No. 220: Southern California's Zombieland

For me, there are few cocktails as fascinating as a zombie. Asides from being deceptively potent nature, it's got an interesting past, quite a few different recipes, and ominious warnings, with many bars explicitly noting they serve a two-zombie maximum per customer. There are a few variations on the origin of that cap, often relating to a guy who had a few and caused all sorts of mayhem and mishaps, from simply blacking out for the night to starting a raucous bar brawl to causing a traffic catastrophe while drunk-driving.

Regardless, zombies are definitely making an invasion in Southern California. Once limited to the confines of Tiki-themed places (Trader Vic's, Don the Beachcomber, Tiki-Ti) or rum-focused establishments (Cana, La Descarga, Sunny Spot), I've seen them surfaced in quite a few unexpected places. 

Naturally, I consider it a blogger duty to put a damper to this assault. So here's a roundup of a few surprise spots where you might spot a zombie... so be prepared to run (and drink!)

DOWNTOWN IN A SCHOOL!!!! (@ Public School 612*)

Ok, granted -- this was from a one-time event (Tiki 101, part of their '101' series of events where they educate on assorted libations, with a drink-paired multi-course meal to boot) but I was told the zombie may be making a comeback on their summer menu so keep your fingers crossed!

Asides from the Tiki totem cups (which attendees get to keep at the end of the night, by the way) this zombie variation stood out in that it used papaya puree to give it that tropical flair (in addition to pineapple juice.) While I usually don't care for its slightly musky smell, it did add an interesting note here. That aside, this zombie is one of the boozier-tasting ones I've tried, with the rums front & center.

But what I loved even more than the zombie itself is the creativity in the food presented in this class . . .

We had spam two ways (a traditional musubi, and a not-so-traditional kimchi slider)

Tuna-mango poke served in a coconut

And, paired with the zombie & my favorite of the night, a mushroom gravy loco moco with the egg poached, breaded in panko then fried! And just like the zombie itself, I hope some of these items get rotated onto the 612 menu.

But... just in case it does not make a reappearance anytime soon, the 101 classes do provide recipe cards of everything they make, so here's the one for their zombie.

Yes, I know papaya puree is hard to come by (PS612 made their own!) and I would probably swap it out for something more readily available, like mango nectar/juice.


WEST HOLLYWOOD IN A MIDDLE EASTERN RESTAURANT!!! (@ Mezze)

The zombie here is also served in a tiki themed glass (but this one's not for taking home,) and it intrigued me because it definitely stands out for this restaurant and especially its cocktail menu, where most other drinks have some sort of Middle Eastern / Mediterranean touches.

And alas, as unique looking as it was on the cocktail menu and in the themed cup, it didn't exactly wow me. Not that it's bad, but my thoughts were "I taste rum & I taste juices" and that's pretty much it. It suffices for a tropically drink (say, by a poolside hotel or a coastal bar) but lacks that extra oompf.

On the other hand, my zombie expedition did lead me to try some other drinks and bites that are much more impressive...

Such as the The Wanderer, a tequila based cocktail with rosewater, a triple-play of hibiscus (in the syrup, flavored whipped cream and hibiscus-lavender bitters) and topped with sumac. And that final ingredient really made this something special, its tartness complements that of the hibiscus, but it also provided a kind of woodsy, kind of earthy note that balanced the flowery aromas and sweet flavor profile of this drink.

And this drink overall paired extremely well with the sweetbread shashouka, a comforting, spiced tomato stew with crunchy chunks of sweetbread, toasted pita strips, creamy yogurt and runny egg. The whipped cream worked nicely with the richer egg, sweetbread & yogurt while the tart & light portion of the drink cuts into that richness and complements the tomato the same time.

I also loved the subsequent Jam Fizz featuring bergamot jam and their housemade black lemon+ginger bitters. So while I am not particular fan of this zombie, I'm thankful that it led to me this gem of a place--which I look forward to returning again.


PASADENA IN THE DAYTIME!!!! (@ 1886 Bar / Raymond Restaurant*)

NOOO, Gourmet Pigs!!!!!!

And it's the first time I ever saw zombie featured as a brunch cocktail. For me, it was a welcomed change of pace from the bloody marys, mimosas and bellinis. 

Even though the cocktail is known to be potent, this zombie made for a surprisingly great daytime drink. It's light and cooling thanks to the crushed ice, has a wonderful fruity-boozy flavor profile from a nice balance of rums, juices and syrups (three rums, demarara & passionfruit syrup; lemon, lime & pineapple juices), and amazing aromas from the sprig of fresh mint and sprinkling of sweet spices on top.

Equally lovely is their recently-revamped brunch menu, and I particularly enjoyed my stack of cheddar & herb griddle cakes layered with spinach, mushrooms, smoked ham and topped with a poached egg. It's indulgent and delicate at the same time; I simply loved how the fluffy, mildly-savory pancakes offsets the stronger flavors and textures of the other components, making for a midday dish that satisfies without really weighing down (in guilt, and possibly on the scales.)


EVEN THE ORANGE COUNTY!!! (@ 320 Main)

Ok, so it's Rumdood tending the bar so it's not a huge leap that a zombie would surface here (though, you might want to avoid ordering this when the bar's swarmed, as Rumdood calls it a P.I.T.A. drink to make.) And of course, I wouldn't expect anything short of Zombie purism from him . . .

. . . down to the shaking duration that he timed on his smartphone (one minute, to be exact.) After seeing the recipe and witnessing his pours with all sorts of odd ratios & measurements, I can see why he considers it a PITA.

Like the Raymond version, I love its balance and complexity of aromas and flavors. There's fruitiness without being too tart or sweet, some spicy-bitterness but not overboard with it, and a pleasant, cleverly-cloaked backdrop of rum. And while I might not consider it worthwhile to make my own zombie with this recipe (All the ingredients I have to buy/make! All the dirty jiggers I'd have to wash afterwards! All that arm workout!) it was definitely worth the wait at 320 Main.

And to wash it down, their special-of-the-day Animal Flatbread, which really tasted like the deconstructed version of the In-n-Out burger. Like the Tiki 101 food items, I hope this makes a comeback (or better yet, find a permanent place) on their menu soon.

Last but not least, this zombie expedition also allowed me to buy Bananawonder a Bridey Mai Tai!

And so, there you have it -- four very different zombie experiences in four atypical locations, but all with relatively happy endings. Which is more than I can say for most zombie apocalypse films. 

*Disclosure: Public School 612 & Raymond tastings were from hosted events


Public School 612
612 South Flower Street
Los Angeles, CA 90017
(213) 623-1172
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Mezze
401 North La Cienega Boulevard 
West Hollywood, CA 90048
(310) 657-4103
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The Raymond / 1886 Bar1250 South Fair Oaks Avenue 
Pasadena, CA 91105
(626) 441-3136
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320 Main
320 Main Street 
Seal Beach, CA 90740
(562) 799-6246
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No. 175: 320 Main (Seal Beach)

Considering I'm only 20 minutes away from downtown LA and its ever-burgeoning cocktail scene, going O.C. isn't really on the top of my mind when I feel like checking out drinks. But, as chance would have it, I had a (not-so) little road trip between going-ons in Huntington Beach and Culver City this past weekend and had some time to kill, so I decided to take a little pit stop in Seal Beach to swing by 320 Main, a newish restaurant & bar that Rumdood heartily (and repeatedly) recommended for some great sips.

Even though it's just a few blocks away from the shore, this is definitely not the typical beach bar. With its vintage interior that harks back to the early 20th century and an impressive collection of spirits and bitters, I felt assured that I'd be in good bar hands.

More reassurance came when I checked out its cocktail menu. Sorry, beach tourists and college students -- you won't find the likes of appletinis or frozen-blended daiquiris here. The list here is a good mix of longstanding classics, both familiar (Mint Julep, Old Fashioned) and a bit more esoteric (Tequila Daisy, Rum Swizzle), alongside with complex & contemporary creations.

Being no stranger to most of the classics, I opted to try one of their signature cocktails, Sweet Bricia ($12,) named after the fun-loving Bricia Lopez of Pal Cabron. Made with mezcal and tequila, creme de cassis, apricot liqueur, citrus and nutmeg - shaken and served over crushed ice, it was a provocatively delicious cocktail, with so many different flavors working together: the citrusy tang, a fruity fragrance from the apricot and currant liqueurs, with a smidge of nutmeg spice against a slightly-smoky foundation of the mezcal-tequila base. And at the same time, even with so many diverse components, it didn't feel like there was too much going on in there ~ as a matter of fact, it was so simply refreshing and quaffable I sucked the entire cocktail down in a matter of minutes. And yes, I totally forgot take a photo of the drink itself -- but at least I did get one of owner Jason Schiffer preparing it.

Next, I asked Jason to choose my next drink, and he opted for The Devil's Own ($11,) a sinful concoction made with Zaya rum, Fernet Branca, Gran Gala, vanilla syrup, absinthe and lemon essence. Sweet smelling and heavier bodied, this drink tasted good but I felt iffy about it in the middle of a summer afternoon... the richer texture and the warmer flavors gave the drink manhattan-ish quality that makes it more appropriate for an evening cocktail, perhaps before dinner or as a nightcap.

Picking up on that hint, Jason made me a Mai Tai ($10,) with their housemade orgeat and based on Trader Vic's recipe. So refreshing and way more in tune with the beach season, and definitely better than the one I tried at Don the Beachcomber's on a recent urban hike.

To help me wash down all that alchy, I also got their happy hour bruschetta ($4) - three long and thick slices of garlic-rubbed and grilled French bread topped with chopped roma tomatoes, basil and parmesan cheese shreds and a balsamic drizzle. Just like the two cocktails I wound up drinking, a warm-weather appropriate bite that's flavorful and not too heavy (though I would've actually ordered something more substantial if I wasn't already planning on a Le Saint Amour dinner shortly later that day.)

And as I settled my bill (and discovered Jason comp'd one of my drinks, thanks!) and took a stroll down Seal Beach, I'm already making a mental note to come back to check out more from their food and drink menu. From what I had so far, 320 Main definitely holds its own against the cocktail-forward bars of L.A. (and I even say better than some of them) and maybe with time, O.C. can carve out its own unique drinking (and dining) identity and not be thought of as L.A.'s second fiddle.

What Do Others Say?
- LA Times' Daily Dish considers it a "new address to remember for anyone interested in cocktails."
- OC Weekly's blog calls it " great place to get both the classics from the Age of the Cocktail. . . and new inventions created by mixologists with good palates."
- The Press-Telegram found "the service at 320 Main was excellent and enveloping . . . prices are a bit high for this area, but . . . they're reasonable for the quality of food and service."
- Thirsty in LA highlighted the Bricia-inspired drink here & at other local bars.

320 Main
320 Main Street
Seal Beach, CA 90740
562.799.6246
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