Anatomy of a Dinner Party: a day in the life of a hospitalityaholic
 

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Dance All Night

Thursday, June 10th, 2010

Good Morning, Darlings!

Today I’ve got a fun idea for you from charming Party Guru Colin Cowie to keep your party going when no one is ready to leave.

If you plan to see the sunrise, throw an after-party with whatever you think will keep the party alive. From colored lights to mirrored balls, from an espresso bar to an assortment of specialty cocktails or—one of my favorites—Coffee Shooters presented to guests while they’re on the dance floor. Iced and potent, they are sure to keep the party going, providing the needed rocket fuel without missing a single beat. You’ll look back at your wedding and say, “I could’ve danced all night—and that’s exactly what I did!”

 

To get started, rim some test tubes or shot glasses with the peel of an orange and then dip the rim of the glass in chocolate shavings and some chili flakes. In a shaker filled with ice, mix the following:

 

1 ounce Vodka or Tequila (I prefer Tequila)
1/2 ounce Kahlúa Especial
1/2 ounce Tia Maria
1 ounce cold espresso

And here’s a link for those test tubes so you don’t have to go searching for them – super cheap!

xoxo, Patti

Today blogging to Ke$ha’s Tic Toc

Fun Find Friday – St-Germain

Friday, May 21st, 2010

Good Morning, Darlings!

This week has been a flurry of parties and with the weekend approaching there seems to be no end in sight. Two dinners with Jeff at our house, Shameeka’s fabulous reception at the Mansion on Peachtree, dinner with my Love at WASABi after the reception, tapas at Clint’s followed by dinner at Carrie and Steven’s loft (more on that next week), tonight a dinner party at the home of neighbor and pastry chef Dave and his wife, Sue, tomorrow the exciting Blogger’s Brunch at The Four Season’s Park 75, then a graduation celebration with my favorite former boss and his precious family and on to Leila’s birthday party on Saturday night.

Whew. Sometimes, a girl is in need of a swanky cocktail just to slow down and reflect a bit.

Is that girl (or guy) you? Do you need a break, my Sweetie? Have I got the cocktail for you. Made with St-Germain.


The Rare and Beautiful Elderflower

But enough with the history, let’s talk cocktails.  You can surely sip St-Germain over a few slivers of ice as an aperitif, but most of the times I have had it in a cocktail, it has been paired with gin.  So yesterday I drove to Green’s and picked up a bottle of St-Germain and a bottle of Bombay Sapphire Gin and got ready to mix.

Oops! I left the house without any recipes for cocktails, so how was I expected to mix up a drink with no ingredients?  See? I have been busy this week!

But the distinguished crafters of St-Germain are kind enough to include a few recipes in the tiny book that comes attached to the sexy, belle epoque, bottle. Funny, the original St-Germain Cocktail doesn’t even mention gin.

The St-Germain Cocktail

2 shots Champagne or Dry White Wine (preferably Sauvignon Blanc)
1.5 shots St-Germain
2 shots Sparkling Water or Club Soda

Stir ingredients in a tall ice-filled Collins glass, mixing completely. Garnish with lemon twist. Feel fancy-schmancy like the French.

For those of you wanting to try a gin based cocktail made with St-Germain, here’s a doozy from Robert Hess at the Chanticleer Society (this is especially for you, Chioke!)

Clipper Ship

2 ounce gin
1 ounce St-Germain
1/2 ounce lime juice
1 dash absinthe
Garnish: Lime twist
Shake with ice, strain into an ice-filled Old Fashioned glass. Feel tipsy. Smile a lot. Have Jeeves drive you home.

Happy Friday! Enjoy your weekend!
xoxo, Patti

Take It Outside

Wednesday, May 12th, 2010

Good Morning, Darlings!

The weather is really warming up and that means al fresco dining! If you live in Atlanta, like I do, that means the first day there is no visible chill in the air and the sun is out.  My favorite spots for catching some rays and tippling a cocktail or two are as follows (in no particular order):

1. Front Page News, Little Five Points. This sweet outpost of New Orleans cuisine never ceases to inspire me.  Their outdoor patio, with the big, gurgling fountain is one of the nicest getaways within the city. Hedges shield you from the traffic on Moreland Avenue and the drinks are always tasty, served by the friendliest bartenders. For a special way to start your weekend, hop on over to FPN for their fabulous brunch, complete with Bloody Mary Bar.

2. Krog Bar, Inman Park. Need a vacation?  You can go to Krog Bar and pretend you are in the Mediterranean. The most perfectly chosen wine list compliments the menu of small plates wonderfully.  If you are lucky, you will arrive on a day when Pastry Chef Kirk Parks has whipped up some of his adorable mini ice cream cones. This is absolutely a see and be seen scene, but it is so totally chill you won’t mind.

3. Park Tavern, Midtown. Park Tavern is the epitome of where you should take out of town guests when they visit. The view of Piedmont Park and midtown Atlanta is unparalleled. They have renovated since the last time I visited, but I am meeting a childhood friend there on Friday night, so I will let you know about the cuisine. They used to have chicken fingers coated with Cap’n Crunch, but I don’t see those on the online menu. Boo hoo. I loved those. But now they have sushi!

Beautiful Park Tavern View

4. Six Feet Under, Grant Park.  If you like your neighbors quiet, they don’t get any more quiet than Oakland Cemetery.  The rooftop patio overlooks the mausoleums and headstones of Atlanta’s most favorite final resting spot (Margaret Mitchell is buried here). The beer is ice cold and the fish tacos tasty.  A really great space with lots of chairs for all your drinking buddies.

5. FAB, Downtown. Step into FAB (short for French American Brasserie) and find yourself transported to France immediately. Without a doubt the most gorgeous dining room in Atlanta, the rooftop patio wows. FAB is brought to you by the owners of Brasserie Le Coze, which closed in 2006, much to the disappointment of many francophiles. But never fear, they are back and better than ever. Before you indulge in the decadent cuisine, pop upstairs for an aperitif and take in the view of downtown. Simply gorgeous.

There’s a fine start for your al fresco adventures. Write me a little comment and tell me your favorite spots?

xoxo, Patti