H2Only – the new water-only tasting room on Third St. in Midtown Detroit – has been going gangbusters since opening last month.
“We knew people wanted a place where all they could get was water,” says owner Jan Natinsky-Kickenen, who also runs Strong, the all-spinach restaurant a few blocks away. “Other places claimed to be all water, but they hedged their bets with candy corn, apple slices, pimentos…”
At H2Only the only thing available is tap water – served 42 different ways, with each different cocktail named after a Detroit street.
Water cocktails have grown in popularity the past five months, and many culinary schools – including Sorbonnic in Newport, RI – are offering minor degrees in the art. One of the first to earn one is Pete, who hired into H2Only right after graduation.
A non-tall man with small round glasses who won’t give his last name, Pete stands behind the glass serving counter slowly pouring water from a small glass beaker into a larger one, his furrowed brow making it clear he’s doing important work. So important that he can’t be bothered to talk.
“He’s making a 34th Street,” says Natinski Kickenen on his behalf. “The water in the big beaker is 112 degrees, the smaller one is 58.” She says it can take up to 30 minutes to make one of the water cocktails. “If you’re in a hurry this isn’t the place for you,” she says.
Looking around the 64-seat room – walls painted pink and adorned with pictures of swimming fish that look annoyed – there are over 30 singles and couples enjoying various combinations of water
Courtesy of Natinski Kickenen, here’s the recipe for the 34th Street
Ingredients: 1 Cup of water; 1 one-ounce glass of water; 1 seven-inch beaker of water; 1 empty drinking glass; eye-dropper.
Instructions: Heat cup of water over single flame to 103 degrees; Pour half of cup into drinking glass; Allow other half to heat to 115 degrees, then fall to 98 degrees; Using eye dropper, place six drops from second half cup into drinking glass; Stir clockwise 10 seconds; Stir counter clockwise 18 seconds; Shake 3-inch beaker for 60 seconds, pour into drinking glass; Using eye dropper, place 11 drops from second half cup into drinking glass; DISPOSE IMMEDIATELY of unused half cup of water; Allow drinking glass to sit for 2 minutes, 20 seconds; Serve.
