Tag Archives: good cocktails in DC

Three quick things: how to be cool

Posted on February 23, 2011 by msshoescocktails | Leave a comment

Let’s use these quick things as a lesson on how to be cool.

(1) Garance Doré’s Blog

What does the picture on the left tell us about how to be cool?

Learn to wink
Start smoking (or maybe just start carrying around a long, skinny cigarette?)
Wear a trench over the shoulders
Read more of Garance’s blog

(2) Anthropologie Dresses

Polka dots are always cool, right? We think so — especially when in flowy maxi dress form. (And speaking of fabulous Spring dresses, how does one choose between the twisted stripe dress, the pom flower shift, and the imprint fossil maxi skirt?)

(3) Beer Floats

Ms. S&C has determined that using beer in a non-traditional manner — say in cocktails and desserts — is now a very cool thing to do. (PS: Brasserie Beck’s beer float — a Kasteel Rouge, with hints of cherry, topped with honey cinnamon ice cream — is t-a-s-t-y. PPS: She also thought beer floats were cool last year when she made one herself.)

Because we all want to be cool.

posted by Ms. S&C

Style in the City

Posted on May 24, 2010 by msshoescocktails | 4 comments

Shoes & Cocktails and Farmers & Fishers are hosting a special “Style in the City” party on Friday, May 28, and we want you to come celebrate with us. We’ll be celebrating all things stylish — shopping, shoes, cocktails and the city of DC — all to mark the season’s most anticipated movie sequel!*

Don yourself in stylish attire, put on your favorite shoes, grab your friends and come to Farmers & Fishers on Friday, from 5-7:30pm. The “Style in the City” event will feature a signature cocktail, light hors d’oeuvres and past episodes of the TV series that brought every woman’s shoe fantasies to life. Cost is $22 per person.

We’re hosting a stylish event you don’t want to miss!

Here are ten reasons why you should join us:

10. Meet Ms. S&C and the friends that inspire her.

9. It’s a holiday weekend! Why not start it off with a fun, fashionable event?

8. Drink cocktails from the excellent Chief Mixologist Chef Jon Arroyo.

7. Taste foods from a restaurant with a farmer-inspired attitude and dedication to the use and promotion of sustainable agriculture.

6. Hang out in an awesome Georgetown Waterfront location.

5. Fashion. Do you have a pair of shoes (or a dress, or a blouse) that’s been waiting for the right event? In this setting, you can wear whatever you want.

4. Win door prizes, including a Farmers & Fishers dining certificate, a Lowe’s Movie Theatre Gift Card, Brunch for two at Farmers & Fishers, and a pair of Lillybee Shoes from SimplySoles.

3. Meet people similar interests (like, um, shoes and cocktails, and a particular TV show that celebrates both).

2. Drink the “Style in the City” signature cocktail — a champagne cocktail with a lovely pinkish, slightly violet hue. Champagne is gently stirred with Crème de Casis, a touch of cranberry and a fresh raspberry. Perfect light and and summery fruit essences for glamourous gals!

1. Did I mention we’re celebrating fashion and cocktails — together — at one event?

You can RSVP on Facebook, make a comment below, or just show up at F&F on Friday. Hope to see you there!

* Due to exclusive movie-related partnerships, we are prohibited from mentioning the movie title, but think: four very stylish gals, amazing clothes, life, love and shopping. I think you know what we’re referring to.

posted by Ms. S&C

4 Comments

Posted in cocktails, spring/summer cocktails

Tagged champagne goes with everything, good cocktails in DC, S&C events

My winter refuge

Posted on March 1, 2010 by msshoescocktails | 1 comment

This long, cold, brutal winter has put Ms. S&C on something of a whiskey kick.

It started with the Clementina Old Fashioned during the first snowstorm. Then I was introduced to the Cocktail à la Louisiane at The Passenger. Aftermath of the second blizzard had the mister and I seeking refuge at The Gibson, where we tried a Derby and a Vieux Carre.

All of these cocktails are made with bourbon or rye whiskey, and three out of four are made with my new favorite mysterious herbal liqueur, Bénédictine. They all pack quite a punch. Of course, instead of calling them “strong,” I can now refer to them as “body-warming.”

I first tasted the Vieux Carre at a cocktail seminar on Great Hotel Bar Cocktails. I didn’t think it was a standout there, but I also hadn’t spent my days digging out of three feet of snow. Sure, it’s boozy, but it also makes for a great sipping and soothing cocktail after long days of shoveling.

How has Ms. S&C survived the winter? With help from
whiskey cocktails like the Vieux Carre.

The drink was invented by the head bartender at the Hotel Monteleone in New Orleans, and is named after the French term for what we all know as The French Quarter. Le Vieux Carré translates to “Old Square.” I found this recipe and history over at The Gumbo Pages, which covers all things Louisiana.

Vieux Carre

Ingredients (for one):

1 ounce rye whiskey
1 ounce Cognac
1 ounce sweet vermouth
1 teaspoon Bénédictine D.O.M.
2 dashes Peychaud’s Bitters
2 dashes Angostura Bitters

Fill a double Old Fashioned glass with ice. Combine all ingredients in glass and stir well. Garnish with lemon peel.

posted by Ms. S&C

1 Comment

Posted in benedictine, cocktails, cognac, fall/winter cocktails, sweet vermouth, whiskey

Tagged good cocktails in DC, vieux carre

The S&C Celebration

Posted on July 31, 2009 by msshoescocktails | Leave a comment

A big thanks to everyone who came to the one year S&C anniversary celebration! We had a fabulous time at The Source. I do need to give a special shout-out to the restaurant, as they were super accommodating and great to work with — just all around nice people over there. They went out of their way to make sure we had a memorable experience. Including, creating a specialty cocktail to commemorate the occasion. Ms. S&C told them ahead of time that she likes bubbly concoctions, and that’s just what they made. Cheers to the Elderberry Spritz!

elderberry-spritz

Elderberry Spritz
serves one

Ingredients:

1 oz. Absolut Vodka
1/3 oz. St. Germain Liqueur
2/3 oz. Freshly Squeezed Grapefruit Juice
Henriot Champagne
Grapefruit wedges, for garnish

Directions:
Combine the first three ingredients and shake over ice. Serve in chilled martini glasses. Top with Champagne, or other sparkling wine. Garnish with grapefruit wedge.

Note: There’s a little bit of guesswork on the ingredient proportions. The drink came across a little strong for some in the group, so we may need to go easy on the vodka and/or include an extra dash of St. Germain and grapefruit juice.

Thanks again for a great year!

posted by Ms. S&C

S&C celebrates one year

Posted on July 24, 2009 by msshoescocktails | 4 comments

The Shoes & Cocktails blog is one year old today. How about that? The little blog is growing up. We should celebrate. And, we should thank you. We really love our S&C community, and we hope you’ll keep reading, and drinking, and finding the perfect shoes for every occasion — and sharing all of it with us.

Fotolia_277273_XS

Those of you in the DC area, we’d love for you to celebrate with us by joining us for cocktails next week!

Shoes & Cocktails One Year Anniversary Celebration

WHEN: Wednesday, July 29th, 6:00 – 8:00 pm

WHERE: Wolfgang Puck’s The Source (in the lounge area)
575 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20001

RSVP: Kindly let us know if you are coming. Guest list and details on Facebook. Or, you can make a comment below. Or, send an email to: shoesandcocktails@yahoo.com.

OTHER DETAILS: The nice folks over at The Source are creating a “special” cocktail to mark the occasion. Name TBA, but ingredients include: vodka, St. Germain, fresh grape juice, and champagne. Sounds delicate, and lovely, and refreshing — and perfect for Ms. S&C. NOTE: Cash bar is the dealio.

PS: Miss Mojito, we will miss you (and your sister)!

Shoes & Cocktails wants to know: Do you have any favorite posts from the blog? The stats tell us that people really like the pomegranate champagne punch, the watermelon lemonade/yellow shoes combo, our reader mail on cream colored pumps, Miss M’s mojitos, and, of course, the Top Chef and Project Runway drink and shoe pairings.

Thanks again for reading!

posted by Ms. S&C

4 Comments

Posted in cocktails, shoes

Tagged champagne goes with everything, good cocktails in DC

So much and so little

Posted on May 26, 2009 by msshoescocktails | 3 comments

Ms. S&C has so much to share, but so little time to share it. Stay tuned for the S&C Guide to Key West (which will be heavily focused on the “C” side of S&C), sloe gin fizzes, agave margaritas, and sandals. We definitely need to discuss summer sandals. I want about 100 different pairs.

In the meantime, here are a couple of updates about my beloved topics:

Shoes – For my Key West vacay, I picked up a pair of studded, brown thongs from Zappos. I think they’re cool, in biker-chic kinda way. And, after wearing them all over the southernmost part of the U.S., I’m still a big fan.

Cocktails – I tweeted about Ms. S&C and Miss Mojito’s visit to PX, but wanted to share a few more details. It’s no secret that I have an affection for speakeasy-style bars. Yes, due in part to the glamour and secrecy around them, but the main reason is the cocktails. These establishments serve the most innovative drinks around, and PX is no exception. Before getting to the cocktails, here are a few housekeeping-type notes:

Make a reservation – you’ll likely not get in otherwise. And, a party of three is an ideal number in my opinion (Miss M’s big sis, LC, joined us). PX thankfully doesn’t overwhelm you with cocktail selections, but you’ll want to try e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g. Take two others and you’ll make significant dent in the menu.
Sit at the bar if possible – you really should watch the bartenders at work.
Be patient – the cocktails are referred to as “liquid art,” and they do take time.
Ask questions – there will be ingredients that you’ve never heard of, and it is okay to ask.

Here’s a sampling of the cocktails we tried:

Smoker’s Delight
Tobacco honey syrup, honeycomb, and Basil Hayden’s bourbon served in a martini glass.
S&C’s take: Very little smokey or tobacco-y flavor, which may have been the right thing to do, but I would have liked a little more. It also makes me want more bourbon in my life.

Big Ken’s Palomita
Don Julio Blanco tequila, Cointreau, sage tincture, grapefruit juice, and grapefruit soda served over ice with a salted rim.
S&C’s take: Good and very salty dog-ish.

Boris Karloff
House-made elderflower liqueur, Plymouth gin, kaffir lime, and eggwhite served in a martini glass.
S&C’s take: A lovely and elegant cocktail. Second favorite of the night.

Most Aggressive Fish in the Ocean
Cucumber, yuzu, mint, Cruzan rum, Hendrick’s gin, and eggwhite served in a martini glass.
S&C’s take: Interesting and good, but don’t have this and the Boris Karloff back-to-back (too much eggwhite-frothiness pour moi).

Champagne Cocktail
Cherry bitters, cherries, sugar, and Gruet.
S&C’s take: Sounds simple, but there was fire involved in the preparation. And, it was the favorite drink of the night.

posted by Ms. S&C

3 Comments

Posted in cocktails, shoes

Tagged good cocktails in DC, sandals, speakeasy-style

Another cocktail news alert

Posted on March 2, 2009 by msshoescocktails | 2 comments

We continue to be impressed by our local Washington, DC, area publications, who seem to frequently cover our favorite topics.

On Thursday, February 26, The Washingtonian hosted an online discussion with four notable local bartenders, who will be featured in their March issue. The bartenders chatted about the spirits du jour, the history of cocktails, the craft and technique behind a well-made drink, and much more. The Washingtonian asked for questions in advance and one of Ms. S&C’s made the cut.

———————————–

Question from Alexandria, VA:

Saw the Sazerac all over cocktail menus during the winter. What cocktails can we look forward to in the spring/summer?

Answer:

Gina Chersevani: Rickeys.

Chantal Tseng: Pimm’s Cups.

Derek Brown: Return of the Rickey.

Chantal Tseng: Definitely the Rickey. More Punch?

Gina Chersevani: Juleps.

Derek Brown: I think the Champs-Elysees might be making it on a few cocktail menus.

Gina Chersevani: Punch definitely!

Derek Brown: I just had a vision yesterday as I made one.

Chantal Tseng: Right. It would be nice to see more juleps. Alas, crushed ice is key though.

Derek Brown: Tom Collins made with fresh juice.

Gina Chersevani: I heart Tom Collins! Crushed ice is key to a julep,but a little prep solves that problem.

Chantal Tseng: More cachaca drinks. More pisco drinks. Maybe a mini-tiki summer?

Derek Brown: Yeah, Tiki drinks! Definitely more Pisco drinks.

Gina Chersevani: Have you had Cuca Fresca Aged Cachaca??? It’s pretty good!

Chantal Tseng: Need to find some fun mugs and bowls.

Derek Brown: This is going to be Pisco summer.

Chantal Tseng: Pisco Punch? With pineapples and fresh lemon.

Gina Chersevani: At PS 7’s there is a cheeky tiki on the tasting menu that is available at the bar for a pairing, but shhh, it’s a secret.

Chantal Tseng: He he. No worries, it shall not be i that will blow your cover.

Derek Brown: Yellow Chartreuse is the old, new “it” mixer ingredient.

———————————–

Holy cow, I’m excited. Pimm’s, punch, rickeys, Tom Collins, and the importance of crushed ice — yes, please! Plus, I just picked up a bottle of Pisco, as a result of Miss M’s sipping sours. The S&C team are ready for warm weather cocktails. Bring ’em on.

posted by Ms. S&C

2 Comments

Posted in cocktails, spring/summer cocktails

Tagged good cocktails in DC, latest news in cocktails

Gone fishin’

Posted on February 9, 2009 by msshoescocktails | 4 comments

Last week’s episode of Top Chef featured chef Eric Ripert as guest judge. And now, I am totally crushing on him. He was super friendly and sweet and encouraging, and he seemed to be without pretense. He has definitely skyrocketed into my Top 5 celebrity chef picks. And, as good timing would have it, Ms. S&C was able to visit Chef Ripert’s Washington, DC, restaurant, Westend Bistro, over the weekend. Like the acclaimed Le Bernardin, seafood is the star at Westend. The Salmon Rillettes and Fish Burger may sound like average dishes, but they were excellent. Ms. S&C had a great cocktail too – the Memorial Bridge Sunset was made with Campari and Champagne, garnished with a dollop of pink grapefruit sorbet. I’ve never mixed Campari with Champagne before, but I definitely will again.

On to the Top Chef recap. The Quickfire Challenge had the cheftestants competing in a three-round fish filleting tournament with sardines, Artic char and fresh water eels. Stefan easily beat Hosea in the final round, after hammering the eel to his cutting board and peeling back the skin. It was a little disconcerting, to be honest. Stefan did not get immunity but got a huge advantage in the Elimination Challenge. After dining with Chef Ripert at Le Bernardin for lunch, the cheftestants had to draw knives to see which of his dishes they had to recreate for the Elimination. Stefan’s Quickfire win meant he could choose his dish outright. Naturally, Stefan chose the easiest dish and tops Fabio and Carla to get another win. Hosea, Leah and Jamie were on the bottom. I would have paid money to see Leah go, but it was Jamie who was sent home, presumably for not liking braised celery and not knowing how to use serrano ham in a sauce.

Stefan’s winning dish of lobster and asparagus with hollandaise

For the drink pairing, I would personally have a glass of champagne or a crisp sauvignon blanc with this dish, as to not overpower the lobster. So, in honor of a killer deal I found on champagne over at Pearson’s Wine & Spirits, I’ll pair it with the Fat Bastard Blanc de Blancs. They are practically giving it away over there — $5.99 a bottle! I so regret not buying a case.

posted by Ms. S&C

4 Comments

Posted in campari, cocktails, spirits

Tagged bargains, champagne goes with everything, good cocktails in DC, top chef drink pairing

S&C advice–what to drink for the Globes?

Posted on January 9, 2009 by msshoescocktails | 1 comment

Ms. S&C,
After two weeks of drinking champagne over the holidays I need something new for the Golden Globes on Sunday night. I’m not having a party, so I truly don’t need an entire punch (although, it would be a challenge I’d have to accept). Any suggestions for a fancy pants drink while watching the Globes?

Many thanks,
Looking for a little fancy

————————————-

Dear Looking for a little fancy,
I may have a cocktail for you. While your bar might not be stocked with this spirit (mine isn’t, yet), St. Germain is definitely au courante. A product of France, this tres stylish liqueur is made from handpicked elderflower blossoms. I recently tasted it at EatBar, a place that serves of-the-moment cocktails with fine ingredients. EatBar’s Alchemist Cocktail (I know the name makes it sound like a science experiment rather than a lavish cocktail) contained St. Germain, Sazerac rye and lemon, shaken thoroughly, strained into a martini glass and garnished with minced lavender. It was aromatic and divine. And, while I know you said you wanted a break from champagne, the signature St. Germain Cocktail contains champagne (or dry white wine, Prosecco or Cava) mixed and club soda. Maybe you could think of it as a really fancy pants spritzer?

My second choice would be the Ritz Cocktail. Aptly named for this occasion and another-fancy-pants-drink-because-its-French. I really love it.

Hope this gives you some inspiration — let me know what you decide!

Happy watching (and drinking),
Ms. S&C

P.S. Which Best Actress Nominee do you think will wear the best knock-out shoes? Anne Hathaway, Angelina, Meryl Streep, Kristin Scott Thomas, or Kate Winslet? My money is on Kate. After the show, we’ll have to dish about our fashion faves. And more fun, the fashion faux pas.

————————————-

St. Germain Cocktail

Ingredients:

2 parts Champagne (or dry white wine, Prosecco or Cava)
1 ½ parts St. Germain
2 parts sparkling water or club soda
Lemon (for garnish)

Directions:
Stir ingredients in a tall ice-filled glass, mixing thoroughly. Garnish with a lemon twist.

————————————-

Ritz Cocktail
This recipe is a variation from many I’ve seen, but I think it is much better (no need for orange juice). Recipe by Dale DeGroff; presented by Phil Greene at the MOTAC Holiday Cocktails Seminar.

Ingredients:

1 oz. Martell’s Medallion VSOP Cognac
½ oz. Cointreau
¼ oz. Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur
¼ oz. fresh lemon juice
Champagne
Flamed orange peel for garnish

Directions:
To make one, shake cognac, Cointreau, lemon juice and maraschino liqueur with ice, strain into a chilled cocktail glass, then top with chilled champagne. To make a batch, multiply first four ingredients by the number of drinks you’d like to make, stir well in a pitcher, then strain into chilled cocktail glasses, about one-third full each. Top each with chilled champagne.

For the garnish:
The aroma and flavor in citrus fruits is concentrated in the oil cells of its peel. By extracting the oil, you can add the essence of the fruit to drinks. Large, thick-skinned navel oranges are recommended for flaming. Slice a piece of the peel about the size of two quarters, light a lighter (no butane) over the drink, and squeeze the peel over the flame. The oils will catch fire as they fall on the surface of the drink.

posted by Ms. S&C

1 Comment

Posted in advice column, cherry liqueur, cocktails, cognac, cointreau, S&C categories, spirits, st germain, wine

Tagged champagne goes with everything, good cocktails in DC, ritz cocktail, S&C advice column, st germain cocktail

Seven good years

Posted on October 27, 2008 by msshoescocktails | 3 comments

Mr. and Ms. S&C have been married seven years now. It has become a tradition to celebrate the occasion with a super fancy dinner – one of those dinners you can only afford once a year. After year one, we went to Marcels, and we’re still talking about the duck confit and chesnut soup we had. Last year, we visited the tasting room at Restaurant Eve, and it was a marathon of 12 courses. On Saturday night, we headed to CityZen, at the Mandarin Oriental, with high expectations.

We opted for the amazing six course tasting menu and the sommelier’s wine pairing. Before I get to the food and wine, let me say that they do everything right over at CityZen. They anticipate your every need, and no detail is too small.

The gentleman started the evening off with a Chivas and soda. He appreciated that the soda was served on the side, so you can add as much, or as little, as you want. The lady began with one of the restaurant’s signature cocktails, the Peachy Keen, made with a peach-ginger flavored vodka, iced tea, and peach puree. It tasted like peach iced tea and was a little too sweet for my liking. That’s okay, she knew she had six rounds ahead of her.

The complete tasting menu and sommelier’s pairing is below. The first course of tuna was paired with an excellent, light Reisling that wasn’t too sweet. The sweet Semillon, however, was a perfect match for the rich foie gras. The branzino may have been my favorite course, and it was paired with one of my favorite types of wine, Pinot Noir. An earthy Grenache/Mourvedre accompanied the succulent veal shortribs. A trio of micro-brewed beers was a surprise pairing for the plentiful cheese cart that was wheeled over. And lastly, Port was served with dessert, which was probably my least favorite course. While a fun idea, I just didn’t love the warm peanut butter and jelly concoction.

CityZen’s Tasting Menu and Pairing

CONFIT OF BLUEFIN TUNA AND TORO SASHIMI WITH HEIRLOOM POTATO SALAD AND PEPPER AOLI
2005 Schloss Gobelsburg, Urgestein
Reisling
Kremstal, Austria

SAUTEED MOULARD DUCK FOIE GRAS WITH MISSION FIGS AND CELERY BRANCH
2005 Margan Family
Botrytis Semillon
Hunter Valley, Australia

CRISPY SKIN FILET OF MEDITERRANEAN BRANZINO WITH ROAST GARLIC CAVATELLI, DRIED SAUSAGE, ITALIAN PARSLEY AND BOTTARGA DE MULLET
1999 Lignier-Michelot
Pinot Noir
Chambolle-Musigny, France

BRAISED MARCHO FARMS VEAL SHORTRIBS WITH SAVOY CABBAGE, CHANTERELLE MUSHROOMS AND BEURRE COLBERT
2005 Domaine de Font Sane, Terrasses des Dentelles
Grenache/Mourvedre
Gigondas, France

ASSORTED ARTISANAL CHEESES
Trio of Micro Brews
Hofbrau Munche Hefe Weizen
Brooklyn Brown Ale
North Coast Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout

PEANUT BUTTER AND VALRHONA CHOCOLATE CHIBOUST WITH TERRAPIN STATION CONCORD GRAPE SAUCE
1995 Smith Woodhouse Late Bottle Vintage
Touriga Nacional/Tinta Cao
Duoro, Portugal