1592 Wood Fired Kitchen & Cocktails, www.avlionmain.com, 941-365-2234

After a legal battle with a petty restaurant in Chicago, Avli Mess Hall was forced to change its name. It is now called 1592 Wood Fired Kitchen & Cocktails. “It’s unbelievable,” says co-owner Edward Zaki, “’avli’ just means open courtyard—how can you own a word for courtyard?”

The pettiness is enough to require a stiff drink.

Fortunately, the restaurant formerly known as Avli Mess Hall has a menu of delicious cocktails that can assuage any irritation at that pettiness, and if one is looking to fight fiery feelings with fiery drink, the ‘some like it hot’ is a powerful weapon. An elevated take on the popular Mexican cocktail known as paloma, the drink features Se Busca Mezcal Reposado shaken with grapefruit juice, lime, soda and simple syrup. The aged mezcal adds a richness of smoky flavor that most tequilas simply lack, while the grapefruit and simple syrup help accentuate the fruity notes present in the liquor. As usual, a salt rim is optional, but 1592 goes a step further and adds chili powder. The result is a glass of liquid smoke and spice that still manages by some mysterious alchemy to refresh. It pairs exceptionally well with the spicy feta spread, but keep a glass of ice water nearby.

1592 Wood Fired Kitchen & Cocktails, www.avlionmain.com, 941-365-2234

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