GUT CHECK: HOLIDAY COCKTAIL COUNTDOWN
Holiday Cocktail Countdown #11: Araka's Autumnal
By Stephen Fairbanks · Riverfront Times · Posted on 12/09/2011
Like any red-blooded American, Gut Check uses liquid medication to cope with holiday stress. Not only does a good winter cocktail make it possible to tolerate family members, say, inquiring about your procreation plans, it helps keep you warm, too. From now until Christmas, we're calling upon local drink-slingers to suggest great cocktails to get you through the season. Some of them are holiday-themed, some traditional, some not so much, but they all share one common thread: delicious potency.
The final step in the Autumal , straining over two large cubes of ice.
Signs of winter abound at Araka (131 Carondelet Plaza, Clayton; 314-725-6777). The valets can see their breath outside as they wait to park cars. Inside, the Blues game is on the television at the bar. And bar manager Tim Kosuge has the perfect libation to go with the season -- the Autumnal.
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Gone are the days when only plain white salt ran circles around your margarita glass. Nowadays, sugary sprinkles and even dehydrated vegetables and liqueurs ground to a fine powder stick to the lip of stemware filled with tequila-based tipples. The result of this rimming trendlet: an added layer of flavor and texture - and a striking dose of bold, bright eye candy.
Created by executive chef 