It’s hot in here. It’s time for a drink. How about a Cantaloupe Slush? For fun add a splash of Aperol.
Please- Have one of these…. They taste like candy!
For 2 drinks:
Something good is cooking...
by Gail Watson
It’s hot in here. It’s time for a drink. How about a Cantaloupe Slush? For fun add a splash of Aperol.
Please- Have one of these…. They taste like candy!
For 2 drinks:
by Gail Watson
I know we’re getting into the time of year of bridal showers and baby showers and such- but it’s also coming on GRADUATION time-as it turns out- MY graduation!
I am delighted to announce that I have officially completed my Masters degree coursework, and my thesis has been accepted and approved! I am now able to proudly place the letters, MS, after my name. Earlier this week, when I received the confirmation, I was immediately hit with wild, teary emotion. I was washed over with such a powerful feeling of relief and satisfaction. I had set a long range goal, and now, after imagining this moment for so long- it is finally here.
So dear friends, if you have nothing else to raise a glass for, you are welcome to join me in my happy dance as your excuse to eat, drink, and be merry! (there really should be dancing)
For those who don’t know, I’ve been working on my degree is in Nutrition and Applied Physiology at Columbia University. It was a long 7 years ago when I made the decision to rearrange my life and head back to school. It was terrifying at first. I had been a fairly confident and successful business woman, but what if I failed at this? After all, it had been 20+ years since I sat in a classroom. I was dedicating myself to a long ranged commitment, and I wasn’t exactly clear of the direction that I wanted to go- just a positive feeling that I had to point my bow forward and keep plodding toward it.
And you know what happens when you follow a passion- it brings you to places you never imagined, which are wholly more fantastic. That hazy first step turned into a steady stream of many. Though I had many moments of feeling overwhelmed, or questioned the risks and investments I was making- in the end it has left me stronger, and frankly, amazed.
The work and struggle have not all been my own. Sacrifice and patience has been demanded of several people in my life, especially my beautiful fiancée Pam.
For the past two years I’ve been living in NYC while she has been renovating and tending to our home in Louisiana. There has been a lot of back and forth, and hours upon hours of FaceTime, which frankly has just worn us out. In a few weeks we will attend my convocation. Shortly after I doff my mortar board and gown, Pam and I will pack up my apartment and head home- at last- together. Then my life will begin- again.
[Read more…] about Bloody Mary Shrimp Cocktail: Celebration Food #SundaySupper
by Gail Watson
I’ve become obsessed with the blushy pink drink! Look how pretty they are, how can you resist?
For this batch, they are a bit less girly. Not nearly as sweet. The first is a drink is one that I concocted years ago when I worked for Georgine Cavaiola at her beautiful restaurant, Georgine Carmella. I worked there in the late 80’s, before the nouvelle cuisine phase, and when fine dining meant La Cote Basque. Georgine’s food was pure, fresh and elegant- made with so much care and love. It was the kind of food that made Tom Colicchio famous 2 decades later- it was well ahead of it’s time.
Located in Little Italy, nestled in between ancient red checker clothed spaghetti restaurants, was this little storefront gem. It was a narrow place with penny tile floors and a tin ceiling. Each night the limos would roll up and the rich and famous who appreciated amazing food and their privacy, would slip into this tiny intimate restaurant and have their senses indulged to perfection.
Georgine was by far the toughest boss that I have ever worked for, and I loved her for it. I had previously working in some very fine restaurants, but Georgine not only insisted on good service and excellent food- she insisted on the dining experience and aesthetic. She was the only restauranteur that I’ve ever known that insisted that the staff take their evening meal in the dining room with linens and silver. She made sure that we hustled through our mis en place so that we had plenty of time to sit and eat leisurely. We were given dishes off the menu so that we could experience them and discuss them with knowledge. Georgine’s feeling was that in order to understand and provide a good dining experience, the staff needed to start the evening from the same place. Beauty and grace begets beauty and grace. It was brilliant!
Years later I employed the same in my cake business. I would make a hot staff meal for my team- 8 or so in those days. We would collectively sit at a big long table and eat a healthy hot meal, that I had prepared. It gave us time to relax together, and share. When finished, all would clean up together, and then get back to work. That created a warm and familial environment, which I think lead to my team producing some beautiful work. We all worked so hard in those days- and we worked happy.
Georgine had us taste different wines and champagnes, and she also turned me on to one of my greatest delights: Amaro, or bitters. Amaro is taken as a digestif after a meal, but could also be taken at the beginning of a meal as an aperitif. They are made up of different roots and spices and though based in a sweet syrup, they are bitter to the taste. Camapari is the most famous, Cynar is another, but there are so many- all with their own flavor profile.
I fell in love with Amaro and really enjoy the bitter, earthy taste- to a point. This drink I created, which I call “A Bitter Kiss”, uses aromatic gin as the base, some lemon soda as the sweetness and a touch of Campari to give it a refreshing edge. I love it in the summer as an alternative to gin and tonic. I’ve made them for people over the years, and even those leery of Campari have come to like it.