Whether you’re planning dinner for two or brunch for twenty, choosing the right beverages — in the right glasses — can make your event sparkle. Opting for non-alcoholic drinks offers festivity without the fog for everyone and a temptation-free party for those who prefer not to use alcohol.
We’re not talking about a gallon of sherbet foaming in a sea of Hawaiian Punch, orange juice concentrate and ginger ale here. Chef and restaurateur August Mrozowski provides a sampling of interesting, unusual and delicious spirit-free drinks.
Sparkling and fruit: Fill a tall wine glass half with ice. Add a few pieces of fresh fruit, such as bite-size peach chunks and a few blueberries. Top with sparkling water. Pour in 1.5 ounces of Monin blueberry syrup.
Mint lemon shake-up: You have to squeeze half a lemon into a tall (16-ounce) shaker glass. To that, add the squeezed half lemon, one-half teaspoon of mint puree or mint pesto, one ounce of simple syrup and three ounces of sweet and sour mix. Fill to near the top with ice. Fill with water and shake. Pour into a glass tumbler or goblet and garnish with a small stem of fresh mint or a lemon wheel.
Sparkling pear: Build in a 12-ounce glass with ice: three ounces of pear juice, juice from one-half lemon, one teaspoon honey, one-half ounce of simple syrup, two thinly sliced pieces of fresh ginger and a pinch of nutmeg. Top the glass with sparkling water or club soda and garnish with a sprig of fresh rosemary to finish.
Hot Chocolate a la Augie: Pour hot chocolate into a mug until two-thirds full. Top with mini marshmallows and sprinkle crushed starlight mint candies over the top. Carefully use a butane torch to toast the marshmallows on top and melt the candies.
Remember the “eye appeal”, as Mrozowski says. When you talk of a speciality drink, the fancy glass is half the fun. So make your non-alcoholic beverage presentation as elegant as the rest of your party. And don’t be surprised to hear your guests exclaiming with a smile, “This is delicious!”
— Creators.com
