"Living mojito bar" coming to Corks
It's a nice enough day to talk about outdoor dining, even if the "living mojito bar" at Corks hasn't quite come to life.
Corks is building a deck out back that will seat about 35. When it opens in the middle of April, it will be planted with lots of varieties of mint that eventually, when the plants grow big enough, can be snipped off for use in mojitos, chef Jerry Pellegrino told me.
"What we’re going to do is grow eight to 10 varieties of mint," Pellegrino said. "Spearmint, peppermint, pineapple mint, chocolate mint -- a living mojito bar."
The new deck will have something to offer patrons who crave another sort of leaf: tobacco.
Smoking will be allowed in the outdoor deck.
The restaurant will promote the deck as a place where smokers, in this indoor smoking-ban era, can light over a drink, Corks investor Chuck Nabit told me recently.
"We're going to put ashtrays out there," Nabit said.
Do they really want to promote smoking?
"Addictions are addictions," Nabit said. "They're going to get over them or not. We're not in the addiction treatment business, but we're in the food business."
Comments
So is the mint going to get a nice coating of tar from the smokers? blech!
Posted by: Summer | March 9, 2010 12:05 PM
Smoketastic! Plus all the people from inside can come out and light up too! The first oxymoronic restaurant feature. The Living Deathyard. Fancy a sprig of cancer-flavored mint, guv'ner?
Posted by: gasp | March 9, 2010 12:15 PM
I was loving the idea of all that mint (I grow a ton myself) until you got to the smoking part. Somehow smelling the mint mingled with cigarette smoke is much less inviting, nevermind sipping the mojito made with that mint.
Posted by: Sarah | March 9, 2010 12:39 PM
Chocolate mint? God bless modern science and plant genetics.
As for the smoking thing -- Stalking Horse and Grumpy's already have smoking balcony/decks, and Ropewalk's third floor is a smoking zone. Love it or hate it, I'm sure it will be good for business.
Also, it's not like they're hot-boxing the mint with cigarette smoke. It's an open patio, folks. In the summer, I grow plenty of vegetables (mint included) on my deck, where I also smoke cigars. Does the mint smell like stogies? Not by a long shot.
Posted by: Sam Sessa | March 9, 2010 1:20 PM
But the cigarettes will all be mentholated.
Posted by: Leonora | March 9, 2010 1:29 PM
Ironically, the carbon monoxide will help the mint grow ( like mint in general needs the help, it's taking over a flower bed out back). I found the "addiction treatment business" quote most amusing.. with mojitos, good food and a smoking patio, it's more like the addiction MAINTENANCE business.
Posted by: Meekrat | March 9, 2010 1:30 PM
I rather share the road with someone who had 3 cigarettes than someone who had 3 mojitos
Posted by: Kitkat | March 9, 2010 1:49 PM
got me there, Kitkat. can't do anything but agree! Exactly why I won't be trying their delicious sounding chocolate mint mojitos!
Posted by: Joyce W. | March 9, 2010 2:25 PM
but I would rather share a mouth embrace with a lady that had three mojitos
Posted by: johnny suave | March 9, 2010 2:31 PM
Mixing tobacco smoke with food and drink, in a public space, is just so "yesterday".
Posted by: Jack Ziegler | March 9, 2010 4:16 PM
I have half a mind to spray Corks' mint garden with gluten and pine nuts at this rate.
And Timothy Dean, although I'm unclear how the mechanics of that will work out.
Posted by: El Generalissimo | March 9, 2010 6:33 PM
I'm sorry but I'm terribly offended that you automatically assume it's tobacco we'll be smoking.
Posted by: jl | March 9, 2010 9:55 PM
Chocolate mint mojitos!! Sign me up!!!
Posted by: Frequent Little Italy Restaurant Visitor | March 9, 2010 10:36 PM
true dat, jl
Posted by: Joyce W. | March 10, 2010 5:02 AM
Sam Sessa- I agree with you, but as a non smoker, I much prefer the smell of cigars over cigarettes.
However, I really don't like either when I'm eating dinner. Maybe they could have it non smoking through dinner and then open it up as a cigar patio or something after 9 pm. Either way, I love mojitos enough, I'll probably be there regardless!
Posted by: Kristen | March 11, 2010 9:33 AM
Sounds desparate 2 me.
Posted by: louie | March 13, 2010 11:32 AM