Wednesday, August 15, 2012

COCKTAIL HOUR


I love cocktails. There’s nothing like sipping a freshly made concoction of fruits, herbs and alcohol on an evening out with your best girlfriends or on a lazy Sunday afternoon with your loved ones. My favorites in the past have included the Cosmopolitan, Lychee Martini and a Frozen Margarita (still one of my all-time faves!).
Lately, I’ve been getting seduced by two that now tops my list: the Strawberry Bellini and the popular Bloody Mary…especially the ones at KABB Bistro Bar in Shanghai. KABB is one of the best places in Shanghai for slinging back cocktails during happy hour (where drinks are buy one get one free from 5-8pm on weekdays). They have amazing cocktails and food and if their Margarita Mondays are not enough to entice you, these two delicious, winning cocktails should…

BLOODY MARY
Bloody Mary at KABB Bistro Bar, Shanghai
Bloody Mary condiments: Tabasco sauce, horseradish,
Worcestershire sauce, pepper and salt
Often dubbed “the world’s most complex cocktail”, the Bloody Mary contains vodka, tomato juice, Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco sauce, piri piri sauce, beef bouillon, horseradish, celery, olive, salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper and lemon juice…whew!  When made well, a Bloody Mary is truly one of the tastiest, healthiest and best cocktails out there and it is bloody good!

STRAWBERRY BELLINI
Strawberry Bellini
I was first introduced to Bellinis by my good friend Alvin on a happy hour session years ago and Strawberry Bellinis are by far my favorite of the bunch. Bellinis originated in Venice, Italy and is normally a fruit mixture with sparkling wine (traditionally Prosecco). A good freshly made Strawberry Bellini is delicious and refreshing!

Here's a nice recipe to try at home:

1 bottle prosecco
2 cups pureed and strained fresh strawberries
Special equipment: blender, strainer, iced champagne flute glasses, pitcher and tall "swizzle stirrer" (for the pitcher)

Place 8 Champagne flutes in the freezer for 20 minutes. Open the prosecco and let it stand in an ice bucket for 5 minutes. Into a pitcher, pour the 2 cups pureed strawberries. Gently pour in the bottle of prosecco and stir gently to combine. Divide among Champagne flutes and serve.

KABB Bistro Bar 
Xintiandi North Block, House 5
Lane 181, Taicang Road
Shanghai, China
Tel: (86 21) 3307 0798






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