Laowai, the Prohibition-era-Shanghai-themed hidden lounge in Chinatown, has launched its second adventurous cocktail menu in celebration of six months of operation and in recognition of the Lunar New Year.
This latest menu features a dozen new cocktails, conceived and created by Bar Manager Alex Black, each blending classic bar recipes with accents and flavours sourced from Laowai’s Chinatown neighbours.
“With Laowai, the idea was always to wipe the slate clean and introduce entirely new cocktails at regular intervals,” says owner Lewis Hart. “There are several reasons for that: to allow Alex and the team to flex their creative muscles, to keep up with the standards set by world’s best bars and bartenders, and to keep alive the theatrical spirit of mystery and discovery our guests have come to enjoy.”
As with its previous incarnation, each cocktail on the new list is inspired by a singular figure whose life or legend has woven itself into the history of China and/or Shanghai. Just a few examples:
Laowai has also expanded its Baijiu programme due to public interest and demand for the world’s most popular spirit. The new list offers 28 different Baijiu in 15ml (.5oz), 30ml (1oz) and 60ml (2oz) pours — more than double the number of the previous list which, at 11 brands, was already the largest Baijiu menu of its kind anywhere in Canada.
COCKTAILS TO GO / MIXING AT HOME For guests who fear missing out on their favourite cocktails from the previous menu, a limited-edition run of the previous cocktail menu is available for purchase. Volume 1: A Dreamers Abode lists Laowai’s 12 original cocktails with a QR code that links home-bar afficionados to the top-secret recipes. It is sold as a package with two bottled cocktails from that first list: the aromatic and herbaceous Negroni-style The Khan & I and the peppery Manhattan-style On Borrowed Time. The cost is $65, with partial proceeds benefiting the Vancouver Chinatown Foundation’s May Wah Hotel.
Volume 1: A Dreamers Abode packages are available at BLND TGER Dumplings and Laowai (251 East Georgia St.) during regular business hours.
Diana started Foodology in 2010 because she just eats out everyday! She started a food blog to share her love of food with the world! She lives in Vancouver, BC and adores the diversity of food around her. She will go crazy for churros and lattes.
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Diana started Foodology in 2010. She really loves eating out and trying new restaurants. So, she thought of starting her own food blog to share with the world the different restaurants she eats at.
She mainly focuses on reviewing restaurant in Vancouver, but sometimes she likes to travel too.