'Julember' cocktail created by Chinched Bistro to lift foggy spirits
Mixed drink is St. John's restaurant's answer to unseasonably bad summer weather keeping tourists away
A St. John's restaurant is making light of a poor tourist season by creating a special alcoholic drink to celebrate the unseasonable weather so far this summer.
The Julember cocktail was created at downtown restaurant Chinched Bistro, and owner Michelle Leblanc hopes it can help people at least temporarily forget about the fog and rain.
"You gotta bring out the sunshine somehow," she told CBC's St. John's Morning Show.
"It looks warm and festive for the summer, but you can drink it any time."
While the cocktail is being presented somewhat tongue-in-cheek, Leblanc said the reality is Chinched is feeling the same dip in business being experienced by many local shops and restaurants this month.
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"For the most part, the vibe is that tourism is down this year," she said.
"Everybody's sort of feeling the hit on the weather and the fact that the airport is having some delays."
Difficulty ordering products from out of province
Dozens of cancelled flights at St. John's airport means Leblanc and other business owners have not only been seeing less customers, but they're also unable to get some products imported from other provinces.
"We ship in our oysters from P.E.I. every week or so," she said.
"We are now almost out, and unsure when we are going to get our next order."
The flight woes are surely a big reason for the drop in customers, but Leblanc said the lack of sunshine and general summer atmosphere is most to blame.
"I think people are more vibrant and happy and celebratory when it's nice out," she said.
"You want to go out and sit at the deck at the Sundance, or have a drink at a bar — or just go out and walk around."
You can find the recipe for the Julember cocktail below:
- Add 1.5 ounces of jalapeno tequila, 1 ounce of Triple Sec and 1.5 ounces of freshly squeezed lime juice to a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Add in 1 ounce of simple syrup.
- Add a dash of fresh cilantro.
- Muddle, shake, strain and serve!