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New York City Wine and Food: What Did We Learn?

partysugar — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 05:30:18 -0700

All weekend we've been attending the Food Network's Wine and Food Festival in New York City.

We learned some interesting food facts at the demonstrations and tastings. To find out what the celebrity chefs taught us, test your common culinary knowledge by taking our quiz!

Take the quiz

Sparkling Vodka Makes Its Way To The US

YumSugar — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 06:59:19 -0700

This news is fresh off the presses. Looks like Vodka O2, which is a sparkling vodka, has finally found a US importer with Admiral Imports. The New Jersey based company will be the exclusive importer for the bubble-infused vodka. As far as I'm concerned, this is one of the best products I've heard of in a while. My personal favorite drink is vodka with soda or tonic, and as everyone points out, why on earth do I spend my money on diluted vodka?

The world's first sparkling vodka was developed over the course of two years, and contains 80 proof vodka that has been batch distilled and filtered three times. A blend of wheat, malted barley and filtered British spring water, the sparkling vodka is marketed as "a delicious, distinctive quality that is crystal clear and lightly sparkling on the palate."

Like I said before, I personally can't wait until I can get my hands on some. Right now it's available in the UK and Iceland (and coming soon to Australia and New Zealand). Has anyone tried it? If so, what do you think? Is it worth the hype?

Source: PR Newswire

Happy Hour: Pink Torpedoes

partysugar — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 13:00:54 -0700

Inspired by a cocktail class I recently attended, I decided to make my own strawberry-infused vodka. The technique is simple: all you have to do is slice a bunch of strawberries and combine them with the vodka and a little sugar. Then you let it sit for a couple of days until the vodka has a vibrant pink color. Unlike store-bought-infused vodkas, this homemade variation has a sweet-tart berry flavor that's neither syrupy or cloying. Once the vodka is ready, you can sip it solo or make a pink torpedo like I did.

This fizzy-girlie drink combines the vodka with limoncello and sparkling wine. If you don't have sparkling wine, you can substitute sparkling water. It's a fabulously refreshing concoction perfect for enjoying on a warm afternoon. To look at the recipe, read more.

Pink Torpedoes
Modified from Everyday With Rachael Ray

Ingredients

2 cups vodka, chilled
1 1/2 pints strawberries, hulled and sliced
2 teaspoons granulated sugar
Limoncello
One 750-ml bottle sparkling wine or sparkling water, chilled

Directions

In a large bowl, stir together the vodka, two-thirds of the sliced strawberries and the granulated sugar. Cover with plastic wrap and let stand at room temperature until the vodka turns pink, about 6 hours. Refrigerate overnight or up to 3 days.
Fill 6 glasses with ice. Strain the vodka and divide among 6 tall glasses.
Add a splash of limoncello to each glass and top off with the sparkling wine or sparkling water. Garnish with the remaining strawberry slices.

Makes 6 drinks.

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Come Party With Me: Valentine's Dinner For Two - Drinks

partysugar — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 12:30:05 -0800

On Valentine's Day start your romantic evening with a fizzy, festive cocktail. This drink, appropriately titled "Cupid's Arrow," is made with easy-to-find ingredients like pomegranate juice, orange liquor, and sparkling rose.

If your man won't drink anything too girlie, mix the vibrantly red drink for you and serve him a vodka tonic. With dinner sip a light-bodied red like a Pinot Noir or Italian Sangiovese. Pair the chocolate-strawberry cakes with a lush Port or effervescent dessert wine.

For the cocktail recipes, read more.

Cupid’s Arrow
From Grand Marnier

Ingredients

1 Part pomegranate juice
2 Parts orange liquor (recommended: Grand Marnier)
2 Parts sparkling rosé (recommended: Chandon Rosé)
½ Part fresh-squeezed lemon juice

Directions

Shake pomegranate juice, Grand Marnier and lemon in a cocktail filled with ice.
Strain into a champagne flute.
Top with Chandon Rosé and enjoy!

Drink amounts will vary.

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Vodka Tonic
2 oz vodka
Tonic water
Pour vodka into a highball glass with ice cubes.
Fill with tonic water.
Stir, and serve.
Garnish with a lemon or lime.
For an bonus twist add a few sprigs of mint, or a splash of lime juice.

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http://www.yumsugar.com/2801549

Come Party With Me: All Hallow's Eve - Drinks

partysugar — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:00:46 -0700

It's T minus two days until your big Halloween party! Since nobody wants to spend the entire night mixing cocktails, serve a punch. It's quenches the thirst of a crowd and is easy to make. All you have to do is dump the ingredients into a cauldron and stir. This potent concoction is a mixture of passion fruit vodka, cranberry juice, ginger ale, and sparkling apple cider. To achieve a smoldering affect, you'll have to get your hands on dry ice, but if you don't have time to seek it out, the punch is still enjoyable without the smoke. Also, stock up on beer or order a keg. To check out the apple punch recipe, read more.

Wicked Witch Apple Punch
From Skky

Ingredients

1 750 ml bottle Skyy Infusions Passion Fruit
1 750 ml bottle sparkling apple cider
1 64 oz. bottle cranberry juice cocktail
1 Liter ginger ale
2 cups pineapple juice
Red apple slices

Directions

Combine all ingredients in a large black witch’s cauldron with ice and stir.
Garnish with large slices of red apple floating on top and if desired, dry ice.

Serves 12-14.

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Must Read: Sips & Apps

partysugar — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 08:00:14 -0700

Thanks to shows like Mad Men, it's clear that the ritual of the cocktail hour - a time in the late afternoon where potent drinks are sipped and savory snacks are nibbled - is poised to make a comeback. A recent book, Sips & Apps ($19.95) by Kathy Casey, further promotes the idea by providing happy homemakers with a plethora of modern and classic cocktails, and a handful of incredibly tasty-sounding bar snacks. To learn more about this bartending guide keep reading.

Happy Hour: Peach Donkey

partysugar — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 16:00:34 -0700

Although this cocktail recipe has a weird name, the ingredients are pretty ordinary and the flavor is absolutely sublime. It's similar to the classic bellini - because it combines peach puree with effervescence - but, thanks to the addition of vodka and Canton, it's much more potent. When blended together, the sweetness of the peach offsets the subtle heat of the ginger. The final cocktail is refreshing and easy to drink. For a rustic feel, serve in mason jars! If you can't find ginger beer, simply substitute sparkling water. Sound interesting? Get the recipe when you read more.

Peach Donkey
From Food & Wine Cocktails 09

Ingredients

1 ounce vodka
1/2 ounce ginger liqueur
3 ounces peach puree or nectar
Crushed ice
1 ounce chilled ginger beer
Peach slices, for garnish (optional)

Directions

In a highball glass, combine the vodka, ginger liqueur and peach puree; stir.
Add crushed ice and stir again. Top with the ginger beer and swizzle by spinning a swizzle stick or bar spoon between your hands. Garnish with peach slices.

Makes 1 drink.

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Come Party With Me: Bridal Brunch - Drinks

partysugar — Thu, 07 May 2009 12:51:02 -0700

For a casual, sunny brunch consider setting up a drink buffet along side the food. This gives guests the freedom to make their own drinks and provides the hostess more time to mingle. At Ronda's bridal shower, our female friends can choose from three types of fresh squeezed citrus.

Place vodka, Champagne, and sparkling water beside the juice. If the girls want to sip a spiked beverage they can stir in the spirit that floats their fancy. Brewed coffee and hot tea are welcome additions. Don't have time to juice a million oranges? Use your favorite store bought juice to create the refreshment bar. For the easy recipe, read more.

Fresh Citrus Juice Bar
From Martha Stewart

Ingredients

10 juice oranges
10 blood oranges
6 ruby red grapefruits
Lime and orange slices, for garnish

Directions

Juice citrus separately; pour into pitchers. Serve with ice; garnish with citrus slices. Leftover juice can be refrigerated in airtight containers up to 2 days.

Makes about 3 1/2 cups of each juice.

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Come Party With Me: Oscars Viewing - Drinks

partysugar — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 12:50:41 -0800

At the Governors Ball, the majority of the stars will be sipping sparkling wine, so stock up on more affordable bottles of Cava or Prosecco. Place wine buckets around the room and fill with ice and bottles. Arrange champagne flutes or saucers nearby. Besides sparkling wine, three specialty cocktails will be poured at the Oscars afterparty. Select one to serve your friends. I like the Golden Rush, a concoction made with orange-flavored vodka, lemon juice, and sparkling wine.

Instead of mixing one libation at a time, prepare a large pitcher. For those who don't drink, serve a mocktail of cranberry juice mixed with lime soda. To check out the recipe for the Golden Rush, read more.

The Golden Rush
From Wolfgang Puck Catering

Ingredients

1/3 oz orange vodka
1/3 oz simple syrup
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
Sparkling wine (recommended: Moët and Chandon White Star Champagne)

Directions

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the orange vodka, simple syrup, and lemon juice. Shake to combine.
Strain into a glass filled with ice. Top with sparkling wine.

Makes 1 drink.

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Trend Alert: Hibiscus Drinks

YumSugar — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 13:00:45 -0800

Last June, I discovered the sweet virtue of dried hibiscus flowers. I picked them up at Trader Joe's and, on a whim, stirred them into a pitcher of lemonade. The hibiscus lent a sweet, tart flavor, as well as a beautiful blush color.

Perhaps by putting hibiscus flowers into that pitcher of sparkling ade, I was onto something: Hibiscus, with its fruity, tannic flavor, has been appearing in all sorts of beverages, from sparkling sodas to hot cocktails.

I've seen Ooba, a sparkling hibiscus soda, everywhere from this year's Fancy Foods Show to the drink aisle at the local Whole Foods Market. On her new show, Giada at Home, Food Network star Giada De Laurentiis entertained with a spiked hibiscus tea, made by boiling dried hibiscus in sugar water, straining out the flowers, and mixing in lemon juice and vodka. Both beverages, with their punchy pink color and notes of cranberry flavor, are drinks that would satisfy on a hot Summer day.

Not that hibiscus is only to be enjoyed during Summer. This month, Bon Appétit proclaims Winter cocktail The Laureate to be the "new hot toddy." In the mix? Añejo tequila, agave nectar, and - you guessed it - dried hibiscus flowers, which add "a bit of tartness and a rich ruby red color."

Can you see hibiscus drinks being a trend that really takes off? Have you enjoyed any hibiscus-flavored beverages lately?