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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 Book

Harper Collins
November 1, 2004
Hardcover
0660740442
Non-fiction / Food and Drink
More at Amazon.com 

Excerpt

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The Reviewer

Lynda E. Lukow
Reviewed 2005
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© 2005 MyShelf.com