COOKIES!

Nothing pairs as naturally as cookies and...martinis? 

What? 

Well, nothing was stopping my martini appreciating pals this weekend at the now annual cookie party.  Upon arrival 4 out of the first 4 guests requested martinis.  Actually it was a series of, "I'll have what she's having" and that "she" was me...

I must admit, I was not prepared for multiple martinis at the commencement of the cookie party, but somehow it worked.  Carrie even brought her own shaker (should I be offended that one of my dearest friends brought a shaker to my house?  Oh no - let's just keep the shaker of gin and the shaker of vodka separate, shall we?)

This year it was bring a batch of cookies and a cocktail for sharing.  Although the martinis were not the winning beverage of choice, we had a back up plan much more conducive to the flavor profile of a cookie.  Cassandra's now famous Apple Pie beverage.  Have it as a shot, mix it with ginger ale, pour it over ice, shake it and strain it into the ever famous martini glass...it was decidedly the preference for the cookie participants.

And speaking of participants, way to go Tim for the best cookie - chewios - is there even a correct spelling for that?  Just the thought of the gooey, marshmallow, chocolate, cheerio goodness.  And yes, now that you've all gone home I can admit that I stashed the last one in my cookie tin so no one could take it home - ha ha!

So for holiday martini's chez moi - 10.  Wow - a perfect score - that hasn't happened before.  Am I biased?

A series of unaddressed martinis

Somehow it is almost December and the last martini I documented was in August.  Does this mean I have found the perfect martini?

Does it mean I have stopped drinking martinis? 

Oh no.  I have been enjoying a series of non-descript martinis, and thereby (or "by the by" according to Nicole) have been uninspired to record them.  However, now that the list has gotten a bit long and the time is passing quickly, I'll pay a short tribute to the martinis of late summer and fall.

Bentley's on 27 - beautiful view, interesting bar patrons, a very flirty bartender (quel plaisir), and a mediocre grape kneehigh.  I am not sure if it was the sweetness that put me off or the slightly intrusive but well meaning bartender (well there were only 4 people at the bar), but the extra shot of vodka did help to smooth it out.  4.  The second martini was a custom job - Hendrick's gin, st. Germaine, lemon twist.  7. 

Capitol martini - well this one was not in Charlotte; however it was a very refreshing beverage - all gin and cucumber and basil.  At the W Hotel, mind you, and avec un serveur francais (my apologies but I cannot make the proper cedille or accent marks in this font).  And did I mention my new leopard print 6 inch stilettos?  Definitively an 8 (both the shoes and the cocktail, and the waiter).  And while not a martini the Hemingway Mojito at Ceiba on 14th street was certainly a remarkable and pleasant drink...ahem...both of them.

Soul Gastrolounge - back to Charlotte - one with the new boss, one with a longtime friend, and one more with a coworker.  All three of them on different nights, mind you.  One of the few bars in Charlotte where I can find St. Germaine.  And so every time I go there, that's what I get.  And they do it OH so well.  And dare I forget the lamb lollipops?  Not that is not a drink - they are little morsels of tasty lamb with parsley and pecorino.  Oh, just because I love you, Soul, you get a 9.75 (almost perfect).

Desert martini - I rode a horse.  At a dude ranch.  I deserved a martini - 7.

Selwyn pub - Everyone is eating pizza and drinking beer and here comes Heather  - ordering a gin martini...well looking back I have not rated the martinis at Selwyn, yet I have had several there, spaced appropriately over time.  8.  And thankfully they have never put an olive in my martini. 

30th Birthday Martinis - there were a smattering of these throughout my dear friend's birthday weekend...but my favorite was a one time martini - at 2:30 in the morning we were dancing in the kitchen and Reece decided to shake some gin with some sliced pear.  YUM! 9  Oh, these also were not in Charlotte - but you can't order one anyway so I am not going to divulge the top secret locale. Only the 3 of us know...

And tonight - sitting on my couch - I ought to be drinking a martini at home, alas I am having a glass of Bordeaux.

Off the "beet" en path

Some martinis are so wonderful that when you encounter a place with a limited selection you try to recreate the wonderful memory of a martini from days of yore.  It so happens that the martini of the night was actually a repeat from my last post - the Atlanta Martini (or Miller Thyme, if you recall).

I must say that typically when an establishment fails to meet my martini list desires I often default to the standard Sapphire, no fruit, no olives (which only 3 out of 5 actually execute - how fucking hard is it??).  I'll digress momentarily to last night's martinis and then continue on with tonight's.

So last night was an impromptu beverage session with two of my coworkers - one an all time favorite (it's the Irish in me) and the other rapidly gaining status on my list of people I enjoy being around (I mean who doesn't love a dry sense of humor sprinkled with a heady dose of reality?).  Of course, I am the only one having martinis, but at least they kept me company.  Please don't misunderstand, they were drinking too, just beer that's all - nothing fancy.  The mosquitoes were in full force - is there something in the X chromosome that they like better than the YY? - and the weather was idyllic. It was one of those evenings where it was so gorgeous outside that you feel like a jerk if you are indoors.  I started with a lemon drop.  I know, not my typical gin cocktail.  But I have to say that with all that sugar I can understand why they are popular.  It was a great introduction.  The cosmo was actually awful - I don't know where they obtained that juice but it wasn't from a cranberry.  And the third (yes I know - I really shouldn't drink that much on a Tuesday) was my classic Sapphire with no fruit no olives.  Only it came with olives...sigh.  I suppose when your server is still in high school and has on a four flavored sherbet eye shadow blend you can only hope for so much.

So onto Wednesday - it's been a busy week already and tonight I was going to stay home and do nothing.  Visions of PJ's and Food Network were already dancing in my head when the email arrived - Il faut de Grey Goose ce soir.  Vraiment?  Quand et ou? 

So Mandy and I converged on Georges Brasserie, formerly the Oceanaire, and proceeded to have one of those evenings for which summer was designed.  Well, summer somewhere that it's not humid.  Because we had another dose of ethereal weather and a beautiful setting - overlooking a fountain (OK it was in a traffic circle) and some roses.  The sound of French music (and people speaking French) wafted through the air. 

What started as a simple martini in a new place resulted in a new favorite restaurant where they will accept instructions for preparing and produce truly wonderful martinis.  We had a moment to recreate the Miller Thyme - this one with Hendricks Gin (I am starting to like you a LOT), sugar, lemon juice, and thyme (bruised according to Kurt) and it was delightful.  Well, both of them were.

And the food - excellent.  Will definitely do this again.  Oh - I almost failed to mention the beet salad.  I had no idea that beets could taste so good!

Coworker bevs - 4 (not for the company, I am rating drinks only).
George's cocktails - 8 for execution but 10 for following directions.

Atlanta Martini

Writing about Atlanta makes me want to listen to Outkast; but the soundtrack of the weekend was decidedly less hip hop and more Appalachian.  I mean, who doesn't revel in some bluegrass along with your martini?

Despite the disconnect between fancy cocktails and homespun bluegrass, Atlanta is definitely a place where the two can seamlessly come together to make sure everyone is comfortable; thus the true definition of southern hospitality. 

We started the evening with a proper martini - gin, up, twist (lime that is).  Wonderful - a drink while comfortably lounging on the couch and chatting. 

The next martini was an original: the Miller Thyme.  Please do not confuse this with a beer.  This was a thoughtful beverage, beginning with the chilled glass (thank you for the stem!) and a wonderful garnish (no stem!).  Allow the fusion of Miller's gin, fresh lemon juice, and a simple syrup infused with thyme.  This drink is tart, sweet, and places the gin on a pedestal, where it belongs.  Garnished with a pinch of thyme the Miller Thyme provides a nice lift to the palate and a smooth transition into the meal. 

Miller Union is in an unassuming building tucked in a corner surrounded by warehouses and a dance club.  The restaurant should be pleased with its food offerings - we shared three entree options and a few wonderful sides as well.  Excellent meal accompanied by an excellent Chateauneuf-du-Pape. 

9 - good job, Atl.

BLT Steak

I enjoy restaurant week for all the obvious reasons, but mostly so I can try something new.  The Green Cucumber Martini is a very pleasant summer libation featuring gin, simple syrup, basil, and cucumber puree.  The glass is chilled and garnished with a sliver of cucumber.  Bits of basil are suspended in the liquid, and provide little pops of licorice in some sips.  Although a smidge on the sweet side for me, the Green Cucumber Martini is very pleasant, and I'll be trying to recreate it at home. 

Dinner was a spectacular event as well, with the highlight being a duo of petits fours that tasted like pecan pie batter filling.  WOW - with a sip of the Chateauneuf-Du-Pape that I saved for the desert! 

Absolutely superb!  9

Cosmic Martinis

Yes, it's always plural - I cannot think of the last time I had one martini...

It is always pleasant when a plan comes together.  I appreciate when people say they are going to do something and then they come through on it.  A few weeks ago at a housewarming party for a very successful friend of mine, Laura, we had the brilliant idea to take advantage of one of Charlotte's true excellent values - Wednesday evening at Cosmos. 

I really enjoy Cosmos, even though I haven't made it a regular establishment, tonight reminded me that I could, if I wanted to.  It's not too crowded, but it is busy enough during happy hour.  Because I have all this long hair now I am perpetually late to things, and tonight was no special circumstance.  I assumed since I had an hour to get ready I would be sitting twiddling my thumbs waiting for the girls to arrive.  But, instead, I was the last one to there. 

Small plates from a restricted yet delicious menu are buy one get one.  It's decidedly one of the ways I prefer to eat, lots of little different bits.  The girls had already ordered some small plates, and I only had a few minutes before 7:00 to decide what to order, so before I even ordered my drink (gasp) I ordered my two apps. 

But on to the cocktails.  Cosmos has a respectable martini menu.  Oh and did I mention that on Wednesdays they are half price?  Yes - serious value.  So the menu is two pages with classics, fruity concoctions, classics with a twist (I think the pun is intended) and then there are the dessert martinis. 

Laura had her standard apple martini - and typically along with Laura's martini comes a heavy load of criticism on the preparation.  But not this time. She simply drank it and ordered another one!  I'd say that is a strong endorsement. 

I am not sure what Christie was drinking, but I know it had Malibu rum in it...

I ventured (shocking!) away from my standard gin martini to a Lemon Lady (or something like that - I can't believe I forgot the name).  No fear, this one still had gin (Sapphire nonetheless), but it had fresh lemon juice and something a bit sweet about it.  Typically not my style, but on a hot summer night it was fantastic.  And at half price - yes please!

And while I enjoy eating good food and having a cocktail, it is so much better when you are with interesting people.  There was not one point tonight where I felt the urge to look around and observe what the other diners and bar goers where doing or chatting about.  We talked about jobs and hot tubs and stock and the faves and the senior girls. 

The best part - we all got home safe with happy thoughts and no drama. 

Cosmos - 9

martinis that aren't

This almost became the pork blog. But more on that later. I am sitting right now in a restaurant in Philly, writing on (well WITH) my blackberry. And although I had some incredible drinks over the weekend, I want to sit and write about those properly. Expect more soon.

Those of you who know me know how much I hate to eat alone. So I guess that is what has me typing furiously on this little keyboard in between looking out the window. My dinner date (for work) cancelled on me this morning, so I am alone. I vowed not to eat in the restaurant at the hotel when I am in this great city, so I walked out looking for Fogo de Chao - Brazilian fare. But I was distracted by this cute little corner restaurant with black leather couches and cute chairs, it's called Q lounge.

I just finished a gin and chronic. Gin, elder flower liqueur, cucumber puree, lime and grapefruit juice. YUM!!!

I like how the first one came with a lemon and this one came with a lime...oh yes, I got two! There's something ethereal and soothing in this concoction,

And the spicy pulled pork sandwich with broccoli rabe...look out coleslaw - you have been replaced.

So why the martini that isn't? Well, it isn't up - it's on the rocks. 7

Let me count the ways

Although I am not really a fan of Valentine's Day, for all the Hallmark Cards and overpriced flowers and other nonsense, I think it merits a moment to think about those we love UNROMANTICALLY. For example, my parents have always sent my sister and I Valentine notes, my grandma too - and I always feel love from my family. I feel love for my family, my husband and my friends; those who are there with me throughout the year as I celebrate and struggle with life. And although unconditional love is something we all hope for and revel in, I think we experience it sparingly.

My adoration (love is a bit too strong for these conversations) for the martini is not unconditional. In fact, it is in the conditions (chilled glass, just the right amount of vermouth, no fruit, no olives) that has made the search for the perfect Charlotte martini so intoxicating (pardon the pun).

And despite the lack of writing over the past several months, have no fear, I have continued the quest - just not much worth writing about. As a result of Mandy's fine taste I have in my possession a bottle of St. Germain - and elixir that could elevate most cocktails to a more noble stature. When shaken with Gin, it creates an ethereal beverage that highlights the acidity of the gin, the floral notes of the berries, and the sweetness of the elderflower. Perhaps having this in my house is the sole reason I have stopped going out for martinis recently.

Unfortunately for the local bars and pubs, I still have more than a 4 months' supply, so it may be a while yet before I try a new place. But Fat Tuesday is just around the corner...

Happy Valentines Day, martini lovers - and if this day isn't so happy for you; a few martinis will at the very least change your perspective.