tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4751805452043419723.post3884042285411403696..comments2024-03-29T00:29:24.395-04:00Comments on Off The Presses: Book Gathers "Left Coast Libations" Between CoversRobert Simonson, "Our Man in the Liquor-Soaked Trenches"-New York Times.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14428424677554600158noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4751805452043419723.post-23632286094691212672010-10-06T23:29:47.813-04:002010-10-06T23:29:47.813-04:00Thanks for commenting at length.
However, the bo...Thanks for commenting at length. <br /><br />However, the book IS called "Left Coast Libations." Not "Left Coast Bartenders." That would seem to indicate the book is first and foremost about the drinks being created on the west coast. And, as much as I admire the mixologists profiled in these pages, I think a book about bartenders would be a very niche enterprise indeed. <br /><br />Furthermore, if the point is mainly to get readers to go to these bars, then the volume only really works for people who live in California, Oregon and Washington. I think the book potentially has a far wider appeal than that.<br /><br />I also must say I hardly think one should be called lazy for not attempting some of the ornate ingredients required to complete some of these drinks. <br /><br />I'd also like to point out that my review of the book was by and large positive. I had quibbles, but I encourage people to buy it.Robert Simonson, "Our Man in the Liquor-Soaked Trenches"-New York Times.https://www.blogger.com/profile/14428424677554600158noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4751805452043419723.post-86945606596413983652010-10-05T02:49:39.137-04:002010-10-05T02:49:39.137-04:00I beg to differ. Left Coast Libations is a book ab...I beg to differ. Left Coast Libations is a book about bartenders, not drinks. It is meant to promote the bartenders -- to get you to get off your sofa and out to the bar to see one of these folks, or to seek out your local equivalent.<br /><br />Of course, books full of drinks that no one can make are kind of sadistic, which is why Mr. Lazar made every single drink in the book at home. If you're too lazy to take on some of the more complex creations, don't fob that off on other readers. There may be many who are just geeky and curious enough to try them. And LCL goes through a lot of effort to make sure they'll succeed.<br /><br />As for the missing names of some current bars and bartenders, consider that self-publishing is no small task. It took two years to bring LCL to print, so virtually all of the drinks date from then. But so what? No book can keep up with the cocktail craze, nor should it try. The point is to give you an idea of what's possible, give you some drinks you can try, from easy to those requiring real effort, and to get you <b>out to the bars</b>.<br /><br />In those respects, I think Ted and Michael and Jennifer did an outstanding job.Charles Munatnoreply@blogger.com