LA is one of the most exciting places for food & drink culture in the world right now, and has been underrated for years, so this week's episode is local. I focused on a bartender, a drinks program, and a restaurant that has made an incredible impression on this city in recent years. Bartender, Tobin Shea, my guest for this week's episode, has been making an impression on LA pretty much since he landed from rural Pennsylvania 20 years ago now. We talked about his journey from college bartender to the Los Angeles rock, club and cabaret scenes, and into the craft cocktail world he now helps to lead. Tobin now heads one of the most inventive bar programs in Los Angeles. As Bar Director of Redbird restaurant, an architectural gem in downtown LA owned by celebrated chef Neal Fraser and wife, Amy Knoll Fraser, Tobin has helped to create one of the most exciting cocktail menus in the city. A cocktail collection of 31 different drinks, titled The Plain Truth About the Best Seeds is inspired by the first growing season and harvest from their recently opened garden. And is designed to mimic the vintage Burpee Seeds catalog with beautiful illustrations to match the inventive and delicious cocktails. The cocktail recipe this week is Tobin Shea's lower alcohol cocktail on The Plain Truth About the Best Seeds cocktail menu at Redbird: Chrysanthemum.

Chrysanthemum 2 ½ oz. Dolin Dry Vermouth ¼ oz. Bénédictine ¼ oz. Pernod Absinthe 2 dashes orange bitters

In a mixing glass add all ingredients and ice. Stir until chilled and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a lemon twist and enjoy.

Links: Redbird Instagram @redbirdla Facebook /rebirdla Twitter @redbirdla Tobin Shea Bit by a Fox Links: blog: http://bitbyafox.com instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bitbyafox/ facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BitByAFox/ twitter: https://twitter.com/bitbyafox music: https://www.humanworldwide.com