Cocktails

David Lebovitz is a genius.  A pastry chef by training, he is much more.  After years in the business and many at Chez Panisse under the watchful eye of Alice Waters, Lebovitz left the restaurant business and moved Paris to pursue writing. To date, he has written eight amazing books–and not just about cooking. He was […]

There are many occasions when a Bloody Mary is the perfect beverage: Sunday brunch, family gatherings, a long cross-country flight, and during lunch while skiing on a cold winter day.  Truthfully, I have always loved a good Bloody Mary, I think mainly because they are salty–and I do love salt.  In Wisconsin, where I went […]

This beauty is a jalapeño gimlet and it’s got just the right amount of kick.  A gimlet is a classic cocktail and is known as a martini’s sweeter cousin. A classic gimlet is made with gin and fresh lime juice.  As with many other cocktails (e.g. the Tom Collins), replace gin with vodka and you have a […]

Smooth and refined deliciousness. The Sazerac, credited as being one of the first true cocktails, is a New Orleans take on a traditional rye cocktail. The Federation puts a further spin on the Sazerac.  The combination of Anejo tequila instead of rye mixed with creme de cacao leads to a sweeter, richer, cocktail with a […]

Have you ever had Lillet?  If the answer is no, you’ve been missing out. Pronounced “li’ leh,” it is a French aperitif created in 1887 by Paul and Raymon Lillet from Podensac, just outside of the Bordeaux region in France.  Lillet, considered a “tonic wine” (or quinquina), is a blend of 85% Bordeaux region wines and […]

Who said hot chocolate is only for kids?  I don’t think so.  Also called hot cocoa or drinking chocolate, this warm sweet, beverage is synonymous with winter, holidays, skiing, skating, and sledding.  I’m from the East Coast, and I went to college in Wisconsin.  Hot chocolate was a quintessential go-to beverage in sub-zero temperatures.  Even […]

Eggnog is something people love or hate, there’s no in-between.  In its traditional form, eggnog is a rich, creamy, sweet, often very caloric holiday drink that can be served either hot or cold, enjoyed straight-up or spiked with rum, whisky, or Kahlua, and typically served with whipped cream and a dash of nutmeg on top. […]

This is a cranberry-orange whisky sour and it’s a great specialty cocktail for holiday parties.  A whisky sour is a classic bourbon drink that is subtly sweet and sour at the same time.  If you ask a bartender, a traditional whisky sour is one of the simplest cocktails that you can get that is still called a […]

Where has mulled wine been all my life?  This is a brilliant solution to a cold winter day and is perfect for the holiday season.  Despite my late introduction to mulled wine, this hot fruity beverage has been around since before the 8th century.  In the 1800’s, a holiday drink similar to mulled wine gained […]

Are you ready for Thursday? The holiday season is in full swing.  Holiday parties and family gatherings are arriving at a steady clip.  If you’re hosting anything, this post is for you.  Sangria is a fantastic holiday cocktail option and if made with a good red wine and a little brandy, it can be elegant, […]

Sometimes you need to make a change.  A twist on the classic margarita, this pomegranate-lime margarita is divine. I am a margarita lover, so this post should come as no surprise to my friends.  A classic margarita is delicious, made with fresh lime juice, a good tequila, and nothing artificial added.  But there is lots […]

This is what happens when I read Esquire Magazine; my husband is to blame for that!  Dark N’ Stormy seems like the perfect cocktail right about now, given the political climate and the fact that Halloween is just around the corner.  Dark & Stormy is a rum-based drink and the official drink of Bermuda, where it was […]

This beauty is a spiced pear gin fizz, and it is delicious.  Flavorful and lovely to look at, yet very different from my apple gin fizz cocktail I posted about not that long ago, I found this recipe on Jelly Toast, a blog by another foodie/photographer, Emily Caruso.  I just had to try it.  If […]

It’s Friday and sadly I’m not at the International Food Bloggers Conference in Sacramento, so I’ll post instead.  This is another fun and somewhat “new” tequila-based cocktail for those who want something other than a margarita or a Paloma.  Most have probably never heard of a Siesta cocktail, until recently I certainly have not. This tequila, […]

Moscow Mules have taught me I love ginger beer.  Now for something new.  The combination of fresh seasonal apple juice, lemon, and ginger beer is fantastic and one I had never tried before.  This drink is light, crisp, and refreshing, with a touch of apple essence.  Barb Kiebel, a fellow blogger, first brought this fun […]