Elisir Restaurant Stirs Things Up With GOP Cocktail Primary!

FEDERAL TRIANGLE -- Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney received an unofficial (and completely unscientific) endorsement from the D.C. media establishment on Wednesday evening, during a playful “cocktail primary” party hosted by Elisir Restaurant.

Since it first opened its doors last month, Chef Enzo Fargione’s latest venture (the first that he’s launched on his own) has racked-up some impressive reviews.

Borrowing Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema’s words, “Fargione has some neat tricks up his sleeves.”

And his latest trick is the official launch of Elisir’s cocktail program helmed by mixologist Stephen Oshana. With the goal of providing the restaurant’s guests with a beverage option that can be either enjoyed on its own or as a precursor to a gourmet tasting menu dinner, such a feat can be tricky indeed to pull off.

So, as a fun way of introducing Elisir’s new cocktail lineup while both playing-off of current events and D.C.’s love for all things political, the restaurant invited select members of the press to pick their favorite drink during a mock happy hour. The catch was that each cocktail had been temporarily renamed to correspond with one of the GOP’s leading presidential candidates.

The “Uh, The Uh, Um, Um...” (Clove Infused Cognac, Honeycrisp Shrub, Hot Water, Cinnamon & Orange Foam) therefore was matched with Governor Rick Perry, for example, while the “Ich Bin Ayn Non-Interventionist” (Bourbon, Spiced Syrup, Tobacco Smoked Cherries) represented Ron Paul (third place and second place winners, respectively).

The “Bain of My Existence”.
Ultimately though, it was Romney’s “Bain of My Existence” (Gin, Muddled Rosemary, Lemon, Sugar, Mint Foam) that placed first amidst the straw poll.

And while Wednesday night’s guests will soon find out if the rest of the country agrees with their choice, what is abundantly clear is that Washingtonian diners (and drinkers) will come out on top regardless.