The History of Oofty Goofty

Photograph of the Bella Union in Barbary Coast, first run as a gambling hall in 1848
credits: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library
(http://foundsf.org/index.php?title=Oofty_Goofty_Stars_in_Romeo_and_Juliet)

Back in the old times, when Barbary Coast in San Francisco was still known for gambling, prostitution and crime (and was not overlapped by Chinatown, North Beach, Jackson Square, and the Financial District), there was a guy who seemingly could pronounce only two words: Oofty Goofty. So the other people called him like that, Oofty Goofty. He was making a living by letting others to beat him with a bat for 25 cents. So it goes. Anyway 25 cents meant by those times really 25 cents.

Well, eventually someone hit him too hard and the guy died.

The name was taken over nowadays by a cocktail you can have at the Jardinière in Hayes Valley. After a couple of drinks you would feel like the old guy from Barbary Coast: fearless and eccentric (don't let others hit you, though).

The creator of the Oofty Gooty cocktail is Brian MacGregor, the mixologist at the Jardinière.

Here is the recipe (according to http://www.nirvino.com/blog/posts/Oofty-Goofty-Jardiniere?id=YrX1Nnd345dqdsI1lV):

• 1/2 oz No 209 Gin
• 3/4 oz Aisan Pear Puree
• 3/4 oz White Wine Verjou
• 3/4 Ginger Syrup
• 3 Dashes St. George Absinthe

And here are the directions (according to the same source):

• Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice.
• Shake vigorously for 10 seconds.
• Strain into a cocktail glass.

Bon Appétit!

Cocktail Week at the Jardinière
(@Camper English, http://alcademics.typepad.com/.a/6a00e553b3da208834011570960d46970b-popup)

(Bartenders and Mixologists)