WORLD GIN DAY, JUNE 15, 2013
Nicole lays out the spirits the Gin Joint at New Heights plans to celebrate World Gin Day with: flights of gin from around the world plus domestic puddle jumper gins to transnational flight gins and house-made G&Ts. Also the Stand By, a most refreshing Poor Man's Punch made with F.E.W. gin, house bitters, fresh citrus and herbs from the Patio garden. Gin is in and all there is at the Gin Joint 2013 World Gin Day, Saturday, June 15.
DEPARTING FLIGHTS LEADER BOARD
INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS
Scotland ($20)
Darnley's, Botanist, Blackwoods
England ($20)
Brokers, Tanquerray malacca, Oxley
Holland ($22)
Nolet's, Damrak, Bols Genever
France ($19)
Citadelle, G'vine nouaison, G'vine Floraison
DOMESTIC FLIGHTS
Oregon ($19)
Smalls, Ransom, Aviation
San Francisco ($16)
209, New Amsterdam, St, George Terroir
Chicago and the Great Lakes ($19)
Rehorst, Deaths Door, FEW
Berkshire Mountains ($19)
Ethereal, Greylock, Cold River
New York and Points North ($19)
Half Moon, Comb 9, Barr Hill
Brooklyn ($21)
Dorothy Parker, Greenhook, Breuklen Glorious
Mid Atlantic ($19)
Smooth Ambler, Smooth Ambler Barrel Aged, Green Hat
Gulfstream G650 ($35)
Nolet's, Bols Barrel Aged, Smooth Ambler Barrel Aged
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SUMMER MIND-SET: THINK LIGHT. EAT LIGHT.
The summer dining mind-set is a seasonal attitude driven by a desperate desire for scant things, wardrobes to waistlines to purses. The less-is-more summer regimen includes diet where the decree is, "think light, eat light." Chef Nishikawa responds to summer's plaintive cry in many of his flavorful, lighter menu offerings, most notable from the Bar & Patio small plates menu:
SHRIMP ROLL
House Made Kimchi, Hoisin
CRISPY OYSTERS
Lime, Cilantro, “Trinity”
SCOTCH EGG
Chorizo, Soft Egg
SALMON
Cream Cheese, Dill, Lemon, Pumpernickel
The summer mind-set insinuates itself on Nishikawa's appetizer menu as well:
SPRING GARLIC SOUP
Creme fraiche, ginger, verjus
SALAD OF MIXED GREENS
Mizuna, sorrel, sorghum
MARINATED TOMATO
Burrata, espelette and basil.
On the Entree menu, the scant-thinker will like ROASTED CHICKEN BREAST or PAN SEARED HALIBUT and then add a delicious side order:
BABY ARTICHOKE
ROASTED CAULIFLOWER
FRIED GREEN TOMATO
ROASTED HEIRLOOM SQUASH
Think light, eat light is the inevitable cry of summer. Chef Nishikawa has heard the wail. And, yes, fall will come soon enough!
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THE GIN JOINT AT NH IS ONE OF DC'S 75 GREAT BARS
Back in March, the Washingtonian placed New Heights' bar (a.k.a. the Gin Joint) on its list of 75 Great Bars in DC. Proud we stand. Proud to serve.
CALEDONIA SPIRITS DEBUTS AGED BARR HILL GIN AT NH
Caledonia Spirits and Winery traveled from Vermont to the Gin Joint at New Heights the first week of June to debut their aged Barr Hill Gin. Umbi, Kavita, Nicole, the GJ crew and a band of rogue Giniacs cheered the Caledonia reps on as they poured comp beverages from Caledonia's honeyed product line, including Barr Hill Gin, Vodka and Elderberry Wine. Nicole used the event to introduce her official New Heights House Tonic. The Barr Hill event represented the first in a line of promotions to take place this summer in the bar and spilling over to the pastoral garden of the Patio-on-Calvert.
SMASH HIT AT A PALPABLE VALUE IS NH's 4-COURSE TASTING MENU
First Course
Spring Garlic Soup
Creme fraiche, ginger, verjus
vin Prosecco, Extra Dry, Montelliana (Italy)
gin Blackwood's (Scotland) basil-fennel tonic
Root Vegetable Salad
Turnip, radish, balsamic vinaigrette
vin Chenin Blanc, Dornier, 2011, Stellenbosch (South Africa)
gin Right (Sweden) citrus-cucumber tonic
Second Course
Crispy Oysters
Lime, cilantro, "trinity"
vin Sauvignon Blanc, Chateau Vignol, Entre-Deux-Mers, 2011 (France)
gin Damrak (Amsterdam) lime-orangeblossom tonic
House Made Fettuccine
Morel, ramps, 63°C egg
vin Godello, Vina do Campo, 2010, Ribeiro (Spain)
gin G-Vine Floraison (France) baking spice tonic
Main Course
Piedmont Ridge Hanger Steak
Broccoli, maitake, cashew
vin Cabernet Sauvignon, Maddalena, 2009, Paso Robles (California)
gin FEW (Chicago) cardamom bitters
Pan Seared Spanish Mackerel
Fennel, smoked celeriac, castelvetrano olives
vin Verdejo, Tamaral, 2010 (Rueda), Spain)
gin Leopold's (Denver) lemon bitters
Dessert Course
Granny Smith Apple
Hazelnuts, caramel, maldon
vin Muscat de Rivesaltes, Chateau De Caladroy, 2007 (France)
gin Tru Organic (Monrovia, California)
Coffee Mousse
Vanilla, milk, cinnamon
vin Dow's LBV, 2007 (Portugal)
gin Smooth Ambler Barrel Aged (Greenbrier, West Virginia)
4-course Dinner is value priced at $48...add $35 for optional wine or gin cocktail pairing.
NH PRESSURED FOR MORE HOURS, MORE GOOD TIMES
The increase in demand for NH's products and services has coerced its operators to increase the supply of said products and services; to extend the hours of operation into Sundays and to push food service at the bar later into the night. The increase is generally thought to be a win-win for all except the principals, Kavita and Umbi, both of whom have taken up bunks in the slim penthouse above the restaurant. Such is the small price of fame, fortune and the materialization of sweet dreams. The new NH, Gin Joint and Bar hours:
DINING HOURS
Monday through Thursday: 5:30 PM to 10:00 PM
Friday & Saturday: 5:30 PM to 10:30 PM
Sunday: 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM
BAR | PATIO FOOD MENU
Monday through Saturday: 5:30 PM to 11:00 PM
Sunday: 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM
GIN JOINT & BABINGA BAR HOURS
Monday through Sunday
Happy Hour: 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM
Regular Bar Hours: 6:30 PM through the last drop!
THE POST'S FRITZ HAHN ON THE GJ FOR G&T
June 8, the Washington Post’s Fritz Hahn, a wizened scholar of libation and reviewer of the scene, singles out the Gin Joint at New Heights in his review, "Custom tonics can cure a classic:" “The place to go to rediscover the G&T? New Heights Restaurant’s cozy, pleasant Gin Joint bar, which stocks 50 gins from around the world and a variety of tonics to pair them with, including a rotating selection of house-made tonics.” His detailed story and loud praise of our humble Joint should not be missed. Particularly enjoyable and edifying to boot is his key to marrying gins, whether from the big distillers or small indies, with the GJ’s awesome inventory of house-made and commercial tonics. And we salute his close: “If that doesn’t sound like the last gin and tonic you poured, it’s time to go to New Heights.” Right on!! Now’s the time.
NH, ONE OF DC's "Very Best Restaurants" SAYS WASHINGTONIAN MAGAZINE
The Washingtonian again honors New Heights citing the venerable Woodley Park restaurant as one of DC's "very best restaurants." Doing so, the editors reveal NH's new Executive Chef Ron Tanaka as "one of the secrets behind the success of Cork," Tanaka's previous employ. Their prediction is that, with "greater creative latitude" at New Heights, Tanaka will skyrocket. Already the skilled chef "has crafted a contemporary American menu that abounds in clear, focused presentations."
A GIN STORY THAT'S SO GOOD IT CAN ONLY BE TRUE!
This Gin yarn comes to us from a customer, Johnny Foster, who was dining one night at NH's Babinga Bar cum Gin Joint. Johnny was chasing the small plates down with a sampler of gins. Wouldn't you know that it turns out Johnny is himself a West Virginia Gin Distiller, the maker of Smooth Ambler Greenbriar Gin. Johnny asks us, "You know what GIN stands for, don't ya?" "Tell us," we egg him on. "Well, my grandmother, Louise Lear, who is now 101 years old, says when she and her girlfriends were young and out on the town, they liked to turn the phrase you are what you eat into you are what you drink. And that's why they would only drink gin, G-I-N. 'cause that's what they were, Girls-In-Need."
True story.
Many thanks to Johnny Foster for giving the BUZZ permission to print this anecdote! It's only fair that the Gin Joint plug Smooth Ambler Greenbriar Gin!
OVERHEARD
Did you read the quote on the Bar page about the Babinga Bar? It's true. She actually said that. Honest to Pete!
ART & CULTURE
Look for A&C upgrades as NH refashions itself. You'll like what you see! We guarantee it!
