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player ready...This mango-infused bloody mary should be on your weekend to-do list.
Drink of the week: Mission Mary ($10) at Presidio
1749 N. Damen Ave. 773-697-3315
Brunch cocktails are a quintessential part of weekend dining in Chicago. Whether you pledge allegiance to the savory bloody mary or bubbly mimosa, sometimes the hair of the dog is too tempting to resist. And if you find yourself sitting down for brunch at Presidio in Bucktown, a cocktail is likely in your immediate future. Bloody mary fans will perk up when they see the Mission Mary: CH Distillery vodka, tomato juice, mango puree, fresh-shaved horseradish, lemon juice, Cholula and a garnish of cured cheddar cheese and a hunk of chorizo.
Emerging from the bar, the Mission Mary looks like every bloody you’ve ever had at every brunch spot in town. Don’t be fooled. Mango is the secret (and star) ingredient of this cocktail. It balances out the punch of horseradish-infused tomato juice with a tangy, sweet hint of flavor. Though it sounds like a strange combination, they go together like salty french fries and ice-cold chocolate milkshakes (no judgment).
“It’s still simple. It’s still the basic classic recipe,” said Clint Rogers, beverage consultant for Presidio. “The mango is the one wrinkle, the one layer to make it our own.”
Pair it with the Thai shrimp and grits ($16)—laden with bell peppers, bamboo shoots, cilantro, coconut curry and a poached farm egg—and you’ll redeem any poor decisions you made the night before.
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