Oscars 2019: No Host, No Problem. Shake Up A Cocktail and Enjoy the Show
I adore entertaining - and celebrating artists.
I'd mark the exciting cultures and stars at this year's 91st annual Oscars.
Yalitza Aparicio and Marina de Tavira of "Roma," Michelle Yeoh of "Crazy Rich Asians" are two of my favorites,
(It’s almost crazy that the Mexico native is the first Latina to be nominated in the Best Actress category in 14 years.)
Michelle Yeoh is a treasure…
Image Source: Getty / Frazer Harrison
Image Source: Getty / Steve Granitz
I so love that Awkafina is wearing a pant suit - in an orchid color!
I think she can’t help but channel her vibrant purple orchid that the New York Botanical Garden named for her - it’s first-ever orchid or any plant - for that matter - named for this New York superstar. It was an exciting news announcement at the recent press preview at NYBG - I wrote about it at Garden Glamour last week. You’ll lust for the this orchid!
I also love the Black Panther
and the Black Klansman films.
- photo - ew.com So what to toast the Oscars with?
Cheers to the Artists
Here are a few award-winning cocktails from my soon-to-be-released Garnish book!
I’d make Asian influenced cocktails - with shochu, especially in homage to Crazy Rich Asians.
Hi-Potion
Photo Courtesy of Jessica Wohlers
Created by mixologist artist: Jessica Wohlers
Ingredients:
1 oz Shochu
1.5 oz Cocchi Americano
1 oz Manzanilla sherry
1 spritz oregano hydrosol - an essential oil imparting the plant’s scent.
Method:
Stir all the ingredients together in a glass vessel with ice. Strain and serve up in a coupe glass. Then spray with hydrosol.
Garnish:
The garnish is an orange twist with a sprig of oregano. The garnish is vital to this drink, because it adds an aromatic layer, with each sip.
Hero Water
Created by mixologist artist: Jessica Wohlers
Photo courtesy of Jessica Wohlers
Ingredients:
2 oz Shochu
1 oz fresh cucumber juice
.75 fresh lime juice
.75 Coco Lopez
2 dashes Angostura bitters
Method:
Shake all ingredients in a cocktail shaker; serve on the rocks in a double old-fashioned glass.
Garnish:
The garnish is fun: a lime wheel, cucumber ribbon and a tiki umbrella, since most people equate coconut flavors with tiki-esque cocktails. It is meant to invoke the spirit of a beach vacation!
And the taste and tradition of tequila cocktails to celebrate our dear Mexican neighbors and their incredible agave plants.
Patrón Platinum Margarita
(photo courtesy of Patrón Tequila)
How beautiful is this cocktail?
Ingredients:
2 oz Platinum Patrón Tequila
1 oz Dolin vermouth Blanc
2 dash rose water
.25 oz agave syrup
.5 oz lime juice
Method:
Stir all ingredients with ice for 30 seconds then pour in a mixing glass. In a mixing glass add
1 bar spoon edible platinum color
1 pinch xanthan gum
Stir for 10 seconds pour in your coupe glass.
Garnish:
With an edible orchid using edible silver sprayer marshmallow flavored to coat the orchid.
And the spices of Africa work to honor our African American culture here.
Open Sesame
Photo: Leeann
Ingredients:
1-2 drinks:
1 ounce Anejo Tequila - imparts smoky flavor with hints of vanilla/caramel
1 1/2 ounce Rum - preferably with raw sugar cane syrup base (vs. molasses) It’s grassy herbaceous flavor has a caramel/vanilla botanical kind of earthiness.
¼ ounce creme de cocoa
½ ounce chocolate syrup
½ ounce cream
½ ounce coconut milk
½ ounce Tahini
Chill glasses
Method:
Mix the liquors followed by other ingredients in the shaker, strain out into glasses. Either mix up some whipped cream separately or for ‘cocktail theater,” add another ½ ounce or so of cream back into the shaker - with no ice -- and use the Hawthorne spring from the strainer - and shake it up. Pour the cream or made-ahead cream on top of drink.
Garnish
Toasted coconut and tagine spices, or other mid-east spice powder, including La Boite’s selections, most notably, Za’atar that is a blend of sesame, sumac, thyme, and oregano. Or Tangier that has rose petals, cumin, and cardamom dancing together - and that works with the spices in the food pairing. One can also just sprinkle a simple harissa powder.
Open Sesame is a warm embrace of a rich creamy, nutty, chocolate flavor.
I’m loving the Red Carpet…
Enjoy the cocktails. Hope your favorite movie stars shine as bright as your dreamy fantasies. It's all so glamorous.
Cheers!
I’d make Asian influenced cocktails - with shochu, especially in homage to Crazy Rich Asians.
Hi-Potion
Photo Courtesy of Jessica Wohlers
Created by mixologist artist: Jessica Wohlers
Ingredients:
1 oz Shochu
1.5 oz Cocchi Americano
1 oz Manzanilla sherry
1 spritz oregano hydrosol - an essential oil imparting the plant’s scent.
Method:
Stir all the ingredients together in a glass vessel with ice. Strain and serve up in a coupe glass. Then spray with hydrosol.
Garnish:
The garnish is an orange twist with a sprig of oregano. The garnish is vital to this drink, because it adds an aromatic layer, with each sip.
Hero Water
Created by mixologist artist: Jessica Wohlers
Photo courtesy of Jessica Wohlers
Ingredients:
2 oz Shochu
1 oz fresh cucumber juice
.75 fresh lime juice
.75 Coco Lopez
2 dashes Angostura bitters
Method:
Shake all ingredients in a cocktail shaker; serve on the rocks in a double old-fashioned glass.
Garnish:
The garnish is fun: a lime wheel, cucumber ribbon and a tiki umbrella, since most people equate coconut flavors with tiki-esque cocktails. It is meant to invoke the spirit of a beach vacation!
And the taste and tradition of tequila cocktails to celebrate our dear Mexican neighbors and their incredible agave plants.
Patrón Platinum Margarita
(photo courtesy of Patrón Tequila)
How beautiful is this cocktail?
Ingredients:
2 oz Platinum Patrón Tequila
1 oz Dolin vermouth Blanc
2 dash rose water
.25 oz agave syrup
.5 oz lime juice
Method:
Stir all ingredients with ice for 30 seconds then pour in a mixing glass. In a mixing glass add
1 bar spoon edible platinum color
1 pinch xanthan gum
Stir for 10 seconds pour in your coupe glass.
Garnish:
With an edible orchid using edible silver sprayer marshmallow flavored to coat the orchid.
And the spices of Africa work to honor our African American culture here.
Open Sesame
Photo: Leeann
Ingredients:
1-2 drinks:
1 ounce Anejo Tequila - imparts smoky flavor with hints of vanilla/caramel
1 1/2 ounce Rum - preferably with raw sugar cane syrup base (vs. molasses) It’s grassy herbaceous flavor has a caramel/vanilla botanical kind of earthiness.
¼ ounce creme de cocoa
½ ounce chocolate syrup
½ ounce cream
½ ounce coconut milk
½ ounce Tahini
Chill glasses
Method:
Mix the liquors followed by other ingredients in the shaker, strain out into glasses. Either mix up some whipped cream separately or for ‘cocktail theater,” add another ½ ounce or so of cream back into the shaker - with no ice -- and use the Hawthorne spring from the strainer - and shake it up. Pour the cream or made-ahead cream on top of drink.
Garnish
Toasted coconut and tagine spices, or other mid-east spice powder, including La Boite’s selections, most notably, Za’atar that is a blend of sesame, sumac, thyme, and oregano. Or Tangier that has rose petals, cumin, and cardamom dancing together - and that works with the spices in the food pairing. One can also just sprinkle a simple harissa powder.
Open Sesame is a warm embrace of a rich creamy, nutty, chocolate flavor.
I’m loving the Red Carpet…
Enjoy the cocktails. Hope your favorite movie stars shine as bright as your dreamy fantasies. It's all so glamorous.
Cheers!