A beautiful book filled with  great cocktail recipes for home entertaining.  ~  Sheila

Meyer has long been a hero to New York City restaurant goers via his eclectic and acclaimed eateries—the upscale Gramercy Tavern, exotic Tabla and low-down Blue Smoke and Shake Shack. Now, perhaps in a nod to the economic climate, Meyer befriends the stay-at-home crowd with an excellent guide to the affordable luxury known as the artisanal cocktail. Resisting the capitalistic impulse to crank out a book representing each of his establishments, he instead pulls recipes from all of them, 140 in toto, providing enough martinis, highballs and infused liquor to withstand any recession. He stacks the drinks into five different categories. Favorite Classics (old-fashioned, Negroni and such); New Classics like a Pomegranate gimlet and a modern martini with cilantro-infused gin; Inspired Flavors such as the Kachumber Kooler (a favorite at Tabla made with muddled cucumber, cilantro and chili pepper); Elegant Sips, where Champagne and sherry make their presence known; and Casual Libations for the beach, the backyard or the mojito-fueled dance party. And because no one should have too many blood orange margaritas on an empty stomach, Meyer concludes with a chapter of Bar Fare. The kick from his five-spice cashews, Thai trail mix and hot garlic potato chips all require that a tall glass of ice water be added to the evening’s drink list.

My husband I are not real big on the mixed drinks and due to our busy lifestyle as business owners, we really dont entertain at home often either.  Last night we did however have friends over to grill out on the deck and I thought this may be an opportune time to try out a recipe  in this beautiful book.

I decided on the Strawberry Ginger Mojito on page 165.  It looked easy enough and I did not have to pick up too much.One of the ingredients it called for was bottled ginger.  The book said I could find it in a well stocked grocery store or in a natural foods store.  Our groceries stores did not carry it and neither did our two local natural foods stores…. so my recipe quickly became Strawberry Mojito.   This made a beautifully red in color beverage, with a nice crisp strawberry taste – not strong tasting which is always a plus for me.  Garnished with a strawberry the drink was a hit and I would make it again.

This book is loaded with beautiful pictures and I did not notice until after the get together that the final chapter is all on snacky foods to go with the drinks.  I wish I would have seen that earlier!  Now I know I have to dive back in to try the five spice cashews, thai trail mix and the tequila lime shrimp.  Yum!

This book would make a wonderful gift.

This book was sent to me by Hachette Book Group