Tag Archives: drinking during the day

Americans in London

Posted on April 27, 2011 by msshoescocktails | 5 comments

Did you think S&C would totally ignore the upcoming nuptials of Wills and Kate? No way! Especially when Ms. S&C has two great friends living in London and so close to the action! Especially when we’re talking about a real prince and princess. Especially when the soon-to-be-princess wears such magnificent hats! Especially when we can find an excuse to use the phrase tea and crumpets. And cheerio.

Friends of S&C who live in London discuss the upcoming Royal Wedding

When Ms. S&C reached out to Mere, an American living in London for three years now, she seemed a little more excited that the sun had been shining for a few days straight — and that she has Friday off work — than the actual wedding. Here’s what else she had to say:

What will you and most British people be doing the day of the Royal Wedding?

Either watching it on TV at home or in a pub. I haven’t decided what to do yet, I have a feeling I might try to ride my bike down to the park by the palace. Other things that most neighborhoods are having block parties so that should be fun. I think there is one in my square. Also: lots and lots of UK flags are everywhere. It is like the World Cup all over again.

What will you be drinking to celebrate the occasion? What will most Englishmen be drinking?

Pimms! of course. Also the standard of beer. But I think it will be more Pimms and Champagne.

Tell us something about the Royal Wedding — and the festivities — that we don’t know.

I think the U.S. news has covered everything. I think most Londoners are going to bunker down and go to their local pub or friend’s place and the people downtown will be tourists. There are a crapload of random things you can buy like mugs, magnets, ash trays, bells, etc.

Tell us why we should care about the Royal Wedding?

I have no idea why anyone should really care about the Royal Wedding. But it is a day off here so I am glad it is happening.

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S&C friend, Sesolf, an American living in London for less than three months, is a bit more like us: a little more caught up in the fairy tale and extravaganza. Here’s what she has to say about the wedding day:

What will you and most British people be doing the day of the Royal Wedding?

I am desperately looking for the best pub / bbq / party to go and watch the whole affair whilst drinking heavily. I think I’ve finally been pointed in the direction of a pub in Spitalfields where the owner is a crazy character of a woman who is already a major royalist and I’m told should be putting on a great party for it. But, every Brit that I have talked to says they have no interest in watching and will be going to bbqs b/c it is a free day off of work, so they will be getting completely wasted, but just not at all caring to watch the wedding itself. I, however, will find a way. At the very least, there is a pub down the street that is throwing a proper drinking and viewing party, so I will go there alone if need be…

What will you be drinking to celebrate the occasion? What will most Englishmen be drinking?

I think most will be drinking beer and cider at bbqs, as mentioned above. I’ll drink cider in a pub, since I’m not a big beer drinker and don’t trust wine in pubs – and don’t want to drink wine at 11 AM. That said, if the pub has a sparkling, preferably prosecco, I will load up on that to celebrate the nuptials.

Tell us something about the Royal Wedding — and the festivities — that we don’t know.

I had a great fun conversation this weekend with someone from The Sunday Times who insists that this whole wedding and “love story” was a complete coup planned by the Middleton family from the moment Wills decided to go to St. Andrews. Apparently Kate was going to university somewhere else, and then changed all her plans to go to St. Andrews, all with the intention of finding Wills and marrying him. It was absolutely hysterical, b/c he was adamant that she is a little hussy doing whatever her parents make her do to get into the royal family and Wills is such a dumb dolt that he’d have no idea and just fall for it… I enjoyed the conversation, but am still sticking to the fairy tale story and happy to like Kate… for now. (Also, side note, most interesting to me is that EVERY Brit apparently knows that Harry’s dad was the bodyguard that Diana had an affair with – spitting image of him, it’s not even a question – but I’d never heard that in the U.S. I mean, obviously we can see that they very likely have different fathers, but still, I had know idea it was just absolutely known and accepted here. Also, Diana was sleeping around with loads of footballers etc., while Charles and Camilla were 100% together from pre-marriage and on… this came up in the statement that Kate will be just like Diana and sleep around within a year.

Tell us why we should care about the Royal Wedding?

Because it is even more awesome when in the context of all the royal scandal as discussed above. And it is real. I mean, he really is a prince. And she really is a commoner who is going to become a princess. I love it!

Has Ms. S&C mentioned that she has awesome friends? She has awesome friends.

posted by Ms. S&C

5 Comments

Posted in cocktail-related

Tagged champagne goes with everything, drinking during the day, fairy tale, pimm's cup, the royal wedding

Drinks at the lake

Posted on September 2, 2010 by msshoescocktails | 1 comment

Here’s the final installment of Ms. S&C’s Seneca Lake recap. Over the course of three fun-filled days, here’s what you could find friends imbibing by the water, on a sailboat, by the grill, on the porch, on a swing, playing games, by the bonfire (did I miss anything?): Grapefruit Crush, Bloody Mary, Mai Tai (for the luau-themed dinner), Gin & Tonic, Dark ‘n’ Stormy, Pimm’s Cup (and variations of), Beer, Wine, Champagne.

One specialty cocktail (that was planned in advance): Five Island Punch.

The Five Island Punch was made with Banks Rum, a new rum on the market that is a blend of aged rums from five island distilleries. Ms. S&C doesn’t know a whole heck of a lot about rum (not like this guy), but she certainly loved it in this cocktail. And naturally, fresh watermelon this time of the year is a perfect mixer for cocktails.

The Banks Five Island Punch

Ingredients:

2 oz Banks rum
1 1/2 oz fresh lime juice
1 oz simple syrup
4 oz watermelon puree

Directions:

Shake all ingredients together, serve over ice, and garnish with mint sprig and lime wheel.

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Another specialty cocktail (that was totally random and totally awesome): Iced Double Espresso.

Coffee is probably the one beverage Ms. S&C can’t live without (actually, coffee may have to fight it out with Champagne). So, when another friend came with a surprise bottle of Van Gogh Double Espresso vodka, she couldn’t have been happier to make iced coffee drinks. Then, the drinks were paired with these amazing orange glazed cookies. The lake is like a culinary wonderland.

Iced Double Espresso

Directions:

Pretty simple stuff: fill glass with ice, pour a few ounces of coffee-flavored vodka, add a dash of cream, milk or half-and-half, and stir.

Ms. S&C’s has a three-part series covering her favorite weekend of the year. Part one: Sights of the lake. Part two: Overheard at the lake. Part three: Drinks at the lake.

posted by Ms. S&C

1 Comment

Posted in cocktails, spring/summer cocktails, vodka, white rum

Tagged coffee, drinking during the day, lake trip, watermelon

Overheard at the lake

Posted on August 25, 2010 by msshoescocktails | 3 comments

For some reason there are a few little snipets of dialogue, from the recent lake trip, that really tickled Ms. S&C. Maybe because they are centered around booze, maybe because she could title them both: “Make it two,” or maybe because she thinks her friends are funny (and funnier after a few drinks).

One afternoon, Ms. S&C and a few others toured Seneca Lake on a sailboat (a 24 footer, I believe). Upon arriving back at the dock, here’s what she overheard:

MGC (who had been sitting on the dock drinking beer with others while we were sailing) says to CA (who is about to exit the sailboat): “Was it a two Strongbow boat ride?”

CA: “It would have been if I had two Strongbows.”

(What’s really funny about this is: Strongbow ciders are a favorite of the guys at the lake. That’s who we buy them for.)

Here’s one reason the lake is Ms. S&C’s favorite summer weekend.
Another reason? Her friends are funny.

Then, one evening, at least 12 of us (almost the entire group at the lake), were sitting around a table playing the game Left-Center-Right. Those not playing were standing around watching. (If you’ve ever played the game, you know it can get kind-of intense towards the end, when you’re only down to two or three players, and there’s a large stack of dollar bills to be won.)

JS (who ultimately wins the game) says: “Is there anyone standing who knows how to make a Dark ‘n’ Stormy?”

JM perks up and adds: “Is there anyone standing who knows how to make *two* Dark ‘n’ Stormies?”

(One reason JS asked this question was because we had a conversation about how it is sometimes difficult to find people who know how to make a real Dark ‘n’ Stormy. Ms. S&C, of course, knows how to make real Dark ‘n’ Stormies — but she was playing the game.)

Ms. S&C’s has a three-part series covering her favorite weekend of the year. Part one: Sights of the lake. Part two: Overheard at the lake. Part three: Drinks at the lake.

posted by Ms. S&C

3 Comments

Posted in cocktail-related

Tagged drinking during the day, friends, I'm funnier when I drink, lake trip

Lakebound

Posted on August 19, 2009 by msshoescocktails | 1 comment

One of Ms. S&C’s favorite escapes of the year is just days away. Every August, (for the past six years or so), Ms. S&C joins some of her best friends in the world for an extended weekend getaway at Seneca Lake, Ny. Activities include: canoeing, horseshoes, lots of cooking, daytime drinking, nighttime drinking, trashy magazines, laughing, party games (Celebrity and Apples to Apples are faves), bonfires, plenty of shenanigans. Hell, it is just a lot of fun sitting on the dock or on the porch (both overlook the water).

Seneca-Lake-Bench.002

As you may expect, there is always a well-stocked bar at the lake. Last year, popular cocktails included Pimm’s Cup and S&C’s Watermelon Lemonade. Surprisingly, Ms. S&C has yet to drink a watermelon cocktail this season (though she did have a great watermelon agua fresca at Oyamel recently). So, she is going to bring back the-fruit-that-was-destined-for-cocktails (plus, a great option when serving a crowd of 10 or more), and make Watermelon Margaritas and Tequila-Soaked Watermelon Wedges.

Watermelon Margaritas
adapted from the Food Network recipe, serves four

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups seedless watermelon, cut into 1-inch cubes
3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
4 ounces tequila
2 ounces Cointreau or Triple Sec (orange flavored liqueur)
1 1/2 cups ice
Lime wheel or watermelon wedge, for garnish

Directions:

Combine all ingredients into a blender and puree until smooth. Garnish rim of glass with a lime wheel or a watermelon wedge and serve immediately.

Optional: For frozen margaritas, place cut watermelon in a plastic bag and freeze for a minimum of 2 hours.

Tequila-Soaked Watermelon Wedges
courtesy of Martha Stewart, serves four

Ingredients:

1 small seedless watermelon, red or yellow, quartered and cut into 1-inch-thick wedges
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup water
1/2 cup tequila
1/4 cup Cointreau or Triple Sec
2 limes, halved or cut into wedges
Flaked sea salt or coarse salt

Directions:

Arrange watermelon in a single layer in two 9-by-13-inch baking dishes. Bring sugar, water, tequila, and Triple Sec to a boil in a small saucepan. Cook, stirring, until sugar dissolves, about 1 minute. Let cool slightly. Pour syrup over watermelon wedges, and refrigerate for at least 45 minutes.

Remove watermelon from syrup, and arrange on a platter. Squeeze limes over melon, and season with salt.

Note: The longer the watermelon soaks, the more flavorful it becomes — one reason to save any leftover slices. Yeah right, leftover slices.

posted by Ms. S&C

1 Comment

Posted in cocktails, cointreau, spirits, spring/summer cocktails, tequila

Tagged drinking during the day, lake trip, watermelon

Happy valley

Posted on October 22, 2008 by msshoescocktails | 2 comments

S&C went tailgating over the weekend. Headed to State College, PA, to see friends JD and Bob, and see Penn State take on clobber Michigan. It was super-fun being in a college town, and one that is crazy about football. Tailgating is, of course, awesome. S&C really likes hanging out with friends during the day, eating, and drinking. Not to mention, the fall foliage was gorgeous up there.

To celebrate the festivities, we prepared an autumnal punch, recipe courtesy of Ms. RB, our friend out of Texas. This punch is very mellow, so it is definitely appropriate for an afternoon of drinking. If you’re planning a Halloween party, or attending some other fall-related shindig, serve this punch. It is a winner.

Autumn Spiced Punch
Ingredients:

1/2 cup water
1/3 cup sugar
12 cinnamon sticks, broken
1/2 teaspoon whole cloves
4 cups cold apple juice
1 12 oz can apricot nectar
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 bottles white wine, preferably Sauvignon Blanc

Directions:
In a saucepan combine water, sugar, cinnamon sticks and cloves. Bring to boil, reduce heat. Cover and simmer 10 minutes. Cover and chill for 12-24 hours. Strain spices from syrup. Combine syrup with fruit juices. Pour into punch bowl (or plastic pitcher, if you’re tailgating) and add wine.

And, in case you’re interested, our tailgating menu included: chicken wings, pork barbeque, coleslaw, and baked beans. Perfect for the back of a pick-up truck.

After the game, we headed to The Tavern Restaurant, a town favorite, and famous for a drink called the “Original Sin.” The Original Sin recipe is top-secret, but apparently is 50% alcohol (including brandy), mixed with club soda, a secret fruity mixture (definitely includes maraschino in some form), and topped off with champagne. It reminds you of a spiked punch you may have had in high school. If you’re there, you have to try it.

Thanks for the great weekend State College friends! Reserve a tailgating spot for us next year – we’ll be there, ready to party Nittany Lions style.

2 Comments

Posted in cocktails, fall/winter cocktails, spirits, wine

Tagged a different kind of sports drink, drinking during the day, infused simple syrup, punch, S&C on the road, tailgating

Ein bier, bitte

Posted on October 6, 2008 by msshoescocktails | 2 comments

What do you get when you combine bratwurst, sauerkraut, spaetzle, perfect fall weather, and lots of beer? Oktoberfest! The world’s largest festival, concluded this weekend in Munich, Germany.

Fortunately, the rest of the world also likes to celebrate the Bavarian way of life. Not only do we enjoy dining on traditional German delicacies, we love German beer. Many breweries now offer their own seasonal Oktoberfest beer to commemorate the arrival of fall. This rich malty lager, amber in color, usually has hints of caramel and toffee. Hops are added for bitterness, and to balance the sweetness of the barley. This style of beer is often referred to as “Marzen,” because the beer is brewed in March, stored cold through the summer, and ready to drink at the arrival in autumn.

Oktoberfest originated with the marriage of a Bavarian prince in October 1810. Citizens of Munich were invited to attend the festivities to celebrate the royal event. Horse races marked the close of the event, and gave rise to the tradition of the Oktoberfest. Subsequent years added an Agricultural Show, designed to boost Bavarian agriculture. Visitors were able to quench their thirst at small beer stands, which grew to beer tents and halls. Today, the Oktoberfest attracts over six million visitors from around the world.

S&C Oktoberfest Favorites: Brooklyn Brewery, Spaten, and Sam Adams

And, what shoes are appropriate for this occasion? Many German designers seem to follow the same philosophy — premium quality, best workmanship, and comfort. That’s what you’ll find in Birkenstock and Josef Seibel’s collections.

Prost!

posted by Ms. S&C

2 Comments

Posted in beer, fall/winter cocktails, shoes, spirits

Tagged drinking during the day, fall 2008, shoes and drinks for every occasion

Fragments of a rainy vacay

Posted on October 1, 2008 by msshoescocktails | 1 comment

Rain, high winds, threats of coastal flooding – not exactly how Ms. S&C pictured her long weekend in Rehoboth Beach, DE. But, we made the most of it. While there was little sunshine to enjoy, there were plenty of other fun beach-y activities: walking along the boardwalk, frisbee in the surf, putt-putt golf, live music and plenty of dining out.

Places of culinary interest included:

Back Porch Café – unique lobster, spinach and prosciutto terrine
Dogfish Head Brewery – great beers and new DFH hand-crafted spirits (more to come–we picked up a bottle of Jin)
Blue Moon – delicious beet salad and great service
Nicola Pizza – love the “everything” pizza with sweet peppers
FINS Fish House and Raw Bar – raw oysters and bar staff were excellent
Claws Seafood House – blue crabs were as good as any we’ve had
Oby Lee Coffee and Roastery – large selection of coffee and morning treats

Drink of the trip: Beer

Maybe it was a slight case of seasonal affective disorder, but I was in no mood for the typical fruity cocktails. No rum punch, no daiquiris, nothing resembling a tropical drink was consumed. Wine usually accompanied dinner, but otherwise it was all about beer: Pumpkin ale and IPAs from DFH, Paulaner Hefeweizen, beers from Anchor Brewing Company, and my light beer of choice–Amstel Light.

1 Comment

Posted in beer, spirits

Tagged drinking during the day, S&C on the road

Song of the summer

Posted on August 6, 2008 by msshoescocktails | 5 comments

The Drink: Watermelon Lemonade

No self-respecting cocktail enthusiast can go through the summer season without using watermelon in a delicious beverage. The bright color and watery texture are ideal components for drinks. Martinis, margaritas, sangria – you can’t go wrong with this ingredient!

The Ingredients/Recipe:

This version of Watermelon Lemonade is a Shoes & Cocktails exclusive! And, it is actually quite good minus the booze, if you want to go that route.

(Recipe makes 3-4 drinks)

Cut ½ of a small watermelon into large chunks (do yourself a favor and get a seedless melon)
Puree in a blender, then strain into a pitcher (you should have enough liquid for a 3 to 1 alcohol ratio)
Add juice of two lemons
Add 3 or 4 shots vodka, preferably Absolut Citron
Mix well, then pour over ice
Garnish with fresh basil

Modifications: I generally prefer things tart rather than sweet. If this recipe is too tart for your liking, I recommend adding more watermelon, or 1 to 2 ounces of triple sec, Cointreau, or some other form of simple syrup. You can also garnish with mint, and/or lemon or watermelon wedges. I prefer basil because it is growing outside my backdoor, and nothing beats that smell in the summer!

Bonus tip: Here’s another perfect opportunity for using flavored ice cubes. Pour watermelon puree into your ice tray and freeze.

The Occasion:

Summer is a very important time for one’s social agenda. Picnics, backyard barbeques, trips to the lake, the beach – there are endless opportunities for enjoying cocktails with friends. I say, download these summer hits to your IPod, fire up the grill, slip on any number of yellow shoes because they will perfectly accessorize the watermelon cocktail in your hand.

The Shoes: Yellow Shoes

Yellow shoes are this season’s hot item for your warm weather wardrobe. Practically every brand has its own version; there are so many choices and so many styles. I personally like my friend LC’s shown below because (a) the quilting texture is unique, (b) they are wedges (and we all know the benefits of wearing wedges for those summer outdoor activities), and (c) check out the super-cool clear wedge heel. Great find!