Tag: Livermore

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Alice in Wonderland Pop-Up at The Fat Pigeon Livermore

We’ve visited The Fat Pigeon during the holidays for the Miracle pop-up and decided to visit again for their spring-inspired Alice in Wonderland theme. The decor is nicely set up with some references to characters on the walls, though this is mostly based on the novel and not any movie franchises. Occasional smoke effects and bubbles were a plus to reinforce the theme. Music seems to be off theme, but nicely upbeat and jazzy during our Sunday afternoon visit.

There are a variety of themed cocktails with a diversity of spirits, though many of the items contain spicy/chili elements that I avoided. I would rate these cocktails as pretty good and found that they weren’t too boozy, so possibly a pro or a con. I enjoyed the Bandersnatch & Brandy, a fruity Manhattan riff that had rich mouthfeel. Mrs. Mai Tai seemed to like her cocktails including the King of Hearts with a smoke bubble and some nice orange flavors. There are also a couple of non-alcoholic options including the refreshing “tea-ki” inspired Golden Road to Nowhere that had a great presentation as well.

Our service was super prompt and the $25 grazing board with cheese, fruit, and meats was a pretty good value and a hit with our party.

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Miracle Holiday Pop-Up at The Fat Pigeon Livermore

We visited downtown Livermore for a visit to the Miracle holiday cocktail pop-up at The Fat Pigeon. In the year since they opened, the Fat Pigeon has hosted themed pop ups related to the Golden Girls and a witch theme for Halloween, and now Miracle for a second time. The small venue does have a heated tent outside that’s reasonably decorated for the holidays but inside is warmer and more elaborately themed.

The cocktail list for Miracle varies a little from bar to bar, but I stuck with one the cornerstone offerings, the Christmapolitan. Made with vodka, elderflower, dry vermouth, spiced cranberry sauce, lime, and absinthe mist, with a rosemary garnish, the blend of flavors and spices elevates this cocktail and I have to get it at least once per season. I also tried the “Nice Shot” which is rye whiskey and gingerbread syrup, quite nice and thematically on point.

The Fat Pigeon does offer some appetizers and shared plates, though we didn’t partake this time. We like the vibe and service here, plus there’s plenty to do in downtown Livermore before or after if you want to make an evening out of it.

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Craft and Classic Cocktails at Livermore’s Nightcaps at Rosetta

Finally made it out to check the cocktail offerings at Nightcaps at Rosetta in downtown Livermore. This is a coffee place named Rosetta Roasting during the day and transitions to a cocktail/desert (and yes, coffee) place during the evening. The back portion is dimly lit to set the mood. We think this would be a great place to hit before or after dinner.

There are plenty of classic cocktails on the menu, such as a Bee’s Knees, Martini, and Whiskey Sours. There’s even a nice 1944 Mai Tai that is prepared well and features traditional flavors. It didn’t bowl me over but for the venue and clientele it is perfectly reasonable.

We didn’t partake but there were a whole series of pies and cheesecakes that looked fabulous, and we could see the coffee being prepared as well as the cocktails. There’s also a small retail component with holiday offerings right now. Check it out next time you’re in downtown Livermore.

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Miracle Holiday Pop-Up at the Fat Pigeon Livermore

The Fat Pigeon is the new name for the former Beer Baron in Downtown Livermore, newly reimagined as a cocktail bar. And just in time for the grand opening it’s doing the Miracle Holiday Pop-Up to acquaint guests. As such, the holiday decor was at a basic level and definitely not overflowing like places that have been doing these pop-ups for years. Nonetheless it was totally festive with music and plenty of good cheer from the guests.

That good cheer was put to the test due a staff member arriving late and also to an imprecise order for tables to be serviced (guess which table seemed to be in the black hole?). These issues can arise anytime but obviously when places are new and also super busy.

This year’s Miracle offerings were just as nicely varied as in past years, where classic cocktails get the holiday spice and ingredient twists to go along with festive names and fun glassware.

The Jingle Balls Nog was just okay, but we liked the Espresso Martini riff called Rudolph’s Replacement (served in the classic “Santa Rex” mug). Old favorite Yippee Ki Yay, Mother F****r is a Piña Colada riff with Ube Orgeat and just as great this year as it was last time. The Koala Cooler features Applejack and spice and I think felt the most like a Fall/Winter drink. The Christmapolitan had some really interesting flavors including a spiced cranberry syrup and it had a little bit of an apple taste to me, but still quite good. Elfing Around #2 with cognac and champagne was elegant and the mulled wine reduction served the holiday theme very well.

New this year is Marshmallows & Unicorns, served in a mug that was right up Mrs. Mai Tai’s alley. Definitely a little sweet leaning and including soda to lighten things up, this was a treat for several senses. The mug was priced at $20 at Fat Pigeon.

We really enjoyed our time at Miracle and are pleased to see a good new cocktail place in Livermore.

Christmapolitan
Yippee Ki Yay, Mother F****r