aperol

Master A Cocktail – Level Easy Peasy

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We’re going to tackle three different types of cocktails to make to impress – a super simple classic cocktail, a unique drink everyone will be talking about, and a showstopper. Let’s start with our easy peasy classic, the Aperol Spritz.

This simple drink has grown in popularity. Before traveling to Italy, we did some research on the food and drinks to see what are the must haves while visiting. An Aperol Spritz was top of the list to try when arriving. Leading up to the trip we started to notice Aperol Spritz on every menu in America. We clearly were late in the game on this trend but patiently waited to have our first spritz in Italy then compared it to an American version. They’re exactly the same but you know a spritz will always be better on vacation overlooking the Amalfi Coast.

So here’s the easy peasy recipe. No tools required besides a glass. It’s vibrant orange color will make it instagramable and everyone will think you were a professional bartender in your past life.


To make it extra fancy, add an orange slice.

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SGROPPINO – What is it?!

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Sgroppino is an alcoholic mixed drink originating in Venice, Italy based on lemon sorbet and vodka, topped up with Italian sparkling Prosecco. Sgroppino can be served as a palate-cleansing aperitif or as a dessert drink after your meal.

The Sgroppino was served in aristocratic Venetian homes back in the 16th century. The Sgropin, as it’s called in the Venetian dialect, means to ‘untie’ such as to untie a little knot in ones stomach following a rather filling meal. It is also to cleanse the palate between the first and second courses.

Even though the drink originates in Italy, as you travel throughout the country you may have some difficulty finding the drink and even local restaurants knowing what it is. This is because further away from La Serenissima it is not a Sgroppino anymore, it is simply Sorbetto.

That tradition continues today, with a few minor tweaks to the centuries-old recipe. As the classic Sgroppino is made with lemon sorbetto, vodka and Prosecco sparkling wine, variations include strawberry, grapefruit or lavender, and sometimes the addition of limoncello.

Sweet and citrusy,  this creamy lemon Prosecco cocktail is hands down the best dessert drink ever! Simple ingredients and no special skills required to make.

EATALY – Las Vegas

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Having been to a few different Eataly’s, Las Vegas Eataly at Park MGM is the greatest thing that has happened to my tastebuds. The comparison to an amusement park for foodies is spot on. They have mastered fast food and quick bites for on the go with high quality ingredients or you can sit down for a leisurely meal and immerse yourself in the experience Eataly provides.

Their philosophy of “eat, shop, learn” is something the strip has not scene before and they do it right. Their fresh pizza dough and pasta are some of the best things to exist. They hand pull their own mozzarella right in front of you and its our favorite show in Vegas as well as the best edible souvenirs.

It is every food snobs dream come true. Infact, this place will appeal to any person. Pizza, pasta, drinks, sweets – they have a food station for any craving. Enjoy an Aperol Spritz sitting under the sunshine like an Italian or take it to go in a plastic cup Vegas style.

FOOD RECOMMENDATIONS:

  • Tradizionale Pizza – your traditional Neapolitan pizza
  • Charcuterie Board with pickled veggies
  • Nutella Crêpe
  • Espresso
  • Aperol Spritz and Limoncello Spritz

Items to be informed about…

  • The cannoli is Sicilian style with whipped ricotta so it may not be something you’re used to. It’s not as sweet of a filling you find in Italian bakeries in the US.
  • The Presseco and gelato drink at the Il Gelato station is essentially just a scoop in your drink. (Can be spotted in the picture below)

It’s SPRITZ Season!

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Read up on some history and the development of Aperol Spritz…

And where to get a perfect spritz in NYC and Austin…

Aperol with a twist: Get a Frozen Aperol Spritz at Maritime Hotel in NYC or a Fluffy Garibaldi at Uncle Nicky’s in Austin, made with frozen Campari and fluffy orange juice.

Uncle Nicky’s – Austin

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Austin’s hotest new cafe/hangout- Uncle Nicky’s Italian cafe. It’s the Central Perk of Hyde Park.

The casual restaurant features Northern Italian cuisine on their menu with Aperol Spritz and Campari. Truly an authentic Italian spot.

They’re open from 7am to midnight so you can go for a cup of coffee and breakfast sandwich before work or head there on a late night for a night cap and some gelato.

We recommend bringing your laptop and going for a drink, appetizer and the daily flavor of gelato.

TIP: Get the Garibaldi with the fluffy orange. It’s like no other drink we’ve had before. It’s delish! (Pictured above.)

FUN FACT: Dolce Vita on the drink menu pays homage to the previous restaurant that was in the space serving gelato and espresso to the neighborhood for 23 years and closed their doors last year.

TREND ALERT: Sgroppino is the new Aperol Spritz.

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We’re calling it now! Sgroppino is the next IT drink for brunching. Bellini’s, Mimosa’s and Frosé all had a good run. Aperol is amazing but it too will have its end. Sgroppino is the next thing and you heard it here first. 

We’re so sure of this because we are brunch connoiseurs. We’re as basic as it comes – We watch the bachelor, we keep up with the Kardashians, we love avocado toast, drink Starbucks lattes, wear Uggs, we can’t even, and we brunch like it’s our job.

As professional brunchers aka acceptable day drinking for the fabulous – a chic alcoholic beverage is essential. It started with a Mimosa but has since then expanded. There was the Rosé era turned into Frosé. More recently the Aperol spritz has hit the brunch scene. Aperol came from Italy and they’re bringing Sgroppino too. 

So what is Sgroppino? It’s simply lemon sorbet, Prosecco and vodka mixed together until it has a creamy texture. 

Any other variation is not a Sgroppino. It’s super smooth and creamy but there is not any dairy in this. It will be whisked together to get the proper texture and should not be blended. A scoop of sorbet or ice cream plopped in Prosecco can not be considered a Sgroppino either. That’s more of an Affogato style. 

Be on the lookout for this drink in the states this summer. Cheers! 

Where to get a Spritz

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Here’s where to get your fix of those sparkling red-orange drinks in pretty stemmed glasses.

Aperol is an infusion of bitter and sweet orange flavors with  a secret mix of herbs and woody notes.

Austin:

  1. Italic – An Italian restaurant on 6th street where you can enjoy pizza, gelato and happy hour like a true Italian.
  2. Gemelli – A gelato shop that serves up Italian inspired cocktails.
  3. The Line Hotel – A Casual Burger Restaurant in a trendy hotel serving up a unique frozen Aperol with pink lemonade.

New York City:

  1. Bagatelle – Known for its boozy brunch and daytime club atmosphere with a European vibe serving an original spritz.
  2. Dante – Italian cuisine, world class cocktails and an award winning bar that has Aperol on tap.
  3. Maritime – Voted as one of the ten most beautiful bars, Maritime hosts La Sirena, the creator of the frozen Aperol Spritz.

Aperol Spritz in NYC and Austin

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Aperol Spritz was the drink of the summer, tailor made for the social media generation. Originated in Venice in the 1950s with its popularity revived today due to Campari’s aggressive marketing campaign. This drink is more than just the next rosé as Americans conform to the European lifestyle of sipping and relaxing while they drink. There has also been a noticeable shift amongst US palates towards more bitter flavors. This cocktail is here to stay.

Aperol took off in trend-setting cities like New York. They took this already trendy cocktail and reworked it as a frozen version mnemonic of the frosé. The demand heightened for the classic Aperol Spritz so much that bars put Aperol on tap.

Aperol Spritz has made its way to Austin which is no surprise as this growing city is at the forefront in the cocktail scene. Not only is the spritz popular at bars but they have given this drink a southern touch. If you look closely on cocktail menus you will find different variations of this bitter orange, gentian, rhubarb-floral aperitif.

NYC: You can find Aperol Spritz on tap at Dante or The Maritime Hotel. The Maritime also serves frozen Aperol Spritz (credited to creating this frozen drink). If you not only want an Aperol Spritz but also the European vibe to come with it, Bagatelle is your spot. Tip: Aperol has become so popular that if you do not see it on the menu, just ask for it as any bar or restaurant will serve it.

Austin: Find an authentic Aperol Spritz at Italian restaurant Italic on Sixth St. or at Gelateria Gemelli where the founder was inspired by his sojourn in Italy. Get a frozen Aperol pink lemonade at The Line Hotel at Dean’s One Trick Pony.