I'm pretty sure one piece of entertaining knowledge was handed down on the Rosetta Stone: The quickest way to zazz up an event is with a signature drink. It's festive, it sets the tone for everything else you serve, and I don't care whether you're at the Four Seasons or your cousin Ed's BBQ - nearly everyone will drink it. Summer drinks are the BEST because they're fun and you can literally just throw them together. This isn't the time to be coating, dusting, swishing, and muddling away. People are thirsty.
Notice I said drinks and not cocktails because sometimes a virgin is just the thing. (How could I resist?) Some ideas to brainstorm for your next shindig:
ROOT BEER FLOATS - America doesn't have enough root beer floats, and I'm not sure why. Delightful under any circumstances. Put the root beer in the fridge to make sure you get the frozen crystals on the scoops. OH. Heaven. I served these for dessert at a family party last month, and they're still talking about it. I thought about embellishing - Pintrest is full of ideas. But they were all just gilding the lily. The classic float is perfect. Possibly add bourbon for adults if you won't be broiling in the heat - overheated guests drinking bourbon gets ugly fast.
PROSECCO AND LIMONCELLO - Aren't you fancy? I discovered this one after my husband got sloshed at our son's school's gala and bid on two giant bottles of limoncello at the silent auction, among other things. This has been a brilliant way to use it. Both should be very cold. Nice before summer dinner. Nice by the pool. Nice for brunch instead of mimosas. Easy to keep in the fridge for when your sister drops by and you need to bust something out for the patio.
SLUSHIES - Retro and fun like the float, and ideal when the heat out is epic. You can turn almost any drink into a slushy, but I think the best ideas for them are the less expected. Slushy margarita? Snore. Champagne and fruit slushy? Yes, please. Coke slushies for the kids? Yup.
WHITE SANGRIA - My husband thought sangria was just fruit cocktail with cheap wine until we bumped into an amazing white wine based one in Hawaii. Include peaches and keep it light. It pairs well with so many things, especially spicy food - tacos, green chile, Thai food. It's also a great option when you want to keep the proof low.
SPARKLING RED WINES - Don't be bashful. It's true, a chilled sparkling red is a damn sexy bombshell of a wine compared to the more demure rose sparklers, but people adore it once you get them to try it. I'm crazy for an off-dry Italian Lambrusco. One of Chicago's best Italian restaurants, Balena, is across the street from the epic Steppenwolf Theatre, where I last worked before moving. They serve a Cleto Chiarli Lambrusco that's dreamy. The Aussies also have this category locked - sparkling Shiraz is ideal for a party, as are the actual Aussies themselves.
Notice I said drinks and not cocktails because sometimes a virgin is just the thing. (How could I resist?) Some ideas to brainstorm for your next shindig:
ROOT BEER FLOATS - America doesn't have enough root beer floats, and I'm not sure why. Delightful under any circumstances. Put the root beer in the fridge to make sure you get the frozen crystals on the scoops. OH. Heaven. I served these for dessert at a family party last month, and they're still talking about it. I thought about embellishing - Pintrest is full of ideas. But they were all just gilding the lily. The classic float is perfect. Possibly add bourbon for adults if you won't be broiling in the heat - overheated guests drinking bourbon gets ugly fast.
PROSECCO AND LIMONCELLO - Aren't you fancy? I discovered this one after my husband got sloshed at our son's school's gala and bid on two giant bottles of limoncello at the silent auction, among other things. This has been a brilliant way to use it. Both should be very cold. Nice before summer dinner. Nice by the pool. Nice for brunch instead of mimosas. Easy to keep in the fridge for when your sister drops by and you need to bust something out for the patio.
SLUSHIES - Retro and fun like the float, and ideal when the heat out is epic. You can turn almost any drink into a slushy, but I think the best ideas for them are the less expected. Slushy margarita? Snore. Champagne and fruit slushy? Yes, please. Coke slushies for the kids? Yup.
WHITE SANGRIA - My husband thought sangria was just fruit cocktail with cheap wine until we bumped into an amazing white wine based one in Hawaii. Include peaches and keep it light. It pairs well with so many things, especially spicy food - tacos, green chile, Thai food. It's also a great option when you want to keep the proof low.
SPARKLING RED WINES - Don't be bashful. It's true, a chilled sparkling red is a damn sexy bombshell of a wine compared to the more demure rose sparklers, but people adore it once you get them to try it. I'm crazy for an off-dry Italian Lambrusco. One of Chicago's best Italian restaurants, Balena, is across the street from the epic Steppenwolf Theatre, where I last worked before moving. They serve a Cleto Chiarli Lambrusco that's dreamy. The Aussies also have this category locked - sparkling Shiraz is ideal for a party, as are the actual Aussies themselves.