With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today .
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Photos: 5 New Southern-Inspired Cocktails You Need To Try At Sassafras
Over at Hollywood's cocktail bar Sassafras—a throwback joint that makes you feel like you're transported to an old-timey saloon in the Bayou—there's a new bar manager stepping up the game with her Southern-inspired drinks.
Karen Grill, formerly of Bestia and Playa, recently joined the Sassafras team and brings her own special creative twists to the bar's menu. She makes her own jams—from blackberry to sweet tomato—which she includes in her cocktails. She also adds New Orleans flavors like chicory to her version of an Old Fashioned; that drink, by the way is called The Yellow King, a nod to a character in HBO's True Detective, which we appreciated.
We visited Sassafras earlier this week to check out some of the 27-year-old bar whiz's cocktails. Some of our favorites included Talking Bird, which was a refreshing rum and lime drink with hints of banana; The Yellow King for its complex flavors; and the well-balanced and fruity, but not overly sweet Hurricane.
Grill told LAist that she often travels to New Orleans and wanted to kick-up some of the area's classic libations—including tiki drinks—that are popular there. She gave us her inspirations behind the drinks, their ties to the South, and her special additions that spruce up some tested-and-true recipes.
Sassafras is located at 1233 N. Vine Street, Hollywood, (323) 467-2800. Cocktails range from $12 to $14.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
-
The study found recipients spent nearly all the money on basic needs like food and transportation, not drugs or alcohol.
-
Kevin Lee's Tokyo Noir has become one of the top spots for craft-inspired cocktails.
-
A tort claim obtained by LAist via a public records request alleges the Anaheim procurement department lacks basic contracting procedures and oversight.
-
Flauta, taquito, tacos dorados? Whatever they’re called, they’re golden, crispy and delicious.
-
If California redistricts, the conservative beach town that banned LGBTQ Pride flags on city property would get a gay, progressive Democrat in Congress.
-
Most survivors of January's fires face a massive gap in the money they need to rebuild, and funding to help is moving too slowly or nonexistent.