Welcome, Bloody Bracketeers!

Friends,

With summer (very) slowly sneaking up on us, there has never been a better time for a weekend morning bloody mary. Nothing can be compared to the feeling when you hazily stumble out of your apartment on a Saturday morning, slide your sunglasses over your eyes, and find safe haven in the form of a chair in the sun, perfectly blended bloody mary in hand.

I can hear your collective sighs of pleasurable agreement from here.

Help me find the best bloody mary in Chicago!

While certain individual preferences may vary (Salami as a garnish or no? Are shrimp & cocktail sauce going too far? Red horseradish or white?) certain qualities of a fantastic bloody mary are indisputable. Thickness, dilution due to ice, spicyness, and appropriate garnishes all weigh in as gradeable traits.

Starting on Saturday, May 31, the BLOODY BRACKET commences!

Depending on the number of contesting bars/restaurants, brackets will be broken down by either neighborhood or region. From there, the search continues all summer long!

There are many ways that YOU can participate!

- Email me YOUR favorite bloody mary joint, and it will be added to the list. This is essential! Everyone on this list comes from a different area of the city, and we would like to have appropriate representation from each - so don't be shy!

- Join in as a judge during any BLOODY BRACKET GAME DAY! Most Saturdays (and/or Sundays, let's be honest) will be a game day - and this is your chance to weigh in! I'll send an email the Thursday or Friday before saying where that weekend's tasting will be, and you can just show up. I hope it goes without saying, but eggs and other brunchtime meals will be accompanying the tasting.

Let the games begin!

Danielle