food fixation: Arnold Palmer, a.k.a. 50/50
Wednesday, May 11, 2005 9:21
Skimming Trader Joe’s Fearless Flyer last night reminded me that some parts of the country deem iced tea and the Arnold Palmer (iced tea’s lemonade-sweetened sibling) seasonal beverages. That doesn’t seem to be the case here in Los Angeles where iced tea flows freely in restaurants year-round. Quite frankly, that’s one of the reasons I love living and eating in L.A. I’m all about a good Arnold Palmer, or as some folks call it, the “50/50.”
You may be thinking, Iced tea and lemonade, what’s the big deal? But I assure you, there are so many variations, and potential missteps when combining ingredients for this drink. I have had 50/50s in L.A. that are too sweet, bland, pulpy, weak, watery, too tart and too bitter. Nonetheless, I’m always willling to try a new spin on a classic.
Peet’s Coffee & Tea, for example, serves up an inspired 50/50 called a Jasmine Lime Cooler. In this case it is a drink you can only get in the summer months because Peet’s uses Odwalla’s seasonal Summertime Limeade to sweeten its jasmine scented green tea. I most recently was in a Peet’s store in San Francisco and I was pleased to see that the Jasmine Lime Cooler is back on the menu in time for spring.
My latest 50/50 discovery was really a no-brainer. I went to Clementine for a late, if quick, lunch yesterday. Like most everything at Clementine the Arnold Palmers are super. Clementine’s uses a tropical fruit tea and the lemonade is, of course, freshly made. It’s an accomplished if somewhat traditional take on the tart summery fresh drink and it has a nice caffeine kick. I even bought a second 50/50 after lunch for the drive back to work. The search for the tastiest and/or most inspired Arnold Palmer in L.A. is ongoing, so if you have any recommendations, please share them.
Clementine
1751 Ensley Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90024
310-552-1080
jonah says:
May 11th, 2005 at 11:47 am
Starbucks has recently jumped into the game too with their “Shaken Iced Teas”. The do them with lemonade and offer it with or without extra sugar (on top of what is already in the lemonade). They are decent, but overpriced in my opinion.
sugar plum fairy says:
May 11th, 2005 at 1:30 pm
They’re pretty common-place so I guess a good one is all a matter of taste. But I really like Susina’s on Beverly at La Brea.
Why We Type says:
May 11th, 2005 at 9:06 pm
Mostly, I’m glad to see a post to what is my main drink in life, besides water and glasses of liquor. And at first glance I was afraid this was an endorsement of TJ’s Arnie Palmer in a bottle–because it’s one thing they do not do well.
Thanks for the tip about Peets. Sounds awesome. And even thanks to Jonah, I wouldn’t have even thought about getting my drink on at Starbux. I might just give them some business (but please–added sugar??).
SoCalorie says:
May 11th, 2005 at 9:31 pm
You know what? I think I had a *$ “shaken” iced tea but I immediately went into a sugar coma and forgot the taste.
Sugar Plum, I have tried Susina’s, but I have this memory of the server pulling out a clear plastic jug of artificially yellow ‘ade and it scared me off. If I’m going to cough up the the dough I’d like legit lemons involved in my drink.
WWT, I’ve never had TJ’s bottled AP. Thanks to you I probably never will.
jonah says:
May 11th, 2005 at 9:46 pm
Cheesecake Factory has a suprisingly good Arnold Palmer, good mix of tasty lemonade and fresh iced tea. Plus, they serve them nice and cold, which I think is a plus with the AP.
SoCalorie says:
May 11th, 2005 at 11:02 pm
Absofarginlutely. Must be cold!
Faeza says:
September 19th, 2007 at 12:33 pm
The Peets Jasmine Lime Cooler is actually not a 50/50. It’s 2 parts Jasmine Green Tea to 2 parts Odwalla Limeade to 1 part Odwalla Lemonade.