4 minute read
Pegu Club-New York City
New York City
by Carol Mark
Historically, bars in far away places were watering holes, which acted as a home away all rights reserved from home. A place where conversation flows easily and new friendships are forged. Much like F. Scott Fitzgerald novels where the Gin Rickey is just as important as any of his characters.
Pegu Club Calling Card
Over the years, reading Hemmingway, even before I actually traveled, I gathered a sense of place and time through his writing. When I visited Venice my priority was not to see St Mark’s Square but Harry’s Bar. Tucked away in the corner of the square, a building much the same as the other centuries of mortar and memories within those walls. Upon entering, I sensed the people, who seemed like characters of a play. I was a silent observer. I was wedged in between an elderly Contessa and her friends, who were reliving their youth dressed for an evening out. Being front row and centre, I felt their mysteries of life and angst through their tones and mannerisms.
Feelings of time and place were also strongly evoked when I visited the Pegu Club in New York, established by renowned bartender Audrey Saunders. The Pegu Club is an unassuming hideaway nestled on busy West Houston St. Wedged between two stores, there is a frosted glass door with the Pegu Emblem It signals like a password with the prestige of a private club. Behind the door was the long staircase to the entrance of the second floor.
The room is a long bar with nestled private tables for groups or an intimate table for two. I felt privileged to be ushered into this private space to delight in the Earl Grey TEAmartini originally created by Audrey Saunders in 2000 at Bemelmans Bar at the Carlyle, New York City. The Earl Grey TEAmartini presents a jewelled white foam with a curl of citrus. The citrus is a pefect complement to the bergamot. Earl Grey tea is the second most popular tea, which, legend has it, was given to the Earl of Grey as a thank you from a Chinese Mandarian for saving his son. Black oxydized tea scented with the oil of Bergamot, a citrus plant grown in Cyprus.
TEAmartini is a smooth, luxurious blend of citrus lemon notes with the dryness of the vodka. My lips loved the fluffiy egg white as a resting place for my palate in between sips. The tea added an extra depth of mellowness and smoothness. The liquor was sublime-just the right taste of sweet, sourness and of course, tea. I was serenaded by the rhythmic shaking of a cocktail shaker in the background, as my thoughts were carried away from the hectic day. Freshness is the key with hand squeezed juices and tinctures, but more important is the creation and care taken with each order.
Here is my version of the TEAmartini, inspired by the one New York City mixologist Audrey Saunders created. To get the real deal, as I did, you will need to visit the Pegu Club as advised by Audrey on the PEGU website:
“Are we going to share any of our concepts or ideas with you? Nope. You’ll just have to pay us a visit, and see for yourself what we’re doing.”
1.5 oz (1 shot glass) Earl Grey Gin
1 oz Simple Syrup
1 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
1 egg white
PREPARATION:
Shake the ingredients for 45 to 60 seconds without ice so that the egg emulsifies, then add ice and shake for another few seconds to chill the drink.
Strain into a prepared cocktail glass as follows, and top with a lemon garnish.
Preparing the glass: Lemon twist for garnish.
Moisten the rim of a chilled martini glass with lemon juice and turn it upside down in a saucer of coarse sugar to rim the glass.
Earl Grey Infused Gin:
1 tablespoon of loose leaf Earl Grey
1 cup gin Glass jar for Infusion
Directions: Combine ingredients in the jar-shake and then let sit at room temperature for approximately 2 hours.
Strain the gin to remove the tea leaves. Rebottle and any left over can be kept in a refrigerator.
Remember, always use the best and freshest ingredients as this will reflect in the final tasting.
Menu for drinks & nibbles
Pegu Club 77 West Houston St 2nd floor NY, New York 10012 212-473-PEGU www.peguclub.com
