13 January 12-18, 2023 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com NEW TIMES | CONTENTS | LETTERS | NEWS | NIGHT+DAY | CULTURE | CAFE | MUSIC | Month XX–Month XX, 2008 miaminewtimes.com MIAMI NEW TIMES | CONTENTS | LETTERS | RIPTIDE | METRO | NIGHT+DAY | STAGE | ART | FILM | CAFE | MUSIC | alcoholic beverages for one month. Accord- ing to Harvard Medical School, Dry January started in 2012 as a public health initiative from Alcohol Change UK as a way for people to reset their relationship with alcohol. Ben Potts, a partner at Beaker & Gray and the Sylvester, and cofounder of the cocktail consulting company, Unfiltered Hospitality, says that observing Dry January is easier than it’s ever been, thanks to an ever-in- creasing market for non-alcoholic “mock- tails.” His two restaurants offer mocktails on their menus, and Potts recently created two zero-alcohol beverages for the newly opened Beauty & the Butcher in Coral Ga- bles. “One is a watermelon mule that’s super flavorful, and the other is a floral cucumber margarita. They’re really interesting, and it looks as though you’re really drinking a drink,” says Potts. Potts uses Lyre’s spirits, a company that offers zero-proof spirits in flavors like agave blanco, American malt, white cane, and more. Potts says that the spirits replicate the flavor profiles of rums, whiskies, and gins. The bar professional and cocktail creator also likes Seedlip, another non-alcoholic spirits com- pany that produces products made with vari- ous botanicals. These fairly new zero-proof spirits allow Potts’ bartenders to really get creative. “In the past, if someone wasn’t drinking alcohol, the default would be a cranberry and soda. Now we can do an entire cocktail experi- ence,” he says. And Potts says he encourages his bartend- ers to get creative with zero-alcohol cock- tails. “I think it’s a good practice for any bartender. We are not necessarily serving al- coholic drinks. We are serving delicious bev- erages.” Allegra Angelo, head sommelier for Vinya Hospitality, says that she’s far more mindful about drinking lately. “I really think Dry January is beyond a trend. I think it’s a real movement,” she says. The sommelier says that, although Vinya Wine Shop does carry zero-proof spirits, Angelo prefers a cocktail with low-sugar fruit juice and a low-sugar soda or sparkling water. She likes Blake Lively’s Betty Buzz mixers that are now available at Publix. “They’re outstand- ing, and they’re fun for making light spritzers,” she says. Angelo also says that it’s OK to cut down on alcohol if a completely dry January isn’t for you. “I’m a fan of the low-alcohol cocktail craze. I like to make a margarita with a half- and-half combo of tequila and zero-proof te- quila,” she says. At the end of the day, Angelo says that whether you choose to observe Dry January — or cut a little back on your drinking, it’s your own personal journey. LAINE DOSS ▼ LITTLE HAITI IS CHILI’S MOVING INTO CHURCHILL’S OLD SPACE? As Miamians settled into the beginning of a new year, a lot was posted on social media. Some recapped their 2022 travels and journeys, and others manifested their hopes for 2023. Instagrammer @riodiosmio, however, disrupted all of South Florida with a picture of Churchill’s flying a Chili’s banner over the well-worn image of Winston Churchill with the caption, “A new corporate flag flies over another historic and cherished live music venue.” In November 2022, New Times published a story that the owner of the Little Haiti mu- sic venue officially “closed” in 2021 but was hopeful that a prospective tenant would re- open the pub. The pub’s future is unknown, but it’s un- likely that Churchill’s will reopen. The former Churchill’s property, part of a three-parcel package (the pub, a vacant lot at 22 NE 55th Street, and a commercial lot at 5431 NE Sec- ond Avenue), went on the auction block on December 15, 2022. The properties appear to be under contract, and the buyer won’t be di- vulged until the sale is closed. One thing is certain. Chili’s will not be moving to Little Haiti. “We can confirm that Chili’s is not plan- ning to open at that location. Fans of burgers, ‘ritas, fajitas, and crispers can still get their fix at more than a dozen Chili’s restaurants in greater Miami, including straight down the coast at Chili’s Bayside Miami,” a Chili’s rep responded in an email statement. What will become of the iconic, now- shuttered pub that opened in 1979? Only time will tell. But at least we can rule out ‘ritas and fajitas. LAINE DOSS Photo by Alexander Oliva Churchill’s Pub
