About this episode
This is a Vintage Selection from 2005 The Banter The Guys discuss the issues with destruction of certain animals and why eating them may be the will of the divine. The Conversation The Restaurant Guys are thrilled to welcome respected food and cocktail writer Bill Grimes to talk about the story of the American cocktail and Bill’s next book on the history of dining in NY. Bill tells where we've been and who helped us get here. The Inside Track The Guys relied upon Bill’s book Straight Up or On the Rocks while they built their cocktail bar (which is now the longest-running craft cocktail bar in the world!) While the three take their cocktails seriously, Bill thinks all drinks can play a part. Bill: A cocktail that's like a well-made entree where the flavors are meaningful in relationship to each other and give pleasure because there's a certain tension or balance. But I'll also say there's a role for sort of the nutty, crazy, stupid cocktail too. I think a cocktail is a cocktail. It should encourage all kinds of kind of wacky inventiveness Mark: You believe that that the fuzzy wuzzy woo-woo does have a place in our society and serves a purpose? Bill: It’s the price you pay for freedom. Bio William “Bill” Grimes is a longtime contributor to The New York Times . He has served in numerous editorial and writing capacities—magazine writer, culture reporter, and restaurant critic. He has written many critically acclaimed books on food and drink: Straight Up or On the Rocks: The Story of the American Cocktail (a foundational cocktail history), and Appetite City: A Culinary History of New York His work earned nominations like the James Beard Foundation nod for culinary journalism. Info Bill Grimes NYT Cooking https://cooking.nytimes.com/author/william-grimes For recipes: TheGuys@restaurantguyspodcast.com Enjoy over-decorated restaurants with Christmas cocktails through January 3, 2026 https://www.catherinelombardi.com/ Check out New Year's Eve in New Brunswick, NJ https://www.newbrunswicknewyearseve.com/ Our Places Stage Left Steak https://www.stageleft.com/ Catherine Lombardi Restaurant https://www.catherinelombardi.com/ Stage Left Wineshop https://www.stageleftwineshop.com/ To hear more about food, wine and the finer things in life: https://www.instagram.com/restaurantguyspodcast/ https://www.facebook.com/restaurantguys Reach Out to The Guys! TheGuys@restaurantguyspodcast.com **Become a Restaurant Guys Regular and get two bonus episodes per month, bonus content and Regulars Only events.** Click Below! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2401692/subscribe