New 'Notorious F.I.G.' Drink Takes 3 Weeks For Jersey City Restaurant To Craft

JERSEY CITY, NJ — When the staff at the relatively new The Table restaurant — opened last summer by Jersey City chef Dan Latham — had a "case of bourbon figs that were too overwhelming to use on their own," they got creative.

They crafted a fruity spring cocktail premiering this week, "The Notorious F.I.G."

The twist is that the process of crafting it takes three weeks.

Executive chef Dan Latham and bar manager Juan Arboleda joined forces for the drink, said a restaurant spokesman.

"Chef Latham was getting ready to make fruit jam from scratch," said a spokesperson. "He decided to pair the bourbon figs with strawberries and ginger to create a homemade jam. Juan found its aroma so incredible that he knew he had to make a cocktail with it."

So why exactly does it take three weeks?

According to the restaurant, "The figs need to ripen until just slightly firm. The fig's stem is then cut off, sliced top to bottom and set on a parchment lined pan flesh-side up. In a slow oven, we bake for about 20 minutes until the natural sugar starts to ooze out. We then let them cool and they’re placed carefully in a ceramic container, where we gently pour Misguided Bourbon Spirit to cover the fruit. It’s then stored for three weeks in The Table’s dark wine cellar."

And then, "After three weeks, the figs are strained from the whiskey. We use the whiskey to create another cocktail on our menu, and the figs are then made into jam with strawberries and ginger to balance out the figs’ intense flavor. The jam is cooked for several hours until it thickens and sets.

"The drink is then prepared and served with three warm figs – infused with strawberry and ginger – across the rim of the glass. The best way to enjoy it is to take a sip of the cold cocktail and then a bite of one of the warm figs, or vice versa."

The drink will appear on their menu starting today, April 16, and goes for $15.

Soon, they'll also offer "tips on how to drink it and what to pair it with on The Table’s menu," so Patch will have to follow up.

Jersey City's Growing West Side

Latham's previous restaurant, Latham House, closed last year. He opened The Table in 3 Acres, a new development on Jersey City's growing west side. (Read more about the development and its retail offerings here.)

• RELATED: Here are 5 North Jersey Restaurants That Opened In March 2024
• RELATED: Latham House Closes, To Reopen As The Table

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