Cocktails

Have you ever heard of a Madras?  This beauty is my new favorite cocktail.  Technically speaking, a Madras is similar to a Sea Breeze.  Some call them cousins.  Both are made with vodka and cranberry juice.  But where a Sea Breeze includes grapefruit juice, a Madras substitutes orange juice. As I dabble with mixology and […]

This strawberry-balsamic tequila sour is a refreshing, sweet cocktail with just the right amount of sour to keep you sipping.  Summer may be slowly coming to an end, but warm nights may linger for just a bit longer.  So, whether you are holding onto those carefree vacation days or just in need of a great […]

School has started this week for my boys (thankfully, I was very ready for that…) but sadly, those long warm summer days are beginning to fade.  A fresh peach mint julep may be just what you need this weekend.  My peach julep is a fun, refreshing drink that is perfect for sipping on as the […]

A special post-shout-out to The Almanac, a local Silicon Valley newspaper, for the awesome piece they just published on me and my blog this week titled “Chef In The House“.  I am super excited.  In honor of my very first press coverage, I developed this delicious, refreshing cucumber-tequila cooler as a “thank you” to The […]

A pineapple mint martini is a twist on a classic and is worth a try if you love gin and are looking for a light refreshing, slightly tropical cocktail.  H.L. Mencken, an American journalist, satirist, and cultural critic once called a martini “the only American invention as perfect as a sonnet.”  E.B. White, an American […]

Chavela, also referred to as Cerveza Preparada, or Mexican Bloody Mary, is a drink from Mexico that dates back to the 1940s. Although there are many variations on how to make this beer-based beverage, the one I make is a traditional version made with light beer (preferably Mexican), tomato juice (although many prefer Clamato), fresh lemon […]

The Moscow Mule has been around for a long time, since 1941 to be exact, but has become increasingly trendy in recent years.  A relatively simple drink made with vodka, spicy ginger beer, and lime juice, it is garnished with a slice of lime and typically is served in a squat copper mug.  To be […]

A pink Paloma is a truly fabulous drink and thankfully I found it. Very little is known about the true historical origins of this tequila-based Mexican favorite, but it is a great, refreshing alternative to a margarita.   Whether you are a tequila lover or not, a pink Paloma is a sweet, sour, salty, slightly […]

Wrapping up a great trip to Alaska, I thought the salty dog cocktail was an appropriate post–not only because I love dogs, but because I got to visit the well-known Salty Dawg Saloon in Homer.  Located on the breathtakingly beautiful Homer Spit, the Salty Dawg is a historically famous building and one of the first […]

I enjoy a good cosmopolitan.  This is my grown-up drink of choice if I order a cocktail.  So creating this recipe for a pomegranate lime cosmopolitan was especially fun for me.  I am also a big fan of pomegranates, which I think are underutilized. I have fond childhood memories of dissecting these juicy fruits, making […]

A Tom Collins is a slightly sweet, tart, and fizzy cocktail that pairs perfectly with warm weather.  Invented in 1876 by “the father of mixology“, Jerry Thomas, this cocktail first appeared in his well-known book titled “How to Mix Drinks or The Bon-Vivant’s Companion.”  This was the first drink book ever published in the United […]

This is a twist on a traditional margarita and it is delicious!  The simultaneously sweet and tart freshly squeezed blood orange juice helps intensify the flavor of the fresh lime juice and eliminates the need for added sugar.  You can increase or decrease the amount of blood orange juice in this recipe to adapt it […]

Everyone needs a great sangria recipe in their life.  Considered a “punch” by definition, this delicious and refreshing white wine sangria recipe is perfect for a casual warm weather get-together.  My recipe is fruity, light, and refreshing with just a touch of sweetness. Many ask for recommendations on what type of wine works best for […]