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Though it feels like we’ll never revive, there are ways to beat back the hangover beast. Your local bartenders have many tricks up their sleeve – they are, after all, used to nursing their customers — and themselves – back to health.
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We asked a few of our neighborhood bartenders their most effective techniques. May they serve you well.
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Credit: Bill Hogan
Credit: Bill Hogan
Vitamin Water, miso soup, Chinese buffet, booze
Amber Brady serves up delicious (and dangerous) cocktails at Lily's Bistro, and offered up her step-by-step process for recovery:
“For me, hangover remedies are an intricate ritual of as many 'cures' as I can possibly ingest,” Brady said. Try one, some or all of the following with her recommendations:
"Revive" Vitamin Water. "This is a must. This purple potion is packed full of B vitamins, potassium and electrolytes. All things your body is begging for. If the store is out, shed a single tear and get another flavor; however, Revive is where it's at."
Coconut water. "Tons of electrolytes and hydration goodness. Just pound one. Sure way to get some moisture back into your poor dehydrated body."
Miso soup. "I know the sodium is a throw off here, but it actually helps you retain water. Lots of good vitamins and minerals here too, plus it's just a feel good soup."
Tons of water. "You should be drinking water throughout your boozy adventures, but let's be real, that rarely happens. So at the very least, chug as much as you can before bed. Then chug one more glass. When you wake up, drink it all day. Force yourself. After your Revive and coconut water, of course."
Food. "Once you can eat, feed the beast. When the battle of the hangover comes to the point where I can eat, I eat tons of food. Preferably Chinese buffet, or if I'm not capable of removing myself from my cave of shame, get Chinese delivery. Go all out. You're going to need to eat it like three times that day."
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Credit: HANDOUT
Credit: HANDOUT
The classic hair of the dog. "This isn't always possible, especially if you are also nursing a 'shameover' and you've done or said things that will not allow you to be seen in public for a few days. However, if you can, my go-to hangover booze is a shot of whiskey, a beermosa, or at Lily's, we offer the fine cocktail 'Corpse Reviver #2,' (made with Citadelle gin, Lillet blanc, lemon juice, orange liqueur, Pernod rinse, and Luxardo cherry garnish). However, it comes with the warning that too many will just put you back where you started. It's delicious and one or two of these really does help ease the pain!"
A little bubbly could do the trick
Corner Kitchen bartender Callie Young admits that she is "terrible at being hungover."
“I usually just lay in bed all day,” she wrote. “If I do drink, it is champagne with grapefruit juice and then some Taco Bell.”
Food and lifestyle blogger Tess Vella-Collette, also a contributor to Dayton.com, gave a rundown of her hangover cure routine.
- "First of all, a shower is essential. It sounds terrible, but once you get in there, let the steam hit you, and reflect on your bad decisions from the night before; you can wash it all away and start again.
- Second, champagne. I don't like to muddy something already perfect with fruit juice, so no mimosas for me.
- Third, a runny egg – in ramen doesn't hurt.
- Fourth: I must spend the rest of the day horizontal. Hulu is my friend."
Credit: Business Wire photo/William Berry/ AJC Special
Credit: Business Wire photo/William Berry/ AJC Special
Amateur hour: Dayton.com's personal cures
Lastly, we may not be bartenders in our day jobs, but several of us served plenty of time in the restaurant business to pick up a few tricks to getting the job done while feeling less than amazing. Plus, college. The following is a sampling of our staff recommendations.
- "Smart Water. Lots of it. If you have pickles in the fridge, sip that pickle juice. Fill your belly with Stouffer's Macaroni and Cheese. But the all-time winner when you need to revive in a hurry is a glass of ginger ale with a few dashes of Angostura bitters, any flavor. At almost 45 percent alcohol, even just a touch of these bitters will bring you back to life."
- "Two huge glasses of water and Tylenol before bed. Also, Gatorade the next day, especially if you were too drunk to remember to drink water and have Tylenol before bed."
- "Bagels and Bloody Marys. Plus, heavy lounging and Netflix."
- "Dry Life cereal and Gatorade. If you can afford it, upgrade to Pedialyte: world of difference. They even make Pedialyte popsicles and suckers."
From the Dayton.com staff to all of you: Good luck, and wishing you a speedy recovery.
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