Umbrellas Included

Mondays are not usually a walk in the park, but a recent one was a doozy. An accident on the Dolphin Expressway created traffic of historic proportions. It took more than an hour to drive from downtown Miami to Town Kitchen and Bar, and all I could think about during...

By Patrice Elizabeth Grell Yursik

November 9, 2006

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Mondays are not usually a walk in the park, but a recent one was a doozy. An accident on the Dolphin Expressway created traffic of historic proportions. It took more than an hour to drive from downtown Miami to Town Kitchen and Bar, and all I could think about during the commute was how badly I needed a drink. Once seated upon a plush leather stool next to the white marble bar, I wanted something strong enough to blur the memory of the jerks who kept cutting me off on I-95.

Bartender Freddy Molina came to the rescue. “I’m gonna make you a raspberry litchi martini,” he said. “Ladies love it.” He mixed a prodigious amount of Stolichnaya raspberry vodka with litchi juice, added melon syrup, and garnished the elegant cocktail with three alcohol-soaked litchis. Freddy was right. This lady adored the potion. The atmosphere at Town also assuaged my malaise; the muted blush lighting gives the white, modern décor a warm glow. My drink cost a mere $12, proving that Town offers South Beach charm at South Miami prices. By the time I had savored the last succulent litchi, the rain was pouring down in sheets. Bar manager Jeff Ambler offered me a cute polka-dot umbrella for the road. That sealed the deal. Town is my new favorite neighborhood hangout, and the martini banished my case of the Mondays. Call 305-740-8118, or visit www.townkitchenbar.com.
Starts: Nov. 14. Daily, 2006

Patrice Elizabeth Grell Yursik

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