TODAY, with great (and not so humble) fanfare, we’re thrilled to share the true behind-the-scenes story about how our epic Bloody Mary Bar came alive specifically due to the creative minds at Hell’s Kitchen that were willing to color outside the lines and think outside the box.
Those of you who’ve enjoyed our Classic Bloody Mary probably already knew about the multiple “Best Bloody” awards we’ve received for it. The housemade mix, described by food editors as “thick and fantastically complex with just the right amount of spice,” was the star, and we honestly didn’t think anyone really cared about all those “over the top add-ons” we saw at other places.
But then one day we had an epiphany: Maybe we’re wrong? Are we too smug? Maybe our guest would love a huge Bloody Mary with cheese, meats, shrimp, peppers, and all sorts of goodies. So we spent the next several months playing with bamboo skewers and all sorts of foods as we tried to create our own badass Bloody Mary to add to our bar menu.
Over the next few months, we tested a zillion different configurations, but whenever we asked staffers which version should make the final cut, their answers were all over the place…nobody could settle on one particular favorite to add to our drink menu.
That’s when we had a second epiphany: why the hell were WE trying to decide what our customers would want? Why not let them decide for themselves? So we walked through the entire restaurant trying to envision where in the world we could squeeze an entire Bloody Mary Bar into our underground lair…one overflowing with a bounty of choices…one where folks could literally design their own fancy-ass Bloody Mary.
And that’s when the creativity of our staff went into overdrive and magically, the Jacked Up Bloody Mary Bar at Hell’s Kitchen came to life. They gussied-up a long, unused hallway that musicians trudged through to reach the backstage and turned it into a beautiful 35-ft create-your-own Bloody experience featuring gourmet rim salts, specialty olives, cheeses, bacon, peppers, chicken wings, jerky and dozens of other garnishes. It turned into an iconic Twin Cities destination, with lots of buzz and Instagram snapshots. The press noticed, too, including a “Best Bloody Mary Bar in the country” nod from USA Today as well as Parade Magazine.
Sadly, due to covid safety precautions, our sexy black hallway has been dark since March of 2020, but this weekend, we’re finally ready to open it back up for you to enjoy the experience. Join us so you can dance down the hallway and create your own big beauty and we’ll even throw in a free Photo Booth token so you can prove you’ve been to Hell while showing off your creativity!
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