SCENE OF THE CRIME by Natasha
For the last three years I've secretly been holding a competition in this fair city called Tacoma.
I've been searching, yearning and longing for the best mojito EVER.
It's interesting how this drink has taken center stage in recent years. It's flashy and fashionable, and as your nightlife correspondent, I can certify why.
The traditional mojito is a mix of mint, rum, powdered sugar, lime juice and club soda. The taste is 100 percent exquisite, but most things from Cuba are.
They're a complete pain in the ass for bartenders to make, but it was Ernest Hemingway's favorite drink, and thus, it must be mine.
My wonderful cousin Chris got married in Aspen, and he had a mojito fountain at the reception. Whoa. Alan from the Swiss makes really good ones when he has parties (the Swiss doesn't carry mint).
But when I'm not in Aspen or at Alan's, where's a girl to turn?
Well, quite factually, the best mojito EVER hails from a place that you and I have been hearing a lot about lately.
Drum roll, please: The Monsoon Room!
JC, that s@#% is good, but to find out what's in it you'll have to hop on over there.
Monsoon is considering creating a recipe book because they've got it like that, so I can't tell you exactly how it's made, but I can say that it includes two different kinds of rum and an elegant slice of Italy - Liquore Strega.
However, you must be forewarned that supplies are limited. The Monsoon is so fun that it will host an equinox party on Sept. 23 where the drink menu will change. The summer bevs will be tucked away for the season, and Monsoon will pedal into fall.
So, in case you miss it and can't wait for the mojito to reappear at Monsoon in the spring, here are some other places that shake 'em just right, making the close second list:
Stanley & Seafort's: This place is especially dangerous because I can walk there from my house. Stanley & Seafort's standard mojito is incredible, but I highly recommend that you try the raspberry one. The restaurant has pomegranate and blood orange mojitos, too.
The Sheraton Tacoma's Vertigo Lounge: The mojitos appear at your table in a fish bowl of a glass, and they're delicious.
21 Commerce: Or, what I like to call 21 Jump Street. If I'm not busy sashaying with 21's Pink Cadillac, the mojitos there are just as fine. Are any of 21's drinks bad?
Indochine: I think the mojito might have been even better there because I had a crush on the bartender.
So, my glamorous readers, give me mint, or give me death!
¡Salud!
The Monsoon Room,1022 S. J St., Hilltop Tacoma, (253) 722-5075
Stanley & Seafort's, 115 E. 34th, Tacoma, (253) 473-7300
Vertigo Lounge, 1320 Broadway Plaza, 26th floor of the Sheraton Tacoma Hotel, downtown Tacoma, (253) 591-4155.
21 Commerce, 21st and Commerce St., downtown Tacoma, (253) 272-6278
Tell me where you like to party here.