I like martinis. Not very often. Maybe a few times a year. But when I do, they’re always with something pickled, never with a twist, and always vodka, usually Belvedere (if you’re going to go…). One of the few bars we’ve visited here is on an upper floor of a hotel and is kind of a scene, at least for Tallahassee. When they first opened their drinks list was pretty ambitious. One of my favorites was called the “Dirty South,” a dry martini garnished with pickled okra. Genius. The okra is flavorful enough that you don’t need the completely top quality vodka, especially if you splash in a little of the pickling juice. We’ve taken to pickling our own okra and making these at home now and again, which is a good thing because the last time we got a drink at this bar their menu was seriously dumbed down. Pretty much everything was either fruit or chocolate, two substances I feel should only rarely be mixed directly with alcohol, and certainly never together. I mentioned my disappointment to our very nice waitress and she promised to see about bringing the okra back. Even if you’re not an okra fan, you might like pickled okra which is far less slimy due to its vinegar soak.

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