Patch Tastemaker: 'Garnish' Cocktail Blogger Katie Stryjewski

If you're a cocktail lover, you will definitely want to pull up a seat at this blogger's bar. Katie Stryjewski is the brains behind Garnish, a blog featuring new and classic cocktail recipes with an emphasis on making craft cocktails more accessible to the home bartender.

Whether she's shaking up a classic margarita or crafting the perfect Boston Tea Party, Stryjewski always has the best tips, tricks and toasts up her sleeve, taking cocktails to the next level.

She originally hails from New Orleans but moved to Boston about 10 years ago and loves the city's "historic, intellectual and approachable" charm, as well as its close-knit vibe. "It has so many distinct neighborhoods that each have their own unique feel," says Stryjewski. "I’ve really loved exploring them one by one over the past 10 years."

While most of her cocktails are sipped from the comfort of her own home bar, you can also find this cocktail enthusiast enjoying a drink at Backbar in Union Square or exploring The Harvard Museum of Natural History with her family. Take a look at the rest of her favorite spots around Boston:

What neighborhood do you live in? I live in Jamaica Plain.

What’s your occupation? Currently I’m staying at home taking care of my 8-month-old, but before that I studied bird genomics. I got a PhD in evolutionary biology from BU and then did a postdoc at Harvard.

Describe Boston in three words: Historic, intellectual, approachable

What’s your favorite overall Boston restaurant? I’d have to say Island Creek Oyster Bar. It’s one I always recommend to visitors. The space is bright and open, the seafood is fresh and impeccably prepared and the cocktails are top-notch.

Best sushi: Avana Sushi in Chinatown. It’s BYOB, you eat off Styrofoam plates, and it shares space with a ramen restaurant and a little old lady who makes egg puffs. But the sushi is great. It’s cheap and the staff is super friendly.

Best Italian food: It’s a tie between MIDA and SRV in the South End. They both do incredible Italian, and have wonderful cocktail lists with lots of Amari and vermouth. And they both have excellent fixed price menus, which is always fun.

Best dessert: Toscanini’s. I basically can’t drive by without stopping. If you think that long line isn’t worth the wait then you haven’t had the cocoa pudding ice cream.

Best pizza: Area Four — they make wood-fired pizza with the perfect thin, chewy crust. Great beer and cocktails as well.

Best spot for a quick lunch: Eventide in Fenway. The brown butter lobster roll will change your life.

Best food truck: Mei Mei. If you’ve ever had the Double Awesome (eggs, melty cheddar and pesto sandwiched between two scallion pancakes), you understand why.

Best spot for a romantic date: Ten Tables in Jamaica Plain. It’s an intimate spot with fantastic farm-to-table cuisine and carefully chosen wine pairings. Get the chef’s tasting menu!

Best glass of wine: I like to go to one of the little Italian cafes in the North End like Caffé Paradiso, get a glass of wine and a table by the sidewalk, and people watch.

Best Sunday brunch: Mamaleh’s or The Friendly Toast in Kendall Square.

Best spot for a power business meeting: The Oak Long Bar + Kitchen at the Fairmont Copley Plaza

Best cup of coffee: Thinking Cup – especially for the hazelnut latte.

Best craft cocktail: I could write a list a mile long for great cocktails in Boston, but my top two are Eastern Standard in Kenmore Square and Backbar in Union Square.

What hotel would you recommend for your out of town guests? The Fairmont Copley Plaza. The location is impossible to beat, and it oozes old-school charm.

Favorite shopping venue or boutique: On Centre in Jamaica Plain has everything from quirky gifts to adorable clothes and jewelry. I never pass by without stopping in to see what’s new.

Favorite charity event or organization: The MSPCA. They rescue everything from kittens to farm animals and find them good homes.

Favorite cultural event: Thirst Boston is an annual cocktail conference. The seminars and events are tons of fun, and they’re geared for newbies as well as cocktail experts.

Favorite cultural institution: The Harvard Museum of Natural History. This is partially because I’m a natural history nerd; the collection there is incredible, and it has a long and storied history. But the public exhibits are also quite remarkable for a university museum. It’s definitely worth a visit.

What’s the best museum or current exhibit in Boston? The The Museum of Fine Art's American Wing takes you through the history of American art from prehistoric to modern, one floor at a time. It’s really well done.

Best historic or iconic Boston landmark to see or explore: It’s a bit cliché, but you’ve got to walk the Freedom Trail, whether you’re a tourist or a resident. Seeing the sites of truly iconic moments in American history is pretty powerful, and it also takes you through some beautiful Boston neighborhoods, like Charlestown and the North End.

What’s your all-time favorite spot in Boston? Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park. When we lived in the North End, my husband and I would walk there with our dog on Saturdays and sit in the grass listening to a guitarist who would always perform by the water. There are probably more beautiful spots in the city, but this one is special to me.

The best aspect of Boston is: It’s a big city that never feels too big. It has so many distinct neighborhoods that each have their own unique feel. I’ve really loved exploring them one by one over the past ten years.

See more city guides from notable Bostonians:

• 'The Roaming Foodie' Blogger Joey Calcavecchia's Guide To Boston
• Nebo Chefs Christine and Carla Pallotta's Guide To Boston
• Celebrity Chef Jason Santos' Guide To Boston

Image Credit: Katie Stryjewski