DRINK OF THE WEEK >>>
My friend Steve was bragging about what a fabulous soccer player he is, crediting his Polish heritage for his deftness. Yeah, soccer was fine, I told him, but what about a more practical ethnic legacy, like a thorough knowledge of Polish vodka? Rising to the challenge, Steve insisted we go to Cicada Restaurant and Lounge to drink his favorite Ginger Rogers cocktail ($11) made with Alchemia Ginger Vodka - complex Polish rye vodka with a sweet ginger essence.
It's effing delicious.
A list of ingredients for the drink varies, according to a Google search. Cicada's version features said vodka, muddled lemons, black cherry juice and lavender shaken and poured into a sugar-rimmed martini glass.
Girly, but damn tasty. It tasted similar to a cherry Cosmopolitan. And a strange choice for my manly Polish friend.
Bonus: You must try Cicada's Kamilche mussels ($13). The fresh, plumb suckers swim - in shell - a honey-sambal bath, covered with a good snowstorm of Gorgonzola. The sambal is of the oelek variation. You can taste the chilies.
Our Best of Olympia 2011 readers' poll asks where is the best restaurant and who serves the best cocktails in Olympia. Cicada, in our book, qualifies for both honors. What do you think? To vote, click here.
700 4th Ave. E., Olympia
360.753.5700