My nightlife column in today's paper was about how some restaurants are offering new specials to cater to the lounge set.
I lumped together Pazo's new Cupcakes & Cocktails menu with Lebanese Taverna's late night happy hour and Phillips Harborplace's new lounge.
Originally, I had called one of the cupcakes "divine," but Editor Tim saved me from myself. He did, however, allow me to call another cupcake "studly." Granted, I said it was more like a muffin than a cupcake. Get it? Stud muffin?
Yeah, I know, I'm a dork ...
To do the review, I went to Pazo by myself, nabbed a bar seat and proceeded to order two (2) cupcakes and two (2) cocktails at once. The bartender was a bit taken aback, but obliged me. She brought the cocktails first, and then the cupcakes.
It felt a little weird sitting at the bar, stuffing my face with fancy cupcakes, but hey, ya gotta do whatcha gotta do. I ate half of each cupcake, drank half of each cocktail and scurried off to see Cage the Elephant at the 9:30 Club.
The whole ordeal reminded me of the time Amie and I reviewed Fleming's for the Baltimore Sun's (now defunct) Dining Guide. Each of us had to order an appetizer, entree, drink and dessert. The portions were huge, and we came nowhere close to eating it all (I think we took it home).
I felt like such a stereotypical American when I insisted on ordering two desserts, though I'd only eaten half my steak. The bottom line is, when duty calls, Sam Sessa picks up the phone. Burp.
(Pictured is the Sweet Corn Cupcake paired with White Chocolate & Macadamia Nut Martini. Sun photo by Kenneth K. Lam)