Do This: Shift Drinks at Pops for Champagne

By Chuck Sudo in Food on Mar 1, 2010 7:20PM

Lockwood chef Phillip Foss' blog, the Pickled Tongue, is one of the must-read local chef blogs around. Foss doesn't mince words, allowing readers a portal into his kitchen and how he and his staff prepare the dishes on Lockwood's menu. He'll even take on a critic now and then if he feels that critic is being unreasonable.

Foss will be the guest bartender tonight at Pops for Champagne's weekly "Shift Drinks" series from 9 p.m. until close. Today is traditionally a night for most restaurant and bar professionals to blow off some steam, and Pops' lower level bar is often a critical mass of chefs, mixologists, servers and dining scene noobs. It's also the end of the Jewish celebration of Purim and Foss' 40th birthday. He'll be crafting cocktails featuring MBerry, the tablets containing the essence of West African "miracle berries" purported to turning traditionally sour flavors sweet on the tongue.

Since it's also Purim, Foss has decided to turn his "Shift Drinks" appearance into a costume party for restaurant critics to hobnob in disguise without revealing their identities. We thought about attending dressed as a male stripper, but might go as Steve Dolinsky, instead.

Pops for Champagne is located at 601 N. State St.