Hey guys, listen up! Summer is almost around the corner and do I have some exciting news for you coconut lovers around the world! CAPTAIN MORGANjust took a bunch of coconuts and turned them into a delicious new shot, CAPTAIN MORGAN LocoNut. This super delicious shot is made with Caribbean rum, coconut liqueur, spice and natural flavors.
It comes in a coconut-shaped bottle, smells like a coconut and yes, tastes like a coconut (and a day on the beach in a glass!) LocoNut is affordable too, just $14.99 for a 750 ml bottle, and it’s coming to a store (and a beach) near you. And, on top of that, CAPTAIN MORGAN LocoNut is also gluten-free!
It’s simply amazing as a chilled shot, but it’s also great simply on the rocks, and a great base for a variety of tropical cocktails or mixed shots, so get creative! I’d love to hear some of your cocktail ideas using LocoNut in the comments below.
Here’s a few cocktail ideas to get your tastebuds singing and a head start on Summer vacay:
Loco & Coco
3 oz. CAPTAIN MORGAN LocoNut Coconut Shot
4 oz. Coconut Water
Directions: Combine CAPTAIN MORGAN LocoNut with coconut water and serve over ice.
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Captain & Loco
2 oz. CAPTAIN MORGAN LocoNut Coconut Shot
0.5 oz. CAPTAIN MORGAN Original Spiced Rum
Directions: Combine CAPTAIN MORGAN LocoNut and CAPTAIN MORGAN Original Spiced Rum and serve over ice.
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Livin’ Vanilla Loco
1 oz. CAPTAIN MORGAN LocoNut Coconut Shot
0.5 oz. CROWN ROYAL Vanilla
Directions: Combine CAPTAIN MORGAN LocoNut and CROWN ROYAL Vanilla into a shaker with ice.
Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands including Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, Bulleit and Buchanan’s whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness.
Diageo is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and our products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world. For more information about Diageo, our people, our brands, and performance, visit us at www.diageo.com. Visit Diageo’s global responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practice.
Follow on Twitter for news and information about Diageo North America: @Diageo_NA.
Celebrating life, every day, everywhere
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Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post and I received a product sample from the client to perform this product review on my site. I was not compensated monetarily and all opinions are my own. #ad #spon
Well the holidays have finally arrived – my favorite time of year! I love having some time to rest and relax and enjoy quality time with friends and family, especially around the table sharing delicious food and wine. So to celebrate the season, I’ve rounded up some of my favorite holiday recipes that I’ve created over the years – either for myself or a few of my clients (KitchenAid, Colavita and Seven Barrels), that I wanted to share with all of you. From appetizers, to salads, to desserts, entrees and cocktails, they all have that special magic touch perfect for the holidays.
I’d love to hear in the comments below what some your favorite holiday recipes are too – feel free to post them and share a link below, and if you want to share my recipes online please include a link back to my site and credit to Kristen Hess / The Artful Gourmet and @artfulgourmeton social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and Tumblr).
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and a joyous and prosperous New Year 2017!
PAIRED Champagne and Sparkling Wines is a gorgeous cookbook by Australian Photographer Fran Flynn and Wine Expert David Stevens-Castro. The book is filled with tons of information on champagne and sparkling wines and how to pair food and recipes accordingly.
They break up the book into different sections based on the different types of wines (Champagne, Cava, Prosecco, New World Sparkling Wines, etc.) with a background on how the wines are made, from what regions, the differences between them which make it easy to understand.
Champagne, Prosecco, Cava, and New World Sparkling Wines all have different fermenting processes from different regions (France, Italy, Spain, Australia, New Zealand) with varying bubble sizes, flavors and characteristics which is absolutely fascinating! They review the wines at a glance describing the different classifications of sparkling wine, what grapes are used, flavors and types of wine. Then they go into more detail with each type of wine suggesting cheeses and recipes that pair well with each based on their flavors.
The food photography by Fran is absolutely gorgeous and mouthwatering, and the way they match the recipes to the different types of sparkling wines is brilliant and well thought out based on matching and balancing flavors of the food with the qualities of the champagne and sparkling wines (sweet paired with sweet, salty paired with sweet, reds vs. roses vs. whites, spicy paired with Asian, tangy paired with dry, etc.)
There are delicious recipes for cheese and charcuterie boards, appetizers, main dishes, salads and desserts, and I love how they also created specialty tasting menus at the end to help the reader plan a party pairing different wines with different foods for a unique experience – Light and Luxurious Lunch, Rich and Decadent dinner, All that Sparkles, Distinct Pleasures and Latino Influenced.
I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in learning more about Champagne and Sparkling Wines and to refer to it for their next tasting adventure and party or gathering with family and friends. And it’s perfect for the holidays where bubbles are celebrated and enjoyed the most!
Hey friends, Happy Halloween! It’s my favorite holiday of the year (well, besides Thanksgiving and Christmas) and what better way to celebrate than making some spooky and delicious cocktails for your #Halloween party!
I love Captain Morgan Caribbean spiced rum, and they have a new kid in town – Jack-O-Blast! It’s the same delicious rum but has all the seasonal flavors of Fall incorporated like pumpkin spice and cinnamon..yum! I wanted to share a few cocktail recipes with you to try with this delicious elixir that will spice up your #Halloween festivities this year.
And actually, it’s so darn good, you could sip it on ice all by itself! But pick some up quick because it’s limited edition meaning they only sell it in the Fall. Hope you have a Jack-O-Blast time whatever you’re doing for the holiday! Enjoy 🙂
DIRECTIONS: Combine all ingredients in a glass filled with ice, stir and serve.
Mutiny Mule
1.5 oz. Captain Morgan Jack-O’Blast
3 oz. ginger beer
0.5 oz. lime juice
DIRECTIONS: Combine all ingredients in a glass filled with ice, stir and garnish with a lime wedge.
Captain’s Cauldron
1.5 oz. Captain Morgan Jack-O’Blast
2 oz. orange juice
1 oz. cranberry juice
Optional: 1 oz. club soda topper
Lemon wedge – squeezed
DIRECTIONS: Combine all ingredients in a glass filled with ice, stir and garnish with a lemon wedge.
I’d love to hear what fun and spooky cocktail recipes you all are making (or would make!) too..cause, you can never have enough delish cocktails in your life, right? Please comment below!
Over a century ago, the Whiskey Sour originated as one of the simplest cocktails, with variations of whiskey, lemon juice, and sweetened with sugar. The mix lost attention after the prohibition era, but it resurged with the heightened interest in craft cocktails. Thanks to whiskey’s newfound status and the use of fresh ingredients, the Whiskey Sour has made a strong comeback.
Because sours have a higher ratio of alcohol to mix than your typical cocktail, the “unofficial” holiday appeals to the summer beverage interests of men and women alike.
Combine ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into a chilled coupe glass. Grate nutmeg for garnish (optional).
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More about Bulleit Bourbon:
Distilled in Kentucky from the highest quality ingredients, this new variant is a barrel strength version of Bulleit Bourbon with the same high-rye mash bill – roughly 2/3 corn and 1/3 rye. In April, Bulleit Barrel Strength received a Gold Medal from the 2016 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, continuing Bulleit’s history of sharing award-winning whiskeys.
More about Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye:
With more than 75 years of experience producing quality Canadian Whiskey, Crown Royal introduces its first-ever blended rye whiskey, Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye. Crafted from 90% rye whiskey, the new blended whiskey from Crown Royal is produced at the brand’s distillery in Gimli, Manitoba, where the distinctive Northern winters create the perfect conditions for a deliciously flavorful, extraordinarily smooth whiskey.
More about George Dickel No. 12:
A 90 proof Dickel whiskey that uses older whiskies to create deeper, more assertive flavors and an incredibly smooth finish. The taste is refined with hints of vanilla and a dry crisp finish– a result of their charcoal mellowing process. Concentrated flavors of rich oak and subtle vanilla lead to a long finish with hints of maple, butter and smoke. It’s a whiskey with enormous depth, range and personality – considered by many to be the gold standard of Tennessee Whiskey.
Pi Day, the mathematical holiday, is celebrated on March 14th (3/14) around the world. Pi (Greek letter “π”) is the symbol used in mathematics to represent a constant — the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter — which is approximately 3.14159.
And even though it’s a less common holiday to be celebrated, it’s simply another great reason to whip up a cocktail. And what better to include in your Pi(e) Day drink than PIEHOLE Whiskey?
In honor of the occasion, I’d like to share three delicious spring cocktails, created by the National PIEHOLE Sweetheart (and New Orleans Bartender) Brooke Flaherty.
Lucky Apple
1.5 oz. PIEHOLE™ Whiskey with Apple Flavored Liqueur
3 oz. Ginger Beer
A splash sour mix
A splash of lemon-lime soda
Garnish with lime wedge
Cherry Punch
1.5 oz. PIEHOLE™ Whiskey with Cherry Flavored Liqueur
4 oz. Ginger Ale
.5 oz. Pineapple Juice
.5 oz. Orange Juice
Juice from half of a lemon
Garnish with a cherry and orange
Pecan Sweet Tea
1.5 oz. PIEHOLE™ Whiskey with Pecan Flavored Liqueur
My Top 10 {Things I Love} list is back for Winter2015 with some fun and interesting objets de desir, places, people, books, food and drinks that I’m currently crushing on – not necessarily ordered in terms of my favorite – but are all worthy of a huge shoutout for their awesomeness in my opinion… Happy Holidays and New Year 2016!
Magpie Cookbook – Magpie Artisan Pie Boutique is a popular pie shop in Philadelphia, owned by Chef Holly Ricciardi. This book is full of her famous pie recipes, both savory and sweet – from luscious quiches, pot pies and hand pies, to fruity, creamy and nutty pies like her bourbon-infused Butterscotch Pie recipe passed down from her Grandmother. Great for any pie-obsessed person and includes tons of great techniques on how to make different types of crusts and decorative touches for a gorgeous handmade pie. Ah, PIE. Get it on Amazon
Aria Wine Bar, NYC – This trendy cozy place has 2 locations: one in the West Village, and another in Hell’s Kitchen in NYC. Offering Venetian-style Italian Tapas, the menu has a plethora of delicious small plates, appetizers, pasta dishes, and salads all created for sharing. They have a great wine list, and the atmosphere is romantic and buzzing and the best part is the wine list offers the fruits of the world’s foremost lady vintners. Try the Mini Meatballs drenched in homemade sauce and melted cheese, the Sautéed Mussels in wine, or the Truffle Mac & Cheese. You won’t be disappointed! Another NYC fave not to miss. http://ariawinebar.com
The Bacon Jams Bacon Spread – Who doesn’t love bacon? Well now you can have it anytime on the fly. This delicious Bacon Jam is made with real bacon, brown sugar, and onions with three varieties that can all be simply spread on crackers or bread, elegantly spread to elevate appetizers, grilled sandwiches, pasta or to add bacon to any of your favorite dishes. Try the Original, Black Pepper or Red Chile and Garlic. Delicious! http://thebaconjams.com
Trimino Protein Water – With the popularity of vitamin waters and fruit waters abound, there’s a new and improved kid on the block. Trimino Still and Sparkling waters are infused with 7 grams of protein, are caffeine and sugar free, and only 28 calories. And lots of fun flavors too! Strawberry Lemonade, Mixed Berry, Coconut Pineapple, Peach and Watermelon. Perfectly light and refreshing for and after workout drink or as a base for a fruity beverage or cocktail. http://drinktrimino.com
Parker’s British Foods – Brits Victoria and Damian Parker have a serious love for British food, and learned the crafts of butchery, meat curing and pie making from some incredible British butchers, combining those skills with the best meats and recipes the British Isles had to offer. Then they got married, packed their bags and set off for a new life in America. Now based out of Buffalo, NY, they offer genuine British food like Pork Pie, Sausages, Proper Fish and Chips and a variety of British sweets, condiments, drinks, snacks and gifts for sale in their online store. Check ’em out, Mate! https://www.parkersbritishinstitution.com/shop-online
Extra Virgin NYC – Extra Virgin is a great little neighborhood spot located in New York City’s West Village. They offer delicious Mediterranean food in a buzzing dimly lit atmosphere with a fantastic wine selection and different varieties of extra virgin oils from around the world. Try the Fritto Misto – lightly fried calamari, zucchini and shrimp as an appetizer..it’s light and crispy and perfectly fried to perfection. The Prosciutto-wrapped Sea Scallops are equally delicious, served over Cauliflower Puree and Porcini Sauce with a Apple and Celery Salad on the side. The Short Ribs are to die for, and literally melt in your mouth, served over Truffled Mashed Potatoes (try these with a side of Grilled Broccolini..super delicious!) They also have a great Sunday brunch and lovely desserts..Another NYC fave, don’t miss it. http://extravirginrestaurant.com
Jan Burtz Luster Ceramics – Offered exclusively at ABC Home in New York City, these ceramics have a handprinted metallic border that lovingly outlines their natural and irregular forms. Made by hand from creamy porcelain and homemade glazes, these pieces bring us back to the basics, accentuating the fluidity and grace of hand-formed wares. Made in Jan Burtz’s Connecticut studio, no two pieces are alike. Also offered in silver and a variety of bowls, trays, platters, vases, plates and sizes. Adds an elegant rustic touch to any table!
Maple Syrup Cookbook – I recently got this cookbook and absolutely love it! Why? Because I’m in love with maple syrup and everything in here has a recipe made with it. I made the French Canadian Maple Sugar Pie with Walnuts and the Maple-Glazed Brussels Sprouts for Thanksgiving and they were both delicious hit at the table! If you love maple syrup as much as I do you can’t miss this cookbook..get it! Immediately.
Get it on Amazon
Raised Bloom Baking Set – Who doesn’t love a little bling for the holidays, and better yet who doesn’t love Anthropologie??? This adorable baking set is made of carved stoneware coated in a lovely iridescent glaze including a rolling pin, pie server, measuring spoons, pie plate, whisk and a muffin tin. Almost too pretty to bake with! Get it on Anthropologie
Colors of Nature Cranberry Sauce with Rum and Orange – Colors of Nature is a small, family owned company based out of Brooklyn NY that makes beautiful small batch sauces, jellies and cakes full of fresh ingredients and flavors. Try the Cranberry Sauce made with Rum and Orange – perfect for the holidays! http://www.colorsofnature.nyc
I recently hosted a super fun Dine in the Dark Event at CitizenM hotel in Times Square NYC. They invited me to host the event by presenting some delicious nibbles and foodie creations to serve to a great group of food bloggers to do a blind tasting.
The idea was to pair flavors and tastes that the bloggers had to experience and guess, which were all revealed at the end of the dining experience by me.
I made 7 different small bites for the bloggers to do the tasting of: Blue Cheese, Apple and Walnut Salad in Endive, Manchego & Fig Jam Tarts, Sesame Sriracha Chicken Bites, Prosciutto, Melon & Feta Mini Skewers, Strawberry-Watermelon Coconut Rum Shooters, Smoked Salmon with Chive Sour Cream & Dill on Cucumber Rounds, and Tart Cherry Pistachio Honey Energy Balls.
CitizenM is a lovely modern hotel in the heart of Times Square, who let us have the space to do my event. They provided us afterwards with cocktails and more nibbles up on their rooftop CloudBar, where I gave a food styling and photography discussion and Q&A with the bloggers.
Everyone had a fantastic time and got the opportunity to learn some of my tips and tricks on food styling and food photography and how to break into the business. The group got to sample some tasty food, sip some delicious cocktails and meet new blogger friends from the city. All and all we had amazing views and it was a fun, lively evening for all.
Thanks to CitizenM for being such a lovely and accommodating venue! And thanks to all the bloggers* that came and made the event a smashing success! *see list at end of post
Happy Summer and Cheers to all! Enjoy some photos from the event below and I’ll post my recipes soon – stay tuned! 🙂
All the Food Bloggers — thanks for coming and making the #DineintheDarkNYC event at #CitizenMnyc a fun time for all 🙂
So it’s that time of year again…Memorial Day weekend has arrived and the beginning of Summer is not too far away!
It’s time to soak up the sun, hit the beach, break out the grill and have a cookout and a cocktail on the patio or the beach with friends and family..my favorite time of year!
I was lucky enough to be a part of a Captain Morgan Rum promotion this year to sample one of their new flavors and design a cocktail recipe featuring their delicious new Coconut Rum. It’s a little bit sweet, creamy and has hints of citrus and tropical fruit with a hint of molasses flavor.
I wanted to make a cocktail that was refreshing and flavorful but not too sweet and came up with this fun CherryCoconut Key Lime Fizz cocktail. It’s made with the Captain Morgan coconut rum, tart cherry juice, key lime seltzer and a splash of fresh Cara Cara orange juice, key lime juice and a few slices of orange and lime for garnish.
Kinda like lying on the beach soaking up the sun in the Caribbean – just my style.
Now that Spring has officially arrived, I’m looking forward to warmer weather and sunny skies. If only the blizzards would stop in NYC! I’ve rounded up a few great cocktail recipes for Spring that I think you’ll enjoy – perfect for lounging around on the patio with some small bites and a group of friends. The cocktails are made with Bulleit Rye, Crown Royal Regal Apple, and the new Captain Morgan Grapefruit Rum. Not a spirits drinker? I also included a wine spritzer recipe with the recently launched Chateau La Paws Chardonnay, an offering for wine lovers that gives back to rescue dogs. How cool is that?
Now, snow snow, go away – come again another day! Enjoy. 🙂
Bulleit Rye Smash
1.25 oz. Bulleit Rye
1 oz. simple syrup
3 wedge(s) lemon(s)
3 piece(s) mint sprig
3 dash(es) bitters
In an ice filled shaker combine all the ingredients. Shake vigorously. Strain into an ice-filled rocks glass. Garnish with a mint sprig.
Golden Delicious
1.5 oz. Crown Royal Regal Apple
1 oz. Pineapple Juice
1 Dash angostura bitters
Add ingredients to high ball. Top with ginger ale and lemon garnish.
Palomaloha
1.5 oz. Captain Morgan Grapefruit Rum
Juice of ½ lime
Grapefruit soda to top
Fill tall glass with ice. Pour in Captain Morgan® Grapefruit Rum, lime juice and grapefruit soda. Garnish with grapefruit wedge.
Spritz Tzu
3 oz. Chateau La Paws Chardonnay
1 oz. Elderflower Liqueur
2 oz. Club Soda
Lemon Twist Fill rocks glass with ice. Pour in Chateau La Paws Chardonnay, elderflower liqueur and club soda. Garnish with lemon twist.
