Los Angeles is home to a lot of beautiful museums. The city is bulging at the seams with priceless works of art. In fact, I will never forget working with one of my first mentors in the wine business, Giampaolo Gravina, who had come from Italy to work with me a few years ago. After a long day of calling on clients and a particularly exhausting lunch he said, “Joanie, we have fed our stomachs, and now we must feed our minds.”
We ended up at LACMA that day to see a visiting Warhlol exhibit. How can you not love working with Italians?
I was reminded of Giampaolo the other day when I stopped at the LACMA restaurant, Ray’s, for a bite to eat. The wine list is funky and interesting, but the bar program stopped me in my tracks. Check out this Miracle 8 Mile cocktail- and try not to drool.
Soft, delicate Meletti Amaro is braced by a spicy American bourbon. It’s all aromatically wrapped up in the bright scent of citrus. Even the ice is at once artistic and also perfectly functional- one large cube is smashed just around the edges- buffeting the cocktail with just the right amount of cold and dilution. Giampaolo would have been so proud of me that day. And I think he would have enjoyed the cocktail as well!