Cocktail Confessions

Boston’s “Pink Palace” once served as a restroom.

Now it will serve sandwiches.

City officials announced Wednesday that the 1920s Gothic structure on Boston Common best known as an unused men’s lavatory has been leased to become a restaurant.

Earl of Sandwich, a Florida-based chain, signed a 15-year-contract to convert the structure into a takeout joint, scheduled to open later this year or early next year following renovations.

Supporters of the deal figure the idea of a latrine-turned-fast-food stop actually won’t be too unsettling, considering the 660-square-foot “Palace” hasn’t been used as a restroom in decades.

“This is a great opportunity to transform a unique unused space into an active business, while contributing to the vitality of the Boston Common,” Boston Parks Department commissioner Toni Pollak said in a statement.

“This project will allow us to preserve a historic building while also bringing new life to the park for all visitors to enjoy.” Promoted as having the “world’s greatest hot sandwich,” the Earl of Sandwich has 13 locations, including one at Massachusetts’ Logan International Airport.

Two Australian companies claim to have developed the very first space beer, news.com.au reported Tuesday. Perhaps we are one step closer to Romulan Ale after all.

Saber Astronautics Australia has teamed up with the Four Pines Brewing Company to develop the very first beer that can be consumed safely in space in preparation for the supposed space tourism industry that is expected to start very soon. While perhaps a novel idea, I can’t help think this is slightly premature and more of a marketing gimmick than anything else.

Jaron Mitchell, founder of Four Pines, said the creation of space beer was an event for the history books.

“Wherever humans have journeyed to throughout history in the last few thousand years, we first worry about water, food, shelter and clothing,” he told Aussie news website news.com.au. “In many cases beer is the next consideration soon after the above four.”

“This is a modern day voyage, similar to the voyage and creation of the ‘pale ale as prepared for India’ in the 1800s, or what is now referred to as the India Pale Ale.

The brew gets its name “Vostok” after the first manned spaceflight back in 1961.

Apparently, according to the article, human biology changes in zero gravity conditions. The tongue swells, the senses dull — altering the way food and drink tastes.

“We also wanted to make the beer good to drink on earth as well. So the idea is you can drink this beer anywhere in the universe,” said Dr Jason Held, director of Saber Astronautics Australia.

Saber picked a high-flavored beer as a baseline recipe to ensure that space travelers could enjoy the full flavor of the smoky Irish-style stout, no matter how long the flight duration.   Too bad they didn’t spend as much time or effort on the logo (looks pretty lame if you ask me…but chances are, you aren’t).

Four Pines Brewing Company is a microbrewery, bar and restaurant based in Manly, Sydney.