Shaken
and Stirred
Through
the Martini Glass and Other Drinking Adventures
By
William L. Hamilton
Hold
onto your hats, the cocktail is coming back! Casual gatherings have
once again surpassed dinner engagements as the "in" thing;
they are less stressful and less expensive, yet still provide the
ambiance.
Heralding
the news is William L. Hamilton, New York Times reporter. He has
compiled his biweekly Sunday Styles columns under one cover, Shaken
and Stirred. This isn't your average bartender's manual, though
it does contain recipes and drink histories. Shaken and Stirred
is also a travelogue that describes nightspot atmospheres and introduces
readers to some of the bartenders, patrons and drink developers
who have served, partaken and created the newest cocktails.
The
guide is separated into catchy categories. "Champagne Life"
includes libations such as the Rainbow Grill's updated French 75
and Citarella's Titanic. "Mudwrestling, and Running with the
Bulls" contains Park Avalon's Long Island Iced Tea and the
Marseille Restaurant's Mello Jell-O shot. "Femme Fatales"
lists, among others, Native's Me and Mrs. Jones and Nectar's Bella
Donna. Look in "Men about Town" for Hearth's Huckleberry
Ginn, "Revived" for Cuba Café's Mojito, "Asia
Major, and an Atoll" for Riingo's Bo Hai, and "Strong
Water" for the Biltmore Room's Way of the Dragon. "Sweet"
has Lamu's Cool Vanilla Latte to start your day, "The Vodka
Wars" lists House and Garden's Cosmic Cocktail and "Two
Loungers" lists the Stone Rose Lounge's Stone Rose.
Are
you looking for a novel cocktail or the recipe for an old standby?
Indexes in the back of the guide list drinks by name and also by
major liquor. Are you ready to host a New York themed cocktail party
of your own? Read the snippets before each recipe for décor
ideas. Perhaps you're planning a trip to the Big Apple and want
to go out for a drink? This guide will give you some ideas, but
you might want to ask the cabbie if your destination still remains
on the ever-changing scene. In any case, Shaken and Stirred
is just what an adventurous thirst needs!
|
The
Reviewer |
Lynda E. Lukow |
Reviewed
2005 |
NOTE:
|
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