The Belmont Stakes ~ The Belmont Breeze

The Belmont Breeze

(makes 2 drinks)

4 1/2 oz Bourbon (I used Bulleit)

7 oz Lemonade

4 oz Pomegranate Juice

add all ingredients to a shaker full of ice and pour into low-ball glasses on the rocks, garnish with lemon slice. 

The Belmont is the 3rd race in the Triple Crown of horse racing. This last stop of the triple crown is the longest race, 1 1/2 miles, and is the oldest of the races, this year being the 146th running. It is held in Elkmont, NY on the 1st Saturday in June, so drink up Johnnie!  

Thinking back to the late 90's, it still smarts a bit when I think of my friend Tracey Taylor, who lived in Manhattan at the time, calling me one day, while I was living in Philly, telling me to get a big hat. She reported that she had tickets to the Belmont, to which I politely, and embarrassingly enough, declined in favor of relaxing on my weekend off. WTF is all I have to say to that misguided 30-something year old girl!  It was an important lesson however, because I often summons this particular event regret as a personal cautionary tale, to never turn down experiential opportunities just because I am a touch tired.  DRINK A DOUBLE ESPRESSO ON THE ROCKS AND CARPE DIEM LYNNIE! 

There are 3 quasi-official cocktails of the Belmont, so I will, when I can actually bring myself to buy Harvey's Bristol cream, feature the other two in coming years.  The Belmont's official flower is the white carnation, which I also need to make peace with.  In years gone by, if a man brought me carnations as a floral declaration of interest or love, he was thoroughly and unceremoniuosly rebuffed in favor of the gentleman caller who drank Fernet Branca and brought me orchids.  I snobbishly digress....

Drink a Belmont Breeze June 7th, the day of the Belmont and root for California Chrome! 

CHEERS! 

The Pink Skinny Dragon

The Pink Skinny Dragon

 (makes 2 drinks)

3 oz      Gin or Vodka
6 oz      Vitamin Water Zero, Dragonfruit 
3 oz      Minute Made 15 Lemonade
             Juice of 2 limes
             Club Soda

Combine the 1st four ingredients in a cocktail shaker, gently shake and pour mixture over crushed ice, top off with a heavy splash of club soda and garnish with a lime wheel.

I purposely made this drink pink. I am dedicating this low-calorie cocktail and this blog entry to all of the women who are fighting or have fought breast cancer. Specifically, a women I know who is presently in the trenches of her fight, Dina Hunter. She has shown such courage, veracity and grace--I am in awe of her.  So cheers to you Dina and to every woman and family that if affected by this diagnosis. 


These are my favorite Breast Cancer Slogans:

a feel a day keeps the doctor away

feel for lumps, save your bumps

cancer survivors are sexy

save a life, grope your wife

the breast is yet to come

thanks for the mammories

stop the war in my rack

yes my boobs are fake, me real ones tried to kill me



Please get involved with or donate to an organization and don't forget to get felt up!

http://www.komensacramento.org

The Preakness Stakes ~ Black Eyed Susan

Black~Eyed Susan

(Makes 2 large or 4 small drinks)

5 oz Bourbon (I used Makers Mark)

1 1/2 oz Vodka (I used Kettle One)

6 oz House-Made Sweet & Sour Mix 

(see recipe below)

4 oz Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice

(Thanks MaryLynn Franzia for sharing fruit from your tree!)

1 oz Fresh Lemon Juice 

(2 oz of you prefer a more tart drink, as I do)   

Pour all ingredients in cocktail shaker with ice, pour in small Mason jars, garnish with cherries 

you can also add a Bourbon float to this drink

Citrus is so variable in terms of sweetness, so you may need to adjust the recipe to your taste.  You may need to add extra juice, or a little more Bourbon or simple syrup. I put all the ingredients in the cocktail shaker, and before I serve it, I pour a schoch into a small glass to taste and then make the necessary additions.

CHEERS!

The Preakness Stakes is the second race, after the Kentucky Derby and before the Belmont Stakes, in the Triple Crown. This is the official drink of the Preakness. I love Mint Juleps, the drink of the Kentucky Derby, but each race has an official drink and I finally tried this one. Watching California Chrome, which is from near where I live, was so exciting! And that local win was made all the sweeter with a dark-eyed Susie in my hand.
Another reason for my affection for this drink is because of the flower it is named after. My mother pointed these whimsical flowers out to me as a child, and they were abundant in Montgomery, Alabama where I grew up.  They, along with most flowers, remind me of my mom and my grandmother. 

Sweet & Sour Mix:
equal parts fresh squeezed lemon juice and simple syrup, shake vigorously 

139th Running of the Preakness

California Chrome!

Standard Breakfast

STANDARD BREAKFAST ~ Makes 2 drinks

2 oz Vodka (or Glenlivet Scotch)                         

1 1/2 oz of Meletti (or Cynar)

2 oz fresh lemon juice

4 oz of fresh Ruby Red grapefruit juice

3 Tb homemade cherry grenadine (recipe follows)

Shake in cocktail shaker full of ice and serve up with a lemon wedge garnish.

I was in Philly a week ago for my friend's wedding. I stayed with my BFF Joe and since he makes it his business to keep up with the restaurant scene, he knew that the chef at a.kitchen was voted one of the best new chefs in the country. Excitedly enough, we went there for dinner. The food was sublimely innovative and delicious, but of course, I was happily anticipating the cocktail selections out of the gate. We ordered several cocktails between the 4 of us to try & share and the Standard Breakfast was the clear winner. 

The cocktail at the restaurant was made with Scotch. I tried making it with the Scotch I had in my bar, but it was too peaty for this cocktail, overpowering the rest of the flavors.  I tried it with vodka and it is still delicious. However, I think Glenlivet is smooth enough and would add a depth of flavor.  Also, the original cocktail called for Meletti, an Italian amaro. Sadly, Meletti was nowhere to be found around where I live.  I substituted another liquor in the amaro category that I love, Cynar.   I have played chemist for 2 days so that the girls I am going to Santa Cruz with this weekend could get a taste of Philly, a place I love, filled with people I love and miss. 

Homemade cherry grenadine
1 cup pure cherry juice
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
5 drops of orange flower water

heat cherry juice before boiling, add sugar, dissolve, remove from heat and add lemon juice and orange flower water. Let cool to room temperature, then refrigerate for up to 2 weeks. 

Additional use: I added 2 Tb to a large glass of Pellegrino and my daughter loved it. 

CHEERS! 

a.kitchen
our dinner

Aviation

AVIATION

(Makes 1 Drink)

3 oz Dry Gin (The Botanist Gin is recommended)
1  1/2 oz Crème de Violette
2 oz fresh SOUR lemon juice
1 oz fresh MEYER lemon juice
1  1/2 tsp Agave nectar
1 tsp. Luxardo Marachino liqueur (optional)

Add all ingredients to a shaker full of ice, shake and serve up with meyer lemon wheel.

Spring is the perfect time for such fragrant cocktails.

I got this recipe from The White House Tavern in Aspen, Co. I was there a couple of weeks ago skiing with my Philly peeps and this was a stop on our self-created Aspen restaurant/bar crawl one late afternoon.

I have been a fan of Crème de Violette since I read about it in Jason Wilson's Boozehound and promptly sped to the store to purchase some.  This was the first time, excitingly enough, that I have seen it make an appearance on a cocktail menu.  I imagine if Crème de Violette were a person, she would certainly wear a flower in her hair and curtsy upon entering a room.  It is produced in Austria from Queen Charlotte and March violets, both of which are found in the Alps. How charming, yes?

I like to add small amounts of Crème de Violette to Pellegrino for a floral summer water.

It is also visually beautiful and delicious added to Champagne with a tiny lemon twist.

Since today is St. Patrick's Day and I guess I should be featuring Irish whiskey, or at the very least, some green concoction…..maybe put some green food coloring in this?

CHEERS!

Spanish Kiss

Spanish Kiss
(makes 1 large drink to share or 2 martini-sized drinks)

2 oz Vodka
3 oz Fresh Meyer Lemon Juice
1 tsp. Simple Syrup
1 1/2 oz Pedro Ximenez Dessert Sherry (PX)

2 generous pours of Ginger beer

Put first 4 ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice, shake vigorously
pour up, top with ginger beer


Valentine's Day may be over, but you can keep the romance alive with this sumptuous drink after your next ceremonial dinner. 

This drink is form The Salt House in San Francisco and is again, one of those drinks that make you ponder the interesting blend of flavors. 

I discovered Pedro Ximenez on my honeymoon in Madrid. We had dinner at Zalacain, heralded at the time as one of the best restaurants in Europe. What we didn't know is that NOT ONE SOUL spoke English in this place. Before you roll your eyes, mentally chiding me for inexcusable philistinism, know that I grew up on the east coast and took French all through high school and college. I erronesouly assumed that my new husband, who grew up in California, would know enough Spanish to get us around Madrid. WRONG!  After a lot of pointing, an uncomfortable exchange, trying to explain we didn't want the 15-course meal that included intestinal treats, we were mentally spent.  The bright spot in the meal was our Sommelier.  He was charming, with his silver necklace tasting cup draped proudly around his neck and he gave us plenty of gracious smiles.  And more importunity, he introduced us to Pedro Ximenez after dinner. I was transported, away from the overly-served fried ham balls that we had been served at every tapas place across the city.  Oh! THIS! This sherry drifted me, and my mouth, to some happy Spanish netherworld of consciousness, as the rich, sweetly luxurious liquid slid off my tongue and down my throat.  I had never tasted anything like it. The sherry is made by drying the grapes in the hot sun, concentrating the sugar.  Vin Santo, Amarone  and other straw method wines dry the fruit on matts in the sun to achieve that dark, prune fruit.  This is just another lovely example of the treasures the earth and sun produce for our drinking pleasure. 

When my mom was visiting we made a flan and drank with the PX that my friend Virgie gave me. Perfect pairing.  So when you buy a bottle, make a Spanish Kiss, then make a flan the next day and enjoy the rest of the bottle. 

WARNING: May cause conception


"If penicillin can cure those that are ill, Spanish sherry can bring the dead back to life." 
- Sir Alexander Fleming

Cheers! 

Smoking Goat

Smoking Goat

Makes 1 Drink

2 oz Noah's Mill Bourbon
1 oz Campari
2 oz Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur
2 Tb Fresh Orange Juice
3/4 Tb Agave Nectar
3 dashes of Peychaud Bitters

(1/2 shot glass of Macallan 10 for a rinse)

Pour Bourbon into a cocktail shaker that is 1/2 full of ice, add remaining ingredients and shake vigorously.  In a low ball glass, pour the Macallen scotch and swirl to coat the inside of the glass, fill with crushed ice then strain drink over the ice and garnish with orange. 

Important Note: this cocktail is for someone who enjoys libations on the bitter end of things, like a Negroni, for example. If you are a Cosmo drinker you might want to skip this one. 

Notes:
One of my very favorite people, David, was working in Hawaii for the last few weeks, dining out regularly with clients.  One night, he sent me a photo of the cocktail menu from the Salt Bar & Kitchen in Honolulu. He had ordered, and very much liked, the Smoking Goat, which listed Rye Whiskey, Aperol, Luxardo, Lagavulin 16 & Mole bitters as the blend.  Since I didn't have Rye, only had Campari and, more importantly, didn't have the time to gather the long list of unbelievably esoteric ingredients to make the mole bitters, I made my own version with what I already had in my bar.  This goat smoker is a VERY interesting combination,  I would say a great choice for a pre-dinner cocktail, which has the magic to prepare your appetite in the most perfect of ways.

CHEERS!