by Debi Lilly
Guess who is throwing a smashing cocktail fete this weekend? You are, darling. And you are not going to skip your Friday date at Webster’s Wine Bar. Intrigued? You don’t have to miss your standing Saturday breakfast at Toast either. Amazed? Here’s how:
1. The Guest List – Branch Out
This of course includes your wide array of urban friends and social climbers – but most importantly – for conversational spark – add friends of friends to the list. That’s right – widen the social circle this weekend. After all, you are going to throw one hell of a party. May as well impress some newcomers with your ultra swanky cocktail savvy.
2. Liquor – It’s all about the MARTINIS.
Stop; don’t jump en Jetta just yet. Let your fingers do the walking while you keep your feet up on that new Pottery Barn coffee table. Pick up the cell phone, call Sam’s Wines and ask for Les. Tell him your party date, your guest count and the following list of essential ingredients (they figure out the quantities for you! No recollection of Math 101 necessary.
- Skyy Citron (slightly less than Absolute and a much cooler blue glass bottle)
- Kettle One Vodka
- Absolute Mandarin
- Godiva Liquor
- Green Apple Liquor
- Alize Mango (pronounced “Ah-lee-zay” – sound like the sophisticate that you are)
- Alize Passion
- Sweet and Sour Mix
- Ice
You will also want some bar basics: Bombay Sapphire Gin (again, love the bottle), Jack Daniels Bourbon, Bacardi Rum, Dewars Scotch and your mixers: Club Soda, Tonic Water, Juices, Sodas, etc.
If you are L.A. cool, you don’t dare have beer and wine. You didn’t see it on the menu in the ultra-cocktail hip movie Swingers, did you? But, since we are far from 80 degrees and sunny and this is NOT Tinsel Town, you may want to add good old Goose Island brew to the pot. A few flavors for variety helps spice it up a bit.
Now give them your Gold card and have it delivered in time to chill. Ahhhh, the many joys of le village.
3. The special touch – It’s REALLY all about the garnish.
Now we must venture out, if only a few blocks. First stop, our shrine to gourmet life: T.I. (we don’t really have to spell Treasure Island out, do we?). Grab a basket. No cart required.
- Key Limes (Teeny, tiny limes. We’re not in college, not just any old lime will do)
- Strawberries
- Star fruit (it’s there, just ask)
- Rolo Candies
- Gourmet Nuts and Snacks to display in martini glasses on bar and coffee table
- Lemon Juice
- Superfine White Sugar
4. Bar Hardware – Otherwise known as $75 spent on the corner of North and Clybourn.
You are almost there. One last detail for the oh-so-posh touch of swillers Frank and Sammy, Jr.
- Martini Shakers – The above list makes 4 flavored martinis. Hence, 4 shakers required. Restoration Hardware and Bed, Bath & Beyond have shakers with recipes printed on the sides – foolproof. I prefer glass shakers so you can see the flavors and vivid colors.
- Silver tray(s) – Turn your kitchen counter into a true cocktail pad with bottles, ice bucket (don’t forget the matching tongs) and shakers displayed on trays. 4 small glass bowls will really show off your fab garnishes.
- Martini glasses – You can buy at C&B Outlet for $2. You can also rent for $1 from Tablescapes if storage is an issue.
- Votive candles – Again, CB Outlet is the place. Buy hundreds – literally. Line them up along your windowsills, tables, mantle, bathroom sink, staircase and more. Instant ambience guaranteed. Better buck up and buy a long instant lighter to light them all.
5. Bond, Jane Bond – Get ready to shake it, baby!
It’s now 6:00. Guests at 8. Countdown begins.
Q: What to wear?
A: An over the top yet slightly retro with a touch of J Lo chic ensemble from Fox’s.- Slice fruit. Limes and Star fruit get sliced into rounds. Make a small slit into the edge so they can stand upright on the side of the glass. For the berries, do not slice into sections. Just cut a small slit at the base so they can stand on side of glass.
- Unwrap Rolo candies. No slicing required!
- Unwrap martini glasses, wash and rinse. |
- Pour lemon juice into shallow bowl. Pour sugar into second shallow bowl. Dip rims of martini glasses into juice, then into sugar. Allow to dry. Voila!
- On small card list Martini Menu: Jolly Ranch-tini, Mango Madness, Red Passion and Godiva’s Kiss.
- Line up liquors, ice bucket, glasses and garnishes on trays to make a bar.
- Pour nuts and snacks into martini glasses and scatter around condo.
- Place votives everywhere – and light at 7:30.
- Spin swanky tunes in stereo – Banana Republic, Pottery Barn and Restoration have must have collections – a great hostess gift as you cruise the social circuit.
- Whip up a batch of each concoction before the 1st guest arrives for practice:
- First of all, put a handful of ice into the shakers. Never skip this step.
- Jolly Rancher is a mix of 1/3 Citron, 1/3 Green Apple and 1/3 Sweet and Sour. Top with a star fruit.
- Mango Madness is a mix of 1/3 Mandarin, 1/3 Mango Alize and 1/3 Sweet and Sour. Top with berry.
- Passion Fruit is a mix of 1/3 Citron, 1/3 Passion Alize and 1/3 Sweet and Sour. Top with lime.
- Godiva’s Kiss is a mix of 3/4 Kettle One and 1/4 Godiva. Float Rolo inside.
- Shake, pour, sip…and ENJOY! You are divine, dah-ling.
Debi Lilly, Lifestylist
Up next week: Uniquely Chic Home Décor – 3 decorating secrets the IKEA catalog didn’t show you
