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A Drinking Distraction
Monday Sep 03, 2007.
By Dana Kavan
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 photo: Clifton Henri
The damage: $12
Thousands of bars in Chicago, why this one? At the start of the summer, I make a list of every seasonal activity I want to participate in. Come August, I usually find myself scrambling to fit Ravinia, festivals, bike rides, camping trips and as much day drinking as possible into a few weeks' time. But this summer, I had checked off just about every must-do item, save for watching a movie outside in Grant Park. With only a couple weeks left of the Chicago Outdoor Film Festival, I had lured my friend Jen to Michigan Avenue with the promise of post-work cocktails at China Grill. I thought if I casually mentioned that "An Inconvenient Truth" was playing nearby, she'd insist we buy some organic eats and go revel in its eco-friendly fanfare. How it went down: I randomly stopped by Onu, an Asian market in Lakeview, at least six months ago and felt compelled to purchase frozen lemongrass stalks. The lemongrass remains in my freezer, mocking me every time I grab ice cubes, like a full bottle of artisanal vinegar you buy for one recipe. When I saw that China Grill offered a lemongrass-infused version of its saketinis, I thought it might inspire me to finally get cooking. Some of my best ideas come when slightly buzzed, and with a hefty dose of Jun-Mai-Gin-Jyo–Kaori sake and Ketel One Citroen, the sunflower-yellow libation was sure to leave me tipsy. The first sip tasted heavy on the sake, its earthy, spicy flavor offset by the tang from the lemongrass it was infused with. By the second sip, I picked up the taste of the pineapple juice, which complemented the vodka's citrus notes and added the right touch of fruitiness without making the drink too sweet. Alas, I had drained my glass and still had no plan for my lemongrass stalks. But, I had decided to move on to saketini number two, a velvety version made with lychee puree.
Would I want to become a regular? Jen's reaction to my movie proposal wasn't what I'd expected. She had already seen "An Inconvenient Truth" and, like I was after two cocktails, was more interested in gabbing and drinking than focusing on a film. We hung out in China Grill's sleek, black leather-accented environs, sitting in woven-backed stools near tall windows facing Michigan Avenue. Waiters passed around complimentary appetizers, and we scored some crispy wontons topped with chicken salad. Our hunger warranted a full meal, though, and since we couldn't afford China Grill's fancy fare, we booked it down the street to Park Grill for some Polish sausages and hummus. We were so close to Grant Park, I could almost hear Al Gore's words. That counts in my book. Check. Dana Kavan scours the city for drink deals so good you'll offer to buy a round and creative libations that outshine your average on-the-rocks concoctions. Want to give Dana tips on where to rack up a bar tab? Share your finds before her next night out.
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