Tiki allure

Posted on July 10, 2009 by | 1 comment

Bamboo torches, raffia grass huts, Polynesian gods, coconut cups, little umbrellas, exotic drinks – who can resist the lure of Tiki? Tiki offers a bright and happy escape, and all the aforementioned novelties capture the magic perfectly. Tikiwonder.com tells us that current Tiki subculture (file under “Lounge”) is a revival of the Polynesian craze of the 195o’s and 60’s, when people were enchanted with the south pacific.

Tiki bars and cocktails are seeing quite the resurgence. Places like Don the Beachcomber’s and Trader Vic’s are the founding fathers of tiki bars and cocktails (both claim to have invented the Mai Tai), but only one is still in existence. Solomon’s Island, Md.,  has a great Tiki Bar, and when that place opens for the season, it is apparently quite a to-do. Squidoo’s also has a top ten ranking of the best tiki bars in the country, in  case you’re looking.

Last month, Jason Wilson, The Washington Post’s spirits columnist, wrote an excellent article on tiki cocktails that led Ms. S&C to Agraria, on the Georgetown waterfront, for a Zombie and a Pancho Villa. While her drinks were top-notch, there was something missing. And that something was the tiki allure. There was no hut, no ceramic mug, no adornment, not even an umbrella. She wanted that as much as she wanted a tasty, tropical cocktail.

Tiki drinks have many ingredients, and most of them are not your staples, which is why Ms. S&C likes to go out for hers. Or, she recommends that you invite enough people over to make it worthwhile. The Mai Tai, the most well-known of tiki drinks, contains the classic ingredients of rum and orgeat (an almond-flavored syrup). Here’s one of many versions.

Mai Tai
makes one serving

Ingredients:mai-tai

  • Ice, preferably crushed ice
  • 0.750 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice, reserving a spent half-lime for garnish
  • 0.500 ounce orange curacao
  • 0.500 ounce orgeat syrup (see related recipe)
  • 0.250 ounce simple syrup (see NOTE below)
  • 1 ounce aged Jamaican rum, preferably Appleton XV
  • 1 ounce amber rhum agricole, preferably Rhum Clement VSOP
  • Mint sprig, for garnish

Directions:

Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice. Add the lime juice, orange curacao, orgeat syrup, simple syrup, Jamaican rum and rhum agricole. Shake well, then pour (unstrained) into a double old-fashioned glass or wineglass. Garnish with a mint sprig and the spent shell of half a lime.

NOTE: To make simple syrup, combine 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Bring to a slow, rolling boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for 5 minutes. Transfer to a glass container and let cool to room temperature. Cover tightly and refrigerate until chilled before using; store indefinitely.

Recipe Source: The Washington Post, Adapted from “Sippin’ Safari,” by Jeff “Beachbum” Berry (SLG Publishing, 2007). Picture: Mark Finkenstaedt for The Washington Post.

FWespadrillesAnd, the perfect shoes to complement grass huts and fruity cocktails? Behold the espadrille! The bright colorful prints and the woven wedge heels definitely speak to the tiki vibe. We love these Oscar de la Renta ikat espadrilles that Fashion Washington highlighted in their Lush Life section, but the $400 price tag has us looking for other options. These navy floral ones and these morracan paisley ones, both from Tommy Hilfiger for $70, will do. Also like the bright tropical fabric and wicker heel on this pair on sale for $35 at Piperlime. Wear them with a solid colored maxi dress, break out the ukulele, and don’t forget the little umbrellas, please.

posted by Ms. S&C

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No More Room. . . S&C Storage Options, Part II

Posted on July 8, 2009 by | 2 comments

As we discovered last week, Miss Mojito is exploring creative storage options for two of her favorite things, shoes and cocktails. And while we’ve already discovered the joys of the rolling bar cart, this week we investigate a much trickier topic: shoe storage.

Every gal struggles with finding a place to put that new pair of shoes. Throwing them in the depths of a closet causes a big mess and makes your footwear hard to find. (Ms. S&C has also discussed her own dilemma in this arena.) And most of us aren’t lucky enough to have expansive closets that fit custom rack upon custom rack of shoes. I needed an option that was at once sturdy and affordable, attractive and useful.

I found my solution at Ikea in the form of the pervasive Expedit bookcase in black.  Each cubby hole fits four pairs of shoes, 2-3 pairs of boots or 4-6 purses.

shoe_storage

And as you can see, the top of the shelf is the perfect spot for hat storage! Of course, not every pair of shoes fits in my bookcase, so I slip the remainder into an over-the-door cloth shoe holder.

Although my particular storage solution works well for me, I can’t help but be tempted by these colorful shoe wheels. I love the idea of spinning the wheel and taking our pick of shoes! Miss Mojito wants to know: do you have any other creative solutions for closeting your footwear?

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Heating up

Posted on July 3, 2009 by | Leave a comment

Summer has arrived. Temperatures are rising.The Fourth of July holiday is upon us. Fireworks. Beach vacations. Backyard barbeques. What shoes do you turn to for your warm weather wardrobe? Whether your footwear of choice  is a sexy strappy sandal, an exotic espadrille, a casually chic thong, or a bold printed peep-toe, you can find them all in one rich color — red. Yes, things really are heating up.

FRYE-t-strapbella-vita-espafranco-sarto-sandal

bandolino-wedgeBCBG-sandalsam-edelman-sandal

corso-cosmo-sandalcarlos-peep-toenine-west-thong

Now, what to cool you off during these hot summer months? Check out The New York Times for suggestions on drinks and ingredients that are “Refreshing by Definition.” The S&C team also want to remind you of a few of our personal faves:

  • Frozen Sangria — Miss Mojito fixed this fun, fruity, frozen blend for daytime imbibing at the beach.
  • Berry Caipirinha — Ms. S&C made this bright and fruity cocktail with blackberries, but think of what you can do with fresh, ripe raspberries and peaches?
  • Basil Gimlet — Miss M muddled mint’s distant cousin in a gimlet, and after trying them herself, Ms. S&C concurs that aromatic basil is a great ingredient for summertime drinks.
  • Watermelon Lemonade — One of Ms. S&C’s favorites last summer, so hang tight for those plentiful watermelons to come.

S&C wants to know: What shoes are heating up your closet this summer? And, what are you drinking to cool off?

posted by Ms. S&C

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No More Room. . . S&C Storage Options, Part I

Posted on July 1, 2009 by | 1 comment

Miss Mojito loves her apartment: the little balcony overlooking a busy street, the bright kitchen, the two cozy bedrooms, the great location. But it’s not all rainbows and unicorns chez Mojito. My recurring challenge in apartment life is the lack of storage space. And two of my biggest storage obstacles just happen to be those very topics so dear to our hearts here at S&C: shoes and cocktail fixings. Luckily, I’ve come up with some solutions that work for my apartment lifestyle. This week, we’ll take a look at how Miss Mojito stores her alcohol.

Until recently, I kept my liquor and wine on top of the refrigerator, a less-than-ideal location for several reasons. The heat from the fridge is certainly not good for the health of the drinks, plus the liquor would sit in the full light of a window. Not to mention that I’d love to use this space for extra kitchen appliance storage. What’s a girl to do?

Ideally, I’d have a cool, dark cabinet reserved for liquor storage. This not being an option in my jam-packed abode, I decided to take some inspiration from this Apartment Therapy posting and find myself a portable bar cart. Although my dwelling place is by no means expansive, I still love the idea of having a little cart that I can roll from room to room (and onto my balcony). But seing as the options featured on Apartment Therapy were a bit out of my price range, I had to get creative. After several hours of extensive Internet research, I opted for a compact, slightly retro bar cart from, of all places, Walmart! I must say, I’m more than satisfied with the cart’s cool, glass-and-chrome composition, as well as the under-$40 price tag.

bar_cart

Now, the only thing left to do is stock my bar cart! Miss Mojito wants to know: what are your liquor storage obstacles, and how have you overcome them?

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Shoemakers

Posted on June 29, 2009 by | 1 comment

The Washington Post Travel Section recently referred to Lynchburg, Va., as “fine and funky.” Bohemian even. This is not how Ms. S&C would have referred to her hometown — not the hometown where she grew up. Fourteen years later, she still wouldn’t exactly say it is “bohemian” or “funky” — it is Jerry-Falwell-conservative after all. No, it is not quite bohemian or funky, but it pretty close to “hip.” And it is definitely host to a growing number of hip places.

craddock-terry-hotel

Ms. S&C was in her hometown last weekend for a cousin’s wedding. While there, she ventured down to Main Street (an area she hasn’t visited in years), and was totally stoked. Yes, stoked. There was a street festival (Friday Cheers), and lots of new shops and restaurants.

One would expect to find an old-factory-turned-cool-establishment in Manhattan or Chicago, but not Lynchburg. That’s what is so exciting about the Craddock Terry Hotel.

The hotel, housed in what was once the Craddock Terry Shoe factory and a tobacco storage warehouse, is one of the cornerstones of a Main Street revitalization project. And, the place is gorgeous. Exposed wood beam ceilings, nine-foot tall windows, exposed brick and stone walls, decor accented with historical artifacts (read: old shoes!) — this turn of the century shoe factory has been transformed into a lovely boutique hotel.

Ms. S&C is always one to stop and read the historical marker, so here are some points of history on the Craddock Terry Company (once a thriving and important part of Lynchburg’s economy):

  • The company was at first a wholesaler of footwear. It had $311,465 in sales in 1889, and $1 million in sales 10 years later.craddock-report
  • Craddock-Terry began making shoes at the turn of the century. It built a number of factories and warehouses in Southside Va., St. Louis, Mo., and Milwaukee, Wi.
  • The company hit hard times during the Great Depression and got rid of the plants outside of Va.
  • During the Depression, Craddock-Terry continued annual picnics for all employees and their families. The picnics included beauty pageants and sports contests.
  • Business picked up again during WWII, when Craddock-Terry made boots for soldiers.
  • Sales peaked in 1978. During the 1980s, foreign competition was credited for declining sales, so the company was sold and filed for bankruptcy in the late 1980s.

Ms. S&C stopped by the hotel for a quick tour and had a drink at their fine dining establishment, Shoemakers. She also got word of a number of other hip places down the street, including A+ martinis at Bull Branch. Ms. S&C spent the better part of her teenage years wanting to get out of Lynchburg, — now, she can’t wait to go back.

posted by Ms. S&C

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Getting Sentimental Over Shoes

Posted on June 24, 2009 by | 1 comment

A friend who happens to be very in tune with Miss Mojito’s purchasing habits once made the observation that I don’t tend to buy clothes so much as I tend to collect them. And she was at least a little bit correct. I do like to grow and nurture my wardrobe, building it up piece by piece so that I’ll have an outfit ready for any occasion. And if that meant that I had to wait a year before I found occasion to wear the red silk dress with necklace detailing, so be it. Or if a brown jersey cocktail dress with a jeweled tie has remained dormant in my closet for over three years now, that’s alright with me. I just feel better knowing it’s there, at the ready, making my closet more complete.

The same philosophy certainly applies to my shoes. The crown jewels in my footwear collection happen to be two of those pairs that I have never—nay, could never—wear, but for a different reason than you might imagine. The shoes are impossibly small, remarkably narrow, impeccably stylish, and admittedly in need of repair. They also happen to be about 60 years old.

Both pairs of shoes belonged to my grandmother, Bobbie. Based on the fabulousness of these particular pairs of shoes, she certainly shared the same taste for footwear that we here at S&C so value. Both pairs are peep-toe ankle straps, a shoe silhouette that has  retained its popularity today. The black pair, which bears the mark of Paul’s Aristocrats of Brooklyn, is decorated with polka dots and swirls, while the creamier pair is made of satin and tiny rhinestone buckles.

bobbies_shoes

It’s sentimental favorites such as these that turn a wardrobe into a collection, one that inspires memories and a bit of sentimentality. And, on occasion, something to wear, too.

So, what would Miss Mojito sip were she able to cram her feet into these diminutive pumps? Why the Aviation, of course! It’s a classic cocktail concoction that gained popularity throughout Prohibition and into the 1930s, when my grandmother probably wore these shoes.

The Aviation Cocktail
Serves one.

  • 2 ounces gin
  • 1/2 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 2 teaspoons maraschino liqueur
  • 1/4 ounce Crème de Violette (optional)
  • Ice

Combine the gin, lemon juice and maraschino liqueur in a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a cocktail glass. Add a drizzle of Crème de Violette and serve.

*Miss Mojito makes the Crème de Violette optional because some versions of the Aviation omit the liqueur entirely, plus it’s a bit cost prohibitive.

Miss Mojito wants to know: What “crown jewels” are in your closet? Or, rather, in your “collection.”

Posted by Miss Mojito.

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Ms. S&C goes southernmost

Posted on June 16, 2009 by | 4 comments

It has been a month since Ms. S&C returned from her Key West vacay, and she has finally gotten her act together to write a recap of her trip. This was not Ms. S&C’s first visit to the keys. It was her third, actually. Trip number one was Spring Break, sophomore year in college. Trip two was Spring Break, senior year. Trip three was with Mr. S&C, who’s never been there. It is safe to say this visit was different than the first two — but not that different.

People of all kinds visit Key West. Bikers, gays, hippies, retirees, frat boys, the girls-who-love-frat-boys, couples. And many of them visit with one thing in common — drinking. There may be some people-watching and site-seeing, conch fritters and key lime pie, but there is an awful lot of drinking. This heavy-imbibing eclectic mix reminds me a lot of New Orleans. You can call Duval Street the southernmost Bourbon Street.

marina

Ms. S&C had no choice but get used to drinking out of
plastic cups when in Key West

One thing that made this visit different from others: planning. When planning a trip, to Key West, or any other destination for that matter, Ms. S&C recommends you check out the usual suspects for travel ideas: the New York Times’ 36 Hours covers Key West; the Washington Post has several articles; and OpenTable helps with restaurant recommendations. Even with all these resources, nothing beats recommendations from friends (thanks, LC). And with that, Ms. S&C brings you her Guide to Key West.

(Note: Items with an * indicates that I recommend. Items with an * and in bold are the spots I highly recommend, and are the places I would 100% visit again. That means, you shouldn’t miss them if you find yourself there.)

DAY 1 – FRIDAY

Flew from D.C. to Miami (we got a really cheap flight–$325 for two, round-trip tickets).

Rented a car (splurged on a convertible b/c of cheap flight), and drove down Route 1.  The drive takes longer than you think because you can only go about 40 mph. But, I drove from Virginia my previous two visits, so this 3 and a 1/2 hour trip was a breeze.

Checked in at Island City House*. This is a lovely, affordable inn with gorgeous gardens and a friendly staff. It has a nice pool, serves breakfast, and is an easy walk to Duval Street (and everywhere else). But, it is also far enough way that you escape the constant party-goers.

Swam a few laps in the pool, drank a few Red Stripes (I can’t resit the Jamaican lager when I’m someplace beachy), then hit the town.

Dinner at Seven Fish* – a tiny intimate spot that is a favorite of locals. Probably because it feels far away from the rowdy crowds of Duval Street. There’s a lot of fresh fish on the menu, and the dishes are well prepared. The key lime cheesecake should not be passed up.

801 Bourbon Bar – literally ran in this bar because of an unexpected thunderstorm. I’m sure I’ll see a drag show sometime in my life, but I wasn’t feeling it my first night in Key West. The show is apparently quite good, and the bar itself is fun with great dance music, but I wanted to be out on the town.

Green Parrot* – when googling “jukebox bars + Key West,” the Green Parrot was the top result. Mr. and Ms. S&C love bars with jukeboxes. This jukebox was good, but far too specialized with too much blues and jazz. The place also appears to have a loyal following of locals, again, probably because it is a few blocks off Duval.

DAY 2 – SATURDAY

Lunch at B.O.’s Fish Wagon* – this can’t be described any other way than an open-air shack. I was a little bit intimidated by the lady-with-a-big-personality taking our order, but the food is definitely worth it. Try the grilled fish sandwich and share an order of fries.

Toured the Hemingway House* – you should take the guided tour (our tour guide was a hoot). You’ll learn about Hemingway, his family, his cats, his work, the house (great architecture and art), and some Key West history. The house itself, and the pool, are amazing by the way.

Captain Tony’s Saloon* – known as the original Sloppy Joe’s and favorite bar of Ernest Hemingway. Not sure he would enjoy it as much today, but it is a great place for people-watching (saw a guy dressed as a pirate, with a live parrot on his shoulder). There’s a mixture of tourists and townies, and maybe a few people who drink for a living. There’s also a really fun (and talented) acoustic guitarist who plays a few days a week. Then, there’s the Pirates Punch, of course.

pirate_punch

Pirates Punch is a secret blend of Cockspur rum, gin and a tropical fruit mixture. Served in a souvenir cup that’s yours to keep.

Kelly’s Caribbean Bar and Grill* – Kelly, as in Kelly McGillis of Top Gun, has a casual, yet elegant eatery, with killer happy hour specials—three drinks for $8. Great margaritas.

Green Parrot, again.

Virgilio’s* – recommended by a local we met at Green Parrot. We skipped the martinis (a specialty) and dined on carpaccio, insalata mista and penne puttanesca. Waitress told us we could take our leftover wine “to go,” but we told her we couldn’t.

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Make Mine a Manhattan

Posted on June 15, 2009 by | 3 comments

Strawberries are already on their way out of season, so it’s time we take advantage of them while they’re still in their Strawberry Manhattanprime. The folks at Gourmet had the same inclination, and offered a host of strawberry-inspired ideas in a recent electronic newsletter. My favorite suggestion? Infuse some bourbon with fresh strawberries and bottle up some berry bourbon. Miss Mojito decided to use hers to whip up a batch of Strawberry Manhattans.

To make the strawberry bourbon, hull a pint of strawberries and place in a large bowl. Pour bourbon over the berries (I used a 750-milliliter bottle of Jim Beam because that’s what I had on hand, but I’m sure a liter of some nicer bourbon would work just fine). Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2-3 days. Strain out the berries and bottle the bourbon. I’m not entirely sure of the shelf-life of this liquor, but I’m guestimating you have a week or so to enjoy the intoxicating strawberry flavors.

Although I am a bourbon fan, I haven’t participated in much Manhattan mixing, and was pleased with the results. After much investigation, we decided on equal parts sweet and dry vermouth as a nice balance for the fruity bourbon. And the strawberry garnish is a necessary addition to fully enhance the fruity flavor. I advise you whip up a batch immediately, before it’s too late!

Strawberry Manhattan
Serves one.

  • 2 ounces strawberry bourbon
  • ½ ounce sweet vermouth
  • ½ ounce dry vermouth
  • 1-2 dashes Angostura bitters
  • Ice
  • Sliced strawberries for garnish

Pour bourbon, both vermouths and bitters into a cocktail shaker. Shake well and pour over ice. Garnish with strawberries and serve.

Posted by Miss Mojito.

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S&C spotted–shoe museum

Posted on June 12, 2009 by | 2 comments

Friends of S&C recently vacationed in Toronto, and visited a shoe museum. Yes, there’s a museum entirely devoted to shoes. And, why not?!?! The Bata Shoe Museum celebrates the style, function and history of footwear. There’s over 4,500 years of shoe history is on display. The museum’s collection ranges from Chinese bound foot shoes and ancient Egyptian sandals to chestnut-crushing clogs and glamourous platforms. In the “Footwear of Famous People” exhibit, you can see John Lennon’s “Beatle Boot” from the 1960’s, and Elton John’s platform boots circa 1973. 

And how did Ms. S&C hear of her friends’ spectacular and surely stunning cultural experience? A good, old-fashioned postcard. Ms. S&C was practically euphoric when it arrived in the mail.

postcard-front

postcard-back

postcard from the Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto 

Have you spotted something spectacular? Share it with S&C! If you are out and about and run across something awe-inspiring, inventive or delicious — email shoesandcocktails(at)yahoo(dot)com, or send us a TwitPic @shoescocktails. Or, a postcard!

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Ready for a Reunion

Posted on June 5, 2009 by | 5 comments

Miss Mojito will be reunionizing with college friends in Charlottesville this weekend and has been in search of a dress, shoes and a cmaxidressocktail to help prepare for the festivities.

Outfit Requirements: A fun, cool and casual dress (that’s long enough to hide the alarming sunburn marks that are still on both of my legs as a result of my Nags Head vacation over two weeks ago) was my number one requirement. My hope was to find a maxi dress that wasn’t too clingy to match with a pair of comfortable flats.

Outfit Results: I snagged a pearly pair of bone-colored, Pierre DuDSCN1221mas thongs for a cool $24 at Richmond boutique Fab’rik. The flats are a perfect match for my turquoise maxi dress with a braided rope detail, but the best part is that I can pair them with tons of other summer-friendly outfits.

Cocktail Requirements: Blue and orange are the official colors of my alma mater, but I’m coming up empty on ideas for similarly colored cocktails with great flavors.

Cocktail Results: Since I’ve abandoned the color theme, I’m going to focus purely on taste with one of my favorite summer cocktails, the Basil Gimlet. Traditional versions often rely on Rose’s Lime Juice, but Miss Mojito prefers the fresh stuff instead – if you do have some Rose’s on hand, though, it can’t hurt to add a splash. Legend attributes the drink to Sir Thomas Gimlette, who apparently served the concoction to his shipmates in the late 19th century to promote health and prevent scurvy.

I first experienced this herbal version of the gin cocktail at Mas, a tapas restaurant in Charlottesville.

Basil Gimlet
Serves two

  1. In the bottom of a shaker, muddle 1 large handful of basil (torn), with 1 tablespoon superfine sugar using a muddler (or the back of a spoon as a backup).
  2. Add 1 ounce of lime juice, 1 ounce of grapefruit juice and 4 ounces of gin (preferably Tanqueray’s Rangpur version, which is a bit sweeter and has extra notes of citrus).
  3. Add ice and shake well. Strain and serve.

Posted by Miss Mojito.

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