Sunday night was a double whammy – the Golden Globes and our beloved Holly’s birthday! A dual reason to celebrate.
Now, you might remember me trying to make Holly a “healthy” cake from black beans, as documented in this video. That didn’t go so well. So, I tried again Sunday morning to make a “real” cake. Not so great, either. Note to self – it is extremely difficult to soften butter at room temperature when it is snowing outside.
Oh, geez, what to do now? Cake Hag to the rescue!! If you remember, they were the star of our dinner with Eddie + Jaithan this past summer, with their luscious red velvet cake. I called Maggie & Katie and even though they had been closed due to the snow/ice storm, they had one perfect cake, just for me. I have never been more relieved. Four layers of rich, dark chocolate cake layered with scrumptious chocolate buttercream. Thanks, Ladies!! Click here to see how it all turned out
Still iced in here in Atlanta, but we have plenty of food and wine. It could be worse.
Plus, the Golden Globes are on Sunday! I love awards shows, and the Golden Globes by far is my favorite. All the stars are drinking at the event, so you have no clue what they may say in their speeches, making for a hilarious evening. Plus, you can enjoy it in your pajamas, with a drink in hand, hollering at the television set. Which I personally enjoy.
My friends in NYC, Esther and Katie, sent me these recipes for adult beverages that have 2010 movie themes. I love it! Click here for these special drinks!
Yesterday was such fun. With the snow piling up, Atlanta shut down. The neighbors took to the park to sled and just play in the snow. And since all that sledding and snowball fighting works up an appetite, I suggested a pot luck supper at our house around 5pm.
I just received a fun message from Jaclyn in New York telling me about Kahlua’s Delicioso Night In 2011. Not only do they have Food Network Chef Aaron Sanchez on board, but they are giving away a trip for FOUR – one night in NYC and three nights in Veracruz, Mexico. And the evening in NYC is accompanied by a dinner hosted by Chef Sanchez in New York. Wouldn’t that be swell? Log on to the website and you could win! I might win, too!
Before the new year we went to the annual holiday party given by Calvin and Steve at their fabulous loft. It is always a wonderful time and we always meet the most fun people. This year’s guests included a designer for Kate Spade from New York and a former news anchor. Fun!
The Big House's Big Tree
This past year the loft played host to the cast of The Vampire Diaries, where they filmed for a few weeks. Come on in for more Big House Fun
Eric and I are back and tanned from Mexico (more on that later) and ready to party. Some more partying. I guess we should take a break for at least a couple of days, but there are so many soirees to attend!
If you are hosting, here are some fun cocktail recipes from our friend Kate at Deussen Global Marketing.
At the World Bar (frequented by major league sports stars and UN diplomats), mixologist Jonathan Pogash created the Cherry Pop, which is a beautiful rosy color and redolent of nutmeg:
Mmm, Cherry Pop
Cherry Pop
3 or 4 pitted sour cherries
.5 oz. fresh lime juice
.75 oz. almond syrup (Monin brand preferred)
1.5 oz. Lucid Absinthe
Crémant d’Alsace
Method: In the bottom of a mixing glass, muddle the sour cherries in the lime juice and almond syrup. Add the Lucid, then fill with ice, and shake very well. Strain into a chilled flûte. Top with Crémant d’Alsace. Garnish with a few swipes of freshly grated nutmeg.
Another spice that says “holiday” is cinnamon; here, it is combined with warming rum and Cognac, while the sparkle keeps things festive rather than too cozy:
Cinnamon Sparkler
Cinnamon Sparkle
.5 oz. cinnamon bark syrup (instructions below: cinnamon sticks, water, and sugar required)
4 sugar cubes
1 oz. club soda
2 oz. Flor de Caña 7 year rum
1 oz. CAMUS VSOP Cognac
.25 oz. Marie Brizard Peach liqueur
1 oz. lemon juice
1.5 oz. Crémant d’Alsace
Method:
Make the cinnamon bark syrup by boiling three cinnamon sticks with one cup of water and one cup of sugar for 15 minutes; strain; refrigerate unused portion
In a mixing glass, dissolve the sugar cubes in the club soda (this generally involves muddling to help the process)
After the sugar cubes are dissolved, add the spirits and lemon juice one at a time, stirring as added
Add ice once all of the above have been added, continuing to stir until the individual serving of punch is chilled
5. Strain into a punch glass and top with 2 oz. Crémant d’Alsace
Finally, for a beautiful holiday red color, not to mention the health benefits of rosehips, hibiscus, and lemon (all great sources of Vitamin C), a simple but delicious cocktail is the Xanté C; Xanté is the second most leading liqueur in the Netherlands, where they know a thing or two about staying warm and celebrating the holidays!
Xanté C 1.5 oz. Xanté pear liqueur
2 oz. Rosehip & Hibiscus Tea concentrate (suggested brand: Teekanne Tee)
.5 oz. fresh lemon juice
Splash Crémant d’Alsace
Method: In a shaker over ice, add first three ingredients. Shake vigorously, then splash with Crémant d’Alsace. Strain into a chilled martini glass, garnishing with a red rose petal.
Sweet Bubbly Standard
1.7 oz. Russian Standard Vodka
1 tsp honey
Fresh ginger for garnish
Splash Crémant d’Alsace
Method: Shake Russian Standard Vodka and honey gently over ice. Serve on the rocks. Top with sparkling Cremant D’Alsace. Garnish with a piece of ginger.
That should keep you pretty busy all night. Don’t forget the number of your favorite taxi service or the number of your favorite designated driver. Safety first!
You know I just love our friend Caren West of Caren West PR. She is into everything! This weekend’s fun tip is actually something you can plan for Monday, Dec. 6th, with your sweetie or a group of your besties. Just to step back from all the holiday madness. With Atlanta’s own Francine Reed and the fabulous Cafe Circa.
Lets get the scoop from Caren, shall we?
CAFÉ CIRCA PRESENTS ‘DINNER AND THE BLUES’ WITH SINGER FRANCINE REED
$20 Two-Course Dinner Special Paired with Live Performance
Monday Evenings from 7 to 10 p.m. on November 8, 22 & December 6, 20 and 27, 2010
Atlanta, Georgia (November 8, 2010) – Café Circa presents Dinner and the Blues, a series of unforgettable Monday evening performances in November and December featuring celebrated Atlanta vocalist Francine Reed. To make the experience even more delicious, Café Circa is offering a two-course dinner special – choice of an appetizer or a dessert and an entrée – on the nights Reed performs created by new executive chef Hopeton S. Hibbert for $20. Music lovers are also invited to relax at the bar and explore Café Circa’s innovative cocktail menu of seasonal signature offerings and timeless classics. Legendary blues singer Francine Reed is slated to perform on Monday evenings from 7 to 10 p.m. on November 8 and 22 and December 6, 20 and 27, 2010. For more information or to make a reservation, please visit www.cafecircaatl.com or call 404.477.0008.
WHAT: Dinner and the Blues
WITH: Legendary Blues Singer Francine Reed
WHERE: Café Circa
464 Edgewood Avenue
Atlanta, GA 30312
WHEN: Mondays November 8 and 22 & December 6, 20 and 27, 2010
7 to 10 p.m.
CONTACT: For more information or to make a reservation, please visit www.cafecircaatl.com or call 404.477.0008.
About Café Circa
Located in the Old Fourth Ward of Atlanta, Café Circa offers a casually sophisticated atmosphere that merges classic style and modern elements with scrumptious signature menu items and a premium bar offering classic and innovative cocktails, select spirits, and a full wine list for every taste. The culinary team led by executive chef Hopeton S. Hibbert prepares fresh, deliciously seasoned food with a Caribbean Latin twist including creative small plates, inspired entreés, and tempting desserts. Café Circa is open Monday through Sunday beginning at 5 p.m. Call (404) 477-0008 or visit www.cafecircaatl.com.
Go, have some incredible food (try the salted cod – really!), lovely libations and the sultry voice of Francine Reed. You can’t miss with this combination.
xoxo, Patti
Today blogging to Francine Reed – Wild Women Don’t Get The Blues
I am so excited to share what my friends at The Ritz-Carlton Atlanta are up to. It is so special and fabulous!
In fact, it’s two surprises in one – at Lumen, their fantasy lobby bar.
One – for all your football fans, Lumen has created two cocktails made specifically for the Auburn/South Carolina match up this weekend. So come on by Lumen (it’s right on Peachtree Street, of course…) and sample each of these libations and decide on a winner! Both cocktails are being offered for $12 each. After the recipes, I will show you the dazzling decor you will be enjoying as you sip your beverage.
WAR EAGLE WHAMMY
2 oz Crown Royal
Splash of Triple Sec
Pineapple Juice, Sour mix, Crushed Blue Berries
Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into glass filled with crushed ice.
GAMECOCK GOTCHA
2 oz Southern Comfort
1 oz Amaretto Liqueur
Splash of pomegranate juice
Splash of orange juice
Shake all ingredients with ice and pour into a highball glass.
Yum, yum, yummy! And now, when you think it could not get any cooler, may I present to you, The Ice Bar at Lumen? Oh yes, my friends, a bar made entirely of ice, with an ice luge that the vodka is poured into and ends up in your martini glass! There are also special cocktails that are being whipped up just for you. Drinks like the Cranberry Martini and the Winter Solstice.
You have got to see this, so I am offering a sneak peak right here! Right now!
All of these gorgeous photos are straight from my friends at The Ritz-Carlton. You will find me getting chilly tonight there after I attend the Pop Up Shops in Midtown.
We are finally recovered from Thanksgiving (I think). It was a wonderful time with fabulous friends and I bet you want to hear all about it. Lets do it!
Just between you and me, I had no intention of hosting Thanksgiving Dinner, but when bestie Diane said she was coming home, I knew that called for something special. We bought the turkey, planned a few dishes, invited a few friends, bought a case of bubbly. Then our incredible friends from Black Tie Barbecue told me they were holding a smoked turkey with my name on it, I decided to go ahead and roast the turkey we had at home and freeze the meat for the Christmas party nibble ingredients.
Do you remember the photo of those smoking turkeys? Unbelievable.
With Thanksgiving on our heels, you might be in the market for a tasty cocktail right about now. Me, I am always on the lookout for tasty libations to toast my guests.
Tomorrow, People Magazine will reveal their annual Sexiest Man Alive issue. And our dear friend Esther in New York City sent us suggestions for drink ideas that match some very sexy guys. You might know some of them. You are going to love this!
