Next time I go to the bar, they better have spheres of ice for my shochu...

http://www.kilian-nakamura.com/blog-english/index.php/perfect-ice-for-perfect-drinks-from-taisin/

These are spheres of ice:

Coolest unnecessary device since the square egg maker. That secret molecular gastronomy bar in SF probably already has these.

Oooh... where's this molecular gastronomy place?

I don't remember! It's just a bar though, not a restaurant. There was an article at SF Gate about it a few months ago. The drinks they make use all sorts of "science in the kitchen" techniques. As I recall the "controversial" spin of the article was that its location is "secret" (yeah right) and there's a doorman who decides whether or not you're cool enough to be let in. Popular with young yuppies of course, but evidently you have to be "presentable" to be let in, which does sound very un-San Francisco. Anyway the globular ice reminded me of it.

It's odd that we don't have an avant garde restaurant here. I'd go to Chicago just to try Alinea, and lots of people plan vacations to Spain just because they got a reservation at El Bulli.

I heard of a bar in SF that serves top quality stuff and you can only get in if you know the password...which turns away those yuppie, hipsters, and cool kid wanna bes. The door even has the slot where all you see is the doorman's eyes.

SF can be pretty crazy. I have been to a few wild places. One is a party called Drunk and Horny in Lower Height. First is Drunk where you dance and drink and have fun then if the hosts like you they give you directions to Horny a couple of blocks away.

Let's just say it is interesting.

Sounds like Seattle!

or L.A.

Meh. Not in Georgetown. At 9lb Hammer they have shuffleboard and peanuts. And you can throw the shells on the floor.

I think you are talking about Bourbon and Branch. I used to live a block away from it. It is an amazing bar with the best cocktails I have ever had but it is expensive. I used to go all the time but now you have to make a reservation days in advance.

I need to find out where this other bar is.

A bar I used to go to in Nagasaki had ice like this. It's awesome for whiskey & short drinks and the flavor was much better than normal cubes.

I think that is it. I heard about it from Josh Ellingson.

Bourbon and Branch is the same place I was thinking of. I can't find the article that referred to "molecular gastronomy drinks" though. Oh well, that phrase gets overused anyway.

Can you bring me to this place in July?

I have no idea where it is or how to get in...but I think it might be fun. I'll ask around.

Damn, why didn't I think of some shit like that! Neat idea, simple design...

Cause you're too busy slinging glass