Culinary Cocktails Elite Event @ The Drawing Room

Yes, I crashed a Chicago elite event during my trip.
I loved the intimacy of this event. It wasn’t crowded, at most 50 and no plus ones. I got there about 30 minutes late because I just came back from a massage and needed to get ready. I was lucky enough that my hotel was walking distance to the Drawing Room.
When I got there, I went straight to the bar and got myself a drink. For the event, they offered 3 choices: The Drawing Manhattan, The Aviation, and The Venerable. Out of the three, The Venerable was my favorite and I had three of those. It was very refreshing and had a citrus twist to it. The Aviation was good too and it had a smoky taste. The Manhattan was decent, but I’m not the biggest bourbon/​whisky fan though. All the drinks were 80 proof, so I was a little tipsy at the end of the evening. LOL I didn’t get the chance to eat a lot of the food, only the Artic Char and the burger. Each one was delicious. I missed out on the bacon wrapped braised pork though. Like any Unilocal event, the food disappears quickly.
One of the highlights of the evening was a demo by their chief mixologist, Charles Jolly. A lot of their drinks are based on the pre-​prohibition period and it was fun to watching make one of the drinks, The Aviation. At the Drawing Room, they offer cartside bartending service. When you order your drink, they make the drink right at your table.
I had a great time meeting other Chicago Unilocalers especially Ryne, Jacob, Claire, and Yoocheng. Thanks Unilocal especially Johnny, Colleen, and Jelena for the great evening!

Aw I only got to come for a few minutes then I had to bolt because it’s none of your business but I’ve been here once before awhile ago and it’s such a classy low key, chill place. It’s so tiny that I forget it existed. Everyone working was really nice and it was good to see some of the Unilocal people I know. I didn’t get to try any of the cocktails or food because I was hit with feeling barfy at the start of that evening. just not a good night for me but it all looked really good! I’m going to have to come back again on my own time. I’m glad I look just like my pictures though. felt like I didn’t need a name tag at all. Huge plus that it’s next to Urban Outfitters! yeah, I shop there. so??? Romantic dates come here.
;-)

I’ve found myself unable to concentrate all day because I keep thinking about the amazing cocktails and that lovely little braised shortrib burger with the tomato chutney I had at The Drawing Room last night.
And, hell, the company wasn’t bad either!
I can’t think of a better way to have welcomed Johnny than at this intimate gathering at The Drawing Room. The venue, itself, is appropriately discreet without taking itself too seriously. And the clean, uncomplicated food and expertly hand-​crafted cocktails sealed the deal.
They had me at «May I offer you another cocktail?»
This intimate group of Unilocalers truly appreciated our good fortune and we were not shy about partaking in the menu set before us. I followed the order of the drink menu and had The Drawing Room Manhattan first, then moved on to The Aviation (complete with lemon essence fire show!) and then had the best for last: The Venerable. Which I can only describe as a more well-​appointed Sidecar.
I practically brought tears to the eyes of one of the mixologists when I told her that what I appreciated the most about The Venerable was the balance of flavors. So many people drink to «get drunk» that they overlook those subtleties and never acknowledge the details, she said. In that moment, I knew why I was in the room. It’s not that «elite» Unilocalers are «elite» — I think it’s that we pay attention to the subtleties and always notice the details.
I certainly appreciated all of the fine details of this event, and hated that I arrived just a smidge too late to get one of those lunch boxes! (Johnny, hook a sister up!)
Thanks for having me – I’ll definitely return to The Drawing Room with friends for cocktails, braised shortrib burgers and Bacon Squared!

Wow.
That’s about all I can say for what was possibly the best elite event I have ever been to. Gorgeous space, fabulous Unilocalers, mind blowing classic cocktails, little morsels of deliciousness (can we talk about that «burger» for a minute, and the staff… I don’t even know what to say, they were warm, friendly, and knew more than anyone I have ever met about the art of cocktails. I almost felt like I was a guest in their home, and they were lovingly preparing their favorite dishes for our enjoyment. I never would have given the Drawing Room a second glacé and now I am scheming to come up with a reason to go back and experience it in full fashion. Thanks Colleen, Johnny, Jelena… and endless thanks and love to the entire Drawing Room staff, you guys are top notch!!!

At first I was afraid; I was petrified…
Ok, that’s a bit dramatic, but this was my 1^st Unilocal elite event! No +1 meant I would have to mingle… with complete strangers! But the food sampler list just sounded too good to pass up, I have some time on my hands, and… this event did not disappoint! And I made some friends despite the closet Unilocaler in me… even if it was a bit weird to translate from «Firstname_​lastinitial» small thumbnail to actual face. Hello, Hannah Y, Jacob K, Laura G and Annie W :) And of course, I finally met Colleen C.
This event was very nice… must agree with Laura G — the doorman was extra nice. I sound like I’m a chick on my first date, but «Welcome» at the entry point of any venue is such an understated gesture… but he followed that act up with a «farewell and hope you had a good time tonight». Classy.
I guess we were there for the cocktails… we had a nice introduction from Charles at the bar which was followed by a formal demonstration and a history lesson later. I had 2 of the 3… I didn’t particularly like the Manhattan, but it seemed authentic and strong… I think I probably just don’t like Manhattans. Annie W mentioned the Aviation was sweet, so I opted to stay on the Venerable.
But I was really there for the food! Strategic positioning near the exit of the kitchen was critical :) Arctic char was, well, salmon. served with a nice curry sauce. The short rib burger was pretty good, but the bacon squared! YUMmmm. Had I known it was a finite sampling, I would have parked myself closer to the kitchen!
This was a great first event for me, hoping to overcome my jitterbugs now that I know a few faces! Hannah what did you do with all your pictures?!

Truly an Elite event! The space is gorgeous, and what a great way to discover it. I really enjoyed the calm, civilized atmosphere that’s impossible to find with the huge, frenzied crowd that often rules events. I’ve definitely got to commend the organizer for showing restraint, and hosting a great event!
The cocktails were really great. While they were making larger batches than normal, it wasn’t the pre-​mix approach at all — the bartenders elegantly crafted each small batch for our thirsty eyes to see, served attentively, and practiced that perfect kind of personal attention only a great bartender can — funny but not too funny, eager but not overbearing, attentive but not leering.
The food was quite good, too. Looking forward to trying some more burger.
High five. (hai faive)

Another great event!
The cocktails were fantastic, actually they were too good. Way too good! As was the food, I came specifically for the bacon squared and it was just as delicious as I imagined. Thumbs up also on the artic char (I’m not a big fan of fish) and the burger.
As much as I love bringing along my +1s, this event was great as is. It was so small, really great for meeting new people and catching up with those I only see for 5 minutes at the usual crazy events. The Drawing Room staff was super nice too.
Johnny, Jelena and Colleen — you guys are spoiling us!!! Thank you! :)

Normally when I use the word «classy» in reference to a Unilocal event, there’s some sarcasm involved and I’m usually making fun of some tragic thing I did. Not this time. This was the classiest, most exquisite event with immaculate drinks and food, great conversation and delightful company.
I had been to the Drawing Room before and it is extremely pleasant and comfortable, only a bit too dimly lit. When one of my closest friends showed up, I was squinting to recognize her from only a few feet away!
The Arctic Char with red curry onion purée and grilled baby eggplant was delicious, but it was FAR surpassed by the burgers which were made of braised short-​rib. There is a God.
In addition to the food and drinks, the staff is really incredible. They did a demonstration about making The Aviation, a pre-​Prohibition recipe with finishing touches of lemon rind lit on fire. Go to the Drawing Room just to see this demo! One server went out of his way to make sure I got a special double order of the Bacon Squared (the second course), because I somehow had missed it! The folks that work there are beyond accommodating and just really cool.
I did not try the Manhattan with house-​made maraschino cherries, but I did also love the Venerable drink which was orange-​based and extremely tasty.
This was such a fantastic event and I especially enjoyed meeting new Unilocalers, the mouth-​watering food and special cocktails, and welcoming Johnny as our new CM! Thanks again.

Stirred.
Mixed.
Shaken up just a bit,
Well-​chilled.
No, I’m not referring to the cool cocktails served up by the incredible mixologists at The Drawing Room. I’m talking about the Unilocal crowd.
Harkening back to some days gone by, the Unilocal crew put together a truly intimate gathering. We mixed, mingled, and chilled, all without our trusty plus ones. What brave social people! The folks at The Drawing Room even taught us some cocktail history and we reaped the benefits of the American cocktail renaissance. That’s a tasty lesson I can easily swallow.
I somehow missed the Bacon squared appetizer. Andre is usually at fault, so I blame him.
I’ll definitely return to The Drawing Room for another one of those Manhattans (made with Templeton Rye, an Iowa spirit!), mixed and served tableside. Now that’s a way to impress a date! Woweee.
A special shout-​out to Johnny T for his first elite event! Thanks to the whole Unilocal crew for one of the swankest and best events of the year. Keep them coming!

Low lighting and warm neutral tones set the mood for this low-​key, classy Elite affair. No one went thirsty thanks to the very friendly bartenders whipping up two classic cocktails and one trendy (yet still based on those classic cocktail principles).
I sampled the Venerable, the trendy one of the bunch, many times over. It’s citrus flavor and garnish of orange peel made a refreshing and not-​too-​sweet cocktail. The Aviation was delightful as well, tart and finished off with a flamed lemon peel. (I did not try the manhattan. I just can’t hang with those.)
Arctic char was presented beautifully, but I think the majority of us will concur, the bacon squared was the best morsel we all sampled. It was like a pork party in my mouth. In a good way.
I got to meet some new people, which is always lovely, and the setting was very conducive to chatting with your old faves, and perhaps some new ones.
Oh, and my apologies to the coat check gal, I wasn’t trying to insult you when I said, «I was a coat check girl for one night before I got my real job.» Your job is real too, and you did it splendidly.
As always, fabulous party by the Unilocal team. You helped make my continuing celebration of my 21^st (haha) birthday a success.

My only other Elite event prior to this was at V Live. There was +2 in effect (as in, I could bring 2 guests), and the place was large and loud. It was fun, but I didn’t really get the Unilocal Elite feel I was hoping for.
Last night was +0. I didn’t hear from any of my IRL Chicago Elites that they were going. But I’ll be damned if I was about to pass up Bacon squared! So I went in with a grade school mentality… you like Cherry Coke? I like Cherry Coke! Best friends forever! (BFF did not exist when I was younger)
So yes, I was a bit hesitant at first, but the great drinks served here helped to up my socializing skills. The Manhattan wasn’t prohibitively strong, and the Aviation managed to be lemony without being too sour. «Balance» was the name of the game.
Food was great too; the Bacon squared was everything I’d ever dreamed bacon x bacon could be. Made some new friends in Rhoda G., Claire Y., and Jacob K. and was sad when I had to leave because my ride had arrived.
Well, I did make her wait for 20 minutes… whoops…I was having too much fun!
But yes… while the +0 concept may not be the best way to introduce non-​Elites to what they’re missing out on, I actually really liked the concept of the place and event. 5* fo sho.

I would definitely love to see more of these smaller, more intimate events in the future. I say this will full knowledge that the size restriction means that I’m not going to be able to get into all of them. It was very laid-​back and classy, and I was able to meet a lot of new people.
Loved The Aviation! Excellent drink, even if it does look really strange. The bartenders were nice and I could tell they were really into what they do. The staff were all very professional without being too stuck up (some may have been just a LITTLE stuck up, but not enough for me to want to slap them… so it’s all good!).
The food was also tasty. I just wish there had been more of it! I was about ready to chew my own arm off for sustenance by the time the Bacon² arrived (not a fish-​eater, so I didn’t have any arctic char to tide me over). I had to pounce on a server as soon as he left the kitchen to get a burger. I’d like to give The Drawing Room a try for a real dinner and drinks night some time soon.
The crowd was very good. There were just enough people that I knew to make me feel comfortable, but not so many that I could spend the whole time talking to them, which meant I had to meet new people. And that’s a good thing!
Johnny, nice work! You set a very high bar for your first Elite event! I think Colleen’s legacy – so to speak – is in good hands. Speaking of Colleen, it’s always good to see you. Thanks for the lunch box! And thanks to The Drawing Room for hosting!

How would I describe The Drawing Room?
Intimate.
Cozy.
Classy.
All sorts of fabulous!
Such a lovely, smaller Elite event! We were treated to some delicious cocktails — which were definitely hand-​crafted with love by those talented mixologists. Aviation? My favorite! And the food… Helllllo — bacon squared?! Pork belly wrapped in bacon? If that’s not heaven, I don’t know what is.
I adore this place! I vow to come back — sometime soon, hopefully! Lovely event, Unilocal Superstars! Thanks a bunch! Oh, and holler for those lunchboxes. Throwback to childhood!

Hey, boys and girls. Way to spoil a person! Thanks for one incredibly classy and fun event. And the added mystery of finding the place, for those of us who’d never been there was an additional shot of adrenaline to start the evening. (I should credit the doorman at Le Colonial for pointing me in the right direction.)
The professionalism of the staff here, their eagerness to please, to share the concept, and the fruits of their labor, the food and cocktails went well beyond expectations. I even learned some new things. The «Aviation» cocktail dates back to 1916. Wow!
And when my ship comes in, I swear, I’m going to re-​do my basement just like this one! And steal the help! Unilocal,yelp, Unilocal

There’s nothing more awkward than being in a small room surrounded by many ex-​lovers and no easy way to escape.
Sometimes you just have to man up and face your short comings and misadventures and this event allowed me to do just that.
Lady Gin, Princess Bourbon and the other one so beautiful and tasty, yet to this day I still can not place a name to her lips… yes we flirted and yes we danced and once they entered my lips, I was theirs again for the taking.
To discover they had +1’s was a little strange and caused me alarm, but they were cool. smokey and mighty fine on those little white plates.
To think she was paired with such a pig, but he was pretty smart and memorable.
I could go on, but should do a review of the rest of the moments here.
Beautiful people, beautiful thoughts, beautiful minds.
yes yes yes! it was all at play and I left with another case of blue balls to be consoled with another cheap substitution in another bar around the corner.
kudos to all. it was special.

LOVE the small gathering near home.
This was my fourth Unilocal event, and it was outstanding. Travelling across the city for an hour or two of drinks doesn’t sound that exciting to me. But trying a place I’ve not been, located a ten minute walk from home, with a Unilocal group small enough that you can talk to more than half the people attending — that’s a hit with me.
The place, The Drawing Room, was a good find. I’d probably give it four stars, but for the right occasion five. If you want to be entertained by the preparation of cocktails, it’s great. If you’re there to focus on your time with friends, probably not as special. The food was enticing enough to warrant another visit. You can tell their chef knows his stuff and presents an attractive and balanced plate. «Spring» without the chemistry exam sounds fine to me. The décor is uneventful, but there’s a limit to what you can do with a basement room. All in all, we’ll give it a visit for dinner to have the full experience.
The Unilocal crowd was a 5+. With space and a manageable group, talking to people you don’t know was easy and more natural than in a crowd of 500. Talking to people you have met before, either on Unilocal or briefly at prior events, gave the chance for real conversations.
And the drinks were outstanding. As was the presentation on the history of cocktails. Well done, well organized Johnny, and well worthwhile. You can wait-​list me for events like this anytime.

Beautiful space, beautiful people, beautiful food and cocktails! The theme of the evening was «beautiful».
I felt like being on a date with a select group of Unilocalers. The mood was intimate, cocktails were divine –hello, Venerable, my new love– and the food was delicious. Arctic char on Japanese egg plant? Hell yeah! Bacon squared? Yep, wrap pork belly in bacon and you cannot go wrong. The bite-​size burgers were perfection embodied.
Extra stars for the table side cocktail service. The mixologist, Charles Joly, gets extra points for mentioning they are NOT trying to do the speakeasy thing. Seriously, if I have to hear one more bar do the speakeasy theme, I might have to vomit. Don’t people realize speakeasy is soooo last century? Take a clue *coughVioletHourcough*… it has been beaten to death in NYC many years ago. All Mr. Joly and his team are trying to do is make good cocktails. And they are mighty fine!
Will definitely return for a romantic date with the husband. It’s my kind of place!

Very friendly Drawing Room staff… so friendly I thought they worked for Unilocal!From the door man to coat check to the bartender who made sure my cocktail was perfect down to or rather up to the rim. Delish! Venerable! And the hor’ dourves-​a perfect compliment to my perfectly crafted cocktail (yes, it was so good I mention it twice!)
Nice to meet fellow Unilocalers. Hi Annie! Thanks for a nice reprieve from after work doldrums. Too bad I was running a fever and couldn’t drink more! Of course, then I may have made it a memorable evening for all… and not in a good way.
PS
Johnny is nice in person too! As always, Colleen was a gem. :) Haven’t met Jelena yet!

Despite its tame nature in comparison to most events, this was possibly the best Unilocal event I’ve been to yet. There was no male nudity, and the setting was completely conducive to meeting new people. I wish we could have more of these.
Johnny, Jelena, Colleen, and Andrea absolutely proved what they were capable of tonight. If every event were like this, people would be paying to be Elite. Thanks guys, and a huge thank you to The Drawing Room for hosting this. The drinks and food were fabulous.

Nice setting for an Elite event!
Those burgers were out of this f’in world!!! The drinks were awesome as well especially the Venerable… yumfest!!!
Great event CC/​JT/​JZ