Food & Wine Cocktails 2007 (Food & Wine Cocktails)
Food & Wine Cocktails 2007 (Food & Wine Cocktails)
As a scene-scoping, style-setting, modern magazine, Food & Wine always keeps tabs on the trendiest nightlife. These 150 cocktails are the ones making a sensation in the hippest eateries and bars throughout the nation, the drinks bartenders get asked for again and again. And mix-masters won’t find better recipes for traditional favorites. Each chapter focuses on a particular spirit type, and every page highlights one special cocktail, along with a description of the establishment that provided the recipe, its address and phone number, and behind-the-scenes anecdotes. Plus, there’s lots of exciting new material, including a refreshed spirits lexicon and, for the first time, a super party planner with suggestions for libations, snacks, and even iPod playlists. And, you’ll find lists of essential addresses for mixologists, stores that carry essential bar tools, fun websites, and a box focusing just on ice. The back of the book also now features a special guide with icons that say if a place has a destination bartender, a great chef, live music, or a late night scene.
Customer Review: A bit too exotic
I have all of the Food & Wine cocktail books, and this one is the most esoteric. There were too many recipes that were more trouble then they were worth. In some ways, it’s as if they were writing this book for professional bartenders rather than someone creating cocktails at home. I have a decent size collection of alcohols, yet found that up to half of the recipes require something that I didn’t have. For instance, the vodka section was almost entirely worthless because so many of them required infused vodkas or syrups that you would need to create yourself.
With that said, there were still drinks that were quite good. I enjoyed the Limoncello Collins, the Triestine Iced Tea (made with Cynar which isn’t easy to find), and the St. Louis #1 (made with rum and Grand Marnier).
I like the focus on innovative cocktails, but I don’t want to spend days creating the ingredients for a drink. I hope the 2008 version has a bit more balance to it.
Customer Review: Big Disappointment!
I was excited about receiving this book. When it came in the mail, I started scanning through it and much to my dismay, most of the cocktail recipes included hard to find ingredients not generally stocked at your local liquor store. Although there are references to websites to purchase some ingredients, I found the cocktail recipes to be complicated and cumbersome. Most of the drinks require exotic garnishes and syrups made from scratch. It’s better to go to the bars that offer these drinks and order one rather than try and stock your own home with them.
Add comment April 24th, 2008
