Tosca Pares Down Its Cocktail Program, Continuing a Sad Streak in San Francisco Cocktails

We thought we were sad when The Coachman closed this month. Not to mention that Trou Normand closed its early morning and espresso service. Well, we got a heavy dose of salt in the wounds when we learned that one of our other favorite bar programs, Tosca Cafe's, is being cut down. Star bar director Isaac Shumway is out, and the general manager and chef will now run the bar instead––with what we can only imagine to be a drastically simplified cocktail menu. Call us the Sorrow of Drinking.

Under Isaac, Tosca had one of our most favorite cocktail programs in the city. As a former cook, Isaac brought his experience from places like the French Laundry and Gary Danko to one of the most ambitious cocktail menus in San Francisco. He has one of the most perceptive palates and an unrelenting eye for technique and execution. Classics and originals alike were obsessively honed, perfecting cocktails down to the specific blends of sugars and level of citrus oil. The cocktails—no matter who made them—were executed to perfection. This is a big deal, especially in a city like San Francisco. It's hard to make a great menu. It's even harder to bring together a whole staff to execute consistently and quickly, even when the crowds press in.

We won't be surprised if there is an exodus of bar talent at Tosca following this news.

Cocktails in San Francisco have had a rough start to 2015. Let's hope it's only up from here.

UPDATE - 3/2
Thanks to an anonymous commenter who pointed out an article in SF Weekly. Paolo Lucchesi reports that Tosca has replaced Isaac with Joe Cleveland who will "take over lead bartender duties." Congrats to Joe! We are anxious to see what he does with the cherished program and spot.

- Noelle

Pst! Check Out the Coachman's Secret Menu (Told Through Instagram and Phone Pictures)

After much debating back and forth about keeping it to ourselves, we're going to let San Francisco into one of our favorite little secrets: the secret menu at the Coachman in San Francisco's gritty part of SOMA. 

As if you needed another reason to check out their extremely creative program, someone allowed bar manager Johnny Codd near liquid nitrogen, fire, fireball, and a smoke machine, and this menu was the fantastic result. 

If you are at the bar and you ask for it, you'll be allowed to choose from a short list of these sippable wonders. They run for $14-$16 and are perfect to impress a date or just to add a bit of fun to your evening. 

Fit for the genre of secret cocktails, we are going to depart from our usual photography treatment. What better way to share them than in low-lit phone and instagram photos? Because the real thing is always going to be so much better than the pictures anyway. (Trust us.)

The menu sometimes rotates a little, but check this out:

Something Ridiculous

The bartender sets a goblet on fire with high proof alcohol and toasts a marshmallow in front of you. Then you can enjoy bites of gooey toasted marshmallow paired with rich, chocolatey porter, and a cocktail of rum, Carpano Antica sweet vermouth, cream, and toffee syrup.

Something in an Ice Sphere
What's better than your favorite cocktail? Uh, your favorite cocktail in a freaking ice sphere.




Something Tiki
We have so many favorite tiki drinks, we just can't choose our favorite! And why should we have to with this awesome (and did we mention adorable?) tiki trio, which includes a Mai Tai, Pain Killer, and Pina Colada. Don't forget to wear sunscreen.

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Something Smoked
Choose from Buffalo Trace, House made fireball, or Hunting Flask (one of the house cocktails made with infused Redbreast whiskey). Then decide on mesquite, apple, hickory, or cherry wood chips. Add smoke.

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Something Special
Is this what you think you see? If you're wondering that, the answer is probably yes.

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Something with Cheeky's
At one time, something cheeky was made of this delicious adult icee—and by that we mean a blended negroni, a super cold, thirst quenching, and somehow creamy cocktail of campari, sweet vermouth, and gin whipped up in a Vitamix with ice (Johnny likes to add a little squeeze of lime over the top, as well as some egg white to the mix). The garnish was a negroni jello in a real orange peel.



These days, they've added a bit more to the order. Instead of the blended negroni (still available upon request, and we recommend you do on a hot day), you get a cheeky trio: a deconstructed sazerac in an absinthe ice glass (you're not hallucinating), a cheeky of housemade fireball, and the jelly negroni.

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Shhhh. Don't tell anyone.

The Coachman
1148 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 813-1701

First Look: New Bar Third Rail Opens in Dogpatch with Culinary Flair

The folks who brought us Range (and its excellent sherry program) opened a new bar last week in the Dogpatch called The Third Rail.  With simple decor that will remind you of a modern living room, the new spot is sure to draw bar-goers looking for an easy going night and some bright, culinary inspired cocktails—not to mention some satisfyingly rich and salty jerky snacks (pork rind, anyone?).



For places like the Dogpatch that typically embrace a neighborhood feel, Third Rail strikes a great balance between carefully crafted cocktails and an unpretentious place where you can kick back. Third Rail will fit right in.



We tried a few cocktails here, and they were exceptional. This is the Mt. Tam cocktail: St. George's terroir, Dolin sweet, Gran Classico. For a stirred drink, it wasn't too heavy. It was deliciously earthy from the terroir. I love drinks with St. George's terroir gin:



The Harvest Moon is similar to a margarita: tequila, pear, absinthe, lime. Bright and refreshing with a healthy tequila kick. The absinthe is a great touch that brings it all together.



Finally, the Double Date cocktail. This was Noelle's favorite. Old Fashioned lovers will love this riff on that classic cocktail. The date added to the richness of the cocktail and gave it a holiday feel.



Check out the full set of pictures on our Flickr album:





Third Rail
628 20th St.

San Francisco, CA 94107
Every day 3 p.m. to 2 a.m.

First Look: Russell Davis's New Audio Discotech Club

Josh and I were lucky to check out a sneak peek of new SOMA club Audio Discotech tonight, the latest project by San Francisco celebrity bartender Russell Davis. If you're thinking a stuffy craft cocktail bar, you best change your perception now. Audio Discotech, opening Aug. 16,  is Russell's effort to bring craft cocktails to club bartending. As bar director, Russell is working with well-respected Yael Vengroff (winner of Speed Rack 2012) to bring fast, free pouring of fresh ingredients to a fun, club environment. No excuses.

"If you're going to order an AMF, it's going to be the best Adios Motherfucker in the galaxy," Russell said. "It's AMFs and old fashioneds."

And it totally makes sense. On one hand, you have mixologists who would dain to put away the jiggers and make anything resembling a neon club drink. And on the other, you have club bartenders who have never seen fresh citrus in their well. It's about time we saw the meeting of the minds. And yes, that includes flavored vodkas.

"I was a club bartender for 11 years," Russell said. "Why would I turn my back on them now?"

There is no menu for the two wells. Just what the crowd pleases. For us, we tried two recommended cocktails tonight. One which was a champagne cocktails and one with Dr Pepper.



In addition to two wells on either side of the room, the venue sports state-of-the-art audio and lighting equipment.



There are lounge sofas for high rolling.


"Sometimes I just want to order an old fashioned and dance my ass off," Russell said, speaking to his ambition in the club. Now we can too.

Meanwhile, the much anticipated Bergerac—also fronted by Russell and the same owners as Audio Discotech—is waiting in the wings. The craft-cocktail-focused lounge will be just below Audio Discotech, meaning that patrons can catch a meticulous drink there and then head up for booty-shaking fun upstairs. Something for everyone.

For myself, I had forgotten how long it's been since I actually went to a club. Other people showed up in their mini fur jackets, cocktail dresses, and heels. And there I was in my Toms. I had also forgotten the fine art of ordering in a club. I squeezed myself into the small spaces that I could and waited among suits and heels. This will be an adventure for all.

For more pictures, check out our Flickr album.

Audio Discotech
Opening Aug. 16
316 11th St.
San Francisco, CA