Why Double Double? Because the very accomplished, and very interesting, bartender Laura Dubiosso made me two of my favorite cocktails in one evening. If you weren’t around in the ’50s, you won’t remember when movie theaters showed double features, two movies, plus a cartoon, sometimes even a newsreel. I remember. Same with double-header baseball games, not so common anymore, but maybe you remember those too.
Bar Franco, on Church Street in Montclair, is like stepping briefly into a bar in Florence, Milan, Rome, or one of Italy’s other beautiful cities. Perfectly crafted cocktails, a tight and delicious menu of small plates, and a stylish vibe that always feels just a bit transported. Often bustling, but on this particular night, surprisingly quiet—which is a funny combination of words, but exactly how it felt.
The occasion: our monthly business meeting with daughter Nell, for which I insisted begin here. We had other plans for dinner at a Thai restaurant but as you will see we did not leave.
I started with a Negroni that Laura mixed with Carpano Classico Rosso, a vermouth I hadn’t tried before. I know and love the iconic Carpano Antica Formula and Carpano Bianco, but this one was new to me. Of course, the other players were Campari and a relatively neutral gin, which Laura prefers because it allows the Carpano and Campari to shine. And shine they did.
We enjoyed several small plates from the excellent bar menu—every one of them worth ordering again. A sampling..
Conversation with Laura began easily, and when I showed her what was parked outside, it lit up even more. Yes, my beloved Alfa Romeo Giulia.
My plate reads Ciao Hudson Valley which I say has two means if you’re in front of me, it’s Ciao / Hello, and if you’re behind me, it’s Ciao / Goodbye. Ciao is one of those wonderfully versatile Italian words.
That led us into talking about travel our adventures in Italy and Laura’s own exploration of the United States.
When it came time for my second drink, I mentioned that I love Boulevardiers and Black Manhattans. Laura smiled and said she had an idea. She created a beautiful hybrid of the two, rich, deep, and perfectly balanced.
Made with Woodford Reserve, Martini Riserva Vermouth, Amaro Lucano, and a touch of house bitters, it landed somewhere between the warmth of a Boulevardier and the brooding elegance of a Black Manhattan.
A true Double Double evening.
