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Give Back, Drink Up
Tuesday Feb 12, 2008.
By Dana Kavan
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 photo: Clifton Henri
The damage: $12
Thousands of bars in Chicago, why this one? I had read time and time again about aria bar's eco-conscious cocktails, made with fresh-squeezed juices, local and organic ingredients and antioxidant-rich fruits, but could never drum up a reason to stop by the swanky spot. I'm not usually hanging around the elegant Fairmont Hotel (where it's located) in my Sunday best, you know? But last Friday, I finally had an excuse to get dolled up and book it downtown, and I honestly can't think of a better motivator: My buddy Brad had asked me and some other friends to help him volunteer at the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's Grand Chefs Gala, which took over the Fairmont on February 1. His otherwise-healthy 21-year-old cousin spends hours each day undergoing treatments to help her live with the chronic disease, which affects the lung and digestive system.
How it went down: We all felt fairly jazzed about contributing to a good cause and weren't quite ready to go home when the crowds of foodies left the event. We strolled into aria bar not really sure what to expect, and were greeted with an onslaught of eye candy: lush draperies, tables decked with vibrant saris, bamboo accents, clover-shaped couches, blue-hued lighting and a polished crowd to match it all. Still, the decor seemed like an afterthought compared to the drink menu, with libations like the Honey Child, which mixed Hennessey with honey and vanilla-infused soy milk. When it was time to make my pick, I panicked. Luckily, my server stepped in to assure me that I couldn't go wrong with the best-selling mojito.
Now, I've never met a mojito I didn't like, so I figured this blend was a safe bet, but, surprisingly, the concoction really didn't taste like a mojito at all. And that wasn't a bad thing. The layers of flavor jammed into that tall, skinny glass went far beyond the sweet-mint hits of a standard version. With muddled organic English cucumber (which has smaller seeds and a less bitter taste than a regular cucumber) and fresh organic mint topped off with Bacardi light rum, freshly squeezed lime, pomegranate juice and a dash of club soda, the salmon-pink libation tasted sweet and sour at once, with a refreshing finish that reminded me of watermelon. The cucumber flavor was quite mild, allowing the tartness of the juices to really stand out.
Would I want to become a regular? Now that I've gone to aria, I'd certainly like to find a reason to return. We munched on a bowl of gratis wasabi peas and sesame crisps, but that was as far as we dipped into the food offerings. Going back for a meal of super-fresh sushi and global cuisine sounds like another cause I could get behind, but not one that would have quite the same satisfying result as helping out a truly worthy organization.
Dana Kavan scours the city for drink deals so good you'll offer to buy a round and creative libations that outshine your average on-the-rocks concoctions. Want to give Dana tips on where to rack up a bar tab? Share your finds before her next night out.
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