Cooking Lesson #17—Portuguese Cocktail Happy Hour

How you doin’? It’s Friday! Time to get ready for my own home-time lonely hearts Happy Hour. It’s been getting hot in Los Angeles this week and I wanted nice, light, refreshing cocktails. The Portuguese Cocktail is a great solution. This is a favorite of most “Lisboners” and me, too. Here’s a little background.
 
Over the last 10 years or so I had two clients in Lisbon that required me to travel back and forth monthly (it’s a killer trip, no direct flights). While I wasn’t all that familiar with most Portuguese foods and cocktails, I quickly became an adopter of everything Portuguese—well, mostly everything—the pig ears being an exception. They’re just gross and better left as doggie treats.
 
My friend Nuno, the founder of A Padaria Portuguesa, and I use to go out evenings checking out the competition. There are many things from the Portuguese bar that I really like—green wine, Portuguese port—but mostly a light Springtime beverage made with just 3 ingredients—White Portuguese Port (a little hard find in the US), tonic and lime. These ingredients make for a beautiful Springtime happy hour. Also, see my recipe for Portuguese White Port Sangria.
 
Note: If you can’t find White Port use a little less of traditional Port to taste—it’s still a great drink.
 
White Port Cocktail
 The night is at your fingertips. This Portuguese drink is a great addition to your spring and summer your cocktail arsenal.
 
Ingredients
 1-ounce White Port
6 ounces Tonic Water
a twist and squeeze of lime
 
Directions

1. Pour the White Port over ice, add tonic and straw.
2. Add the lime, drink and repeat. Cheers!

ChefSecret:  This is how they do it in Portugal. We asked a few bartenders in Lisbon what the proper mixture of port and tonic was. Most bars and cafes pour one serving of Port (1 to 3 ounces) into a glass of ice and hand you a small bottle of tonic to pour over at your own discretion.
 
Portuguese White Port Sangria
This is a delicious Sangria made with White Port. It can be made with authentic Portuguese Port, or just Port-style wine. It has a delicate mix of flavors and sweetness while still being refreshing.
 
Prep time:  10 minutes
Chill time:  1 to 2 hours
Yield:  8 servings
 
Ingredients
2 cinnamon sticks
5 sprigs of mint
1-pint strawberries sliced
2 oranges cut into 1/4" round slices, then quartered
1 lemon cut into 1/4" round slices, then quartered
1 lime cut into 1/4" round slices, then quartered
1 bottle white port-style wine
2 12-ounce cans of lemon-lime soda
Ice
 
Directions

1. Place the cinnamon sticks, mint leaves, strawberries, oranges, lemons and limes into a large pitcher or jug.
2. Pour in the white port wine.
3. Stir and chill for one to two hours.
4. Immediately before serving, fill to the brim of the pitcher with lemon-lime soda and give it a delicate stir.
5. Serve over ice in rocks glasses—it rocks!
6. Happy Friday!

#HappyHour #Cocktails #Port #Portugal #Lisbon #Sanria #APadariaPortuguesa #PerspectivesTheConsultingGroup #QuarantineKitchen #Covid19

---