Last summer, OC got you Tipsy and Tan. Now, we're just getting you tipsy. Meet Fridays at Five, our cocktail series where mixologists at New York City’s white-hot new restaurants create OC-exclusive drinks for our readers. Drinking on the job? Don't mind if we do...
When brunch-favorite Five Points by the Bowery closed shop, we mourned the loss of chocolate-dipped churros and a sceney Sunday morning. The team, however, returned to the roomy space, now called Vic’s, and discovered a green market-centric casual restaurant with an emphasis on pastas, wood-fired pizzas, and a cocktail program that includes barrel-aged tipples and housemade limoncello.
So when Freeman’s son Rolan Meyer was called upon to whip up a cocktail for OC, it’s only natural the ingredients came from the garden. Refreshingly spicy and smoky, the Hot Sedano fuses muddled Fresno peppers and celery with mezcal, and tops it all off with a dash of mole bitters. It might just be enough to keep you warm until spring.
Name: Rolan Meyer
If this drink had a soundtrack, what would it be? “Girl, You’ll be a Woman Soon” by Urge Overkill
Drink of choice: Lots of whiskey. Jameson, neat.
Hangover cure: An avocado and bacon burger from Café Petisco. And then the sauna.
Best date advice: I’ve seen a lot of douchebags treat the service terribly, and that’s just an awful move. Try to be genuinely nice.
Worst pick-up: I used to bartend at this other place, and there was a woman who would come in all the time. She was a little lonely and would always talk to me about her cats and how she hated her job, and our conversations usually ended up with her crying. But then one time, there was this guy who caught us having this conversation, and he could not have swooped in faster. It wasn’t bad; but I couldn’t stand there to witness it all so I stepped aside to handle other customers. I truly hope they lived happily ever after together.
What not to do to your bartender: That's a short list in my book. Just make sure you make eye contact when you order a drink. It’s disrespectful when someone can't look at me and make an order.
Exclusive Recipe: The Hot Sedano
OC Alcohol Scale*: 7
“Mezcal packs a punch.”
2 oz mezcal
1 oz lime juice
¾ oz simple syrup
Fresh celery
Fresh Fresno peppers
1 dash mole bitters
Muddle together peppers and celery. Shake with mezcal, lime juice, and syrup. Strain into a glass with ice, garnish with celery and pepper, and top with mole bitters.
*OC's Alcohol Scale ranges from 1 ("like sippin' from a juice box") to 10 ("take me home—right now")![]()
The Hot Sedano. Photos by Jessica Chou ![]()
You'll need mole bitters, simple syrup, lime juice, peppers, celery, and mezcal. ![]()
Fresh celery and peppers!
![]()
Muddle together peppers and celery.![]()
When brunch-favorite Five Points by the Bowery closed shop, we mourned the loss of chocolate-dipped churros and a sceney Sunday morning. The team, however, returned to the roomy space, now called Vic’s, and discovered a green market-centric casual restaurant with an emphasis on pastas, wood-fired pizzas, and a cocktail program that includes barrel-aged tipples and housemade limoncello.
So when Freeman’s son Rolan Meyer was called upon to whip up a cocktail for OC, it’s only natural the ingredients came from the garden. Refreshingly spicy and smoky, the Hot Sedano fuses muddled Fresno peppers and celery with mezcal, and tops it all off with a dash of mole bitters. It might just be enough to keep you warm until spring.
Name: Rolan Meyer
If this drink had a soundtrack, what would it be? “Girl, You’ll be a Woman Soon” by Urge Overkill
Drink of choice: Lots of whiskey. Jameson, neat.
Hangover cure: An avocado and bacon burger from Café Petisco. And then the sauna.
Best date advice: I’ve seen a lot of douchebags treat the service terribly, and that’s just an awful move. Try to be genuinely nice.
Worst pick-up: I used to bartend at this other place, and there was a woman who would come in all the time. She was a little lonely and would always talk to me about her cats and how she hated her job, and our conversations usually ended up with her crying. But then one time, there was this guy who caught us having this conversation, and he could not have swooped in faster. It wasn’t bad; but I couldn’t stand there to witness it all so I stepped aside to handle other customers. I truly hope they lived happily ever after together.
What not to do to your bartender: That's a short list in my book. Just make sure you make eye contact when you order a drink. It’s disrespectful when someone can't look at me and make an order.
Exclusive Recipe: The Hot Sedano
OC Alcohol Scale*: 7
“Mezcal packs a punch.”
2 oz mezcal
1 oz lime juice
¾ oz simple syrup
Fresh celery
Fresh Fresno peppers
1 dash mole bitters
Muddle together peppers and celery. Shake with mezcal, lime juice, and syrup. Strain into a glass with ice, garnish with celery and pepper, and top with mole bitters.
*OC's Alcohol Scale ranges from 1 ("like sippin' from a juice box") to 10 ("take me home—right now")
The Hot Sedano. Photos by Jessica Chou 
You'll need mole bitters, simple syrup, lime juice, peppers, celery, and mezcal. 
Fresh celery and peppers!
Muddle together peppers and celery.