📍Ray's Bar, New York City

This was a one more drink kind of night. I was out with a friend walking around Williamsburg. We already had drinks at a couple of bars and a bite at Ace's. We were faced with hopping into the next bar we saw or choosing a place. It was a chilly night so the next bar we saw made sense. Instead, we chose Ray's. We decided we wanted the vibe.

You walk into Ray's and it's a party. Not like a club but like a house party where no one knows the host. It was crowded but you could move around. Groups of people casually gathered. Some at tables. Some standing. Every time the door opened groups would look to the door to see if their friend or someone interesting just walked in.

Normally, I'd skip cocktails at a bar like this. However, Ray's has a reputation for high-quality drinks. They had a cocktail list that had Hendricks as their go-to gin for a Martini. That's also my go-to gin so I felt confident in this. I ordered as-is. They used Dolin Dry Vermouth, shook it up, and added a lemon peel. I'm a stirred guy but this worked. It was so cold.

We're adults, we can make choices. We saw Beignets on the menu. When I asked, they said it was four to an order. Two of us, two Beignets each, this was perfect. They came out quick and very hot. They were covered with powdered sugar and drizzled with chocolate sauce and caramel sauce. Most of the sweetness came from the sugar and caramel with the chocolate providing some bitter balance. They were airy and had this almost mochi-like chew. Two bites each and they were gone.

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