Chambord, or substitute artisanal peach, blackcurrant, or wild strawberry liqueurs!
As always at FOUR, each of these unique and refreshing sparkling cocktails will be a mere $4!!
Naturally, with such an enticing menu of cocktails to entertain you, we would be in remiss not to offer your belly and your palate something equally enticing to pair with your drinks! This week’s $4 small plates from Chef Dave and his team are:
· CHECKERS MONTE CRISTO – Black forest ham and gruyere on lightly-battered brioche, prepared French-toast style and served with a blueberry maple syrup!
· JUMBO ASPARAGUS – Butter-braised asparagus with soft-poached egg, paired beautifully with house-made hollandaise and shaved pecorino cheese.
· SNOW CRAB SCAMPI – House-made fresh pappardelle pasta, fresh snow crab meat, and delightfully finished with an orange butter sauce.
· SWEET AND SAVORY CREPES – A pair of beauties! House-made crepes – one with house-made peach jam; the other with a savory chive and tarragon whipped crème fraiche…
As is our idiosyncrasy at FOUR, each of these remarkable small plates are a mere $4!
We hope you’ll have the chance to join us between 4 and 8pm Thursday, as our journey through fine food and modern mixology ventures into the world of the methode champenoise!
Best Regards,
Tyler