I'm Liz. Welcome to my blog. I document my bloody good adventures across the U.S. on my quest to find the best bloody mary! Learn more about us on the about page! Hope you enjoy your visit and maybe laugh out loud a little bit.
All in bloody mary
Living in San Diego for over 3 years now I recently got to experience my first ride on the trolley! When I plan on brunchin and drinking I usually just grab an Uber but $30 roundtrip Ubers start to add up! So, a $5 day pass to ride the trolley to your hearts content can save you 6 times over! Whether your heading into mission valley or downtown from east county or living in the city and want to experience some east county eats, the trolley is the way to go!
Red O’s bloody mary is a “Taste of Mexico”, spicy, acidic and bursting with lime and citrus. Remnants of hot peppers dance on your tongue as your cheeks get rosy, and the tang of the lime juice slowly simmers the heat. With each sip the savory cocktail becomes increasingly saline and rich, making it effortless to finish the drink very quickly. Thank you to the booze gods for bottomless bloody marys!
Build your own bloody mary bars in San Diego are much like a unicorn; mythical, elusive, and rare. Unlike the east coast where build your own bloody mary bars are much more common. While San Diego only seems to have a few, I have news for you! I’ve captured the unicorn! I know the best spots where you can find the best build your own bloody marys in San Diego!
Although Small Bar is, well….small, the Bloody Mary Superior is anything but! The Bloody Mary Superior makes a bold statement; served in Guinness 20oz gravity pint glass, rimmed with Tajin, the bloody mary has a dark and stormy color, with an abundance of spices showing through! Anytime you can see the spices, you know that the mix will be ambrosial; packed with flavor!
If you’re a control freak like me, a DIY bloody mary bar is a dream come true! The ability to take the wheel and drive on your own bloody is not only satisfying but you feel a sense of accomplishment after you build it! I felt very proud of my accomplishment and celebrated by chugging that “BAD BOY”!
The spice is tamed by the savory and richness of the mix, so the heat isn’t overwhelming but will give you a subtle kick in the rear. The acidity of the fresh citrus balances this unique tasting bloody mary, and it finishes off with a dash of sweetness.
The Farm Bloody Mary is garnished to perfection! Even the bacon is different; it’s beef, not pork, which San Diego Food Girl said was outstanding! There’s an adorable itty bitty breakfast meatball, deep-fried blue cheese olive (delicious), smoked cheddar, pickled asparagus and cayenne pickled garlic and pepperoncini. If you still have room for breakfast after your meal in a glass, I would recommend the veggie Benedict or the shrimp and grits! I can’t tell you how amazing it was!
The Pearl had reinvented the poolside dining experience with Charles + Dinorah, “mid-century meets modern eats”. It’s an indoor/outdoor bar and restaurant that surrounds the hotel's pool that is, in the words of Missy Elliot is, “sophisticated fun”. If you haven’t had the chance to dine at Charles + Dinorah, specifically their poolside brunch here's three reasons why you should!
Aside from how adorable the Copper Hen is, with their exposed brick walls and itty bitty cupcakes, their bloody marys are exquisite and certainly eased the pain from our wild night out. There are two kinds of bloodys on the menu; Copper Hen Bloody Mary (my choice) and Bloody Hell (Shelley’s choice).
If you’re feeling sleepy Fig Tree’s bloody mary has just the remedy for you! It is a zesty, tangy, and acidic bloody that will definitely eradicate any sleepy senses you may have. #wakeyoself. The texture is thin and light, perfect for those warm days under the fig trees. Jalapeño infused vodka makes this bloody a little spicy, just enough to comfortably warm your insides.
Walking up to Sally’s you can’t miss the sea of teal umbrellas and couches on their fabulous outdoor patio; very inviting and sea-inspired. I always say, “sea life’s beauty,” so we grabbed a table with a view of the water under our shaded teal umbrella.
Farm-to-table; if you’ve been reading for the past year, then you know how much that tickles my fancy! If not, now you know! I’m a local and sustainable loving kind of gal, so I was especially delighted to have brunch at Farmer’s Bottega in Mission Hills. A rustic-but-chic farm-to-table eatery, “locally sourced and crafted with love.” Swoooon!
The Bloody Mary from Royale! is a tall glass of bubbly bloody indulgence. I knew with the first sip there was carbonation in the bloody mary. Royale! puts a dark Irish porter in the bloody that cuts the boldness and tang of the mix perfectly and brings a dark richness to the cocktail. The bloody mary is topped with an assortment of yummy pickled veggies, a lemon wedge from their family-owned organic hopyard and orchard (yes they own a family farm), a delicious mini grilled cheese and a pickle slice!
The bloody mary at Hello Betty has been one of my favorites of 2018 so far! When I first sipped the bloody mary I said to my brunch date, “oooh wow that is savory”. If you’ve read any of my other blogs then you know I’m a savory and salty kind of gal, so the bloody immediately hit the spot! Betty's bloody mary mix is loaded with flavor and spices, especially celery seed and garlic and is light on the horseradish. Every morsel has an umami flavor that is rich, deep and elevates the warmth of the tomato juice. The bloody mary is not spicy, but sometimes that’s completely okay! The Hello Betty house-made bloody mary is topped off with New Amsterdam Vodka, a simple celery stalk, lemon wedge and a kosher salt rim!
Tasting the first sip of the Smokin’ Mary resonates with the smell when you pull up to Wood Ranch and get out of your car; barbeque and wood smoking! A deep rich smoky flavor prevails but is not overpowering and contrasts with the light sweetness and tang of BBQ sauce. The Wood Ranch Smokin’ Mary is salty and savory but the consistency remains thin. A little kick of heat nips at your senses but overall is pretty tame. Because the bloody mary isn't too heavy, it’s a great compliment to one of Wood Ranches BBQ dishes.
Don’t you just love the smell of Barbecue? Whether it’s your thing or not, you can’t deny luring aromas billowing from slow roasted meat! Smells trigger memories and emotions within our brains, so when I pulled up to Cali Comfort BBQ and smelled the food smoking in the back, I was transported to fond memories of grilling with my dad on camping trips, holiday barbecues or just a regular Tuesday night. Oh, the nostalgia.
Have you ever tried something so fresh and tasty that you leave the restaurant feeling energized and refreshed? That’s how I feel every time I leave True Food Kitchen, located at Fashion Valley Mall, a fabulous open-air mall. So, naturally, I’ve stopped in True Food on several occasions with friends and my husband. I wasn’t aware they had brunch, so when I saw their sign outside advertising brunch, I was thrilled!
