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14 Chefs Reveal Their Secret Hangover Cures

Unlike most of us, chefs know how to whip up a remedy fast.

By Chris Dudley
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It happens, even to—some would say, especially to—culinary experts. Chefs keep weird hours. The work is hard and the nights are late. Plus there's the inherent sense of community found both intra- and inter-restaurant. A late night, lots of friends, a sense of relief. But moonlight pleasure becomes early morning pain; chefs get hangovers, too. The difference is, they know what to whip up to ease the headaches, nausea, and grogginess. Some treatments are good for you, others contain tequila. All 14 of them are purported to work.

The Cure: Espresso and Cold Brew

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Chef Alvin Cailan of Eggslut in Los Angeles, California

"It goes from a shot of espresso to a cup of cold brew—and it has to be in this order. You have to take the shot of espresso, you have to finish the glass of cold brew, and then you have to eat an egg sandwich. Then it's gone. I think it was the amount of caffeine and then the temperature changes that helped me. And then because you're ingesting so much caffeine, you have to have the sandwich to hold it down. It's never ever failed me."

The Cure: Michelada and an Egg Sandwich

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Chef Nick Korbee of Egg Shop in New York, New York

"Michelada—Michelada does really good things—and an egg sandwich. I think the more calories and a little bit of alcohol you can get is probably my go-to hangover cure.

The Cure: A Joint (and Other Things)

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Anthony Bourdain of CNN's Parts Unknown

"Aspirin, cold Coca Cola, smoke a joint, eat some spicy Szechuan food. Works every time."

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The Cure: Michelada

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Chef Braden Wages of Malai Kitchen in Dallas, Texas

"When I'm trying to beat a hangover, I want hydration and rejuvenation. A Michelada has subtle spices, citrus, and vegetables that refresh the senses without being overly rich or viscous like a Bloody Mary."

The Cure: Sweet Tea

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Chef John Ondo of Lana Restaurant and Bar in Charleston, South Carolina

"I'm not a coffee drinker, so sweet tea has always been my morning pick-me-up. If I've been over-served, I've got two ways to get myself back on track: I'll start with an Airborne or an Emergen-C, which will give my immune system a boost with a ton of vitamin C. Then it's onto the sweet tea. After a few glasses, the caffeine helps with the headache and the sugar will give me a shot of energy. If I've really done myself in, I'll resort to a Michelada or Red Eye (beer and Bloody Mary). After two of those, I usually have a rebate buzz and it's naptime: 90 minutes minimum, and two hours maximum."

The Cure: Powdered Green Smoothie

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Chef Sarah Gavigan of POP Nashville in Nashville, Tennessee

"These days, I rely heavily on the power of caffeine, and I know a green smoothie is going to give me the good stuff I need. I buy concentrated cold filtered coffee and I add it to whatever green smoothie I can make. Cocoa powder and mint make the most delicious and soothing combo."

Ingredients:

1 (or 2) shots cold brewed Icebox Coffee

1 handful spinach

1 scoop hemp hearts

1 scoop cocoa powder

1 frozen banana (get banana super ripe, then peel and freeze)

3 to 4 leaves fresh mint

To make:

Blend and drink.

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The Cure: The Daywalker

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Chef Erik Niel of Easy Bistro & Bar in Chattanooga, Tennessee

"I drink the Daywalker, a non-alcoholic drink made with Mexican Coca-Cola, one shot of espresso, lime juice, and a dash of simple syrup and bitters. It really gets you going after a long night, and the sugar helps with any sort of headache."

The Cure: Mezcal Bloody Mary

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Chef Louis Maldonado of Spoonbar in Healdsburg, California

"Mezcal and Bloody Mary mix. Mezcal kind of settles your stomach, but me and most hungover people won't be able to drink it straight. I go with 50/50 mezcal and Bloody Mary mix, juice of a lime, and enough Tabasco to make my mouth burn."

The Cure: Juice and Squirt Soda

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Chef Troy Guard of TAG Restaurant Group in Denver, Colorado

"If it's available, I like to juice apple, beets, and kale, and mix it with Squirt. That's my go-to drink. I feel the fresh juices of fruits, vegetables, vitamins, and iron are key, but I also think a little sugar and bubbles help, too."

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The Cure: Shellfish Broth

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Michael Serpa of SELECT Oyster Bar in Boston, Massachusetts

"I swear by shellfish broth with clams, mussels, prawns, maybe a poached egg, and tons of buttered bread to help soak the liquid up."

The Cure: Harvey Wallbanger

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Chef Adam Geringer-Dunn of Greenpoint Fish & Lobster Co. in Brooklyn, New York

"My go-to is the Harvey Wallbanger from Juice Press. It has cold brewed coffee, banana, almond milk, and agave. I need the caffeine when I'm hungover, and it's not too sweet, easy on the stomach, and the banana really helps."

The Cure: Green Goddess Juice

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Owner and executive chef Kim Canteenwalla of Andiron Steak & Sea in Las Vegas, Nevada

"I swear by my Green Goodness Juice. It's essentially a salad in a glass: kale, apples, fennel, cucumber, celery, lemon, and ginger."

Ingredients:

½ bunch kale

1 Fuji apple

1 cucumber

1 stalk celery, peeled

1 cup parsley

Handful of fennel fronds

1 inch piece of ginger

½ fennel bulb

Juice of 1 lemon

To make:

Push all ingredients through a juicer into a pitcher, add lemon juice at end, and serve in a chilled glass.

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The Cure: Breakfast Concoction

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Chef/partner Thomas Kelly of Mexicue Kitchen & Bar in New York, New York

"I'm not sure how much of this hangover cure concoction is based on science, but it seems to work for me after a rough night. It has some classic breakfast ingredients (eggs and OJ), but reworked in drink form. The chilies in this recipe are key—that's what really gets the blood going and wakes you up. I use whole dried Pequin, but you can just as easily use any dried red chili."

Ingredients:

1 raw egg white

1 ½ ounces fresh squeezed orange juice

1-3 whole dried chilies (depending on how much heat you can take)

1/2 ounce fresh squeezed lime juice

1 1/2 ounce vodka (we prefer Bar Hill Vodka distilled with honey)

Orange wedge

To make:

Add egg white, orange juice, chilies, lime juice, and vodka to a cocktail shaker.

Fill with ice and shake vigorously for 30 seconds.

Strain into an ice-filled high ball and top off with soda water.

Garnish with orange wedge.

The Cure: Iced Coffee

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Jeff Mahin of M Street Kitchen in Santa Monica, California

"After a long night out, a great way to jump start my day is with an iced coffee with three Nuun sports tablets (cola flavor). The coffee gives me a caffeine boost, and the Nuun tablets help replenish electrolytes."

The Cure: Beer

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Chef Kevin Sippel of Jockey Hollow Bar & Kitchen in Morristown, New Jersey

"I recommend treating your hangover with a proper elixir: Coors. Not Silver Bullets, mind you, but the real deal."

From: Esquire US
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