Friday Cocktails: The Garden Variety Margarita

I'm an avid kale enthusiast: steamed, sauteed, raw, boiled — you name it, I'll eat it. It should also be said that I thoroughly enjoy tequila, for somewhat less health-conscious reasons. Despite my love for both foods, I was skeptical about the combination of the two when I saw the Garden Variety Margarita — a drink made with kale juice — on the menu at the New York City spot the Wayland. But my curiosity got the best of me, and I was converted at my first sip. The juiced kale and tequila mix with ginger juice, lime, and agave nectar, making for a surprisingly refreshing drink with a spicy kick from the ginger and a subtle grassy sweetness from the kale. The drink's creation at the hands of Wayland co-owner and bartender Jason Mendenhall was only a matter of time: Mendenhall and co-owner/chef Rob Ceraso share ingredients between the kitchen and bar, resulting in drinks inspired by the menu, and vice versa. A cocktail featuring vegetables was inevitable and thus, my newest favorite cocktail was born.