Breakfast buzz

Booze. It's what's for breakfast

By Ellen Fox

January 14 2003

Whether you wake up begging for a little hair of the dog, or just want to get the party started early, these cocktails are an eye-opening way to start the day.

Harry's Bar Bellini, $9 Subterranean nightspot Le Passage pays homage to the legendary Venice bar's signature drink with its Harry's Bar Bellini, a blend of peach nectar and Mumm Cuvee Napa sparkling wine, served in a champagne glass.

Salty Dog, $5 A twist on the classic greyhound cocktail, this drink blends freshly squeezed pink grapefruit juice with Skyy vodka. It's served on the rocks in a glass rimmed with kosher salt. Regulars rely on the concoction to wash down house-cured lox or Tabasco grilled shrimp at this fancifully decorated Wicker Park restaurant.

Road Rash Mary, $6.25 The bartenders at biker-themed grill Twisted Spoke pour plenty of these pints each weekend. Pre-blended out of necessity in a 20-gallon pot, this top-rated (and top-secret) take on the Bloody is finished off with Guinness and grated parmesan cheese, and garnished with a skewer of hard salami, peperoncini, olive and cocktail onion. Served with a miniature beer back.

Bell's Oatmeal Stout, $5 Forget those packages of maple and brown sugar-flavored instant oatmeal. This stout is one of a handful of limited-edition beers bottled by the Kalamazoo, Mich., brewery every November. Thick and rich enough for breakfast--with no lumps.

Mimosa, $6 When it comes to these champagne cocktails, most bars serve up a skimpy flute topped with a splash of juice. But classy comfort-food specialist Silver Cloud gets bonus points for generosity: A split of Freixenet arrives with a separate glass of juice: passion fruit, mango, papaya or traditional
orange.

Ellen Fox is a Chicago freelance writer.

Originally published Feb. 11, 2003.

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