The Todd Thrasher Story General Manager, Sommelier & Liquid Savant A Virginia native, Todd Thrasher came to Restaurant Eve (110 S. Pitt Street, Alexandria, Virginia, 703.706.0450, www.restauranteve.com) with a distinguished zeal for wine, a keen eye for the freshest ingredients and a deep love of the hospitality industry. Recently, the Sommelier and Liquid Savant participated in the sixth annual Tales of the Cocktail event in New Orleans, received the award for Wine and Beverage Program of the Year at the 2007 Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington awards, and is a 2008 James Beard Foundation Wine and Spirits Professional of the Year Nominee. Thrasher has also received Food & Wine magazine’s Best New Wine List of 2005 award, honored as StarChefs.com’s Rising Star Bar Chef of 2006, had cocktails featured in Food & Wine magazine’s Cocktail books and has been recognized for his truly innovative approach to ‘The Cocktail’ in publications and media across the country such as Santé, Wine Enthusiast, MSNBC.com, Gentlemen’s Quarterly, and recently lauded as one of Playboy.com’s Top 10 Nationwide Bartenders of 2007. His specialty cocktails and creations have been applauded by Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema: “Sipping "Peaches and Herb" through a thin metal straw, I'm reminded that sommelier Todd Thrasher is also one of the best mixologists anywhere.” According to Thrasher, “I strive to do things differently. I want them to remember what they drank just as much as what they ate - I want them to experience it the way I do.” This is evident through his wine pairings that accompany the Restaurant Eve tasting menus, as well as his highly coveted Edenesque Cocktails, created with exceptional and unique ingredients, many of which are house-made. Highlights include the Tomato Water Bloody Mary, a specialty cocktail featured in the 2005 Food & Wine Cocktail book, that combines lemon grass, peppers, and Grey Goose citron vodka. Other cocktail highlights include “Gin and Tonic”, a play on the traditional Gin and Tonic, prepared with Thrasher’s house-made “Tonic” with Citadelle gin, Maria’s Margarita with cucumbers, cucumber ice, lime juice and El Tesoro tequila and featured in the 2007 Food & Wine Cocktail Book, and the latest creation, Millions of Peaches using peaches that were poached in a late harvest riesling, as well as champagne vinegar-pickled peaches, sugar and peach vodka. The savory touch? Peach air with foie gras spread over a peach brioche toast. Thrasher has also creates his own Bitters and Vermouth. Eve’s Temptation, Lemony Laurel, the Black Currant Fizz, and the Pickled Martini round out the list. Coming in 2009, Eve’s Bar-Kitchen will be added, expanding the restaurant into the second floor of this historic building where cocktails take an ‘interactive’ approach and Private Bar Chef Classes will also be offered. Thrasher is also partner in Eamonn’s A Dublin Chipper and the speakeasy lounge upstairs, PX, both located in Old Town Alexandria. At PX, named for VIP patrons of Eve, Thrasher executes “bar magic” to guests with whimsical cocktails to the likings of retro favorites such as Pick Your Onion Gibson, the Bittersweet Gin Fizz, Grog featuring the traditional pirate’s mug with a clear bottom, and The Mule, a take on the old Moscow Mule. The Peppermint Paddy is his little tribute to the chef, come St. Patrick’s Day. His latest creation, The Smoker’s Delight, uses Old Virginia Tobacco and Virginia-made honey in celebration of the 400th anniversary of Jamestown, Virginia. In May of 2007, Thrasher and partners Cathal and Meshelle Armstrong re-opened The Majestic, a historic local institution serving Virginia fare, classic cocktails and Thrasher’s Classic Egg Creams. * * * For more information on Todd Thrasher and the restaurant concepts, contact Meshelle at |
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