You can't always get what you want, but with your own bloody mary bar, you can. Thanks to the West Side Market, you can stock that bar with fresh, local and delicious ingredients that'll make your Saturday or Sunday (and any other day, to be honest) all the boozier right at home. We'll take you step-by-step, stand-to-stand so you can nab all the gourmet garnishes you'll need to not only get creative, but also tipsy. And maybe full, depending on how many ingredients you pick. Just stick to our philosophy behind the perfect bloody mary: "Eat it, don't drink it." Cheers.
Narrin Asian Spice & Sauce (Stand E-11)
Start with a great tomato-based mix. Pope's Bloody Mary Mix in the "Mellow Mary" or original bold and spicy recipe cannot be beat. Pair either with your favorite vodka, and whatever comes next, you will have a great canvas. Narrin also stocks a huge array of hot sauces from around the world. If you're looking for some heat (and a good pun), look no further than "Flame of Thrones" or "Blair's Beyond Death Sauce" to make you feel alive. Many of the varieties utilize some of the hottest peppers known to man. Be careful.
Rita's (Stand G-10)
No bloody mary would be complete without olives, and the best in the city can be found here. Intriguingly stuffed with bacon-ranch-cheddar, habanero pepper jack, smoked Gouda, and classic blue cheese, among others, these olives eliminate the need to self-stuff! If you like them plain, there's common green, red Cerignola, California black, Kalamata, Sicilian and many others.
Basketeria Produce (Stands 60, 62, 64)
Specializing in produce from seven farms in Amish country, five of which are organic certified, Basketeria has a wealth of garnish supplies. Think celery, cucumbers, green beans and even cauliflower for a little pizzazz.
Czuchraj Meats (Stands B-10, B-11)
Hit up this stand for amazing beef smokies and jerky — which happens to be Michael Symon's favorite. Use the smokies as creative meat-stirrers! They come in varieties like ghost pepper, teriyaki and buffalo chicken flavor. Use their cheese smokies to impart subtle hints of garlic, spice and smoke.
M&M Foods/Toney's Baloney (Stands C-4, C-5)
Bacon goes great with everything, especially bloody marys. Fry up a batch of thick-cut Christmas Ale bacon, slathered in beer and brown sugar for a hint of salty sweetness. Or, if you prefer, there's Hungarian bacon covered in paprika, garlic and onion. Or what about candied bacon?
Kate's Fish (Stands F-12, F-13)
For a special occasion, turn that bloody mary into a shrimp cocktail with some jumbo Texas Gulf shrimp, wild Florida pink shrimp, or jumbo black tiger shrimp. Seafood makes everything a little more elegant. Just poach, peel and serve.
Juice Garden (Stand D-13)
For a fresh hit of citrus in your bloody mary, grab some lemon or lime juice from this stand. Still feeling hung over from the night before? Score a bloody mary shot, concocted from fresh celery, lemon and kale juice with cayenne to get you moving and thinking again.
Urban Herbs (Stand E-2)
This is the last stop for a great bloody mary! This stand has hickory, bonfire and applewood smoked sea salts, which you can use to garnish the rim of glassware. Just run some cut citrus around the rim and dip into the salt. Grab some fresh black peppercorns for those who like it earthy and hot, or some powdered serrano for those who like it smoky.
