More On Mark and Jay's Speakeasy Adventure

We just chatted with Campanile GM Jay Perrin who, with Mark Peel, are planning a mixology mecca in the former Oasis space on La Brea. Yesterday it was suggested that this new restaurant/bar will open in August, which is partially true. Perrin says they're hoping for August 2009. Construction won't even start for a few more months. He tells us they intend on elevating the art of the cocktail to heights yet unseen in these parts, think New York's Milk & Honey or the Pegu Club, but even beyond that. "Milk & Honey times 10."

They haven't found a mixologist yet, but they're taking the search very seriously, and he mentioned something about different ice cube shapes for the cocktails which sounds fancy. The bar will have its own menu---literally finger food, things you could easily eat with your hands---and a full-blown, Mark Peel menu in the dining room. So should LA's cocktailier Cedd Moses be worried? Not really. Moses is a downtown man with no plans (at least that we know of) of opening in Hollywood, and he's even given Peel and Perrin the go-ahead to use designer Ricki Kline, who worked with Cedd on the Doheny, Seven Grand and Golden Gopher. The name being bandied about is still Glass and Mirrors, but it doesn't sound set in stone. Do expect a lot of glass in mirrors in the joint, though.
· Mark Peel's New Hub of Mixology [~ELA~]
· EaterWire: Peel's Speakeasy Lives [~ELA~]