YumSugar

Happy Hour: Save the Ice Until Last

partysugar — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 16:00:44 -0700

Earlier this week I learned a great tip from one of San Francisco's best bartenders, Marco Dionysus of Clock Bar. We were chatting about the proper way to build a drink in a cocktail shaker.

His advice is something of a no-brainer, but definitely worth mentioning: when it comes to making any drink, from a mojito to a martini, always place the ice in the shaker last. Adding the ice before you incorporate the other ingredients can severely dilute a drink. Within the time it takes to walk to your liquor cabinet and grab the vodka, the ice is already melting in the cocktail shaker. It makes perfect sense, and I hate to say it, but I've been sipping diluted drinks for years!

Do you always save the ice for last?

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YumSugar Gift Guide: The Party Girl

partysugar — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 11:16:29 -0800

Take note friends and family: These gifts are perfect for the ultimate party girl. I'm talking about the gal who hardly sleeps, is constantly in the process of planning a fabulous soirée, and considers party-hopping her favorite sport.

This gold crocodile wine caddy lets her transport bubbly in style. A pretty cocktail shaker and embellished martini glasses are ideal for mixing drinks at home. For a special splurge, give her a bottle of Cabo Wabo Uno tequila.

Check out the entire selection of party girl gifts below and head to HolidaySugar for more inspiring gift ideas.

Do You Own a Cocktail Shaker?

YumSugar — Tue, 20 May 2008 12:15:06 -0700

I'm always delighted when someone invites me over for drinks and gets out the cocktail shaker. This bar essential really takes at-home bartending to the next level; I use mine all the time. How about you?

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Yum Market Finds: Red & White Holiday

partysugar — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 16:15:19 -0800

Like Santa Claus or candy canes, red and white can fill any kitchen with holiday cheer. While browsing the Yum Market on TeamSugar, I noticed that it was overflowing with deep-red and snowy-white hues. Incorporating this color combination into your kitchen is super easy. You can fill a bowl with candy canes or add a gorgeous cocktail shaker to your home bar. I love this clear and red shaker that jennjennnbubba found. It totally makes me want to whip up white Russians!

To make your holiday a red-and-white one, browse the ideas below.

For more info on how to bookmark, check out geeksugar's guide.

YumSugar Gift Guide: The Haute Hostess

partysugar — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 10:03:19 -0800

I like to consider myself a hostess with the mostess. Entertaining is what I do; it's what I live for. So naturally, putting together a gift guide for the ultimate hostess was incredibly easy. I simply looked for fabulous gifts I would love to receive!

Give the party queens and kings in your life a gift that they can show off while entertaining.

A pretty pot holder, sleek cocktail shaker, or stylish tray are all wonderful options. Or give them a great conversation starter like these introductory cocktail napkins. They break the ice and totally eliminate small talk. For more ideas, scroll below!

Hello Cocktail Napkins ($3.50)	Anthropologie.com Snowflake Pot Holder ($12.00)
Two-Piece Chip and Dip ($32.95)	Wine Club - NapaStyle ($90 per 6-Bottle Shipment every 1, 2, or 3 months)
Coakley Cay Pattern Pink Serving Tray ($100.00)	Cocktail Shaker at Barneys New York ($120.00)

The Ultimate Bar: Cocktail Shaker

partysugar — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 11:58:13 -0700

The most important tool for the home mixologist is the cocktail shaker. If you buy only one accessory for your bar, buy this essential utensil. Cocktail shakers serve to effectively combine the elements of a drink and quickly chill the mixture before it is poured into a glass. There are two types of cocktail shakers the cobbler and the Boston. The cobbler, like the sleek shaker at left ($10.00), is the classic 3 part shaker that consists of a metal tumbler, a snug fitting lid, and a small cap that fits over the lid and covers the strainer that is built into the lid. This is most commonly used when entertaining at home. The Boston shaker, commonly found behind professional bars, has two parts: a larger metal mixing tumbler and a smaller glass tumbler that fits together to form a sealed container. A few more shakers so read more

The bartender's best friend, this Boston cocktail shaker has a durable glass measuring cup that will not stick and is dishwasher safe. At $45.00 it's a little more expensive than the cobbler but if you're considered an expert mixologist it's worth the splurge.

For the hostess with the mostess, who has an amazingly chic apartment, a sleek cocktail shaker is a must. I love this moderately priced ($35.00) stainless steel shaker with removeable hawthorne strainer and streamlined, flat top.

Off To Market Recap: Cocktail Shaker

partysugar — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 00:01:19 -0700

Andrew, my man about town artist friend from Cal, has begun to host sophisticated cocktail parties at his studio apartment in New York City. He lost the cocktail shaker that he stole from me years ago, so I thought it would be a great belated Christmas gift if I sent him a new cocktail shaker. I asked you to help me find a really cool cocktail shaker that is functional, modern, sleek, and artistic. You saved the shakers in the Yum Market with the keyword tag, Cocktail Shaker. The following shakers are ideal gifts for Andrew:

Chiringuito's are beach bars that pop up along the Spanish coasts during summer (I one day hope to open one!) and when I saw that this cocktail shaker was named the chiringuito shaker I knew Andrew had to have it. We've spent many days together enjoying the Spanish sun and sand, so when he uses this shaker he can be reminded of our beloved Costa Ballena. Both chlyn and rubialala spotted this shaker.

Two more = read more

Cupcake17 (and chellebaby) discovered this beautiful twisted cocktail shaker. It's made with special metal that mixes up super cool cocktails.

Andrew's nickname is AMO, which is actually his initials. This monogrammed cocktail shaker (discovered by rubialala) is elegant. I love the idea of personalizing it with his initials, that way no one can ever try to steal it.

Thanks for your help girls! Don't know what the Yum Market is all about? Read geeksugar's informative how-to.

Off To Market: Cocktail Shaker

partysugar — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 09:54:43 -0800

Andrew is a friend of mine who lives in New York City. He is an incredible artist and man about town. When he's not building sets or making videos, he spends the majority of his time partying (you can imagine what it must be like when we get together: PartyAndrew and PartySugar...). Lately he's been into throwing sophisticated cocktail parties at his house. He has one tiny/huge problem: the cocktail shaker he stole from me years ago has disappeared. I owe him a birthday present and a Christmas present and want to send him a really cool cocktail shaker and I need you to help me find it. Andrew is the type of guy who dresses great and always has the newest phone/iPod/gadget/sunglasses before everyone else. The shaker should be functional but modern and artistic at the same time. Save the shakers you find in the Yum Market with the keyword tag, Cocktail Shaker. Thanks for your help!

What's the Yum Market? geeksugar has written a quick, easy to read guide to bookmarking on TeamSugar.

What's Cooking at Slashfood

partysugar — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 04:00:27 -0700

We love Slashfood so much that every Thursday we round up their most delicious stories. Here are this week's finds:

Meet Tracy Porter, tabletop's new hero.
Beef terroir: the grassfed difference.
Canning of craft beers is becoming more popular.
The Food Network has launched a new line of kitchenware.
What makes you feel like a real cook?
Tuck an edible note into your kid's lunches with FoodWriters.
The new cocktail shakers are antique pitchers.

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Happy Hour: Cran-Limoncello

YumSugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:00:49 -0800

Every few months, I host a book club in my home, and find it a lovely occasion to try out a new cocktail. This time around, I couldn't wait to incorporate ingredients that evoke the holidays, like cranberries and the zesty Italian after-dinner favorite, limoncello.

This three-ingredient sipper couldn't be easier to pull together; it simply calls for seltzer, limoncello, and cranberry juice - no shaker required. Yet the payoff is in spades: "What went into this? Can I have the recipe?" friends asked me throughout the night. I assured them that even the most bar-challenged could make this drink. For a pretty garnish that's a hint of what's to come, toss in a few fresh cranberries, too. Keep reading for the recipe.