Girls’ Night Out at Black Market

 

My best friend recently requested a girls’ night out with me. We live entirely different lives as she’s married and a mother of two. I gallivant around town, usually seen with a cocktail or two in hand. She told me she couldn’t remember the last time she had been a bar. I couldn’t remember the last time I hadn’t NOT been in one. It was time to take her out. We started off with sushi at Teru Sushi and hopped over to Laurel Tavern (where it turned out they didn’t have dessert but the bartender was kind enough to share chocolate his friend brought back from his vacation). My ultimate goal was to take her to Black Market Liquor Bar where I had gone a few weeks before and thought would be a good introduction of what a cocktailian (barfly) does.

I was really surprised when my best friend suggested we get the charcuterie plate. Didn’t we just eat? Who was this woman? Was she really trying to live a bit in my shoes where I go on one food crawl after another?

I suggested she get the Blackberry Cobbler (genever, blackberry, lemon) which I thought would ease her into the night. I knew she liked gin so I was curious to see what she would think of genever.

I started with the Red Hook (rye, Punt e Mes, maraschino) which is exactly the sort of delicious boozy whiskey cocktail that I love. Then I had a twist on a Vieux Carre- which wasn’t much of a twist. It was served on the rocks.

Then I tried the Punch for One (pisco, agave, pineapple, Angostura bitters, lime) which I had wanted to try the last time I was there.  I had a couple of sips then gave it to my bestie since she was in need of another cocktail and I was ready to move on.

There was a serious void in my life when The Must was rudely shuttered. I loved their fluffernutter. I was really excited to try Black Market’s. The magic combination of marshmallow fluff and banana is once again mine!

My final cocktail of the night was Cameron’s Kick, named after a bartender I haven’t met yet at Black Market.

I thought it was a very successful evening when my best friend said she wanted to do this once a month.

Once a month? I hope she trains her liver.

 

Black Market Liquor Bar

11915 Ventura Blvd.,  Studio City, CA 91604 – (818) 446-2533