What’s Better Than Thanksgiving?

Thanksgiving. Rego Style.

I won’t lie – if you’ve traveled as much as I have, you embrace all holidays – and forget about nearly two-thirds of them…and then other times, make your own twist on them.

Most of the time I don’t celebrate them for their intended reasons – mostly because their intended reasons are historical events skewed….but that’s another story. Right now it’s all about good times with family, friends, food, and that favorite bottle of alcohol. So here’s a little insight into Thanksgiving – Rego style.

To start off – I never have been a fan of turkey – I don’t know if it’s the tryptophan or maybe the combination of foods that makes me sick, but I showed turkey the road about 7 years ago and haven’t looked back since. My (not so) new love…?

Duck.

…but hear me out – duck is as tasty as it is, well, cute…and there’s so many ways you can make it. Or eat it. My personal favorites are duck bacon, duck sausage, and duck breasts. So who can I depend on when I’m getting a craving for one (or all) of the three? D’Artagnan, of course.

They’ve got top quality, carefully selected meat & game, and if you’re not one to skimp on freshness – they’re your go-to guys. The way I sometimes like to start my Thanksgiving day is with Duck Bacon Wrapped Scallops – because really, the only thing better than (turkey) bacon is duck bacon…but always make sure to leave room for the main dish – and alcohol. Quality alcohol. So in what way shape or form does duck beat turkey on this day of mindless calorie indulging? Duck Breasts with Black Olives and Port Wine. Yeah – I get back to my Portuguese roots every now and then.

When it comes to the wine – you’re on your own….I’m not sharing.

Since we’re on the subject of seasonal things like holidays and all, I figure why not introduce you guys to a seasonal bar. Hey – you’re eating all that food, you’ve gotta wash it down somehow. Even if it is like, the day after. Anyway, so get this – there’s a seasonal liquor bar at 58th and 9th in New York, and the minute you walk in it feels like something out of your own living room – providing you have good taste.

Maybe you’re not one for their furniture, even if you aren’t, you’ll be sure to love their drinks….and man do they have DRINKS. Take your pick from 6 different menus – enough to satisfy even the most diverse (or picky) alcohol enthusiasts. My favorites? Glad you asked…

Cocktail: Deadly Night Shade -It’s healthy, because there’s veggies in it. Seriously. Or so I tell myself. Roasted aubergine (that’s eggplant, for you Americans), Bacardi 8yr aged rum, lillet blanc, vanilla demerara add a touch of lemon and voila – an in-between meals snack. Just kidding (not really).

Beer: Ommegang Witte – Great with that appetizer wrapped in (more) duck bacon but lemony enough for barbecue or any other tangy dish you’re served up.

By The Bottle: Dom Pérignon Rosé – I had to…I just, had to. Starts out light, ends robust. If beer treated me this nicely every time I drank it – I’d drink alcohol for sport.

They have rules, of which I couldn’t help but showcase below – numbers 2, 3, and 9 are absolutely imperative. In my opinion, if every bar had these rules – nights out would be a lot more fun…that and, if they allowed legit absinthe into the states (come on, just this once).

Henry rules

1. Drink with an open mind. If in doubt, ask.
2. Please refrain from using cell phones for anything other than texting, photographing our beautiful drinks, or your beautiful friends (keep the flash off – it’ll look much better).
3. Make love, not war: no jägar bombs or cosmos.
4. Please don’t bring anyone you wouldn’t bring home for dinner with your mother.
5. Guys, play nice, don’t sleaze on our female patrons. Most are just here for a great drink.
6. Drug use will not be tolerated. Rehabilitation will be recommended.
7. In keeping with our goal of promoting temperance, we will refuse service to patrons who may have accidentally had one too many.
8. No fighting, no name-dropping, no shenanigans. Horseplay is acceptable.
9. Our dress code? Preserve the sexy.

Sometimes, rules can be pretty awesome…and with live jazz, you can’t go wrong. Henry, a Liquor Bar – check it out.

I don’t know why but I’m in a New York state of mind (see what I did there? Yeah.) and you’re gonna stick around to ask why…and when you do ask why and I point to the skies, I haven’t fallen off the wagon – I just like heights…and you should too, if you’re going to this next lounge – as in, cocktail lounge. Venue? The Skylark. Something off of Star Trek? No, and if you suggest something like that again I’ll slap you.

Kidding (maybe). Anyway, either make sure you go on Friday or prepare to book the place for the weekend (weekends it’s private events only), and if your friends are afraid of heights now’s a time to help them conquer that fear – or if you’re with a date now’s the time to “keep them close” for the sake of, you know, “safety”. Yeah – the ceiling to floor glass just can’t be trusted…better to just stay close.

You’ve gotta love the view though..and the fact their narcissistic enough to name a drink after themselves – which somehow represents the class, quality, and atmosphere of this place. So if you’re looking to impress now’s the time to study their menu so you look extra confident when ordering drinks and want your knowledge of alcohol to seem effing magical. What is The Skylark made of, you ask? Hendrick’s gin, Zu vodka, St. Germain liqueur, Blue Curucao, fresh lemon, and to top it all off a brandied cherry. Just think Casino Royale and that’s how about half of their drinks are.

Remember when I said I was in a New York state of mind? Yeah that wasn’t a lie. I think you should be too – fortunately, The Skylark has a drink that helps with just that. Offering hints of fruitiness and spice, “New York State of Mind” is made up of pama pomegranate liqueur, ginger beer, laird’s bonded apple brandy, fresh lime, and a thin wedge of hudson valley apple. Order. Sit Back. Sip. Enjoy View. Repeat.

So eat, be merry, and milk that Thanksgiving Buzz like it’s 1983. Minus the bad sweaters.

As always…

Stay awesome. 😉

– Rego

For The Weekenders: Thanksgiving, Rego Style… is a post from Rego’s Life

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