Coconut Milk Hot Chocolate, Spiked with Tequila & Chilies

I have a serious soft spot in my heart for dark chocolate, the darker the better.  These days I don't eat much sweets, but I can never turn down a warm cup of hot chocolate especially when it is spiked with ancho chilies and Tequila.  Chocolate pairs so well with agave spirits, it has become one of my all time favorite combinations.

This recipe calls for silver tequila, hot chocolate mix (because who has time to make hot chocolate mix themselves), and ground ancho chili powder.  I used Patrón Silver Tequila, a mainstay in any well stocked bar in my opinion.  This holiday season Patrón has released a limited edition 1-Liter bottle with a gorgeous label on it that is reminiscent of the work of Mexican muralists such as Diego Rivera.  It's a gorgeous bottle, that makes for an excellent holiday gift, if you're a last-minute shopper like I am.

Without further ado:

Coconut Milk Hot Chocolate, Spiked with Tequila & Chilies
Makes 4 Servings

8 Tablespoons Quality Hot Chocolate Mix
24 oz Coconut Milk, Simmering
4 oz Water, Boiling
8 oz Patrón Silver Tequila
2 Tablespoons Ground Ancho Chili Powder (or to taste)
4 Toffee Cocoa Stir Sticks to Garnish

Instructions:
Boil water and whisk with hot chocolate mix in a large mixing vessel.  When properly mixed, add simmering coconut milk and chili powder.  Let cool for a few minutes, and then add tequila.  Mix, and serve into individual mugs.  Garnish with a toffee stirring stick and a pine sprig.  Enjoy!

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This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Patrón Tequila. All opinions are 100% mine.

Thank you for supporting the brands that make this blog possible.

Triple Chocolate Boulevardier

My love of spirited infusions runs deep - a trick I picked up from my mother who always has a few experiments going at any given time.  I've been known to experiment with chilies, artichokes, and flowers, but the flavors of chocolate have always been difficult to master without access to fresh cacao beans.

Enter Teroforma, who recently sent me their 1 PT Master Kit, a system designed to infuse alcohol with specific flavors.  The kit comes with a handsome infusion bottle, a tasting straw, and a kit of flavor blends including lavender, lemon, chili, smoke, cinnamon, and chocolate.

The No. 006 Chocolate Blend is made cocoa, vanilla rooibos, and marigold petals, and I thought it would be really delicious infused into Campari.

I have to say, I was right.

I prepared my Chocolate Campari into a triple threat chocolate Boulevardier, made with Selvarey Rum (a Panamanian rum infused with whole cacao beans), cacao liqueur, Carpano Antica, and a few dashes of mole bitters.  The result?  Nothing less than my new favorite Boulevardier variation.  Enjoy!

Triple Chocolate Boulevardier
Created by Gastronomista

1 oz Campari Infused with No. 006 Chocolate Blend
1 oz Selvarey Aged Rum
1 oz Carpano Antica
1/2 oz Tuthilltown Cacao Liqueur
2 Dashes Mole Bitters

Stir with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail coupe.

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This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Teroforma. All opinions are 100% mine.

Thank you for supporting the brands that make this blog possible.

Chocolate Añejo Boulevardier

For the next cocktail in my Altos Tequila series I wanted to use Altos Añejo, the newly released product in the Altos family.  The Añejo is aged 18 months, and on first taste has strong flavors of cinnamon and chocolate that come from the barrel.  The tequila still has the signature salinity and fresh taste of agave that I love, but this tequila demands a proper stirred cocktail to make it sing.

I have had this tequila stirred into a Manhattan, but I wanted to play up the flavors of cinnamon and chocolate as well as introduce some spice.  This cocktail is a rift on a Boulevardier, the classic cocktail made with bourbon, sweet vermouth, and Campari - but instead of bourbon there's tequila.  I added ancho chili liqueur to give this cocktail a bit of spicy kick, infused the vermouth with cacao nibs, and topped it off with grated cinnamon chocolate and an orange slice.  I also enjoy a bite of cinnamon chocolate while drinking this cocktail, it's a nice pairing and it brings out the cinnamon & chocolate flavors of the tequila.

This cocktail is a nice option to pre-batch for parties, prepare ahead of time in a pretty martini pitcher and chill in the refrigerator before your guests come over.  When you're ready to serve just pour, garnish, and serve.  Easy!

Enjoy!

Chocolate Añejo Boulevardier
Created by Gastronomista

Makes One Cocktail

2 oz Altos Añejo Tequila
1 oz Cacao Nib Infused Sweet Vermouth
1 oz Campari
1 oz Ancho Chili Liqueur

Garnish: Cinnamon Chocolate and an Orange Peel

Stir with ice and strain into a cocktail coupe.  Grate cinnamon chocolate on the top of the drink and express the orange peel onto the drink.  Garnish and serve.

Cacao Nib Infused Sweet Vermouth

1 375ml Bottle of Sweet Vermouth
1/4 cup Dried Cacao Nibs

Add cacao nibs to the vermouth, and let sit for 1 week.  Store in the refrigerator.

Styling Notes
Galaxy Mixing Glass and Coupe Set - Love and Victory

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This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Altos Tequila. All opinions are 100% mine.

Thank you for supporting the brands that make this blog possible.

Wonka Vision - A Raspberry Chipotle Chocolate Old Fashioned

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This cocktail was inspired by the Tabasco Smoke Chipotle Dark Chocolate Ice Cream created by Denise Woodward from Chez Us.  Denise was on the Tabasco Tastemakers trip with me in March.  She was an absolute delight to get to know, as were so many of the other bloggers.  But her Chipotle Chocolate ice cream had my mouth watering and got me thinking about a smoky chocolate cocktail.

Ardbeg Ice Cream

I was recently invited to a gorgeous dinner at Betony to celebrate William Hill Estate Winery's Coastal Collection.  The wines were gorgeous, and paired gloriously well with the meal, but the show stopper was dessert.  And not even the main dessert.  This dessert was served to one person at the table who is gluten free. She had a large bowl of peaty scotch ice cream, covered in crunchy caramel bits.  Fortunately for me, she was thoughtful enough to share, although after tasting a mere bite of the smoky sweet ambrosia, I know I would have not been as generous.  

I was obsessed.  It was time to conquer the recipe on my own, caramel bits and all!  (I did not conquer the caramel bits).  I found a recipe the LA Times - and let me tell you, it is amazing.  Originally created by Nancy Silverton of Campanile, scotch ice cream is the perfect combination of sweet, salt, and savory from the peaty smoke.  It's incredible.  I used Ardbeg, but you can replace it with any other Islay scotch such as Laphroaig or Bowmore. 

I added a drizzle of dark chocolate sauce to the top of mine for extra measure.  

Enjoy!

Ardbeg Ice Cream

1 pound sugar
1 vanilla bean
1 1/2 cups Ardbeg Scotch
1 quart milk
1 quart whipping cream
16 egg yolks

Dark Chocolate Sauce for Drizzling

Place sugar, vanilla bean and Scotch in large pot and cook until dark caramel color. Add milk and cream and bring to boil. Remove from heat. Let stand 30 minutes. Bring mixture again to boil and pour over egg yolks while whisking. Strain through fine mesh strainer into bowl. Whisk to release heat until cool. Chill.

Freeze in ice cream maker according to manufacturer's instruction. Makes 1/2 gallon.

LA Times Recipe>>

Sea & Scotch Hot Chocolate

 

Another big storm has rolled into NYC, and it's got me craving a warm cup of hot chocolate (with a kick, of course).  Boozy hot chocolate!??!  YES PLEASE.

I love the pairing of Bowmore and chocolate, the sweetness of the chocolate pairs perfectly with the smoky, salty Islay scotch, a natural choice for a hot boozy tipple. 

I used the Bowmore 15, The Darkest expression, which is a rich and more intense version of Bowmore Legend.  It's aged in Bourbon casks, and then spends the last 3 years aging in Oloroso Sherry casks, giving it a bit of a tannic bite.  The Darkest has the sweet flavors from the malted barley and the flavors of vanilla and caramel from the oak casks, stone fruits, coffee, with a chocolate note coming out on the mid palate, and that signature salty beach bonfire note that is found in all Bowmore scotches. 

The Darkest pairs exceptionally well with Jacques Torres Wicked Hot Chocolate, made with real chocolate (none of that powdery mix nonsense).  The high quality chocolate pairs so well with Bowmore, the chocolate, the salt, and all that smoke.  Topped with a layer of frothed cream, and you've got a decadent treat to warm you up, despite all the snow outside. 

Sea & Scotch Hot Chocolate

1.5 oz Bowmore 15The Darkest
3 oz Prepared Jacques Torres Wicked Hot Chocolate (follow instructions on the package)
3 oz Frothed Milk or Cream (I like Half & Half)

Build in a mug starting with Bowmore, adding the chocolate.  Stir and mix thoroughly, and froth milk using a Nespresso Aeroccino+.  Top chocolate and scotch with frothed milk. 

Bottoms up!

Enjoy!

Valentines 2014 - Gift Guide

Valentine's Day is right around the corner, and so you've probably got a little bit of last minute shopping to do.  A perfect Valentine's dinner for me involves a gorgeous dry-aged steak dinner at home, a few glasses of bubbly, followed by a few glasses of something stronger.  I've always loved Valentine's Day, everything is red and cheerful despite the dreariness of winter outside, and it's always a perfect excuse to buy an extra-fancy bottle (or two) for that special someone.

Without further ado:

1.  Start your Valentine's evening right with a bottle of Angostura No. 1, the company's newest limited edition sipping rum from their Premium Cask Collection.  It's sweet, with a lot of wood and citrus on the nose.  It has round sweet flavors of caramel, lemon, spice, cinnamon, toasted nuts, roasted peaches, and a finish of banana pastry.  It is a complex sipping rum that has been produced in a limited quantity of 9,600 bottles.  While rum is following the trend of whiskeys and producing limited edition releases, the price point of rum has not yet caught up with whiskey.  No. 1 drinks like a much more expensive bottle, and will surely impress your someone special.  $49.00

2.  This year for Valentine's Day, Moët & Chandon has a fantastic gift box ready to go!  The box set comes with a bottle of Moët Rosé Impérial, and two champagne flutes - perfect for romantic gondola rides or impulsive picnics!  $119

3.  Heart-Shaped Cheese Trio from River's Edge Chèvre comes with three artisanal bloomy-rind goat cheeses: Petit Bonheursmooth with Pink Peppercorns, Old Flamedense, and Hearts Desire with Spanish Paprika.  $78

4.  There is nothing more romantic than a perfectly cooked, perfectly salted steak.  There's something so lovely about the ritual of splitting a large cut for two, and spending the entire meal savoring each bite together.  Dry aging makes the meat more buttery and full of flavor, and nice marbling keeps your steak juicy.  Go for this Dry Aged Porterhouse beauty from Strassburger.  $249 for 4 20 oz Steaks.

5.  This year spring for a special treat, Casa Dragones sipping tequila!  This tequila is one of the best things I've tasted all year, it is silky smooth, and has a complex layering of pineapple mango, passion fruit, agave, with a creamy mid palate, and a clean yet spicy finish.  Basically, it's the best tequila on the planet.  Casa Dragones also comes in a gorgeous Turquoise Blue box set that comes with two hand-etched Riedel tequila sipping glasses, and a hand-etched crystal decanter filled with this delicious ambrosia.  $275

6.  I am so smitten with Pancracio Chcolates from Spain - I love these little chocolate lip truffles lacquered in red chocolate!  $20

7.  Need more bubbles?  Bravo!  Try Chandon Étoile Rosé from the Napa Valley, a gorgeous bubbly with almost a blood orange color to it.  It has notes of bright citrus, raspberry, candied orange peel, passion fruit, grapefruit pith, with an undertone of clay and leafy green grass.  It has a nice clean finish, and stays on the palate for quite a bit.  This wine is aged for a minimum of five years, and has a bit of Pinot Noir grapes added to the mix to give it its distinctive color and flavor. $50

8.  Still need more bubbles?  I'm a huge fan of Chandon Rosé, also from the Napa Valley, which is a great Rosé for any occasion.  It is a light and dry bubbly with tasting notes of berry, cherry, stone fruits, crisp pear, and a bright green apple.  Plus it is at a great price point of $22! Shall we open a bottle now??  But of course!

9.  Want to get creative with that Chandon Rosé?  Mix it into a cocktail!

4 Raspberries
1/3 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
3/4 oz Gin
1/4 oz Simple Syrup
2 dashes Rose Water

Muddle Raspberries with Gin and Simple Syrup.  Add Lemon Juice and Rose water, and shake with ice.  Strain into a cocktail glass and top with Chandon Rosé.  

10.  Sweetheart Heels by Alice + Olivia will heat up any outfit, no matter how cold it is outside.  $295

11.  The morning after Valentine's Day requires just as much attention!  Breakfast in Bed with hot French Toast, Maple Syrup, Fresh Fruit, and a delicious cup of coffee.  Keep it quick and easy with a Nespresso Maestra Machine in Candy Apple Red.  I love the vintage look of this machine, sure to look handsome in anyone's kitchen.  $550

12.  If you're looking for a gift for a discerning whiskey-lover, try Tullamore D.E.W. Phoenix Limited Edition Irish Whiskey.  The Phoenix is a blend of three different kinds of Irish Whiskey: Golden Grain, Pot Still Whiskey, and Malt.  There's flavors of caramel, spice, oak, candied orange peel, grapefruit, and a spicy tannic finish that comes from the two years it has spent in Oloroso sherry casks.  It's a delightful dram, and a powerful one at that, coming in at 55% ABV.  $63

14.  For those with a sweet-tooth for both design and Amaretto, Moschino has teamed up with Disaronno to create a charming limited edition bottle for Valentine's Day, making for a perfect night-cap on such a sweet night.  $24

xxG

Gastronomista Gift Guide - Whisk(e)y Lover

Whiskey is a unique and very special spirit.  Those who love whiskey really love whiskey.  They dream about it.  Obsess about it.  Will travel to remote parts of the earth to have a sip of something special and rare.  I've collected some of my favorite whiskey related gifts, all of which I hope your whiskey lover will love just as much as I do.

1.  Drunk Again Whiskey Poster by Kyler Martz, screen printed in its second edition of 50.  $35

2.  I've been a fan of Four Roses since I first tasted it.  It remains one of my favorite bourbons, and so I was extremely excited when I first heard about their acclaimed 125th Anniversary Limited Edition release.  It's a small batch, blended whiskey made from a hand selection of barrels including a 18 year old recipe with characteristics of delicate fruit, spice, and creamy vanilla, a two unique 13 year old recipes that are both spicy and full of flavor.  The end result is a very bright bourbon that is full of spice, vanilla, cherry liqueur, cocoa, tobacco, and stone fruits such as apricots and plums.  It's wonderful with just a few drops of water.  $85

3.  Best to keep one's whiskey readily available at all times, and now you can with a Stone Whiskey Dispenser  $125

4.  I've asked Santa leave a very special bottle under my tree this year.  Macallan M is collaboration between Fabien Baron of Baron and Baron, who designed the bottle's incredibly sexy crystalline decanter, Lalique, who produced said decanter out of hand-blown crystal, and Macallan, who filled this decanter with single malt whiskey aged in 100% Spanish sherry oak casks.  There's only 1,750 available this worldwide, 355 of which are available to the US.  The liquid gold inside is a blend of whiskeys that range from 73 years old to 22 years old.  Don't mind if I do.  $4,500

5.  There's nothing better than sitting in front of a fire drinking whiskey, snuggled up in a man's wool jacket.  At its best, said jacket smells of campfire, pine needles, and man.  This year buy your man (or yourself) a proper Stag Jacket.  You can thank me later.  $225

6. Take your whiskey drinking act to the next level with Alexander Wang Marble Coasters.  They look damn handsome under a dram of peaty scotch.  $170

7.  Dress up your whiskey with Cecil & Merl Cherry Bitters.  I love these bitters because they are quite delicate and simple, and they subtly enhance the vanilla and stone fruit flavors in whiskey.  Hand made in Brooklyn and made in small batches with raw, natural ingredients.  $26

8.  Great whiskey demands great food.  Send tasty treats via Mouth Gift Bags filled with select indie food products that are fantastic for holiday entertaining and general nibbling.  They come in great collections such as Bring Home the Bacon, Pickle Town Taster, The Meat Market, and Cocktail Hour Every Month.  $35 and Up

9.  Good ice is a critical part of the whiskey drinking experience.  Give your whiskey lover pure joy in the form of a Sphere Ice Maker.  $300

10.  Sometimes a great cocktail needs a little time.  These great Bottle Aging Kits will let your whiskey lover "barrel" age cocktails using a charred oak stave.  They take up a whole lot less space than a barrel, and usually only take about a week to age.  $35

11.  As said by a better man, "whiskey is the life of man".  Put handsome Whiskey Posters by Jon Contino  on your wall (or iphone).  $20 and Up

12.  Japanese whisky is a transformative experience, even to the seasoned whisky drinker.  The Japanese have taken lessons learned from Scotland and refined it into incredible liquid gold.  Hakushu 12 is a wonderful winter whisky with flavors of smooth smoke contrasting with bright green freshness of pear and green apple with undertones of honeyed caramel and mint.  Fantastic for curling up in front of the fire on chilly evenings.  $65

13.  For someone who likes the peaty flavors of Islay Scotch, Caol Ila 12 (cull-eela) is a wonderfully smooth smoky pour.  It smells a bit of peppermint and smoky grass, and tastes of seaweed, aromatic grasses with notes of pepper and smoke.  This is a bottle I'm excited to share this holiday season.  $59

14.  Crinkle Whiskey Glasses by Bormiolo Rocco from West Elm for proper pours.  $30

15.  Bowmore Devil's Cask is a bottle for a serious whiskey lover, and is an incredible limited edition release with huge flavor.  It's an intensified version of Bowmore proper with flavors of salt, caramel, vanilla, and smoke.  The Devil's Cask has a firey spicy bite from the tannins up front, and saturated saltiness complimented with the flavors of caramelized orange and a hint of banana cream pie.  $90 

16.  The Devil's Cask paired with a bar of Mast Brothers Sea Salt chocolate, and you're lucky whisky lover will be in pure heaven.  $10 

Gastronomista Gift Guide - Wine

One of my resolutions for 2014 is to learn more about wine, and there is so much to learn.  This gift guide is for people exactly like me, looking to learn more about wine, become an expert, and, well, drink more wine.  Cheers to 2014!

1.  Give your wines some oxygen in style with this Twisting Aerator Decanter $30

2.  Give a wine club membership!  Plonk Wine Club sends affordable and delicious bottles to your doorstep every month!  Hand selected by the ever talented Etty Lewensztain, each bottle is guaranteed to be small batch and sustainably grown.  Could it be any easier?  Nope.  $50 for 2 bottles a month, $90 for 4 bottles a month.

3.  I was recently invited to taste New Zealanad's Brancott Estates highly anticipated Chosen Rows Sauvignon Blanc 2010 made from select vines and hand picked grapes, giving the wine a significantly more complex flavor.  It's an innovative wine because of the use of naturally occurring yeast on the grapes, and and decision to bring out more subtle flavors instead of the tropical flavors traditionally found in a Sauvignon Blanc.  This is a wine I am very excited to share with friends this holiday season.  $59

4.  Handsome corkscrews make great gifts.  I love the minimal and streamlined design of the Alessi Socrates Corkscrew. $185  

5.  Wine is meant to be served with food, and one of the best pairings in the world is cheese.  Give a nice selection of Plymouth Artisan Cheeses, with flavors from smoked, to hot pepper, to garlic peppercorn.  

6.  Another timeless flavor combination is wine and chocolate.  Master chocolatiers at Eclat have brought the two together in perfect harmony with their Shiraz Truffles made with ganache infused with 'Boxer' Shiraz made from Australia's Mollydooker winery. $44 for 20

7.  You Had Me at Merlot Sweatshirt - perfect for wine club.  $33

8.  Handsome Cutting Boards for Cheese Plates $50

9.  Pocket Prism Corkscrews for emergencies.  No more opening bottles on trees.  $20

10.  A Wine Aroma Tasting Set helps people train their noses into smelling particular aromas in their wine.  Take a smell of a sample, and then a smell of your wine.  This kit offers six commonly found aromas in red and white wine, and will soon have your nose trained to find associate similar aromas and flavor profiles.  $40

11.  Keep unwanted guests and air away from precious bottles with a Combination Wine Lock.  Genius, we say!  $13

12.  Elk Cove Pinot Noir 2011 is another favorite bottle I've had lately.  It's an Oregon wine with big fruity flavors of cherry, dark stone fruits, and with low notes of chocolate, cinnamon, cedar, and chicory.  The 2011 year had a late harvest, yielding a better pH and acid balance, and a more concentrated fruit flavor than other years.  $26  

13.  Wine Wars is kind of Trivial Pursuit for wine geeks.  What a fun and entertaining way to learn wine facts, whist drinking wine, obviously.  $14

14.  Aerating Wine Glasses for those too lazy (or rushed) to decant.  $20 for 2

Gastronomista Gift Guide - Hostess Gifts

Some people are impossible to shop for.  They seem to have everything under the sun, and whatever they need, they go out and purchase it.  Gah!  Gastronomista is here to help, gifts for your well-provisioned hostess.  Remember, good guests never arrive empty handed.

1.  Great parties require thoughtful details.  Vintage Knife Rests are a great way to add character and whimsy to a dinner table.  $95 for 6

2.  Games keep fellow party goers occupied (and out of the kitchen).   Pocket Boccee travels well, and is great for gardens and hallways.  $8

3.  Even the most perfect hostess never has enough ice.  Bring a bag of ice and a handsome Ice Bucket, and you'll be a gal's favorite guest.  $40

4.  Bottle Openers one of my favorite hostess gifts - they add so much character to a home.  I love these sphere cuties from Poketo.  $20

5.   Give a gift that takes your hostess out on the town!  A night out at The Spot Dessert Bar in the East Village is a fun and memorable evening.  The Spot serves gorgeous tapas-style desserts developed by Ian Kittichai such as Green Tea Lava Cake, Yuzu Eskimo Ice Cream Bars, Kabocha Creme Brulee, and Smoked Coconut Cheesecake.  $10 and Up

6.  Fashionable Aprons for your chef who will never leave the kitchen.  So cute, it doubles as dinner wear. $30 

7.  Christmas snappers are so last year.  This year give your hostess an Exploding Braquier Chocolate Bomb filled with Almond Dragees and toys.  $100 - $150

8.  Upgrade your hostess' butter dish with a Japanese Beehouse Butter Dish that come in fun colors such as carrot and artichoke $26

9.  Great glassware = great drinks.  These Poodle Low Ball Glasses are memorable and whimsical.  Purchase them from the virtual pop up Joyus, where all proceeds until the end of 2014 go to Women for Women International!  $75 for 6

10.  Upgrade your chef's plastic measuring cups with Nesting Ceramic Measuring Bowls from West Elm.  They are even tapered so you can pour from them!  Genius!  These are some of my favorite tools in the kitchen.  $15 

11.  Nothing says party like a Graphic Cheese Platter!  Handmade in Austin, Texas!  $35

12.  For the pie lover, give Kate Lebo's book A Commonplace Book of Pie, that is filled with poems about making pie, eating pie, and theories on pie, and gorgeous pie porn watercolors.  $14

13.  Spoil your favorite hostess with a pair of Manitobah Muklucks!  No one likes cold feet when out and about provisioning for parties, and these Aboriginal Canadian made boots will make her feel warm and cozy even when charging through the snow.   $200

Note:  I have a pair of these, and I LOVE them.  Obsessed.  Wearing them right now, my heart filled with bliss, and my toes warm and snuggled up.

14.  For the hostess who likes a great cocktail, but doesn't know what to make: a subscription to Julibox, a service that sends your hostess a monthly cocktail kit with all the necessary ingredients!  Recipe cards help your hostess make them for future parties.  $36 / mo

15.  Modern Marble Trivets for Hot Dishes by Fort Standard.  $88

16.  Have you ever noticed that it's always the cheese grater that seems to jam up your utensil drawer, and is always the guilty culprit to cut your hand?  Solve the problem with this Folding Cheese Grater by West Elm that folds all the away around, protecting your hands from its sharp edges.  Again, with the genius design move here.   $30

17.  For the hostess with the inclination towards all things Paleo:  Melissa Joulwan's latest edition of her Well Fed cookbook series filled with healthy, fast, and delicious recipes.  $17

18.  Tiered Cast Aluminum Displays for all things pretty and delicious.  $259

19.  Impress everyone at the party with a Cecil & Merl Cheesecake - handmade in Brooklyn with a graham cracker crust.  Flavors include Dulce de Leche, Lemon Ricotta, and Pumpkin.  Trust me, bringing one of these to any party is a very good move.  They are insanely light, fluffy, and mind-boggling delicious.  $55

Entertaining Guide - Summer Lawn Party

Wimbledon is in full swing, and it's got me wanting to get out my tennis whites, sip on G&Ts, and throw an epic lawn party.  So break out the croquet set, dust off those tennis rackets, and get out in the sunshine!

1.  Proper Sporty Attire is critical for a lawn party, just are Sporty Accessories.  I love Sweaty Bands to keep a lady looking classy on the court.  $10

2.  Ok, maybe vintage racquets not the most practical when playing tennis, but they look quite photogenic mounted in the salon.  Search for yours here.

3.  Glam up those tennis whites with some fabulous sunnies.  I'm obsessed with Karen Walker citron Northern Lights.  $250

4.  There's nothing I love more than a man who smells like a man.  Lacoste Noir L.12.12, the new sent from the eponymous label is inspired by tennis legend Rene Lacoste, a man of style, finesse, and many trophies.  Noir is extra tasty with notes of watermelon, basil, verbena, lavender, dark chocolate, cashmeran, coumarin, and patchouli. It's so sexy, I've been known to sneak a spritz for myself!  AND a slick black bottle with the iconic alligator affixed to the front for match point!  $65

Rene Lacoste

5.  Break out the Croquet Set - one of the best lawn games around.  $89

6.  Gin and Tonics are a classic summer drink - light, yet thirst quenching.  Get your dose of quinine with a Bombay Sapphire East Gin and Tonic with Fever Tree tonic.  I like a variation to the classic cocktail, using Bombay Sapphire East, a gin made with lemongrass, black peppercorn, lemon peel, coriander, almonds, and licorice, along with other roots and barks from around the world.  The bright citrus flavors of the lemongrass and the hot black peppercorn balance so nicely with the juniper.

A Proper Gin and Tonic

2 oz Bombay Sapphire East
4 oz Fever Tree
Fresh Lime Wedges

Build over 1" ice cubes in a high ball glass, stir, squeeze one lime wedge into cocktail, and garnish with the other  lime wedge.

7.  Tennis has always been one of the most fashionable sports - a good reason to get out on the court, if you ask me.  Love a good striped number for the court, especially this Pique Pleated Tennis Dress by Lacoste - $150.

8.  Keep hydrated with infused refreshers - ice water with fresh fruit like strawberries and mint served up in pretty pitchers.

9.   Set up colorful blankets for a bright backdrop and a comfortable spot for people to relax in the grass.  I love these unique hand dyed Bolivian Blankets from El Cosmico that are vibrant and really thick.  $350

10.  Keep those bottles of tonic poppin' with a handsome Brass Bottle Opener by Masanori Oji.  $55

11.  Serve Floral Sweets like these Petit Fours from Dean & Deluca - Lemon Cake layered with tart lemon ganache and Cassis with black currant ganache, covered in white chocolate and garnished with candied organic pansies. $65

12.  Stay in the shade with pretty parasols.  A critical savior for those of us with fair skin.  $11

13.  Make Tea Sandies for snacks - cucumber sandwiches, smoked salmon with fresh dill and cream cheese, and avocado toast with lots of flaky salt and fresh lemon juice.

14.  Serve Belle de Brillet Champagne Cocktails for the ladies - a wonderfully refreshing cocktail of bubbles and juicy pear cognac.  Garnish with thin slices of fresh pears for extra flare.

Belle de Brillet Champagne Cocktail  

1/2 oz Belle de Brillet
Splash of Grand Marnier or Napoleon Mandarine
Champagne
Pear Slice for Garnish

Build in a Champagne Flute, top with Champagne, and enjoy!


See you on the lawn in your whites!
xx emma

Beer + Whiskey Redux

All this terribly cold spring weather has us reaching for the whiskey - more so than most spring seasons.  With the heat turned off and the temperatures dipping to record breaking lows, we've been craving something to warm us from the inside out. 

Instead of the usual whiskey and a beer, we did a pairing of Jameson and some really tasty craft beers - not your usual shot and a beer chaser.  We spent the evening with a few friends, Sean and Carrie, who made us an incredible meal, and shared some really extraordinary beers with us.

Image via ibloga.blogspot.com

We started off with a pairing of Jameson Black Barrel and Innis + Gunn Scottish Stout aged in Irish whiskey barrels.  This was a really fantastic pairing because both the whiskey and the beer are creamy and multifaceted.  The whiskey has notes of orange citrus, vanilla, clove, cardamom and a minty finish, where as the beer was crisp, nutty, with notes of vanilla, oak, chocolate, and oatmeal.  The beer is well carbonated, so it helped cut the whiskey and finish on a lighter note.

Onward to food: we were served gorgeous burgers with aged Vermont cheddar, onions cooked in Cabernet on toasted brioche buns.  Our hosts were not messing around!

The next pairing was Jameson Black Barrel with Milk Stout Nitro, which were both very similar in richness and they were both very creamy.  Nitro is a rather flat beer, carbonated with a novel process of carbon dioxide and nitrogen, smoky with flavors of chocolate and coffee.  The two complimented each other very well, but they were more similar in flavors.  Pro Tip: Hard pour the Nitro to release the nitrogen and thereby get a fluffy head on your beer.

We then moved onto Jameson and Dry Irish Stout by Brooklyn Brewery - Jameson being lighter than its Black Barreled brother, with more citrus notes, and a bit more oak flavor.  The stout was crisp and cool, flavors of oatmeal, coffee, and orange peel.  This was a nice lighter pairing compared to the previous one.

Back to Black Barrel for the last tasting, but this time, paired with 3 Beans by Sixpoint.  For those of you who haven't had 3 Beans - it's a trifecta of goodness, brew of beer, cocoa, and coffee, and it's heavenly.  The creaminess of the Jameson complimented the coffee and toffee notes of the beer - a buttery and bright pairing.


But then, our hosts shared something really special with us - 2009 Dark Lord Imperial Stout.  For those beer lovers out there, you probably have tasted Dark Lord, or have been coveting it for years.  For those of you not familiar with Dark Lord, just know, there's an entire festival dedicated to the coveted brew; Dark Lord Day. 

Let me start off saying, this was not traditional beer.  This is another kind of animal, some other sort of creation unlike any "beer" I have ever tasted.  It was closer to a port - jammy - deep fruit flavors of brandied cherry, fig, burnt currant, and plum.  It has the consistency of motor oil - very flat with a smoky undertone.  Our hosts told us that it tasted very differently a few years ago - the cellar process did some really incredible things to this beer.  It has been said that Dark Lord has a shelf life of 4 years, although it is unclear what happens after that point.

And - for the triple threat, Dark Chocolate Guinness Cake!!

Then we were onto the Alaskan Winter Ale brewed with spruce tips, a wonderful way to end the evening.  It tasted so crisp and fresh, almost like we were in Alaska ourselves!  This is a great beer that will also taste great when the weather finally warms up. 

Rumor has it, things will warm up again by the end of the week.  But for the time being, we're sticking to stout and whiskey.  You know, to keep us warm.

xxemma