The other night I found myself at
Nopa, a San Francisco restaurant known for its great food and
equally respectable drinks. My drink of choice was the pisco sour, the slightly sweet, tart, frothy lemon cocktail made with
pisco, a regional South American brandy. This is a wonderful concoction and I'm excited to re-create it at home.If you don't own pisco, you can find it at a well-stocked liquor store or
online.
Although every dish on the menu for my
movie club meeting features corn, I couldn't find a corn cocktail recipe. Thus, I looked for a refreshing concoction that would pair with the
corn cakes and corn and zucchini pizzettas. This tequila sunrise punch is quick and simple to make for a crowd.
Last night, I popped the cork on this
2003 Columbia Crest Walter Clore Private Reserve Red ($35). The wine wasn't a single varietal (like Syrah or
Zinfandel), but rather a Bordeaux-style blend of several different grapes. Red wine from France's Bordeaux region implies a blend of several different varietals, including Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
The other day while searching for the ultimate piña colada recipe, I came across this recipe for a piña colada mojito. Intrigued, I decided to find out how lime and mint combine with pineapple and coconut. The final result was absolutely divine, a refreshing mix of tart, sweet, and creamy flavors.
Last night, I dined at a local
Burmese cafe with a friend. While we went there for dinner, which was delicious, I wound up getting tipsy on these beer drinks called Burma coolers.
With a lemon zing and tangy ginger finish, they were wildly refreshing, so I tried to re-create them at home.
If you are looking for a refreshing, celebratory sparkling wine that won't break the bank, I highly recommend
Fantinel Prosecco ($12.99). Uncomplicated and light, this Prosecco makes an excellent aperitif or a delightful
bellini.
It has a pale straw color, a subtle touch of sweetness, and a citrus floral aroma.
In a memorable scene from
last night's episode of AMC's
Mad Men, advertising copywriter (and main character) Don Draper,
who's known to drink on the job, instructs his 6-year-old daughter Sally how to prepare a Tom Collins for guests.
This
gin sour drink, first created in the late 1800s, was a popular
Summer sipper in the '50s and '60s, when it was known as "the king of cooling drinks." While it's currently fallen out of favor, perhaps the scene makes a suggestion that it's time to bring back this maraschino-topped crowd-pleaser. To get the classic recipe, .
[recipe|nid=1842068]
Source
During the Summer's peach season, I love to enjoy bellinis. Similar to a mimosa, a bellini is Prosecco diluted with fresh white-peach puree. When made with perfectly ripe peaches, this glamorous cocktail is slightly sweet and delicately bubbly.
Lately I've been into making cocktails with rum. I'm sick of vodka drinks and have since started experimenting with the Latin libation. For the
waterpark party, I plan on mixing up this refreshing rum punch.
If you haven't used watermelon to make a cool cocktail (or
icy popsicle!), I highly recommend you do so soon. Summer is the perfect time for watermelon cocktails because the melons are insanely ripe and deliciously sweet.
While you could use a margarita mix, it doesn't take that long to puree fresh melon in a blender.
