Here is some more food to go with your martini. I like to go with things that are simple to make (or that you can make in advance), easy to eat and either carbohydrate or protein based, especially on the savoury side of things. Let’s start with some simple pretzels. And move on to some sliced chorizo, here rolled and skewered to make … Continue reading Even More Martini Snacks
A London variation on the classic Mexican drink. As I’ve said before, I don’t always drink martinis. I also like beer and lager, to name but a few alternatives. I recently wrote about the Mexican drink Micheladas and here I’ve come up with another variation. In its most simple terms, a Michelada contains beer/lager, the juice of a lime, a dash of Worcestershire sauce and a … Continue reading A Spicy Umami Michelada
“Make me something that wakes me up and then f#*€s me up.” I’ve wanted to make this one for a long time but given its chemical stimulant potency I found myself putting it off until a suitable situation arose. The origin of most cocktails is blurry (a testament to their effectiveness) but it is believed that the espresso martini was created in a bar … Continue reading The Espresso Martini
This is my Japanese variation of a classic Mexican drink – the Michelada. I have named my version after my friend from Mexico City who introduced me to the concept. It’s not a martini but hey – I can’t drink martinis ALL the time! Plus, summer is coming and this is a great summer drink. It’s very similar to a standard Mexican Michelada, which is … Continue reading The Lorena-san Michelada
I was once accused of being “an evil agent” working for the Chilean government to sabotage the reputation of Peru… a little unforeseen side effect of my unusual career in the murky world of intelligence. Nonetheless, despite the attempted slander I am a firm fan of Peruvian cuisine and drinking culture. I love Pisco and prefer a Pisco Sour over most other cocktails. Seafood plays … Continue reading The Peruvian Tiger’s Milk Martini (con Leche de Tigre)
I have previously mentioned that Coriander (cilantro) is the Marmite of the herb world (you either love it or hate it). I have also previously mentioned that I love it. So I infused some gin with it. Coriander is already one of the flavours infused into many gin varieties, although juniper is (or should be) the dominant flavour. Being a traditionalist I would normally … Continue reading A martini using gin infused with coriander/cilantro
Chimichurri is an Argentine sauce made from parsley, garlic, olive oil, oregano and vinegar. You can make an unusual aperitif by muddling a teaspoon into your vermouth before you pour a classic martini, to whet your appetite before a meal – especially if it’s a Latin American dish; a juicy steak for example. It will work particularly well if the dish you are serving for … Continue reading The Argentini (the Chimichurri Martini)
This isn’t a martini, but it’s a nice drink that we occasionally partake of in my family, especially in winter. It’s comparable to an Irish coffee, but we haven’t traditionally called it that here and we use rum, not whisky/whiskey. It’s particularly good after a long cold day of outdoors activity. Make yourself some coffee. Pour a cup and add milk to taste if that’s … Continue reading A Demerara and dark rum ‘spiky coffee’
I found some pickled Brazilian ‘little beak’ peppers (pimenta biquinho em conserva) in the supermarket and I knew instantly what to do with them. It’s a very simple variation on a spicy martini recipe I’ve made before. Notable ingredients include tabasco sauce or hot sauce. I use both but you could omit one if you wanted. The hot sauce adds colour, while both add a … Continue reading Spicy Martini with Brazilian Peppers
