Just as skinny jeans and bomber jackets made their way into our wardrobe over the years, the trends of culture don't stop at the closet, they make their way into the kitchen as well.
A glimpse at the menu of Rustico Wood Fire Grill and Wine Bar is an excellent example of what trends bars and chefs around the world are mixing up and how they are using creativity to gather people around the table once again—an idea that is close to the heart of Rustico owners Marty Bryan and Brian Gasperson.
Major food publication, The Kitchn, noted the “supreme reign” of fruit-based cocktails in 2024. And Rustico’s cocktail menu seems to hit this proverbial nail on the head. Rustico’s most popular drink is its namesake cocktail, The Rustico, which is made with Western Sons blueberry vodka, lemon and simple syrup, is topped with red wine and garnished with a sugar rim. Both The Rustico and the Watermelon Sunrise emphasize fresh fruity flavors that The Kitchn notes. Even Straight From the Ranch—a delicious combination of Fever Tree Lime and Yuzu and Codigo Blanco—capitalizes on yuzu, one of the fruits The Kitchn cites as one of 2024’s favorite flavors.
Balancing out the fruity trends and another of Rustico’s fan favorites, the Spicy Jalapeno Cucumber Margarita invites an aspect of the savory and spicy, blending Codigo Blanco, orange and lime juice, agave, jalapeno and cucumber.
This margarita is an excellent example of the exploration of the “dinner” cocktail. Both TIME magazine and Bon Appetit write that “dinner” drinks are becoming more prevalent and popular, in terms of being paired with specific dishes but also made with savory aspects.
Rustico’s blend of the classic and the trending emphasizes the modern feel of the restaurant. It blends the homey and Texan touches of the woodfire grill and deep oven menu while retaining a metropolitan, high-end touch. Stop by during their happy hour to enjoy a 50% off cocktail, wine or beer and an item off their woodfire menu.