Christina’s at Mondrian Shoreditch in London has launched its innovative new cocktail menu curated by Head Bartender Kevin Price Houghton (previously of The Blind Pig at Social Eating House). The new menu nods to classic with crowd pleasing tipples but with Christina’s signature twist and showcases the bar’s inimitable support of locally sourced, British products and foraged wild ingredients.
The new concept is an extension of the thoughtful approach to drinks inherent to the Christina’s ethos, with a menu built around showcasing how wild ingredients can be used in the framework of classic cocktails. Price Houghton aims to subvert people’s expectations by incorporating a diverse array of natural homegrown produce, whilst also showcasing these ingredients as a vehicle for positive ecological change. Guests should expect all of the traditional taste profiles of the likes of a Negroni, Margarita and a Cosmopolitan but through an array of unique and under the radar ingredients and brands.
Cocktails include the Fig Leaf Colada, a twist on a traditional Piña Colada with Parafante Fig leaf Liqueur, a north London-based liquorificio, which takes the place of coconut, and chamomile of pineapple providing the essence of the flavour. The Christina’s Bloody Mary is a vegan take on the brunch cocktail, including a hot sauce created in-house, Silver Circle Black Garlic Vodka distilled in England in small batches and a mushroom garum instead of Worcestershire sauce. A Coastal Margarita also features – a riff on the original taking inspiration from the British coast and utilising acids from sustainable sources such as verjus instead of citrus fruits, as well as the Wild Apple Spritz, Rosehip Cosmo and Alexander Seed Negroni. Other British suppliers on offer range from Ardbeg Wee Beastie, to Aperitivo Co. Reus Vermouth, Howl & Loer Hogweed Seed Botanical Spirit and East London Liquor Company amongst many others.
Favouring an appreciation for the wild local landscape whilst empowering UK-based producers and small businesses, Christina’s is helping to change the bar landscape by highlighting an alternative and more sustainable approach to industrial farming practices. The new cocktail menu builds on the brands desire to champion ingredients that are less well known such as Hogweed Seed, Sea Buckthorn Juice and British Kelp Dashi Kombu, elevating them on to the London drinks landscape, educating and inspiring the discerning drinker.
“Creating the new cocktail menu for Christina’s has been an absolute joy,” commented Houghton. “As a team we are thrilled to continue to champion local suppliers, using responsibly foraged wild ingredients and showcasing how incredibly versatile they can be. With the menu we hope to shine a light on the local landscape, opening up our guests’ imaginations with lesser known, native ingredients that bring the familiar flavours of classic cocktails, in a way they perhaps haven’t tasted before.”
Available from lunchtime through to the evening (12pm – 12am), the cocktail menu will be enjoyed alongside the new light bites and snacks added to the menu for 2022. The space has injected life into the East London neighbourhood since opening last summer.
Christina’s at Mondrian Shoreditch is open Sunday through Wednesday from 8am to midnight, and Thursday through Saturday from 8am till 1am.
For more information or to make a reservation, head over to the space’s official website.
