Holeman & Finch at Home

On a regular night, trying to score a table at Holeman & Finch can be a challenge.  Trying to fight the crowds at H&F on Valentine's Day is downright suicidal.  Rather than cram into the bar with all of the OTP'ers in town for V-day last night, we decided to recreate the H&F experience at home, and I have to say we did a pretty damn good job.  My brother and I did all of the cooking and cocktail making; the girls were our cheering section.

H&F's reputation is based first and foremost on cocktails, so we could not skimp in that department.  My bar is pretty well stocked with most of the cocktail essentials, so we were able to enjoy some classics as well as a few new ones out of The PDT Cocktail Book.  We stuck to bourbon and rye based drinks because, well, I have bunker full of the stuff and they are fantastic winter cocktails.  Notable cocktails throughout the night were:

Oyster Bar at the Optimist

Sunday afternoon drinks and appetizers at The Optimist Oyster Bar. 

Seared Rare Scallop with Persimmon, Jalapeno and Pine Nuts

The barely seared scallop is perfect.  I wish there had been more heat from the pickled jalapeno to offset the sweetness from the persimmon.

Grouper Cheeks with Carrot, Shallot and Chimichurri

Good sauce and fish, but what's with the bizarre carrot shapes?

The Lobster Roll

Best lobster roll in Atlanta. An obscene amount of lobster.

Drinks

Free coozie!

Fish House Punch:
Black rum, brandy, black tea, lemon,
peach whiskey

Oyster Bar at the Optimist
914 Howell Mill Road
Atlanta, GA 30318