Lush Life

To be a lush chef, does not mean to drink in excess - this can result in scary fires and bad dishes. A lush chef is one who enjoys gourmet cooking/baking, often with fresh ingredients and the smart use of one's home bar. If there happens to be half a bottle of beer, a glass of wine, or a sip of brandy left over...well, one cannot be wasteful. I give you permission to imbibe.

About Me

My Photo
The Lush Chef
Twitter: @thelushchef Provenance: Santa Monica Dish: Coq au Vin Spirit: Whiskey Wine: Malbec Beer: Hefeweizen Farmer's Market: Santa Monica on Main Street
View my complete profile

Search

Powered by Blogger.
Oct 11, 2012

Fall Cocktail Round-up

It still doesn't quite feel like fall here in Los Angeles, but I'm turning green with envy at all the pretty pictures of red and yellow leaves, pumpkin patches and cider mills from my friends and family back home.  I'll be going apple picking this weekend with some friends to try and capture the spirit of my favorite season.  To get in the modd (although some of you already have been), here's a round-up of some of my favorite fall cocktails that I've posted on this blog. 


Old Fashioneds are my favorite drink, and in my opinion, the most perfect cocktail ever.  But sometimes you need to mix it up a little.  The Fig Old Fashioned highlights one of my favorite fruits that's in season during the late summer and early part of fall.  The inclusion of maple syrup and balsamic vinegar gives it that extra fall finish. 



Speaking of Old Fashioneds, another twist on this classic libation is the American Trilogy.  It contains Applejack, one of my favorite liquors to use during the fall, along with rye whiskey.  Instead of muddling in the standard white sugar cube, it calls for raw or brown sugar, and then orange bitters instead of Angostura.  It packs a punch and has flavor notes that remind you of crisp Autumn evenings. 


Whenever I go apple picking, I always end up picking way too many apples, and inevitably making a ton of applesauce.  I found a good use for some of that applesauce last year when I added it to a hot toddy and poured in Applejack instead of regular bourbon or whiskey.  This Apple Hot Toddy is perfect for soothing a cold or just enjoying on a chilly evening.  The best part is spooning out the boozy applesauce at the end!


In addition to my apple overload, I always have a jug of apple cider in the fridge, so of course I'm going to find a way to booze it up.  When I think of Manhattan, I think of the cocktail and apples (well, not always), so why not combine the two?  This Spiced Apple Cider Manhattan has the spiced gin-like liqueur Bols Genever and star anise to give it a whiff of fall.


Beer cocktails are now becoming pretty regular.  This time last year, it was still unusual to see them on a cocktail menu out here, and most people had never tried one.  This Sidewalker Cocktail was one of the first I ever had, and is perfect for a warm Autumn afternoon or spicing up the drinks selection at a football game viewing party.  The maple syrup, apple cider vinegar and Applejack scream of fall, and the flavors blend perfectly with a cold and crisp Hefeweizen.

And, if you want to be one of the cool kids and have a cocktail with the latest "it" liqueur, Green Chartreuse, then make yourself the classic Bijou Cocktail.  It was concocted back in the 1890's (insert Portlandia joke here), was forgotten and has now come back with a vengeance.  I've posted two different versions of this drink, which contains Green Chartreuse, sweet vermouth, gin and orange bitters.

0 comments: