A Little Bite of Life

Three Great Gatsby-Inspired Cocktails

2013-05-19T15:08:00.001-07:00

Have you seen the new movie, The Great Gatsby, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Carrie Mulligan, and Tobey McGuire? Set during the "Roaring Twenties" or the "jazz age" as F. Scott Fitzgerald called it, the movie characterizes the decadent lifestyles of New York City's upper echelon, where every night was an extravagant party.

The "Roaring Twenties" was also the time of prohibition, when the manufacture, distribution, and sale of alcoholic beverages was considered illegal. Without legal liquor, what was a "hiphound" (boozer) to do? The rich had their liquor imported from France and other European countries, as well as purchased illegally from bootleggers (Gatsby). Those who could not afford to have imported liquor had to settle for the occasional illegal purchase, or more frequently, bathtub gin. Bathtub gin was liquor made homemade, often in one's bathroom, from cheap grain alcohol and other flavorings, just as juniper berry juice (which gives gin its flavor). This form of alcohol was called bathtub gin because the size and shape of the bottle could not be topped off with water from the kitchen sink; it had to be filled at the bathtub. Sometimes this homemade liquor was also mixed and fermented in the bathtub. (Sounds gross, doesn't it?)

Since bootleg and bathtub liquor was lower in quality (and taste) than real booze, prohibition era mixologists resorted to using fruit juices, herbs, and sweeteners to make drinks palatable, and mask the smell of alcohol.

Clubs called speakeasies, private clubs that served illegal alcohol, were all the rage in the 1920's. Famous clubs, such as The Cotton Club, The Stork Club, Chumleys, and The Colony, operated behind locked doors, admitting guests only by secret password or speakeasy card. Patrons to these clubs could dine, catch a whangdoodle (jazz show), and drink without prying eyes. Some of the more famous and unique cocktails to arise from this era, came from speakeasies.

The Bees Knees

Cute pet names and phrases were all the rage in the early 1900's, and "the bees knees" was one of the more popular slang phrases used in flapper culture, meaning, the ultimate or most excellent. It is said this phrase became popular because of dancer Bee Jackson, who made popular the Charleston dance, because of her fast-flying legs (and knees).

2 oz of Gin
2 tsp. Honey
2 tsp. Fresh squeezed lemon juice

Fill a shaker glass with cracked ice, and add the gin. Put the honey in a microwave-proof container and heat in the microwave for about 15 seconds. Mix the honey and lemon together, until the honey is melted, then add to the shaker of gin. Shake well, then strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.

*The original recipe did not call for melted honey, but in updating this recipe, I thought the honey would mix better if it were thinner. Heating the honey thins it out nicely to mix with the lemon juice.

The Colony Cocktail

The Colony was a prohibition era speakeasy, frequented by socialites such as the Vanderbilts and Windsors, as well as movie and stage celebrities.

2 oz Gin
1 oz Grapefruit Juice
1 tsp Maraschino syrup

Fill a shaker glass with cracked ice, and add all the ingredients, shaking until frothy. Pour into a cocktail glass and garnish with a maraschino cherry or grapefruit peel.

The Mary Pickford

Named for silent movie star, Mary Pickford, this cocktail was created by bartender Eddie Woelke, who moved to Cuba during prohibition, and ran the famous Jockey Club. For those who could afford it, a quick flight to Cuba was an easy (and legal) alternative to the speakeasy.

2 oz Light Rum
1 oz Pineapple Juice
Dash of Maraschino syrup
Dash of Grenadine

Fill a shaker with cracked ice, mix in all the ingredients, and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a maraschino cherry.

*Cracked Ice is the preferred type of ice for mixing cocktails, as it melts faster, and adds just the right amount of water to the cocktail before straining. Also, cracked ice chills a cocktail faster than cubed ice will, because the liquid of the cocktail can move amongst cracked ice better.

This is Why I Blog!

2013-05-18T08:04:00.001-07:00

I blog for several reasons. I love to write. I love to share ideas. I love to try out and share new products and recipes. I love to share my travel plans with you. I'm a little bit of a drama queen, and my blog is a creative outlet for my theatrics. Mostly though, I write for you, my readers. I love to "talk" to you, and I love when you "talk" to me!

Yesterday, I received an email which reinforced why I am here, and that what I do matters...you like me, you really really like me! (channeling Sally Field)

A few months ago, I hosted a giveaway for the movie Rise of the Guardians, with the winner receiving a copy of the movie, plus a fun Easter package. The winner of the giveaway was one of my readers, Deanna W.

Yesterday, I received this email from Deanna...

"My nieces and nephews might have fought over who got what in the prize pack, but my dog Day-Z got the bunny ears! (check her out in the photo) Thanks so much for the prize and chance to win. PS it arrived in time for Easter, but took me awhile to say thanks...better late than never. xo Deanna"

Deanna included a photo of her dog, Day-Z, wearing the bunny ears that came in the Easter pack...

This kills me, this absolutely kills me. Day-Z is utterly adorable, and that fact that Deanna took the time to write me, and include a photo of Day-Z is heart-bulging. The fact that Deanna knows I'm a dog lover, and would just swoon over Day-Z's photo is tear-inducing. The fact that, two months after the giveaway ended, she took the time to write me a note and thank me for the prize is mind-blowing. Perhaps it's the fact that it's the end of the school year, I'm hormonal, or I'm exhausted, but Deanna's email left me a ball of blubbering hot mess.

Thank you Deanna and Day-Z for sharing your story. Thank you to all of you who come here and support me, and read my little corner of the blogging world.

You really do mean the world to me.

Win A One Year Subscription to TripIt Pro, Featuring Seat Tracker! #TIP

2013-05-18T06:56:00.003-07:00

Have you ever booked a flight, just to find that you are stuck with "lousy" seat options? With airlines packing more travelers into fewer planes, getting stuck with "lousy" seats is a common occurrence. What if you had an app that could tell you if a better seat opened up? Would you use it? I would!

TripIt, the leading mobile trip organizer from Concur, now offers Seat Tracker, a new feature of TripIt Pro. Seat Tracker alerts business travelers, frequent travelers, and busy families when a better seat(s) opens up for their flight. With Seat Tracker, travelers can put in their preferred seat preferences beforehand, then receive notification when the seat they want becomes available, and have the opportunity to change it.

Because TripIt accesses your existing travel confirmation information to create an all-in-one travel itinerary, Seat Tracker takes minimal effort on the part of the traveler.

Just enter your preferred seating requests, and if a seat becomes available, you will receive notification by email, push, or text message to the traveler.

With the TripIt Seat Tracker app you can:

Pick a window, aisle, or either seat
Specify front or back of cabin
Track Exit Row and Bulkhead seating
Find seats together, for groups as large as 4
Chose economy, premium economy, business, or first class

I have been using the free version of TripIt for about two years, and love the convenience of having my trip information in one place. I have access to TripIt from both my computer and my Iphone, and can add upcoming trip information, make an itinerary with maps, directions, travel notes, and photos, and can share my flight plans with my friends and family.

The TripIt Pro plan offers so many more options, it is a "must" for business and frequent travelers. For $49 per year, you get to do everything the TripIt free app does, but you also get the Seat Tracker Program, check-in reminders, access to tracking of flight refunds, mobile alerts if any of your flight plans change, and access to alternative flight information. TripIt Pro travelers also get receive membership into the Hertz #1 Club Gold, as well as Regus Gold VIP care rental and travel lounge access (a value of $660!).

To learn more about the TripIt Seat Tracker, visit TripIt Seat Tracker.

To celebrate the Seat Tracker feature, TripIt is offering one of my readers a one year membership to TripIt Pro (a value of $49)! To enter, fill out the rafflecopter form below, and please answer the following question in the comments area below...

Which TripIt Pro feature do you think would be most helpful in organizing your summer travel plans, and why? You can find out more about TripIt by visiting their website. You can even sign up for a free account while you're there!

Rules:

No purchase required.
Open to residents of the US and Canada, 18+ years of age.
Giveaway ends March 24th at 11:59 p.m
While each entry is optional, you will not receive point credit if you do not do the task you received points for. Meaning, if you say you answered the question, but didn't, that entry will be thrown out.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

{Disclosure: I received a media edition of TripIt Pro to review, but received no monetary compensation. My opinion is 100% my own. Photos courtesy of TripIt.}

Despicable Me 2 Sneak Peek

2013-05-16T13:30:00.000-07:00

(Former) Super villain Gru, his adorable little girls, and Gru's hilarious minions are back for more trouble in Universal Pictures Despicable Me 2, popping into theaters on July 3rd. I don't know about you, but I cannot resist those minions! To hold you over until July, here's a little minion tease!