Though I’ve never met Mama Wong, I have had the Mama Wong Experience twice now. I am sure I will have it again. Though both times I had it were during the height of summer, it tastes very autumnal. It reminds me of homemade applesauce with booze added (any Mott’s employees out there? That one’s on me.) But just as soon as I remarked, “Yum, tastes like apples,” I got hit in the side of the head with an unexpected burst of spice. And not the cinnamon and nutmeg kind of spice you might expect. This was a hot pepper spice. Very unexpected. But very good.

So it leaves me wondering about the woman for whom this drink is named. Though I’ve never met Mama Wong, I imagine her as somewhat short and stocky woman (the drink is served in a stout little glass) standing over the stove making homemade apple jam. She invites you in, wiping her hands on her apron before offering you a slice of banana bread she just made that morning. She sits down with you and just as you take a bite of the still warm bread, she lights up a Pall Mall, pulls a martini out from behind the flour canister and tells you the raunchiest story you’ve ever heard. She’s sweet. But man is she spicy.

Lush Jen

This seemingly simple drink, consisting of only gin with zesty lime cherry sour, forms a complex visual presentation that clearly explains how this drink got its name.  And it tastes damn good!

Is it against the rules to swear on this site? Is damn even considered a swear word anymore?

The few components of this drink slowly combine to create various shapes and colors that are reminiscent of pictures found in my astronomy book.

I took astronomy in college.  It seemed like an easy way to get a science credit without having to take physics or chemistry.  It wasn’t.

The more the drink sits, the more intricate the shapes and colors become to materialize a celestial display of stars, planets, quasars and maybe even a pulsar.

I believe a quasar is a galaxy; not sure about a pulsar, but it’s fun to say… pull-sssarrrrr!

The drink is topped off with a sour cherry for a supremely good, out of this world, experience. It could be Venus, or maybe Mars; red in color like the sour cherry hovering over this sublime drink. But, please note that sour cherries are not “regular” cherries that have been made sour.  They are native to much of Europe and grow on smaller trees than “regular” cherries.  The sour cherry in this drink appears to have been marinated in some type of syrup.  However, if you have a chance to try a sour cherry picked right off a tree, I highly recommend it… unless you don’t like sour things, then don’t try the cherry and don’t try this drink.

guest drinker Raluca

When I plan a trip to the movie theater I know the cost to sit in a reclining red chair with popcorn scattered around my feet and my eyes fixated on an over-sized screen is going to be abhorrent. This is something I have learned to accept*. So, although I know I am overpaying for the experience, I enjoy it anyway. My fancy night out would not be complete without gourmet artificially-processed candies and popcorn. It’s all part of the experience. I mostly do it because there is something magical about the combination of sweet and salty that I never tire of interchanging.

Enter Night of the Hunter, stage right. This martini outperforms any other cocktail and is the main attraction of Johnny’s collection. One should never judge a book by it’s cover, a movie by it’s trailer or a drink by it’s appearance. Very unsuspecting and basic in presentation, this drink may not appear to be anything special, but believe me when I tell you it is. This martini brings to life the true concept of sweet and salty. One sip and you will be delighted with a perfectly subtle sweet caramel performance which, when paired with a hint of salt, deserves a standing ovation. A delicate trace of nutty vanilla is introduced by Licor 43. It is garnished with marcona** stuffed olives. Request extra olives. You will thank me later.

If you still are not convinced, I formulated a cost analysis comparison.

* Much like that I always have one orphan sock when I do a load of laundry. I seriously do not get that, but I accept that.

** Large almonds that are flat, crunchier and more flavorful than the standard almond you are used to. They are smoother and juicier with an incomparably sweet delicate taste.

Lush Marie