When I visited Xiao Bao Biscuit for the first time, I was on a mission to get out of my cocktail comfort zone (AKA tequila) and try something completely new. I definitely accomplished that, because the cocktail I chose came with a warning from the waitress. She told me, “this may sting a little,” (hence the name Sichuan Sting) and I still went for it anyway.
bring on the sting
You learn something new every day and on this particular evening I learned that Sichuan peppercorns make your mouth tingly. When I first took a sip, I didn’t think I felt anything, and then the “sting” set in. Other people (who didn’t receive the warning I did) thought they were having some sort of allergic reaction when they took a sip. I think it compares more to the tingle you get from Pop Rocks #nostalgic. I am glad our waitress was kind enough to inform me of the sting to come.
Although being “stung” by a cocktail doesn’t sound pleasant, I really enjoyed it. It was something I’ve never experienced before, so it kept me coming back for more. Besides the slight sting (more like a tingle), this cocktail had a refreshing tartness from the lemon juice and the ginger beer brought the fizz to the party.
sticky rice and everything nice
To complement the Sichuan Sting, I had a variety of small plates from Xiao Bao. My favorite bites of the night were the pork dumplings (Chao Shou) and the spicy green papaya salad (Som Tum). The pork dumplings were in a spicy and rich broth, which made the dish very satisfying and filling. In contrast, the Som Tum salad was light and very spicy, so definitely don’t get it if you can’t handle spice. We also got a side of sticky rice, which cooled down the heat of the Som Tum.
Xiao Bao has such a wide variety of plates and cocktails that you could try a new thing every time you go. That being said, I would get the Sichuan Sting over and over again and it’s definitely #BoozeApproved. If you’re looking for a completely unique cocktail, they have you covered.
