The rain and cold weather here has disrupted everything. Up north, where the farms are located, the sheer amount of water and even snow in some places has halted any notion of an early stone fruit season. The farmer’s market has been pretty malaise inducing as well. Bright colored citrus orbs, varieties of cauliflower, and potatoes. Not the most inspiring. Shrieking winds blowing the tents around, all the farmers with sour fart faces.

Yes, I know anyone reading this from somewhere other than Southern California will tell me to call the Waaaambulance, ask me if I want cheese with my whine, or rub their fingers together and tell me the world’s smallest violin plays just for me. Hey man! Part of the culture of living here is about being a spoiled asshole. Did you not know that? The news in other places, even across the country, is about California. We demand your empathy!

Anyway. In these times, the ideas for new cocktails don’t spring into me too quickly. Angel asked me when good strawberries will be back and I said, “I have no idea. All the snow and cold weather up north may have put a halt to all that for a couple of weeks.” Some jackass at the bar said peaches are already coming in. Wrong, dude. Yeah, it needs to get warmer before we see any of this. I’m highly anticipating stone fruit season just like everyone else but it’s just so far away right now.

I have no idea where any of these cocktails ever come from. It’s much harder than coming up with a food item than you think. For one, it’s alcohol, and you have to taste it. Believe it or not, I’m not always in the mood to taste, especially before five o’clock. Two, cocktail creation isn’t just about combining flavors. It has to be visually stimulating both in how it looks (most cocktails are brightly colored and “warm.”) but also how it appears on the menu. I would love every drink to incorporate Oaxacan rum and rhum agricole but reality and fantasy don’t often intermingle. I had a seasonal tiki section of the menu a few weeks ago that impressed almost no one. People are afraid of rum but love mezcal.

Anyway, usually around this time of despair something forms, comes out of the woodwork. Stay tuned.