Quick Hits: The Haute Guide to Negroni Week

Photo Credit: Grace Sager

Next week, Campari, Italy’s most well known aperitif is hosting its fifth annual charity event, Negroni Week. Bars across the globe will participate in the liquor brand’s initiative which invites cocktail lovers to enjoy the classic libation while raising money for some good causes. From June 5 through 11, San Franciscans can enjoy traditional negronis at places like Park Tavern and Elixir. Lots of restaurants and watering holes are also throwing special events or serving unique concoctions inspired by the negroni. Here are some of the not to be missed happenings.

At the Alembic, bar manager Hector Valencia is serving an innovative low brow negroni with Lo-Fi Gentian Amaro that’s infused with cacao nibs, Gran Classic, and St. George Terrior Gin. At Finn Town, Gillian Fitzgerald is stirring up a negroni inspired by Emperor Norton that is made with poppy liquor, Cynar, and cherry juice.

Photo Credit: Grace Sager

Tratto is offering two different negroni-inspired drinks. First there is a negroni float with Pixie Tangerine chardonnay sorbet and Campari. The second offering is a negroni made with rhubarb-infused gin, campari and Lo-Fi Sweet Amaro. One of the things we can’t wait to try is Tratto’s orange and spice infused salami pizza with Anduja sauce, which has a similar flavor profile as the drink. Another way to eat your negroni? Tratto’s seasonal gin-pickled vegetables.

Over at Poggio Trattoria in Sausalito six negroni variations are on the menu. The negroni recipe is quite simple: it’s one part gin, one part red vermouth, and one part Campari. It can be made with any type of gin and vermouth—and additions, substitutions, and subtractions can be made. Poggio serves a version where vodka or sparkling wine replaces the gin. Also on the menu? A dessert negroni in the form of vanilla bean panna cotta topped with blood orange, kumquat, and negroni simple syrup.

Photo Credit: Grace Sager

For the first time, Campari has partnered with lifestyle brands Baggu, Public Bikes, and Sunskis with a portion of the proceeds of their red products sold during negroni week going to charity. On Wednesday June 7, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Baggu is hosting a happy hour at its Valencia Street shop. A fifth of every sale of their standard red bag will be donated to the Surfrider Foundation. Public’s donated sales of their Red C7 bike to Muttville Senior Dog Center and Sunski is giving to the Tortoise Fire Foothills.