Italian Spritz

The "spreetz" (Spritz) is the signature cocktail of Venice. Aperol is an Italian aperitif. Some of it's main ingredients are bitter orange, gentian (gentian is a flowering plant that is often used in the making of liquors, aperitifs, and bitters - giving cocktails a floral-esque flavor), rhubarb and cinchona. It looks similar to Campari, but be warned - they are not the same. They look and smell very similar, and even have some similarities in taste - but the alcohol content in Aperol is half that of Campari, coming in at only 11%. A Spritz is Aperol, Prosecco (italian sparkling wine), and club soda - along with an orange slice and two green olives. It is light and refreshing -- perfect to sip on before a meal, and totally acceptable as a drink to be consumed throughout the day, starting early in the afternoon.

I was turned on to these Italian Aperol Spritzs by Julisa, of course. Who, I have found out, was introduced to them by the lovely Janice and Jeremy. J & J had gone to Venice for a trip and fell in love with these classic Venetian cocktails. They enjoyed them all day long through the trip and when they got home they were sure to mix up one of these for their friends. Julisa fell in love with the cocktail instantly, and then put it on La Medusas drink menu. And after that it seemed to pop up on drink lists throughout the city. So, Seattle - you have Janice and Jeremy to thank for bringing this classic but totally trendy cocktail into rotation! Since J & J were responsible for introducing us to this cocktail, I found it only fitting that Janice be the one who showed us how it was done:

Spritz:

• Aperol
• Prosecco
• Club Soda
• Orange
• Green Olives
• Ice
• Glass: wine glass or rocks glass, either is good :)
  

First you fill the cup 1/4 the way with ice - you want to chill it, not water it down. Next you pour one part Aperol in a glass, top with one part prosecco, and then you can do one part club soda - or if you want a more potent spritz then you can just add a splash or two of the sparkling water. J-Ngan squeezed some orange into the cocktail, then garnished it with an orange slice (which I squeezed into my cocktail), along with two green olives (we used Picholine olives, pit in) that she stuck onto a bamboo skewer. So boom:

one part aperol

one part prosecco

one part club soda

garnish: orange slice and green olives

ENJOY, or as they'd say in Italy, Divertiti!

Dolin Blanc Vermouth

I always thought that vermouth was just something that was added to a martini. I didn't think that it was something that you'd drink just on its own. But in fact, it is insanely delicious just over ice. Julisa turned me onto Dolin Blanc vermouth....we just pour it over some ice in a rocks glass and enjoy. And it's actually pretty inexpensive, only around $14 a bottle!! So drink up! Plus you look and sound super sophisticated when you order a "dolin blanc". Ha. Love it!

"Dolin Vermouth de Chambery is made with fine wines of the Savoy region and botanicals found in the Alphine meadows above Chambery. Together they impart a fresh and elegant nose, with a subtle and complex palate. Ideal as an aperitif or in cocktails"

"Once, during Prohibition, I was forced to live for days on nothing but food and water."

Word Wednesday: Shelf Talkers

BAH. I forgot about Word Wednesday...

but now I remembered, so it's BACK!

Today is Wednesday.

The word is: "Shelf Talker"

shelf talker

:definition:

Printed card or other sign attached to a store shelf to call buyers' attention

to a particular product displayed in that shelf.

Also called shelf screamer.

Well, I've been doing some freelance design work lately. Currently my job is designing "Shelf Talkers". I keep telling people this and they respond with a blank face, saying "What the friggin' hell is a shelf talker?!". I, myself did not know what the hell they were when I was first approached, but after a brief explanation I knew exactly what they were talking about. Though shelf-talkers can be found in every supermarket, department store, and so forth - the one's that I am familiar with are the ones in the wine section at the liquor store. Appropriately, the shelf talkers that I am designing are for a WINE company! I was hoping that I would be paid in scrumptious red vino, but no such luck - just cash. A shelf talker (at a liquor store) is usually around 3" x 4.5" in size. It contains the name of the Vineyard, the type of wine (chardonnay, pinot noir, etc), and the year. Below that information is most commonly the area of the vineyard (napa valley, tuscany, etc.), along with a brief description of the wine and what it should be paired with, as well as a rating if applicable. A typical shelf talker might read Pomelo, Sauvignon Blanc, 2007. California. Aromas of citrus, ripe cherries and fresh florals. The palate will recognize a sweet, smokey oak and grapefruit in this smooth, refreshing sauvignon blanc. Pair with Asian fare, mild goat cheeses, and fresh fruit. Shelf talkers are GREAT because in such a booming industry, where there are 40 Pinot Noir's to choose from, the consumer could use some help widdling down their selection. Now, when I know that I'm going to be having BBQ Ribs for dinner, I can skim through the shelves and discover that a bold but smooth Cabernet Sauvignon from Cartlidge & Browne vineyards compliments BBQ'ed Red Meat -- the shelf talker tells me so! Also, you know longer need 20, 30, 40 dollars + to buy a great bottle of wine. There is an AMAZING selection, all around a 10 dollar range. If you see a number on a shelf talker...83, 87, 90, 98.....these are part of a rating system. Basically a bunch of foodies and vino addicts, or shall I say "sommeliers", gather in a room - they are blindfolded - literally - , and they taste wines from all different 'classes'. They then rate the wine from 1-100 based on the tasting. So, BOOM, if you see a bottle with a shelf talker that boasts a 90 for only 8.99, you are in luck!

Well, there you have it. SHELF TALKERS....trying to make us a more educated, informed consumer.

“It is well to remember that there are five reasons for drinking: the arrival of a friend, one's present or future thirst, the excellence of the wine, or any other reason.”
-Latin Proverb

Today Is Wednesday in Costa Rica.

Today is Wednesday in Costa Rica.

Not Friday, no - not Saturday, nor is it Sunday.

Today is Wednesday.

Brett's Beer Count: Upwards of 10 and still going strong

Adam's Beer Count: 5, and still going strong

Cailin's Beer Count: 3, and about ready for a nap

Did I mention that it's 3pm?

Which means that these numbers are unusually low for the Soda Mary Crew and all of Esterillos.

“Do not cease to drink beer, to eat, to intoxicate thyself, to make love, and to celebrate the good days.” - Egyptian Proverb

PURA VIDA