…from the Perspectives’ Happy Hour Bar How you doin’? I promise you’ll be doing just fine with The Ultimate Espresso Martini. Don’t you just love Happy Hour Friday? Even before the Negroni and the Spritz took center stage, the Espresso Martini was the drink of the moment. Most popular with coffee lovers and tired pre-gamers alike, this classic cocktail was born in the 1980s but saw a resurgence in popularity in the last few years. Whether you’re searching for the perfect brunch cocktail, an after-dinner treat or simply need some extra caffeine before your night out, the Espresso Martini is the perfect way to get a little buzzed while also getting a bit perked up. Follow my directions and make it the best it can be. If you can't get a fresh shot of espresso, no need to fear! While a freshly pulled shot really pulls this drink together, we have found we get similar results with 1-ounce cold brew coffee concentrate. No espresso machine but craving that signature taste? Visit your local coffee shop and pick up a couple of shots. Along with the coffee component and simple syrup, you need coffee liqueur and vodka to complete your martini. We recommend Kahlúa—a recurring liquor in many of my coffee cocktails—but you can also use any coffee liqueur on hand. Choose your favorite vodka from any of the popular vodka brands. The key to that signature frothy Espresso Martini is to use a fresh shot of espresso, shaking it along with your other ingredients in a shaker vigorously for long enough to chill it all and create a foamy top. Once strained, you’re going to want to double-strain it into your martini glass. That’s it… now you got it… a chilled, frothy Ultimate Espresso Martini. I like to give this drink a bit of a fancy garnish… it's way easier than it looks. Simply cover half the glass with a napkin or paper towel, then dust the rest with either cocoa or espresso powder. Top the other side with coffee beans, and you’re ready to serve. Prep Time: 5 minutes Total Time: 10 minutes Yield: 1 cocktail Ingredients 1-1/2 ounces vodka 1 ounce coffee liqueur (I prefer Kahlúa) 1 ounce or 1 shot espresso or cold brew concentrate 1/2 ounce simple syrup Espresso powder or cocoa powder and coffee beans, for garnish Directions
ChefSecret: While this classic recipe deserves all the hype, you can experiment to make this Espresso Martini especially yours. If you like your coffee sans the sugar, remove that simple syrup! If you like cream in your coffee add a 1/2 ounce Baileys and make it creamy. Heck, you’re now ready for a job at Starbucks as a barista! Quip of the Day: I am prepared to believe that an Espresso Martini slightly impairs the palate but think what it does for the soul. ------------------------------------------- Do you have a question or comment? 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. ------------------------------------------- To you and everyone dear to you, be strong, positive, stay well, stay safe and be kind. Take a breath and count your blessings, and if you have a little extra to share with others, please consider donating to Feeding America, Tunnel to Towers, Union Rescue Mission and/or American Red Cross. #Cocktail #EspressoMartini #Vodka #Espresso #Kahlua #Cheers #HappyHour #2024 #T2T #URM #FeedingAmerica #RedCross #PerspectivesTheConsultingGroup ©PERSPECTIVES/The Consulting Group, LLC, 2024
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…from the Perspectives’ Happy Hour BarHow you doin’? Before the pandemic we were eating in one of the fine, old restaurants in San Francisco when my guest asked the waiter, what is the best house cocktail? Being an older union waiter with an attitude he replied, gin on the rocks. I guess if we were looking for a creative mixologist we would be in the wrong place. He wasn’t kidding… the establishment was a no-frills bottle bar. No blenders or any kind of fancy contemporary equipment. So, it was gin and tonic. Today, barkeeps in almost every city hire creative mixologists that come up with some of the most inventive drinks ever using all sorts of unconventional ingredients. It’s a challenge I’m up for. With this recipe, I’m showing off my creative side with a hot charred chile, orange and prosecco which gives this spritz the fizz. The chile peppers give a bit of kick, but you can leave them out if you prefer. Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: 10 minutes Yield: 6 cocktails Ingredients 1 large thinly sliced orange (6-slices) 6 long fresh red chile peppers 12 ounces Aperol 20 ounces Prosecco 6 ounces soda water Directions
ChefSecret: Aperol is an Italian aperitif made of bitter orange and, among other things, rhubarb. It's available at large bottle shops or online. Quip of the Day: People who wonder if the glass is half empty or half full miss the point. The glass is refillable. ------------------------------------------- Do you have a question or comment? 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. ------------------------------------------- To you and everyone dear to you, be strong, positive, stay well, stay safe and be kind. Take a breath and count your blessings, and if you have a little extra to share with others, please consider donating to Feeding America, Tunnel to Towers, Union Rescue Mission and/or American Red Cross. #Cocktail #AperolSpritze #Prosecco #CharredHotChile #Cheers #HappyHour #2024 #T2T #URM #FeedingAmerica #RedCross #PerspectivesTheConsultingGroup ©PERSPECTIVES/The Consulting Group, LLC, 2024 …from the Perspectives’ Happy Hour Bar How you doin? Apple cider mimosas are so simple, refreshing, and festive! With fresh apple cider, bourbon, sparkling wine and a cinnamon sugar rim, they're the perfect winter cocktail for seasonal celebrations. They're easy to make, and they're ready in just 5 minutes! How to make an apple cider mimosa? It as easy as pie… Apple Cider Mimosas are festive and refreshing, making them perfect for special occasions or winter brunches. Here's how in just a couple of easy steps:
Like the classic mimosa, this apple cider cocktail pairs perfectly with pancakes, waffles, eggs and bacon for brunch. It's also a great pre-dinner drink with appetizers like baked brie or camembert. Prep time: 5 minutes Yield: 1 cocktail Ingredients 2 tablespoons cinnamon sugar 2 ounces apple cider (or unfiltered apple juice) ½ ounce American bourbon 2 ounces sparkling wine 2 apple slices (to garnish) Directions
ChefSecret: Try something different and substitute the bourbon with nice spiced Caribbean rum. Quip of the Day: Drinking Mimosas is like taking a tropical vacation without leaving your breakfast nook! ------------------------------------------- Do you have a question or comment? 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. ------------------------------------------- To you and everyone dear to you, be strong, positive, stay well, stay safe and be kind. Take a breath and count your blessings, and if you have a little extra to share with others, please consider donating to Feeding America, Tunnel to Towers, Union Rescue Mission and/or American Red Cross. #Cocktail #AppleCiderMimosa #Mimosa #AppleCider #Bourbon #SparklingWine #Cheers #HappyHour #2024 #T2T #URM #FeedingAmerica #RedCross #PerspectivesTheConsultingGroup ©PERSPECTIVES/The Consulting Group, LLC, 2024 From the Perspectives’ Happy Hour BarHow you doin’? Happy New Year! A cold day brunch or chilly evening dessert wouldn’t be quite right without an Irish Coffee to jump start the festivities. I combine my cocktail ingredients into a glass or cup… coffee, orange juice, maple syrup, cream and flavorful spirits that provide a kick! As you will see, this riff is on The Classic is a little involved but, believe me, it’s sooo worth it! Ingredients 1 ounce Mozart White Chocolate Vanilla Cream 1 ounce Old Forester 86 Bourbon 1/2 Ounce Orange-Vanilla-Maple Elixir* Hot French-Press Coffee (or cold brew if iced) Espresso Whipped Cream** Directions
How To Make *Orange-Vanilla-Maple Elixir Ingredients The peels of 4 oranges 1 cup granulated sugar 1 vanilla bean, sliced down the middle 1 ounce real maple syrup (not pancake syrup) 1 ounce orange juice Directions
**How to Make Espresso Whipped Cream Ingredients 1 cup heavy whipping cream 2 tablespoons maple syrup 1/2 teaspoon super-finely ground espresso (or instant espresso) Directions
ChefSecret: For a smaller amount or for whipped cream on the fly, add 3 ounces of heavy cream and 1/2 ounce of maple syrup and a pinch or two of espresso to a clean shaker tin. Drop in the spring from your strainer then shake it like you mean it for 30 to 60 seconds. Quip of the Day: My Irish Coffee is the perfect breakfast because it contains all five adult food groups: fat, sugar, caffeine, chocolate and alcohol. ------------------------------------------- Do you have a question or comment? 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. ------------------------------------------- To you and everyone dear to you, be strong, be positive, stay well and drive safely. … from the Perspectives’ Holiday Happy Hour BarHow you doin’? Something tells me that you are scheming about New Year's Eve right now. You're plotting out a damn good time, and you want to know if there's something you can do with champagne besides drink it by the fluteful. The answer is YES! There is quite a lot you can do with champagne besides the obvious. There are any number of champagne cocktails that you can create to fit the mood. The following champagne cocktail recipe—or sparkling wine recipe (we’re not sticklers to the rules) will help you celebrate the victories big and small. Starting a new year is certainly a win, but so is meeting up with your mom for brunch or making bubbly cocktails for a game night with friends. There's no occasion too small for a champagne-and-something. When in doubt, use a dry brut champagne. And point the cork away from your loved ones' eyes and faces. Picture this for your New Years festivities—Flutes of Champagne cocktails are passed out by the armful on New Year’s Eve, but a more interesting flute is one with the addition of aromatic bitters and a sugar cube. This champagne cocktail—The Original Champagne Cocktail—twists the traditional just the right amount. Ingredients 1 sugar cube 2-3 dashes Angostura bitters Brut Champagne Fresh lemon twist Directions
ChefSecret: I like to use La Perruche rough cut cubes of pure cane golden brown sugar which are appreciated by foodies for their traditional shape and authentic taste. La Perruche origins date back to the 19th century in Nantes (then a major port for agricultural commodities from the Americas); they are a renowned producer of premium sugar. Quip of the Day: I’m gonna order a pizza from Dominos five minutes before the new year and when they arrive, I will say, “I ordered this a year ago!” Then I’ll get it free. ------------------------------------------- Do you have a question or comment? 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. ------------------------------------------- To you and everyone dear to you, be strong, positive, stay well, stay safe and be kind. Take a breath and count your blessings, and if you have a little extra to share with others, please consider donating to Feeding America, Tunnel To Towers, Union Rescue Mission and/or American Red Cross. Wishing you all a Fantastically Happy New Year! #Cocktail #HappyHour #Champagne #ChampagneCocktail #AngosturaBitters #LaPerruce #SugarCube #HappyNewYear #Cheers#Holidays2023 #2023 #QuarantineKitchen #Covid19 #FeedingAmerica #RedCross #PerspectivesTheConsultingGroup ©PERSPECTIVES/The Consulting Group, LLC, 2023 |
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