Stylish sips for ever so stylish gals
The excitement is building. Can you feel it?
A long-awaited movie sequel opens soon and I ain't talking about "Shrek."
"Sex and the City 2" opens May 27 and I'm already planning an outing to the movie.
I won't wear a little white dress from Halston Heritage or carry a Chanel clutch like Carrie when I strut into the Arlington Theater with my gal pals, but with some recipes from SKYY vodka I can imbibe like my favorite fictional columnist.
SKYY Vodka claims the title of official vodka for the movie and had SATC2 stylist Patricia Field design a glittery limited-edition bottle to celebrate the movie and worked with top mixologists to design cocktails inspired by the film. So invite the ladies over for a little pre-movie cocktail party and try these on for size.
Glamour Gal: Rim a Swarovski martini glass with crème de cassis and sugar. (If your Swarovski glassware is on back-order, don't fret; any martini glass will do.) In a cocktail shaker filled with ice combine 2 ounces vodka, ½ ounce each fresh lemon juice and fresh lime juice, ½ ounce simple syrup or 1 teaspoon sugar. Shake vigorously and strain into the martini glass. Finish the cocktail with a drop of crème de cassis on top.
If you want to experiment with SKYY's new ginger-infused vodka, try Red Over Heels: First mix ½ ounce water with ½ ounce honey. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice add 2 ounces ginger vodka, ¾ ounce fresh lemon juice and the honey syrup. Shake vigorously and strain into a chilled martini glass. Lay a lemon peel twirl across the rim of the glass with a cocktail pick.
Cheers! and here's hoping the movie is a delicious as these cocktails.
Food flight: If you're planning a summer vacation that involves air travel, CheapOair has some info for you.
Experts with the travel booking website recently picked their top airport restaurants and, frankly, I'm shocked that no O'Hare spots made the list. Maybe La Tapenade in Terminal 1 was too new when they did their visits.
Anyway, Legal Seafood's outpost at Boston's Logan International Airport tops the list. It has three locations in the airport to satisfy seafood lovers from all over the globe. On the West coast, Boudin's Bakery and Cafe at San Francisco International Airport won praise for its fresh sourdough breads, salads and sandwiches.
Want to know the rest? Head to CheapOair.com; click the blog tab.
Easy as pie: Do friends rave about your Key lime pie? Do neighbors knock when they spy a crumble-topped rhubarb pie cooling on the window sill?
That pie may earn you a cool $250 in the Association for Individual Development's pie contest June 13 in at the French Market in downtown Geneva.
The group is inviting novice and seasoned bakers to bring a homemade pie to the market to be judged by nationally known pastry chef and author Gale Gand, Jackie Lubahn, director of creative design at Kathy's Creations, and moi.
The baker of the first place pie will win $250; prizes for other contestants are still being worked out.
The entry fee is $10 per pie and proceeds benefit AID, a nonprofit group that aims to enrich the lives of children and adults with developmental disabilities.
Preregistration is not required but appreciated. Call Wendy Bialek at (847) 931-2294 or check the-association.org for details.
BBQ blast: Get a jump-start on summer with this weekend's Pit Masters BBQ celebration at The Abbey Resort & Spa on the shores of Lake Geneva, Wis.
On Saturday, May 22, barbecue connoisseur and Wheaton resident Matthew Whiteford will share his four-step "Layers of Flavor" technique for grilling ribs and chicken and making pulled pork at a cooking demonstration and barbecue class. Demonstrations begin at 11 a.m.
Don't fill up too much because the evening holds a Jim Beam tasting and sampling and a family-style barbecue dinner hosted and prepared by Whiteford. Dinner starts at 6:30.
Packages range from $57-$149 per person (plus taxes, fees and gratuity).
Whiteford's barbecue will be featured throughout the summer at the resort's Burnin' Down the Docks, a celebration of blues, brews and barbecue from noon to 6 p.m. Sundays starting Memorial Day weekend.
For details and rooms, call (800) 709-1323 or see TheAbbeyResort.com.