How you doin’? You may have seen the Cosmo most recently featured on The Real Housewives of New Jersey or you might have thought the Cosmopolitan gained popularity in the 1990s on Sex and the City. At that time, it seemed that young women everywhere were drinking a Cosmo because the girlfriends of Carrie Bradshaw commonly ordered the drink when out on the town. Once the girls found out “everyone” was drinking them they stopped because it was no longer elite enough for them.
 
The International Bartenders Association (yes, there really is a IBAC) Cosmo recipe is based on vodka citron—lemon-flavored vodka. The Cosmopolitan is related to a collection of cocktails called cranberry coolers like the Cape Codder. Though they are often presented differently, the Cosmopolitan also bears a likeness in composition to the Kamikaze Cocktail.
 
While the Cosmo is widely perceived to be a more contemporary creation for the “modern woman,” there is a recipe for a Cosmopolitan Daisy that appeared in Pioneers of Mixing at Elite Bars, published in 1934. Once again who invented what and when is in dispute.
 
Made with ingredients that would have been readily available during this period, this identically named cocktail aims for the same effect. If this drink is, in fact, the source of the modern Cosmopolitan, then it would be an adaption of a Daisy rather than a Kamikaze.
 
Bartender Neal Murray says he created the cosmopolitan in 1975 at the Cork & Cleaver steak house in Minneapolis. According to Murray, he added a splash of cranberry juice to a Kamikaze and the first taster declared, "How cosmopolitan!" This event supposedly led to the naming of the new beverage.
 
There are a number of other claims made as to the origin of the cosmopolitan. Cocktail historian Gary Regan credits bartender Cheryl Cook of the Strand Restaurant in South Beach, Florida with the original creation.
 
Served in a large martini glass, the combination of lemon and cranberry flavors in the Limoncello Cosmo creates a clean and bright flavor that is never cloying or too sweet.
 
Prep time:  5 minutes
Yield:  1 cocktail
 
Ingredients
 
1-1/2 ounces vodka, chilled (try using lemon-flavored vodka for more citrus flavor)
1/2 ounce Limoncello, chilled
1/2 ounce cranberry juice, chilled
Ice
Garnish: fresh cranberries
 
Directions

1. Sugar the rim of a martini glass.
2. In a cocktail shaker filled three-quarter with ice, add the vodka Limoncello and cranberry juice.
3. Shake vigorously until well chilled.
4. Strain the cocktail into a martini or other small glass.
5. Garnish with fresh cranberries.
6. Serve chilled immediately.

ChefSecret:  Limoncello is an Italian lemon liqueur mainly produced in Southern Italy, around the Gulf of Naples. It is also a popular homemade liqueur that escapes Italian taxes. There are various recipes available online and in print.

Covid-19 Quip of the Day: “Like many others I thought I would never survive the pandemic. I am not afraid of death I just don't want to be there when it happens.”
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Do you have a question or comment?  Do you want to share a favorite recipe or pictures with our readers?  Send your thoughts to ed@perspectives-la.com.  All recipes and cooking tips are posted on our website https://www.perspectives-la.com/covid-19-survival-guide. We have added a new search feature to make it easier to navigate through our blogs. 
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To you and everyone dear to you, be strong and positive, stay well and safe and be kind to others. If you have a little extra in your pockets to share with others at this difficult time, please consider donating to Feeding America. Thanks for reading.

#Cocktail #HappyHour #LimoncelloCosmo #Cosmpolitan #SexAndTheCity #CarrieBradshaw #Limoncello #Cranberry #Vodka #Cheers #QuarantineKitchen #Covid19 #FeedingAmerica #PerspectivesTheConsultingGroup 

                                              ©Perspectives/The Consulting Group, Inc., 2021

How you doin’? I had the pleasure of working with Jimmy Buffet and John Cohan at Margaritaville—Las Vegas. After opening it turned out to be the highest grossing restaurant in the United States. Go Jimmy!
 
The Margaritaville song was the impetus for the restaurant. It is complete with a large margarita glass a slide that the tequila mermaid slides down once an hour. Las Vegas is always fun but Margaritaville is a complete blast.
 
So in celebration of Cinco de Mayo and Margaritaville, here is a new Margarita made with St. Germain instead and orange liqueur.

St. Germain is naturally flavored, and each bottle can contain up to 1,000 elderberry  flowers. St. Germain’s flavor is compelling, pleasantly floral, lightly herbal, sweet without being sugary, and is surprisingly great with tequila.
 
Whether at home or at Margaritaville, have a wonderful Cinco de Mayo.
 
Ingredients
1 ounce St. Germain
1-1/2 ounce tequila (I used Patron Silver)
1/2 ounce simple syrup
3/4 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice ()
 
Directions

1. Add ice to shaker with all ingredients.
2. Shake it like you mean it for 10 to 15-seconds to mix and chill.
3. Pour it into bucket glass that has a salted rim.
4. Toss the spent limes wedges into the drink as a garnish.
5. Add more ice if you need it.

ChefSecret:  Try using a mix of kosher salt and sumac to coat the rim of the glass. The sumac is what makes gives the salted rim a speckled red appearance. The sumac is optional, but it makes for a pretty presentation and adds a subtle hit of sour.

Covid-19 Quip of the Day: “I discovered it’s not a good idea to work without shoes and socks in my home office. Did you know that your little toe is specifically designed to geo-locate furniture edges in low-light conditions?”
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Do you have a question or comment?  Do you want to share a favorite recipe or pictures with our readers?  Send your thoughts to ed@perspectives-la.com.  All recipes and cooking tips are posted on our website https://www.perspectives-la.com/covid-19-survival-guide. We have added a new search feature to make it easier to navigate through our blogs. 
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To you and everyone dear to you, be strong and positive, stay well and safe and be kind to others. If you have a little extra in your pockets to share with others at this difficult time, please consider donating to Feeding America. Thanks for reading.

#Cocktail #HappyHour #StGermain #Tequila #Margarita #JimmyBuffet #Margaritaville #CincoDeMayo #Cheers #QuarantineKitchen #Covid19 #FeedingAmerica #PerspectivesTheConsultingGroup 

                                               ©Perspectives/The Consulting Group, Inc., 2021

How you doin’? Here’s a refreshing spring and summer time cocktail with a sweet and sour edge. It’s made with the juice of a Clementine.
 
Clementines are commonly known by the brand names Cuties or Halos. Both are hybrids of mandarin and sweet oranges. These tiny fruits are bright orange, easy to peel, sweeter than most other citrus fruits, and typically seedless (but not always). I call it the lazy man’s orange because it is so easy to peel.
 
Both Cuties and Halos are grown in the San Joaquin Valley of California, where there are citrus groves that stretch as far as the eye can see. Smaller, independent farms are in the hills around Ventura County.
 
Halos is the only healthy food brand to rank among parents' top 20 favorite brands. Among kids, Halos are the highest-ranking healthy snack brand and the only produce brand to crack kids' top 50 list.

There is some assembly required in making a Clementine Sour. Start by making an herby-citrus simple syrup. It is a good balance for the fruit’s bold, fruity sweetness. It also necessary to add back a bit of pucker power with a little lemon juice. Once the juices and syrup are shaken with the egg white and a generous pour of bourbon, the cocktail has all the light, fluffy body of a classic whiskey sour, but none of the bite. It’s soft and floral and full of California sunshine.
 
This cocktail is just what the doctor ordered for Happy Hour, Brunch Hour or just about any hour you can think of.
 
Syrup prep time: 20 minutes
Cocktail prep time:  5 minutes
Yield:  1 cocktail
 
Ingredients
For the thyme simple syrup
1 cup water
1 cup granulated sugar
1 strip of Clementine peel
12 fresh thyme sprigs
 
For the cocktail
2 ounces American bourbon
1 ounce Clementine juice
1/2 ounce lemon juice
1/2 ounce thyme simple syrup (recipe attached)
1 egg white, pasteurized (see ChefSecret)
Ice
Garnish: Clementine peel and thyme sprig
 
Directions
To make the herby simple syrup

1. In a small saucepan, combine all the ingredients and bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat, stirring frequently, until all the sugar has dissolved.
2. Remove from the heat and allow the peel and thyme to steep for 10 minutes.
3. Strain the syrup into a jar, discard the peel and thyme and let the syrup cool.

Note: the simple syrup can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

To make the cocktail

1. In a cocktail shaker, combine the whiskey, Clementine and lemon juice, simple syrup, and egg white. Shake vigorously until frothy.
2. Add the ice and shake vigorously until the outside of the shaker feels cold and appears frosty.
3. Strain the cocktail into a coupe glass.
4. Garnish with a tangerine peel and sprig of fresh thyme.
5. Serve chilled immediately.

ChefSecret:  It’s always best to use a pasteurized egg white for this recipe. You can purchase pasteurized eggs in most supermarkets. If you can’t find them at the store, follow the directions below.

1. Bring the eggs to room temperature (20 to 30 minutes before pasteurizing).
2. Place the eggs in a saucepan filled with cold water and fitted with a digital thermometer. 
3. Turn on the heat and bring the water up to 140°F.
4. Keep the water temperature at 140°F for 3 minutes (and no more than 142°F), reducing the heat on the burner if necessary.
5. Remove the eggs from hot water and rinse thoroughly with cold water.
6. Store in the refrigerator until needed or use right away.

Covid-19 Quip of the Day: “This pandemic is driving me crazy. I’m sick of following my dreams, man. I’m just going to ask where they’re going and hook up with them later.”
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Do you have a question or comment?  Do you want to share a favorite recipe or pictures with our readers?  Send your thoughts to ed@perspectives-la.com.  All recipes and cooking tips are posted on our website https://www.perspectives-la.com/covid-19-survival-guide. We have added a new search feature to make it easier to navigate through our blogs. 
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To you and everyone dear to you, be strong and positive, stay well and safe and be kind to others. If you have a little extra in your pockets to share with others at this difficult time, please consider donating to Feeding America. Thanks for reading.

                                               ©Perspectives/The Consulting Group, Inc., 2021

How you doin’? It’s Friday cocktail time at the Perspectives’ Survival Guide. In Survival Guide #206 I extolled the virtues of a classic Moscow Mule which is one of our favorite bar recipes. Today I want to share a bit of the blarney with you with a fun, fast twist on the classic in this Irish Mule cocktail. 
 
It’s the perfect combination of good Irish Whiskey and Ginger Beer. I’ve served this beverage at the Customs House Restaurants on Saint Patrick’s Day, but this is not a once-a-year libation. You can enjoy this cocktail on any day you’re craving a whiskey cocktail.
 
This recipe uses Irish Whiskey instead of Russian vodka. We love Mule-style cocktails because they are so easy to make and always taste so amazingly refreshing.
 
Ingredients
1-1/2 ounces Irish Whiskey
4 to 5 ounces ginger beer
1 or 2 fresh-cut lime wedges for the juice and garnish
Mint sprig for garnish
 
Directions

1. Pour the Irish Whisky and ginger beer into a copper mug.
2. Add ice cubes.
3. Squeeze a couple of lime wedges and toss them into the mug.

It’s that simple! This makes it one of the easiest cocktail recipes you can make—perfect for a stay-at-home happy hour.

ChefSecret: I used Jameson Irish Whiskey in my cocktail, but you can use any Irish Whiskey you have in your home bar. Because the Irish Whiskey is mixed with Ginger Beer you don't need to use a high-end whiskey. You can use an economy whiskey or what’s ever available.
 
Mule cocktails are traditionally served in a copper cup,but it doesn’t have to be served in copper. The copper cup takes on the temperature of the drink and there’s something about taking a sip of the drink with a cool copper rim… it feels even so good!

Covid-19 Quip of the Day: “I saw a young lady protesting milk in front of a Trader Joe’s the other day. Would someone please explain to these people that you don’t have to kill a cow to get milk.”
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Do you have a question or comment?  Do you want to share a favorite recipe or pictures with our readers?  Send your thoughts to ed@perspectives-la.com.  All recipes and cooking tips are posted on our website https://www.perspectives-la.com/covid-19-survival-guide.
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To you and everyone dear to you, be strong and positive, stay well and safe and be kind to others. If you have a little extra in your pockets to share with others at this difficult time, please consider donating to Feeding America. Thanks for reading.

 #Cocktail #HappyHour #DublinMule #JamesonWhiskey #IrishWhiskey #MoscowMule #Cheers #QuarantineKitchen #Covid19 #FeedingAmerica #PerspectivesTheConsultingGroup 

                                                   ©Perspectives/The Consulting Group, Inc., 2021

How you doin’? Now that your winter duds are safely stored for the season it’s time to dust off your summer shorts and reach for lighter cocktails. The St. Germain Parisian Cocktail is another perfect summer Champagne cocktail.
 
In “Arsenic and Old Lace”, a 1944 American dark comedy film directed by Frank Capra and starring Cary Grant, the poison was secreted in elderberry wine. While St. Germain is derived from elderberry flowers it has nothing to do with arsenic—do you feel better now?
 
St. Germain was created by distiller Robert Cooper and brought to market in 2007 by Cooper Spirits Company, a company founded in 2006 and headquartered in New York. In 2013, the company was sold to Bacardi. Robert Cooper agreed to work with Bacardi as a consultant, "brand guardian" and spokesperson. Robert Cooper passed away in 2016 at the tender age of 39.
 
St. Germain is naturally flavored, and each bottle can contain up to 1,000 elderberry flowers. St. Germain’s flavor is compelling, pleasantly floral, lightly herbal, sweet without being sugary, and is surprisingly versatile for mixed cocktails.
 
St. Germain won the Grand Gold Medal at the Monde Selection in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 and the "Chairman's Award" in the Liqueur category at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2010.
 
Who was this soon to be named saint? Germain was the bishop of Paris and is a saint of the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church. According to an early biography, he was known as Germain d'Autun—"Father of the Poor"—for the abandoned people; abuse victims; against poverty; disabled people; girls from rural areas; illness; impoverishment; loss of parents; shepherdesses; sick people; unkind people; physical therapists—that’s a lot of responsibility.
 
Take a few minutes to enjoy a St. Germain Parisian Cocktail and bless yourself.
 
Ingredients
1/2 ounce St. Germain
1/2 ounce Lillet Blanc
1/2 ounce honey syrup (equal parts honey and filtered water combined)
3/4 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
3 ounces Champagne or other sparkling wine
 
Directions

1. Add ice to shaker with all ingredients except champagne.
2. Shake for 10 to 15-seconds to mix and chill.
3. Strain into a Champagne flute.
4. Top with Champagne.

ChefSecret:  Lillet is classified as an aromatized wine. It is a French wine-based aperitif from Podensac. It is a blend of 85% Bordeaux region wines (Semillon for the Blanc and for the Rosé, Merlot for the Rouge) and 15% macerated liqueurs, mostly citrus liqueurs (peels of sweet oranges from Spain and Morocco and peels of bitter green oranges from Haiti). The mix is then stirred in oak vats until blended. During the aging process, Lillet is handled as a Bordeaux wine undergoing fining, racking, filtering etc.

Covid-19 Quip of the Day: “Many found out over the last year when locked down together… Love is blind—marriage is the eye-opener.”
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Do you have a question or comment?  Do you want to share a favorite recipe or pictures with our readers?  Send your thoughts to ed@perspectives-la.com.  All recipes and cooking tips are posted on our website https://www.perspectives-la.com/covid-19-survival-guide. We have added a new search feature to make it easier to navigate through our blogs. 
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To you and everyone dear to you, be strong and positive, stay well and safe and be kind to others. If you have a little extra in your pockets to share with others at this difficult time, please consider donating to Feeding America. Thanks for reading.

#Cocktail #HappyHour #StGermain #Lillet #Champagne #Cheers #QuarantineKitchen #Covid19 #FeedingAmerica #PerspectivesTheConsultingGroup 

                                                 ©Perspectives/The Consulting Group, Inc., 2021