www.montereycountynow.com FEBRUARY 26-MARCH 4, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 35 CHILL Imagine your neighbors have a thing for chartreuse. Well, they do—if you happen to be in Hula’s Island Grill. Next Door, the restaurant’s dim and narrow speakeasy, offers seven cocktails based on the French liqueur prepared for a few thousand years by Carthusian monks. The concoctions share an elegance and complexity that causes one to linger over the glass, for it would be a shame to let them slip by without pause. For example, Loose Lingo features yellow chartreuse with rye whiskey, amaro, citrus and a splash of benedictine. The result is tropical, with a deep grassy background and wafts of bittersweet haze. Yet it is also floral, with a fresh spicy note, the even fruit making it easy on the palate. On the other hand, Ultima Palabra—green chartreuse, both tequila and mezcal, as well as lavender bitters and lime—envelops the palate in a fragrant smokiness. Rich, dark fruit drifts around the edges. Chartreuse can bring a lot to a cocktail. After all, monks use some 130 botanicals to create the liqueur. Green chartreuse is notable for its potent, bittersweet herbal savor and fresh citrus. Yellow is more floral, with a spicy sensation. In Dry Topics, yellow chartreuse resonates with the herbaceousness of gin, allowing a vanilla-scented cured cherry to seep over the palate. Vermouth lends a raspy finish. Next Door is bringing a venerable liqueur back into the cocktail conversation. But one more color is important: Look for the red light. Next Door is next to Hula’s, 622 Lighthouse Ave., Monterey. instagram.com@next_door_ monterey. Shade Made Hula’s speakeasy features a line of cocktails from both green and yellow chartreuse. By Dave Faries SEND IDEAS TO: chill@montereycountynow.com DAVE FARIES 622 LIGHTHOUSE AVE. MONTEREY. @HULASTIKI • (831) 655-HULA (4852) the original FRESH. LOCAL. TASTY. Fisherman’s Wharf FRESHEST SEAFOOD with PANORAMIC VIEWS Open Daily at 11:30am • At the end of Fisherman’s Wharf #1 www.rockfishmonterey.com • 831.324.4375 146 12TH STREET • PACIFIC GROVE SUN. MARCH 1•3PM Doors open at 2:30pm AdvAnce tickets AvAilAble At www.celticsociety.org $30 AdvAnce / $35 door $12 AdvAnce / $15 door, kids St. Mary’s recognizes Celtic Society discounts Call or text 831-224-3819 for more info. www.stmarysbythesea.org Spectacular guitar player, Jordan Tice, will be joined by the extraordinary fiddler Patrick M’Gonigle, in a show that will be a bit of an evolutionary journey from Celtic, to present day Americana to “Newgrass.” The concert is in collaboration with Otter Opry. SEASIDE’S FINEST THIN CRUST PIZZA SOURDOUGH PIZZA SALADS &CALZONES • • DRAFT BEER • • DINE-IN, TAKE-OUT 720 BROADWAY AVE. SEASIDE 831-899-1762 DELIVERY AVAILABLE “I brought my Subaru to Hartzel on advice of a friend and I was so pleased with the service & attention I got from them. Not only finished on time, but under the estimate I was given. Very rare these days. So pleased with the whole experience & great peace of mind knowing it was done correctly. Highly recommend this guy.” —David F., Seaside 2/14/19 510 California Avenue | Sand City | 394.6002 hartzelautomotive.com EXPERT SERVICE WHEN YOU NEED IT. Subaru Mazda Lexus Infiniti Saab vintage MG SCHEDULE YOUR NEXT SERVICE ONLINE TODAY
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