Category: cocktails

El Amor – Love Mexican Style

Whether or not Tequila is officially an aphrodisiac is up for debate, but if it’s your kind of drink and pleases your palate then here is a Valentine’s day cocktail for you.

Photo courtesy of Revolucion

Tequila Revolucion offers this special cocktail just in time for Valentine’s day.
Radio Romantica

Stir 3 peels of a prepared Oleo saccharum (orange peels muddled to release oils in sugar, it becomes a paste) with 2 oz Tequila Revolucion Reposado.  Add1 oz. Sandemans Oloroso Sherry and 10 drops of Xocolatl Chocolate mole bitters.

Strain into a chilled coupe and garnish with a fresh orange peel.

If Tequila isn’t quite your thing, spice up your Valentine’s Day with a romantic Mexican meal in NYC at Viva Toro (mechanical bull on site), Ofrenda, La Palapa, Papatzul, or Maya.

 

Charlotte’s Love Potion – Cocktail Recipe

The Ballantyne in Charlotte, North Carolina is nothing if not a romantic getaway with their lush green grounds, a full spa, and gorgeous spacious rooms with an air of tradition but all the modern touches that one just can’t live without.  Whether you’re looking for a romantic escape or you’re planning a little Valentine’s day celebration, Heather Tapper of The Ballantyne has created the Love Potion cocktail.

Love Potion at the Ballantyne (Photo courtesy of Bissell)

Love Potion

Muddle 4 fresh raspberries.
Add all alcohol and pomegranate juice.
Shake with ice and strain into martini glass.
Garnish with 3 fresh blackberries

Looking for other romantic spots to grab a bite or drink in Charlotte?  Consider these:

The Fig Tree

Cajun Queen

Lulu

Mez

BLT Steak

Share your most romantic meals with us in the comments section or feel free to share photos and reviews at FoodieBytes.

Colorado Love – Cocktail Recipe

Colorado may be known for their lamb, oh and their ski hills, but they also know a little something about liquid love. You can either head over to The Broadmoor for a cocktail at the Summit Lounge or mix up your own “Liquid Love” as a perfect Valentine’s Day drink.

Liquid Love
Created by Robert Leavey

Hanger One Mandarin Blossom Vodka and a hibiscus flower infused simple syrup
make a lovely couple. Now add Grand Marnier, lime and pomegranate juices
and you’ve found the love.

1.5 oz Hanger One Mandarin Vodka

.5 oz Grand Marnier

.5 oz Hibiscus simple syrup

.5 oz Lime juice

.5 oz Pomegranate Juice

If you’re more of a snowbird than a ski bum.  You might want to head to Town Kitchen & Bar, Andalus, or Fratelli Lyon for a cocktail!

From Cupcakes to Cocktails

There’s no question that cupcakes have been a trend that seems to keep on growing.  Even if the burger is the next new thing (or so it seems) there’s always room for a little something sweet so cupcakes don’t seem to be going anywhere.

Kickass Cupcakes (FoodieBytes Photo)

If you’re looking for cupcakes to top off  your lunch or dinner here are a few places you might want to check out.

East Coast:  Almondine, Buttercup Bake Shop, Sweet Revenge, Baked, Kyotofu NYC, Isabelle’s Curlycakes, Sweet, Hi Rise Bakery, Flour, Kickass Cupcakes

Westcoast: The Cobbler Lady, Sprinkles, Puddin’ Out, American Cupcake, Kara’s Cupcakes, Amanda Grahamswingers, Simon LA

If you’re looking for cocktails, Cupcake Vineyards and Vodka have some fun Valentine’s Day cocktails to inspire you for a party with friends and loved ones or perhaps a little pre-Valentine’s Day drink with a loved one.

The first, Berry Delight, uses their newest flavor, which is Very Berry Vodka.

Berry Delight Cocktail

Ingredients:

  • 1.5 oz Cupcake Vodka Verry Berry
  • 0.75 oz Raspberry Syrup
  • 7up to fill glass
  • Ice

Directions:

  • Fill Collins glass with ice.
  • Shake vodka, raspberry Syrup and ice in a shaker.
  • Pour into Collins glass and top with 7up.

The second is a bit more decadent and a little devilish.

Devil in a Red Dress

Ingredients

  • 1.5 oz. Devil’s Food Vodka
  • .5 oz. Heavy Cream
  • 1 Tbsp. Chocolate Syrup
  • .5 oz. Coconut Syrup (Made by combining .25 cup water, .25 cup sugar and 1tbsp shredded coconut. Heat until sugar dissolves. Allow to cool then finely strain.)

Directions:
Shake all ingredients and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with an orange twist.

Save some cash on cupcakes this week at:  Simon LA‘s Junk Food Platter, The Nook‘s Fried Twinkies, Red Velvet individual cake at Southern Hospitality

Campfire Cocktails: The S’More Tini

The last of the turkey has been transformed into an enchilada, sandwich or stew and it is time to move on from pumpkin pie spice to some other seasonal sweets. If you want to head to the Flatiron district and step into the opulent DUO Restaurant & Lounge you will feel like Clara in the Nutcracker transported to a magical place. Lorraine Belkin’s DUO S’Moretini brings you back to your childhood roasting s’mores over a summer fire while creating a grown up experience of snow-white, fluffly marshmallows in a cocktail.

The S’Moretini combines Vodka and Crème de Cacao with marshmallows, chocolate and a graham cracker-dusted martini rim for the ultimate s’more cocktail experience. If you’re spending the night in, sisters and DUO owners Sabina and Lorraine offer you the recipe to their signature winter cocktail so you can indulge without leaving home.

The Smoretini.

Rim a martini glass with chocolate syrup and crushed graham crackers.

Combine 2 oz of Ketel One Vodka with 1oz Crème de Cacao, shake vigorously with ice and strain into the martini glass.

Top the martini off with a scoop of marshmallow crème (such as Fluff), a drizzle of chocolate syrup and a marshmallow.

Sit by a fire and enjoy.