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La Mezcaleria, Rough & Tumble to Pair Up for October 22 Prohibition Pop-Up

The GOODS from La Mezcaleria

Vancouver, BC | La Mezcaleria is teaming up with Vancouver-based bar-and-drinks consultancy Rough & Tumble to host a special prohibition-inspired dining event on Monday, October 22.

Taking place at La Mezcaleria’s Gastown location (68 East Cordova Street), the culinary pop-up will offer a creative selection of off-menu items inspired by the prohibition era, the period from 1920 to 1933 when the production, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages was banned in the United States. During this time, Mexico became a major source of tequila, rum, and other illegal liquors, which were distributed to its northern neighbours through states such as California and Texas.

Many of the pop-up’s specially prepared plates are bite-sized canapes that may be easily enjoyed by guests while they mingle with others—much like the finger foods at speakeasies that sprang up around the U.S. during prohibition. These include the I Love a Mouthful, a whisky-pecan mincemeat pie with a flaky beef-tallow crust; the Zugzwang, chicharrón and taro-root and plantain chips with red-chicatana mayonnaise dip; and the Puncheon Rib, beef ribs that have been braised and glazed with green peppercorn and fresh bay leaf and presented atop a grilled slab of fresh bread.

Other equally inventive plates will draw from La Mezcaleria executive chef Mariana Gabilondo’s French ancestry. Among these are In the French Quarter, delicate pink scallops covered in a dry vermouth cream sauce and served au gratin, and I’m Just Drawn That Way, grilled frog legs marinated in a tangy-sweet coconut, lemon, and raspberry vinegar concoction.

Complementary cocktails crafted by Rough & Tumble’s founders—Simon Aukett, formerly of the Keefer Bar, and Christopher Mosey, formerly of Brix & Mortar—will be available for each dish. These include the Polyamorous, a sophisticated tiki drink made from Glenfiddich IPA, Cynar, sweet vermouth, and Peychaud’s Bitters, and The Sun Also Rises, a smoky, effervescent tipple that consists of milk-washed mescal, dry vermouth, pandan-infused Amaro Montenegro, chocolate bitters, and soda. Dishes will start at $7 and cocktails will start at $12. The full menu is listed in detail below.

“This pop-up with Rough & Tumble allows us to push our creative boundaries in the kitchen, while transporting guests to the raucous speakeasies of the prohibition era with the imaginative spirit that La Mezcaleria has come to be known for,” said Gabilondo. “I’ve taken special care to craft the flavor of each dish so that they honour both the time period and Rough & Tumble’s original potions.”

“Simon and Christopher have been longtime friends and supporters of the La Mezcaleria family, and we are excited to partner with them for this one-off event,” added Ignacio Arrieta, owner of La Mezcaleria. “We hope this will be the first of many collaborations that La Mezcaleria hosts as a way to connect with our talented and likeminded neighbours.”

La Mezcaleria’s prohibition-themed dishes and their complementary cocktail pairings will be available on Monday, October 22, starting at 6 p.m. The restaurant’s regular food and drink menus will not be offered during this time. The evening will also feature live music from local jazz artist Phil Bo and a slideshow of images and video content that spotlight the prohibition era. Walk-ins are welcome, though reservations online or by phone at 778-379-6447 are encouraged.

ABOUT LA MEZCALERIA | Founded in 2013, La Mezcaleria serves truly authentic Mexican fare inspired by the different regions of Mexico. Using organic, locally sourced ingredients whenever possible, the restaurant offers approachable and shareable dishes such as ceviches, quesos fundido, grilled seafood and meat parrilladas, and homemade ice creams in inventive flavours like avocado and orange mezcal. Casual and hip in its look and feel, the eatery is also known for its innovative bar program, which uses a diverse selection of high-quality and hard-to-find tequilas and mezcals, savoury ingredients such as serrano pepper and blue corn, and one of the largest agave lists in Vancouver. Lunch and dinner service is offered daily, and a brunch menu of Mexican-style Bennies and other plates is available on weekends. Live music takes place on select nights, helping to establish La Mezcaleria as one of the city’s most happenin’ spots. La Mezcaleria operates two locations: Commercial Drive (1622 Commercial Drive) and Gastown (68 East Cordova Street). For more information, please visit www.lamezcaleria.ca.

La Mezcaleria (Gastown)
Neighbourhood: Gastown
68 E Cordova St.
778-379-6447

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