cocktail

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.

Spotted: Sgroppino in Vegas

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Could it be? Sgroppino in Las Vegas? And if so, will it be a true Sgroppino like the one found in Italy?

When scoping out the MGM Park we stumbled across a sign saying “Sgroppino.” Our minds were blown. Sgroppino has reached the strip. We found ourselves infront of Primrose, a charming, French inspired bistro. In our excitement, we read on to see if it could possibly be a true Italian Sgroppino… Lemon sorbet – yes! Prosecco – yes! Vodka – yassss! Sounds legit.

Even with all the purple and lavender added, it still sounded like a true Sgroppino just with a fancy remix. We’re in Vegas after all.

We went inside Primrose and ordered our Sgroppino. We saw the bartender immediately grab the cocktail shaker and we cringed. We then knew this would be another Affogato style version of a Sgroppino. Maybe in the states it’s just a scoop of sorbet in alcohol but you guys are really missing out on a true Sgroppino. 

 

Those of you unfamiliar, a Sgroppino is Prosecco, vodka and lemon sorbet whisked together to created a creamy aperitif.  It may sound like the texture would be that of a slushy but it is just like a milkshake. It is so creamy you won’t believe it’s not ice cream.

I am starting the petition now to make Sgroppino the new basic bitch drink for brunch. Please start signatures below in the comment section.  

Vegas Sgroppino – The purple drank. 

Sgroppino in Italy. Salute!

Brunch Babes: First Edition

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We love brunch so much, we’ve started a series of our favorite places. Starting with the most over the top brunch spot….

Sorry, Austin but you’ve got nothing on the NYC Brunch scene. NYC Brunch at Bagatelle is an experience like no other.

What is it? Simply put – Brunch meets club. Emulating the champagne brunch parties famous in the South of France, you’ll be popping bottles served by superman, dancing on tables, go-go dancers on the bar, and barely able to hold a conversation over the DJ blasting music. Oh yea, and delicious food.

Brunch in NYC is a lifestyle. Our brunches made Rosé famous. It’s what created the Frosé. Brunch has come a long way and developed into a party scene meets mini vacation vibes. The NYC mentality is work hard, party hard(er).

After a night out at the club in the meatpacking district, why not just carry on the partying with some food in the same area. And that’s just what Bagatelle did. It’s basically a daytime club. It’s over the top. It’s fancy. It’s fun. It’s where everyone wants to be seen.

It’s not cheap though. Spend $2,500 on a jeroboam of Veuve Clicquot and some magnums of Dom Pérignon, and the lights dim, the D.J. cues up the theme from “Superman,” and a waiter is hoisted onto the shoulders of the servers. His arms outstretched as he carries one of the blazing bottles to your table.

Tips:

  • Must make a reservation a month in advance.
  • Only available on Saturday and Sunday.
  • Formal attire only. You will be turned away if not dressed to their liking. Even if you have a reservation!
  • Expect to drop a lot of money.
  • 2 hour max at each table and then you’re kicked out from your table and move to the bar to finish. (Isn’t NYC so kind?)
  • Going with a large group? Order a cocktail in the giant bowl for the table to share and enjoy the fun presentation. (Although, Austinites will not appreciate the box of straws used in the drink.)
  • Food is made to share. They have large portions so order a bunch of items for the table.

It’s a bucket list must for brunching!

NYC Valentine’s Day Guide

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Single and celebrating Galentine’s Day? Deeply in love looking for a romantic evening? Or going on a Tinder date? We’ve got you covered! Everyone seems to scramble last minute to figure out plans for February 14th. Don’t break a sweat because we have some suggestions for you.

First off we’d like to address how Austinites seem to love this Hallmark holiday while the East Coast has a very cynical outlook on it. They’re just happy it falls on a Thursday this year so it doesn’t ruin their weekend. So to help out the New Yorkers on this pink and red, heart-shaped holiday, we have the fun, the romantic, and the trendy spots for you. 

NYC:

Museum of Sex – Let’s start with the fun/cheesy one. It’s a museum of inappropriateness and lots of giggles. Ummm… and they have a bar. You bet they have a Valentine’s Day special. It’s a bit steep at $105 per ticket and I can’t really justify it so maybe just buy the $20 general admission and go to Eataly after. Also, Shake Shack and Tacombi are nearby. 

Venchi – Your Willy Wonka Dreams have come true with the largest chocolate waterfall in North America. Newly opened and the hottest spot since the Nutella Cafe, this Italian sweet shop will wow you and give you diabetes all at the same time. Serving gelato, crepes, coffee and of course lots of chocolate. 

Winter Village – Want an activity? Head to Bryant Park for some ice skating. If you think ice skating is lame or you just don’t feel like face planting that evening, they have bumper cars for the rink. That’s right – bumper cars! They have tons of shops and food options as well – all instagram worthy. If you’re getting too cold in this polar vortex, go grab a warm seat at the enclosed bar called The Lodge. 

LROOM Cafe – Treat yo self with the finest latte – a 24k Gold Latte that is. It’s called the “Bling Bling Honey Latte” and it’s made with edible glitter and kicks golden milk made with turmeric to the curb. What started as a flower shop, has added a cafe with beautiful concoctions almost too pretty to eat (aka perfect for instagram.) They’ve created pastries, waffles and drinks made to  resemble floral arrangements. We recommend this place for the single ladies where you can get something better than flowers and jewelry – *edible* flowers and jewelry. 

1803NYC – This was added to the list because it’s NYC’s hottest restaurant right now. Newly open with a New Orleans’ vibe and a strong culinary scene that’s creating tons of buzz. Get more than dinner and drinks, stay for the live Jazz which is making a huge comeback these days appealing to younger crowds. 

PHD – A pop up roof top bar with an interesting acronym but actually stands for Penthouse at the Dream. We have a soft spot for The Dream. We’ve been going there since we looked old enough to be there. Now the Dream has a great new rooftop which you can never have enough in any city. 

Aperol Spritz in NYC and Austin

austin, drinks, nyc

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.

Is Seltzer bad for you?

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With any new craze there’s always someone out there who finds the downside. The rise of seltzer beverages have skyrocketed in the last 5 years and reports have surfaced that claim seltzer is actually bad for you. How could this be? It’s just bubbly water. What could possibly be so harmful with that?

There’s a few reasons why seltzer is said to be bad for you – One main accusation being that it causes stomach problems and people who suffer from IBS shouldn’t drink it. Ok, well that doesn’t mean it’s necessarily bad for everyone else. Two being it causes erosion of the enamel on your teeth. That’s a pretty lame accusation as seltzer is obviously better for your teeth than soda or any citric food item. I have science to back that up!

What are the ingredients in seltzer? Mineral water which is considered medicinal. You’re basically drinking the fountain of youth. The other ingredient being carbonic acid which is what gives it it’s bubbles. Carbonic acid is the accused culprit to what causes erosion of the enamel. Carbonic acid is falsely accused. Don’t be fooled by it’s name because it’s actually not a problem. Flavored seltzers have citric acid which is the acid that’s bad for your teeth when combined with carbonic acid.

So seltzer is fine for you. Flavored seltzer is a smidge worse but we can all agree soda is the devil. Just don’t replace your water intake with pure seltzer.

So is seltzer bad for you – NO. Seltzer is simply water with bubbles. Go pick on soda and leave seltzer alone.

Seltzer facts:

  • Carbonated water was accidentally invented by Joseph Priestley in 1767 who was referred to as the father of the industry.
  • Seltzer Is Originally A German Thing.
  • Several of the mineral springs in Germany are naturally carbonated. One of those is in a town called Selters, which eventually gave us the word seltzer.
  • Germans drink mostly carbonated water. If you order water at a German restaurant, you will get carbonated water, unless you specified otherwise.
  • Seltzer, soda water, club soda, sparkling water and fizzy water are basically all the same thing with the only difference being where the water is sourced.
  • Soft drinks are about 100 times more erosive to teeth than sparkling mineral water.
  • Seltzer was originally only sold in glass bottles.

Seltzer Tip: If you love seltzer as much as we do and want to up your seltzer game you can buy seltzer in old school vintage glass bottles from Brooklyn Seltzer.