cocktails – In Good Taste

Fall-Themed Brunch Party & Sparkling Apple Cider Sangria

Maris Callahan — Wed, 16 Oct 2019 19:23:35 +0000

If you love to entertain, but want to do it within a conservative budget, a festive brunch party is a great way to play hostess without breaking the bank. With the holiday season approaching, a fall-themed brunch party is the best way to start a weekend day. I don’t consider brunch to be a B-list meal. In fact, if you do it right, weekend brunch can be the only meal you need to eat all day. You can eat sweet and savory foods together and you can drink cocktails before noon. What could be better? As we look ahead toward the holiday weekend, I’m going to hazard a guess at some point between now and the end of the year, you’ll spend a least one weekend morning skipping your usual “stay-in-bed-til-noon” routine in favor of preparing or attending a meal that is equal parts social and juuuust substantial enough to make you want to follow said meal with an immediate nap. The staples of any brunch party menu, whether you’re throwing the party or bringing a dish to a potluck, are pretty consistent: Something fresh, like a bright green salad with all of the seasonal fixings. In the fall, I like to toss mixed greens with walnuts, blue or […]

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How To Stock a Basic Bar Cart [Plus: Cocktails!]

Corinne Hanshaw — Thu, 07 Sep 2017 15:18:44 +0000

We’ve talked about how to style a basic bar cart for your home, but how do you make stock your basic bar cart to make it practical and functional, too? A good assortment of spirits, mixers, garnishes, glassware and a few pieces of key barware are paramount to getting your at-home bartending game on. Whether you’re stocking your first basic bar cart or replenishing your spirits for upcoming entertaining needs, here’s how to do it without breaking the bank. What You Need Spirits Mixers Garnishes Glassware Barware Spirits Buying a variety of spirits is important when stocking your first bar. When entertaining guests, it’s good to have some choices. It is unnecessary to have every type of liquor available but there are basic liquors that can be used different ways to suit many pallets. Here are the basic liquors to keep on hand: Vodka Tequila Gin Rum Bourbon Scotch is also a somewhat common liquor, but not one that is necessary to keep on hand unless you or multiple individuals that you entertain are fans. If you do decide to stock scotch, make sure you spend a little extra money for the good stuff — it is generally drank on the rocks. […]

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Frozen Negroni Slushies

Maris Callahan — Wed, 20 Jul 2016 05:00:33 +0000

This weekend, the heat index in Chicago is supposed to reach 110 degrees F. That’s pretty hot. It’s almost too hot to sit outside and sip a glass of wine, but it happens to be perfect weather for grabbing a frozen cocktail and hightailing it to the nearest swimming pool. In hot weather, you’ll want to batch up this frozen Negroni cocktail, a slushie version of the classic beverage. Though I only enjoy the occasional Negroni every now and again (i.e. when I’m at a restaurant, pretending that I live in Italy or somewhere more glamorous than northwestern Illinois), I’m well aware that the cocktail has somewhat of a cult following. There is an entire week dedicated to the might Negroni every June and it’s a mainstay on classic cocktail menus around the world. In the summer though, sometimes you want to shake things up a little bit, making it especially refreshing by whipping up a batch in the blender. As you’re enjoying the summer and all the lovely cocktails that the season brings, keep this frozen, boozy goodness in mind. Made with gin and equal parts Campari, and sweet vermouth, the Negroni is a simple and sophisticated cocktail that will make your summer that […]

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Aperol Spritz

Maris Callahan — Wed, 22 Oct 2014 21:46:27 +0000

There are certain times that call for a cocktail when you’d rather not admit that you want to drink a cocktail. For example: 4:00 p.m. on a particularly trying Thursday afternoon. Saturday brunch before noon. You get it. One of our favorite cocktails for such an occasion is the Aperol Spritz, undoubtedly the most common aperitif in Italy, meant to stimulate the appetite but not overwhelm the palate. If you’ve been to Italy, you’ve no doubt seen folks sitting on the piazza having a cocktail before dinner. If you haven’t been to Italy, you might have walked by Quartino, one of our favorite Chicago restaurants where aperitif – or aperitif – is the name of the game. An Aperol Spritz, one of my favorite pre-dinner cocktails, is a combination of sparkling wine with a splash of Aperol (a bitter liquer) and club soda, usually garnished with an orange. What’s actually in Aperol? Excellent question. It’s something of a secret, but there is a bittersweet essence of oranges, herbs and rhubarb. While the official Aperol Spritz recipe calls for 3 parts prosecco, 2 parts Aperol and a splash of club soda, Quartino’s master mixologists have slightly tweaked the recipe to their […]

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How-To: Homemade Simple Syrup

Maris Callahan — Mon, 13 Oct 2014 05:04:31 +0000

Once you master making homemade simple syrup, you’ve officially crossed the threshold of adulthood. It means that you’re longer a college student that will use just about any liquid beverage as an alcohol mixer, including Jell-O. To make simple syrup is to up your cocktail game exponentially, from average to elegant. If you’re not a frequent drinker, it’s also a perfect ingredient to have on hand for homemade fresh basil lemonade, sweet tea or iced coffee. In short, simple syrup lives up to it’s name: simple to make, simple to use. It might not improve any other areas of your adult life, but it will certainly impress your grown-up drinking buddies. Simple syrup, by definition, is a sweet, thick liquid made of two ingredients: sugar and water. What sets it apart from its humble components is that it dissolves completely in beverages that require sweetener. To make homemade simple syrup, combine one part sugar and one part water in a small saucepan. Heat over medium, stirring frequently, until the sugar dissolves (which it should in just enough time to pour yourself a glass of wine). Once you can’t see any sugar in the solution, take the saucepan off the heat and cool […]

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