NYC’s ever-growing, reinventing and experimenting bar scene is one of its most celebrated assets; from swanky cocktail spots to underground dives, the city has it all. One of the newest to join the ranks is Casa Bond – a stylish bar and restaurant in NoHo.
Specifically inspired by the sights, sounds and tastes of Tulum, Casa Bond serves Mexican-style cuisine, reaching to the far corners of the country with its ingredients and flavors and fused with a luxury edge.
Executive chef and co-owner Rodrigo Abrajan’s menu features a serious taco program (all made using hand-press blue corn tortillas), as well as carefully executed entrées such as banana-leaf wrapped pork shoulder smothered in achiote paste, habanero and chile tetemado; confit duck with signature house mole; and lamb shank with pickled cactus.
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Bringing that laidback Tulum party vibe to NYC is beverage director and managing partner Luis Villanueva, who has created a menu of innovative cocktails using a number of special spirits from Mexico and beyond. A cornerstone of the drinks program is the fun beverage cart, which features 15 tequilas for tableside preparation.
One of Villanueva’s signatures is the Azul Cadillac – an inventive take on the spicy marg which trades agave for spicy honey.
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“Substituting agave with habanero honey infuses the cocktail with a unique flavor profile, adding subtle heat and depth,” says Villanueva. “The spicy sweetness of the honey complements the margarita’s citrus notes, creating a delicious balance of flavors – sweet, spicy, and tart – that elevates the margarita to new heights.”
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Ingredients:
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• 1.5 oz of Clase Azul Reposado Tequila
• 1 oz of freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 3/4 oz of Cointreau Liqueur
• 1/2 oz habanero honey (store bought or home-made)
• 1 small pinch of kosher salt
• 1 habanero pepper (for garnish)
Method:
Combine the tequila, lemon juice, Cointreau, honey and salt in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake vigorously, then strain into a rocks glass filled with fresh ice. Garnish with a slice of the habanero pepper. (Optional: before filling the rocks glass with fresh ice, salt the rim of the glass by running a lemon wedge around the rim then dipping the glass in salt.)
Homemade Habanero Honey
Ingredients:
• 1 cup of honey
• 1 cup of water
• 1 habanero pepper diced
Method:
Place all ingredients in a pot and bring it to boil, then allow to rest and cool down. Once cooled, strain out all seeds and pieces of the habanero pepper. The remaining mixture is delicious habanero honey.
