BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. – The wine-country ramble "Sideways" (search) may be the booziest Academy Awards nominee, but five restaurants are toasting all the best-picture contenders with their own cocktails.
Here's the scoop on the drinks available at Beverly Hills (search) establishments, ranging from elaborate concoctions to a sturdy whiskey and Coke:
In honor of Martin Scorsese's (search) Howard Hughes epic, the Blue on Blue restaurant at the Avalon Hotel has mixed up "The Aviator," whose ingredients include Hangar One citron and raspberry vodkas, lemonade and raspberry puree.
The Writer's Bar at Raffles L'Ermitage hotel offers the "Pixie Stick," inspired by "Finding Neverland," Marc Forster's tale of "Peter Pan" creator J.M. Barrie. The recipe features gin, Midori melon liqueur and 7-Up.
Pegged to Clint Eastwood's boxing drama "Million Dollar Baby," the Kate Mantilini restaurant is serving the "Mantilini Knock-Out Punch," whose fixings include Absolut mandarin vodka, Triple Sec liqueur, lime juice and cranberry juice.
Mastro's Steakhouse is keeping things simple with "Hit the Road Jack," a Jack Daniels and Coke named after one of the Ray Charles hit tunes featured in Taylor Hackford's film biography "Ray."
For "Sideways," Alexander Payne's tale of two buddies on a wine-tasting spree, Enoteca Drago has created "Pinot Envy," made with Ferrari Rose champagne, vodka, peach schnapps and pineapple juice.
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