Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

4 Recipes to Showcase Sweet Summer Peaches

There are few things more delicious than a juicy peach, and since their season is short, we like to squeeze them in to as many meals as we can. Besides the perfect breakfast treat of peaches + yogurt with something crunchy, or its cocktail hour cousin, goat cheese + peaches […]

Beverages and Cocktails

Aviation Cocktail

Ingredients 2 ounces gin 1/2 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice 1/4 ounce maraschino liqueur 1/4 ounce crème de violette Directions Combine first four ingredients with ice in a cocktail shaker. Shake until cold and strain into a martini glass.

Chef's Notes Plus

Creating Flavored Honey and Maple Syrup

You might be surprised at how many different flavors and qualities of honey there are. And maple syrup, real maple syrup, has a light body and an intense flavor. But, like anything else, there are ways to “gild the lily” for something special. To make a flavored honey or syrup, […]

Chef's Notes Plus

Drink of the Summer: Frozen Aperol Spritz

If you watch the morning cable news shows, you have probably heard about ten million conversations surrounding The Song of the Summer. Inevitably, there are many songs of the summer, and while the concept is flawed, we like the sentiment. Because ultimately, if we’re talking about the song of the […]

Chef's Notes Plus

Flavored Syrups for Cocktail Hour with a Twist

Making your own infused simple syrup is fun and easy. You can get creative with a variety of herbs or botanicals. How thick you want your syrup to be determines your water to sugar ratio. The standard ratio for sugar to water is 1:1 but you can always add more […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Gin: A Global Spirit

More than just the first component of a popular cocktail, gin is a spirit whose very ingredients bring far-flung parts of the world together. It’s also a drink with a fascinating history touching nations from Holland to England to India. What is Gin? Gin is a neutral spirit base that […]

Beverages and Cocktails, Desserts

Lavender Syrup

Makes 2 cups Lavender syrup adds a floral note to anything you can think to add it to, including lemonade, iced tea, or especially a tasty gin cocktail. Use the syrup to soak cake layers or to sweeten a fruit sorbet. Look for culinary-grade lavender at specialty markets or online. […]

Beverages and Cocktails

Manhattan

Makes 1 serving Some might say there is no better start to a classic steakhouse dinner than an ice cold Manhattan. Different bourbons or whiskeys will bring their own qualities to the finished drink, so experiment to see what you like best to create your signature cocktail. Ingredients 2 oz […]

Beverages and Cocktails

Mediterranean Cooler

Makes 8 servings Look for bottled pomegranate juice the produce section of well-stocked supermarkets or health food stores. You can substitute other juices for those we recommend here. Grapefruit and cranberry juice makes a Seabreeze. Orange and cranberry makes a Madras. A modest amount of club soda gives the drink […]

Beverages and Cocktails

Planter’s Punch

Makes 1 serving Planter’s Punch was first documented in the New York Times in 1908. The drink’s origins are unknown, but they include connections to the Planter’s Hotel in St. Louis and a planter’s wife in Jamaica. Whatever this delicious creation hails from, this drink can be enjoyed in a […]