The Little Fish puts a slight spin on a classic cocktail and serves it steps away from one of Southold’s sandy beaches.
The Little Fish’s Barbary Pirate
“I think The Barbary Pirate is a really fun and different cocktail — not to mention stunning,” says Arden Gardell, owner of Little Fish, a Southold restaurant featuring coastal cuisine craft cocktails and sitting a few strides away from the sand at Kenney’s Beach. “Our chef Ryan brings a lot of Turkish influence to not just our menu, but our pantry overall. Early on we started playing with this amazing hand-processed Turkish sumac he was using as garnish. This year, we also partnered up with Gray Whale Gin out of California, which incorporates real nautical flavors like wild California juniper and Pacific kelp for a distinctly coastal gin — clearly right in our wheelhouse, not to mention a portion of all proceeds go to supporting the protection of California’s gray whales.”
The Little Fish’s Spin On Gin and Tonic
An elevated take on the classic gin and tonic, The Barbary Pirate’s ingredients may seem familiar: 2 ounces of Gray Whale Gin, .75 ounces of fresh lemon juice, 1 ouce of sumac syrup, and 1 bar spoonful of freshly grated ginger.
After shaking up the ingredients with ice and pouring over a fine mesh strainer into a cocktail glass, top the drink with tonic, some Thai basil, and a dehydrated lime slice, and then you’re almost done. Roll the rim in a sumac and salt combination to seal the deal.
“We steep the sumac in hot water just like tea and then add a bit of sweetener to make a sumac simple syrup,” he says. “The trick is to not use too much water to keep the flavors concentrated. Ours ends up a dark rosé color; however, we noticed that other sumacs might not get as pretty a color. This syrup brings a unique tart sweetness that combines really well with a bit of lemon, shredded ginger, and, of course, the requisite Grey Whale Gin and house tonic.”
The Barbary Pirate is a customer and an employee favorite, according to Gardell. “I think it’s a great example of the restaurant’s overall ethos — take iconic classics, tweak them 20%, use the best ingredients, and execute perfectly,” he says. “Everything at Little Fish is designed to be familiar yet unique and craveable at the same time.”
Little Fish is located at 50 N. Sea Dr., Southold, and can be reached at 631-765-8756 or littlefishnofo.com
