Drinks are as important a part of any good meal or party as the food itself. Whether it's breakfast for one on the couch in front of the morning news or a dinner party for 12, it's important to consider what you're drinking.
NEW! Mariage Frères Chandernagor (Chai Tea)
The ingredients in Chai (which really just means tea) sound more like they belong in a saute pan than a tea cup. Rest assured though, this classic beverage from the Indian subcontinent is a tasty way to start the day or, when iced, cool down from the summertime heat.
Mariage Frères' version of chai is named for the former French colony in West Bengal, India. It is a blend of
black tea, cloves, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, and pepper. The flavor is spicy and rich, which is why it is almost always served with lots of milk.
Preparation methods for Chai run into the hundreds...
white sugar and half-and-half, brown sugar and whole milk (our favorite), just condensed milk, honey and skim milk, and on and on.
But all are basically prepared the same way - heat 2 parts milk and 1 part water with the loose tea, steep for 4 - 6 minutes and strain. Stir in the sweetener of your choice and enjoy! If you're planning to serve it iced, make this mix and cool it down.
Buy a tin of Mariage Frères Chandernagor now for $20.00
White Ginger Cocktail (not really a martini...)
This is dead-simple - not even a recipe, really. In a cocktail shaker, combine a sprig of mint, 1 part White Ginger Syrup and 2 parts vodka and a handful of ice...shake...serve.
You could gussy it up with another sprig of mint or a floater of crystallized ginger...
We tried it with rum and a squeeze of lime and it was pretty great - sort of a Dark N' Stormy but stronger.
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