Bloody well time

In Ypsilanti, Michigan’s historic Depot Town is a fixture since the 1990s:  the Sidetrack Bar & Grill. This is one of those places often described as having the “best hamburgers in the world” and does a brisk business among locals and pilgrims from throughout Southeastern Michigan.

Its proprietor, Linda French, has assembled a most eclectic and friendly staff who’ll remember your name, share pictures of pets saved to IPhones, and make any diner feel like family (I invite you to visit one of the better tall tales profiling an owner found at: http://www.sidetrackbarandgrill.com/trivia.php). One such member of Linda’s team is bartender Laura T_____.

It doesn’t take much to see that Laura takes great care in her work – the bar is clean and organized, customers served with a smile, and she even warns patrons not to let their cell phones get too close to the edge overhanging the wash basins. And she takes great pride presenting her weekly “Bloody Mary Bar.”

For six dollars, a customer receives a generous pour of vodka in a tumbler full of ice and is directed to the end of the bar to construct his or her custom potion. Purely in the cause of diligent research, I decided to check the offerings.

When I visited, there was an array of “fixings” that included stuffed olives (garlic or blue cheese), the mandatory pickles and celery, assorted hot sauces and citrus, and, as crowning garnishes, skewers packed with tomatoes, goat cheese, and bacon.

I’m an old school guy, who prefers adding the zing directly to the vodka prior to adding the mix. Four shakes of Tabasco, a couple of shakes of Worcestershire sauce, a touch of pickle juice, and some celery seed completes this step.

Next, adding the fruit . . . this day, garlic stuffed olives and a chunk each of lime and lemon.

Finally, add the mix, stir with a stalk of celery (or pickle) and lay the happy bacon skewer across the top.

Repeat as necessary.







To learn more about the Sidetrack Bar & Grill, see: http://www.sidetrackbarandgrill.com/


Image of the exterior of the Sidetrack Bar & Grill from the Ypsilanti Heritage Foundation website and can be found here: http://yhf.org/?page_id=726