Mixed Drinks on the day of Rabbi Jesus's Birthday

Taking it easy tonight. Not a lot of experimentation. Spent most of the day in Chinatown, NYC. The wife and I ate at Big Wong King. An interesting experience. It was packed. No surprise. We wound up being seated at a 4-seater table with another couple. It was odd, but an interesting experience. They were visiting from France. They were describing where they lived to me, and I took a wild guess, because of my knowledge of wine, and said "Is it near Alsace?" and with glee, they exclaimed, "Yes! That is where we live!" I was surprised that it was more packed full of foreigners, I assume visitors, than Jews. 

I also noticed they were all ordering Sweet & Sour Chicken. Is this what Chinese (or in our case this afternoon, Chinois) food has been demoted to in Europe? Anyway, the food was okay. Probably would never go back. So far, Great N.Y. Noodletown is killer. Their duck and chicken is by far the best I have ever had. Ironically, I learned about the place in an interview with PDT's Don Lee.

So, in the grand Christmas tradition of  "Chinese and a Movie," we didn't make it to see Frank Miller's Will Eisner's The Spirit. By the time we were done in Chinatown, it wasn't playing for another 2 hours. (Probably a good thing. I've been reading the reviews of how bad it is. We'll rent it when it comes out.)

Finally, the drinks:

• Ginger Martini (Gin, Vya Dry Vermouth, 3:1, and a little bit of homemade ginger syrup.)
  
• Pineapple & Pepper Cocktail (Another attempt. Getting better.)
  
• Mint Julep (Nothing creative, but I have never made one, and had a nice, firm bouquet of mint.)
• Daiquiri (Brugal Gold, lime juice, demerara 1:1 simple syrup)

I may have said it before, but my favorite mixed drinks still tend to be the simple rather than fussy ones: the Old Fashioned, the Daiquiri, and the Margarita.

Of interesting note, Will Wilmot and I were talking after the Bar Basics class at Astor, and he said his favorite drink at the moment was a simple Ron Zacapa 23 Old Fashioned. Or did he say Daiquiri? I forget now. By that point, I had three of my own drinks, plus one Don Lee gave me. I was glad to hear the Zacapa 23 regarded, as I have recommended it many times, and had even bought it as a birthday present a few months back for my friend Chris who attended the class with me.