Tag Archives: Dom Benedictine

Charleston in Charge

Old Hollywood glamour dresses up in Santa Monica

The Rundown LA
March 28, 2012

charlston Charleston in ChargeWith the Great Recession supposedly over, what better time for some Great Depression revelling?

Prep your best suspenders for some proper rug-cutting at The Charleston, where Santa Monica honors those golden days of pomade and prohibition with nightly live entertainment.

Come for everything from burlesque to rock cover bands, and karaoke to dueling pianos. Then stay for the drinks.

Start with the namesake Charleston, a healthy dose of Buffalo Trace whiskey, green chartreuse, Dom Benedictine, and angostura bitters.

For your date? The sweet and tart Kaffir Lime Pie (Stoli Vodka, Stoli Vanilla Vodka, fresh lime juice, simple syrup, and egg white).

Make sure to try Iron Chef veteran Jet Tila’s eclectic menu. Divide and conquer the bacon-wrapped dates and Korean salsa (short rib and Brussels sprouts in a corn tortilla) and sausage fennel & arugula flatbread.

Keep the cheese-crusted filet mignon crostini or the Charleston Burger (smoked Cheddar, arugula, onion marmalade and sun-dried tomato aioli) for yourself.

Meat and cheese hoarding: A Depression-era staple, no matter the decade.

A step back in time, via an Iron Chef vet

Thrillist
March 26, 2012

charlestonnew horizontal main A step back in time, via an Iron Chef vet

Grand opening Thurs in Santa Monica, The Charleston is a ’30s-era supperclub-cum-sippery in Santa Monica run by former Iron Chef challenger & lauded restauranteur Jet Tila, whose decked out the old Angel’s space in decade-appropriate beaded chandeliers, a studded, white-leather bar, and plush, red booths, which’re probably the first place to look for left-behind dead presidents.

2601699a inset web A step back in time, via an Iron Chef vet

The food will work in two ways: they’ll do popup dinners by famous chefs like Angeli Caffe exec/KCRW “Good Food” host Evan Kleinman, as well as a there-all-the-timemenu w/ upscale-y bar goodness like short rib tacos w/ shaved Brussels sprouts & Korean salsa; sausage, arugula, and fennel flatbread; and grilled salmon w/ roasted tomatoes and chickpeas, ironically served by a second chick with a cup. Drinkiness leans classic, w/ specialties helped along by a master ‘tail-mixer (who’s developed booze programs at Vegas’ Bellagio, NY’s Po, and SF’s Starlight Room): there’s the Minted Mule (vodka, lime, ginger beer, mint sprig), the namesake Charleston (whiskey, green chartreuse, Dom Benedictine, bitters), and the gin-fronting Poison Rose, which’s really what Leo should’ve done if he wanted a place on that life raft.
2601699c inset web A step back in time, via an Iron Chef vet
They’re also going to have tons of entertainment going on, from ’80s cover bands, to burlesque, to dueling pianos, to karaoke — which, like John Wilkes, you’ll probably straight murder.