Welcome to On the Menu, the place we discover what makes a bar’s menu distinctive, intriguing, and all-around scrumptious.
When Grand Military opened in Brooklyn in 2015, the intention was to be a welcoming neighborhood bar that merely felt like an extension of a buddy’s front room. That’s, if your folks frequently shuck uncooked oysters and serve a cheeky lineup of well-made cocktails. From the outset, the bar crew—comprised on the time of trade vets like Damon Boelte (additionally co-owner), Katie Stipe, and Devin Kennedy—created cocktail menus crafted to a theme, from “State Parks” to “Spice Ladies.”
Practically a decade later, Grand Military (which was additionally our 2017 Bar of the 12 months) has absolutely earned its place as a beloved neighborhood joint, and the bar program, now led by Patty Dennison, continues to be as playful as ever. We sat down with Dennison to discover the bar’s latest “Grand Ole Military” menu theme and the way the entire course of comes collectively.
PLAYING TO THEME
On two seasonal menus per yr, for nearly 10 years, Grand Military has created cocktails that align with a theme. “When the bar opened, it was simply one of many enjoyable, cheeky elements,” says Dennison. “I believe it inherently makes us extra approachable and enjoyable. Going to cocktail bars can nonetheless be an intimidating expertise for folks; there’s going to be stuff on the menu that you simply’re not going to know what it’s or perceive, and that’s okay.”
Selecting themes which can be acquainted from popular culture or nostalgic creates a right away connection for company—a approach to be in on the joke. It additionally permits the bar crew at Grand Military to craft high-level, considerate cocktails that also really feel accessible. “It’s simply foolish in a enjoyable manner,” says Dennison. “I imply, if you wish to speak about how we make our in-house, agar-clarified, orange-passion fruit-ancho soda that we carbonate right here, then I’m pleased to. However total the bar is a protected area and simply enjoyable from the get-go.”
TAKE THE STAGE
Impressed by the Grand Previous Opry, the brand new cocktails get artistic with nation music’s roots. “The Backwoods Barbie is for Dolly Parton. We had to do a Dolly Parton drink,” explains Dennison. “I additionally need the drink to be fairly and fashionable, as a result of it’s Dolly Parton and he or she’s the queen, so possibly we do a Martini-style drink. After which, frankly, being tremendous cheeky, we put melon in it as a result of she has large boobs, and I believe everyone is aware of that. So we made a blush pink melon Martini.”
The “Ain’t Girl Sufficient” is a refreshing mezcal highball referencing a Loretta Lynn music. Bartender Dillon Brown wished to make the most of as many woman-owned and made merchandise as potential, incorporating Yola mezcal and Xila, a mezcal-based spiced liqueur. The “Folsom Jail Blues” is an Previous Usual variation, with rye, Irish whiskey, espresso, and coconut. “We use a teaspoon of Malibu [coconut rum] in it, and it actually ties every thing collectively in a cool, complicated manner,” Dennison says. “It tastes such as you’re consuming an Almond Pleasure.”
BAR & D
So which comes first, the theme or the drinks? “I don’t need anybody to enter the method with a drink in thoughts. It’s higher that you simply don’t have something in thoughts. As an alternative, we do thorough analysis and discover components inside the theme and join a drink to that,” Dennison explains. “As soon as you have already got a drink in thoughts, and also you attempt to join that to the theme, it’s much more difficult.”
However, after all, the problem is a part of the enjoyable, and drink choice remains to be pushed partly by demand. “Stylistically, there are all the time going to be drinks we’ll have on the menu,” says Dennison. “There will likely be some kind of Negroni variation and a Martini variation. Our spicy Margarita is all the time common, and for this theme we’ve got a spicy mango Margarita referred to as ‘Garments Fall Off,’ which references the music ‘Tequila Makes Your Garments Fall Off.’ However it’s nonetheless a considerate drink—we’re utilizing mango in three completely different spirits: a mango eau de vie, a mango liqueur, and a mango-chili black lime liqueur. It’s a extremely good spicy marg. We’re gonna give the folks what they need.”
Each the themes and the drinks are a collaborative effort of your complete workers. “For this winter, I don’t know what the theme will likely be but. However we do have a working checklist,” says Dennison. “It’s usually buddies or simply individuals who come into the bar that can have an concept, and generally I preserve these in my again pocket.”
