Cooking Lesson #544 White Ukrainian Cocktail

Formerly Known As A White Russian

…from the Perspectives’ Holiday Happy Hour Bar

How you doin’? Over the years, Perspectives has had a large array of wonderful clients and a few less than wonderful. A few years ago before the invasion of Ukraine, Perspectives was contacted via our website inviting us to respond to an RFP (request for proposal) for developing a restaurant concept in Kyiv. We would later come to learn that our client, who was actually in Azerbaijan, and had been a prominent member of Putin’s inner circle before the fall of the Soviet Union.
 
We were to meet our new client in London to see some of the foods they wanted us to become familiar with, meet with potential chefs and generally get to know more about Middle-Eastern cuisine—especially foods from Beirut.
 
To our surprise, after landing in London our client didn’t show up—there was some problem (he said) with his visa and entry into the UK. We were a little concerned, but we had a return ticket back home they had paid for. We were at leisure to discover the style of foods they wanted and visit with my sister-in-law’s family for 10 days.
 
Next, we heard that we were being flown to Baku, Azerbaijan to meet with the man who was going to retain us. As we found out Baku is a very mysterious and wonderful place. As with most Eastern Bloc countries at the time, the people were warm and hospitable even though their governments weren’t.
 
Making a long and somewhat humorous story short, two weeks later we found ourselves in Kyiv presenting the menu and looking for real estate as part of our client’s capital city strategy. It was an exciting time to be in Ukraine as it was the first time the people had a chance to elect their own government in open elections. As we walked through the downtown plaza, two competing groups were loudly presenting their campaigns at the top of their lungs. When we checked into the local hotel there were two beautiful Ukrainian ladies who couldn’t have cared less with all the hoopla going on outside.
 
Joan asked them if they were excited about all the changes going on in their country? They said, “NEYT… somethings and places never change.” And now the Russians are back to their old imperial ways trying to subvert the people of Ukraine one again. It breaks our hearts to see the suffering across the country. We wish the people of Ukraine well and hope they will be at peace once again soon.
 
As we are just 24 days from Christmas let’s say a prayer for the people of Ukraine for peace and good will for all. Tip a glass and celebrate with a grown-up Frappuccino (formerly known as a White Russian)… this coffee-flavored (but almost completely caffeine-free) cocktail is decadence to the extreme.
 
Ingredients 
1-1/2 ounces vodka
3/4 ounce Kahlua (coffee liqueur)
3/4 ounce heavy cream
1/8 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
 
Directions

1. Shake ingredients well with cracked ice.
2. Strain into a chilled Old-Fashioned glass.

 
ChefSecret:  Add ice to that glass beforehand if you'd like to temper the strength of the cocktail. Kahlua does, in fact, contain a small amount of caffeine… about 5mg per 1.5-oz. of Kahlua.
 
Quip of the Day:
“Do you have a hobby?" Putin was asked.
"Of course! I collect jokes about myself."
"Have you got many?"
"Two and a half labor camps full already!"
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To you and everyone dear to you, be strong, be 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 and/or American Red Cross. 

#WhiteUkrainianCocktail #Kahlua #Vodka #Vanilla #WhiteRussian #Cheers #HolidayRecipes #Holidays2022 #BeThankful #QuarantineKitchen #RedCross #FeedingAmerica #PerspectivesTheConsultingGroup 

                                                       ©Perspectives/The Consulting Group, LLC, 2022

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