{"id":5286,"date":"2013-07-01T17:20:29","date_gmt":"2013-07-02T00:20:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lesliedinaberg.com\/wordpress\/?p=5286"},"modified":"2014-02-23T16:54:00","modified_gmt":"2014-02-24T00:54:00","slug":"cocktail-corner-cheers-to-the-pan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lesliedinaberg.com\/wordpress\/?p=5286","title":{"rendered":"Cocktail Corner: Cheers to The Pan"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Citrus

Citrus & Spice Cocktail at The Pan (photo by Leslie Dinaberg)<\/p><\/div>\n

A spirited toast to all things alcoholic! By Leslie Dinaberg<\/h4>\n

I’m a big believer that variety is the spice of life. If I could tipple “cocktail flights<\/strong>” for every happy hour and nibble appetizers<\/strong> for every meal, I would be doing a happy dance for the rest of my life.<\/p>\n

I still haven’t found a place that has “cocktail flights” on the menu (sharing sips with friends is the next best thing), but I have found a great small bites place just a hop, skip and jump from the office: The Pan<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Located in the restaurant row at 18 E. Cota St., this retro cool place serves comfort food “tapas<\/strong>“: small plates of yummy favorites like chicken pot pie, truffle mac ‘n’ cheese, tater tots, cobb salads, mini burgers<\/strong> and more. The small plates and straightforward atmosphere make this a great place for families as well as anyone else who wants some light bites or a few different tastes to make a meal out of. Everything on the food side of the menu is between $3\u2013$6, so it’s an easy decision to order a few things and share them.<\/p>\n

\"Favorite

Favorite small plates from The Pan include cheeseburgers, tater tots, chicken pot pie and cobb salad (photo by Leslie Dinaberg)<\/p><\/div>\n

This includes desserts. I don’t usually bother with anything that’s not chocolate, but the Apple Crisp<\/strong> at The Pan is just like how you wished your mama made it!<\/p>\n

And of course\u2014I probably should have said this first\u2014the cocktails are fabulous. They have all the modern classics, including Old Fashioneds<\/a><\/strong> (featuring Bulleit Bourbon<\/a>), Sazerac<\/a><\/strong> and the Dark and Stormy<\/strong><\/a>, among others. They also have a “healthy and organic menu” for cocktails, including\u00a0Margaritas, Cucumber-Lemonade Chillers<\/strong> (with gin) and my personal favorite, the Citrus & Spice Cocktail<\/strong> featuring jalape\u00f1o-infused organic vodka (that counts as a vegetable serving, right?), King’s Ginger liqueur<\/a>, organic fresh orange juice, grapefruit juice and passion fruit puree.<\/p>\n

There is one downside to this place, however. It’s only open Thursday (5\u201310 p.m.), Friday and Saturday nights (both 6 p.m.\u2013midnight).<\/p>\n

Cheers!<\/p>\n

Click here<\/a> for more cocktail corner columns.<\/p>\n

\"Leslie<\/a>

Leslie Dinaberg<\/p><\/div>\n

When she\u2019s not busy working as the editor of Santa Barbara SEASONS, Cocktail Corner author Leslie Dinaberg writes<\/i> mag<\/i>azine articles, newspaper columns and grocery lists. When it comes to cocktails, Leslie considers herself a \u201cgoal-oriented drinker.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

Originally published in Santa Barbara SEASONS<\/a> on April 26, 2013.<\/p>\n

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