CMN Video: Cocktail Hour - Orange Marga"Tea"ta

CMN Video: Cocktail Hour - Orange Marga"Tea"ta

Lilia Temple returns to show us how to make a variation on the classic Margarita using orange juice and tea, and she calls it the Orange Marga"Tea"ta.



A production of The Culinary Media Network. www.culinarymedianetwork.com

CMN Video: Cocktail Hour - Basil Mo"Tea"to

CMN Video: Cocktail Hour - Basil Mo"Tea"to

Lilia Temple from Liption PureLeaf teas joins us to show how to make an interesting twist on the classic Mojito using basil and brewed, lightly sweetened tea.



A production of The Culinary Media Network. www.culinarymedianetwork.com

CMN Video: Cocktail Hour - Basil Mo"Tea"to

CMN Video: Cocktail Hour - Basil Mo"Tea"to

Lilia Temple from Liption PureLeaf teas joins us to show how to make an interesting twist on the classic Mojito using basil and brewed, lightly sweetened tea.



A production of The Culinary Media Network. www.culinarymedianetwork.com

CMN Video: Cocktail Hour - Sazerac

CMN Video: Cocktail Hour - Sazerac

Mixologist Jonathan Pogash shows us how to make a classic. The official cocktail of New Orleans: The Sazerac. Using Sazerac Rye Whiskey, Absinthe, Peychaud's bitters, and simple syrup. It's a little taste of the past!



A production of The Culinary Media Network. www.culinarymedianetwork.com

CMN Video: Cocktail Hour - Absinthe

CMN Video: Cocktail Hour - Absinthe

At the coming out party in New York for La Fee Absinthe, we are treated to a Parisienne, the classic way to enjoy Absinthe, and we see the "louche" that develops when water is poured over a sugar cube to release "The Green Fairy".



A production of The Culinary Media Network. www.culinarymedianetwork.com

Summer Cocktail Bash in NYC, TONIGHT July 25

Are you ready for summer cocktails? We certainly are!

If you are in or around NYC, please join us at Union Bar on Friday July 25th from 5-7 PM as we co-host a summer cocktail bash at "Cafe PureLeaf". This special cafe within Union Bar will be celebrating a new line of bottled PureLeaf brewed teas by Lipton.

We're going to give tea time a whole new definition, so put on your party shoes and come on over!



We'll be doing some live taping for our Culinary Media Network shows, especially the bartenders mixing PureLeaf teas into some tasty libations.

Union Bar
200 Park Avenue South
(betw 17th & 18th)
5:00 PM to 7:00 PM

The happy hour with drink specials will take place from 5-7, but we'll hang around for a bit afterwards.

So come on out and have a drink with us -- we can't wait to meet you there! Be sure to let us know if you're coming so that we can say hello, and thank you for being a Culinary Media Network fan!

CMN Video: Cocktail Hour - Cachaça

CMN Video: Cocktail Hour - Cachaça

We explore the uses of Cachaça, the national spirit of Brazil, and learn how to make 2 cocktails, the classic Caiparinha, and the Empire Cooler, with Sagatiba Brand Manager and mixologist Jamie Terrell.



A production of The Culinary Media Network. www.culinarymedianetwork.com

Cocktails: Blood Brothers

An evocative potion of blood oranges and Agavero (the tequila liqueur) is paired with the “soldiers’ herbs” of tarragon & coriander seeds. These anise flavors with hints of raspberries are softened with essence of the floral coriander and earthed by the natural sweetness of pure maple syrup. Celebrate this crimson cocktail together with your own “blood brothers”.

Cocktails: Lemongrass Champagne Mojito

Inspired by the classic mojito, subtle and elegant touches such as organic lemongrass and vanilla add a twist to this classic, and Champagne delivers a class of luxury, akin to 'tasting the stars'. Savor this cocktail over a mountain of crushed ice made from spring water.

Cocktails: Epiphany

This cocktail embraces a respect for the simple harmony between lemon and raw salmon, rediscovered through a cocktail canvas, with the richly marbled salmon as a garnish. The gentle yellow potion hides what depth thyme has given, though only from the eyes. A sweet balance of lychee and banana flashes across the palate. Not unlike a citrus herbal seasoning for fish, perhaps this fruity gin-based version might actually be used as one?!

Cocktails: Secret Garden

Inspired by the Persian paradise, earthy elements of beech 'honeydew’ honey and rhum agricole frolic with sweet basil and lovely lemongrass in this elixir. The perfume of the Amazon's passion fruits and the purest spring of artisan water seduce lovers. Capture this heady moment with the "Secret Garden."

Cocktails: Magic Carousel

The light mist green of pistachio Persian fairy floss crowns this elixir of Dutch gin, saffron, ginger, pistachio ice cream and Ran Watte Ceylon tea. With exquisite delicacy, and perhaps even a certain brutality with its history of royal patrons, pistachio feels like childhood love. Savor the complexity and subtlety of this cocktail, like a deep misty magical forest. Never grow old, and remember the child in us all.


Culinary Media Network, Gilded Fork, food, food writing, cocktail, recipe, pistachio, gin

Cocktails: Secret Garden

Inspired by the Persian paradise, earthy elements of beech 'honeydew’ honey and rhum agricole frolic with sweet basil and lovely lemongrass in this elixir. The perfume of the Amazon's passion fruits and the purest spring of artisan water seduce lovers. Capture this heady moment with the "Secret Garden." (See Flavor Impressionist Damian Sim's inspiration for Secret Garden here.)


gilded fork, food, food writing, cocktails, Secret Garden, Damian Sim, Provocachic, entertaining

Mixology: Summer in the Woods

Imagine buttered pan-seared pineapple, warm as a garnish, and chilled as juice in a sensuous champagne coupe. Then let us look back at some of the legacies of the American cocktail -- rum and bitters -- which are further expressed through the addition of star ruby grapefruits and maraschino liqueur (which was, incidentally, Ernest Hemingway's preference for his daiquiri). See Damian Sim's inspiration for this cocktail here.


gilded fork, food, food writing, recipe, cocktail, mixology, pineapple, Provocachic

Mixology: Epiphany

This cocktail embraces a respect for the simple harmony between lemon and raw salmon, rediscovered through a cocktail canvas, with the richly marbled salmon as a garnish. The gentle yellow potion hides what depth thyme has given, though only from the eyes. A sweet balance of lychee and banana flashes across the palate. Not unlike a citrus herbal seasoning for fish, perhaps this fruity gin-based version might actually be used as one?!… (See the inspiration for Epiphany here.)


gilded fork, recipe, cocktail, epiphany

Mixology: Lemongrass Champagne Mojito

Inspired by the classic mojito, subtle and elegant touches such as organic lemongrass and vanilla add a twist to this classic, and Champagne delivers a class of luxury, akin to "tasting the stars". Savor this cocktail over a mountain of crushed ice made from spring water. See Damian Sim's inspiration for this cocktail here.

gilded fork, food, food writing, cocktails, mixology, lemongrass, Champagne, mojito

Mixology: Theobroma Cocktail

Restore harmony with nature, and celebrate rituals to slow down the modern pace of life with this nourishing potion of dark Criollo chocolate, Hungarian "Noble Sweet" smoked paprika and beetroot juice. Complex, with a delicate elegance, this elixir is strengthened by cachaca (a Brazilian liqueur) and vodka while softly lifted by citrus elements. Theobroma: Cocktail of the gods? See Damian Sim's inspiration for this recipe here.


gilded fork, recipes, cocktails, mixology, theobroma, cocoa, pepper

Mixology: Blood Brothers Cocktail

April’s theme of artichokes and tarragon threw my palate off balance due to their unfamiliarity, especially the former. To my knowledge, there were no restaurants in town that served artichokes as a main, nor did it feature prominently even when it was used (which by itself is a rare case here in Singapore). Artichokes are also quite a curious item, where one is not exactly sure what it is (a flower bud, actually).

As with many of the themes featured so far at The Gilded Fork, artichokes have an aphrodisiac reputation, and their alter ego at the bar comes in the form of the liqueur Cynar. An intriguing effect of eating artichokes, however, is that they leave a sweet taste in the mouth that affects subsequent flavors on the palate, so I passed on them for April’s cocktail.

As for tarragon the “dragon herb”, I had not tried any dishes in which it featured prominently, but am a bit more familiar with its anise flavor. In fact, this particular flavor is seldom seen in the cuisines in Singapore, and likely experienced by most Asians through the anise-flavored Sambuca liqueur. Interestingly, the plant’s roots, if not divided regularly, would actually start to strangle themselves (definitely a freedom loving herb!). Used by the ancient Greeks as a painkiller (due to a compound called eugenol) for toothaches, it was also known as the “soldiers’ herb” for its anesthetic and perceived anti-venom qualities.

The thought of soldiers brought to mind inspirational battles fought against great odds, such as Cinco de Mayo, the legend of the 300 Spartans, and the archetypal David versus Goliath story. Along these lines, coriander seeds (actually fruits) came to mind, as they were once used by soldiers to prevent wound infections. Coriander seed’s wonderfully uplifting floral/citrus notes gave the anise-flavored tarragon a more appealing dimension. (read more)


gilded fork, recipes, cocktail, tarragon, coriander, blood oranges

Mixology: Surreal Cocktail

Based on March’s theme of oranges and avocados, the fragrant orange blossom (the state flower of Florida) proved an attractive anchor to the recipe design. It also symbolized good fortune, a good start for the spring.

Refreshing cucumber was added to the orange blossom water to add a distinctive green note to the flavor of the cocktail. This was further enhanced by the choice of Zubrowka, the unique bison grass Polish vodka. This legendary spirit was thought to have aphrodisiac and virility strengthening properties; in fact, it was banned in America till the late 1970s.

Though resplendent with fragrance, the mouth-feel of the drink was still rather thin, thus bananas that were just beginning to ripen were selected, providing a good amount of texture to the recipe.

Having used some uncommon cocktail ingredients so far, I decided to complete the recipe design with something familiar, and what can be more familiar than coffee? Kahlua, arguably one of the world’s most popular liqueurs, provided the coffee dimension to the cocktail; the sugar content of this Mexican coffee liqueur also added more body to the drink.

This helped to create an intriguing combination that is the essence of this cocktail, with sensations that are familiar yet surprising. Surreal...

gilded fork, cocktail, recipe, orange, orange blossom water, entertaining

Recipe: Garden Temptations Cocktail

This cocktail is an epicurean experience designed with figs in mind, inspired by their mention in the Garden of Eden. This gentle libation comprises notes of elderberry that seduce the palate while the other flavors blend deceptively behind into a delicious orange hue; the Earl Grey tea and carrot complete the “garden flavor.” (See the inspiration for Garden Temptations here.)

gilded fork, recipe, cocktail, tea, Garden of Eden

Mixology: Embrace Valentine Cocktail

Advocaat, the Dutch egg yolk liqueur, reflects this month’s theme of eggs, which were traditionally given as a token of love during the Easter celebrations in 9th Century European courts. A classic crystal glass has been chosen as the ideal vessel for the sensuous creation of “Embrace.”

The sweet muskiness of guavas evokes deep longing, and together with the hot passion of the red pepper, inspire bold action to embrace these intense emotions. The pepper adds a green freshness while it features subtlely in the finish with a mild burning sensation.

In the end, “Embrace” occasionally surprises with fleeting moments of deeper notes again. Perhaps we may experience a slow silence in these transient experiences...

Cocktail Recipe - Love Potion: Family Edition

Petite but strong, the sweet raspberry notes come to the forefront in this martini-style whiskey cocktail. Amaretto, the Italian liqueur of love, then appears while vanilla comforts like a family’s love. The delicate port sipper delivers the Love Potion: Family Edition. Enjoy the warm embrace of the golden hue with your loved ones by the fireplace.

gilded fork, recipe, cocktail, love potion

Pastry Princess: The Twelve Blogs of Christmas

The Pastry Princess has made her list and checked it twice, so see what she has mentioned in her list of inspirations for the year.

gilded fork, Pastry Princess, Monica Glass, baking

Cocktail Recipe: Gaia - Inspired by Mother Earth

Named after Mother Earth, this unique pecan cocktail is led by a most refreshing combination of lemongrass and Hoegaarden white beer, a sharp contrast to butterscotch and pecan’s full “buttery” notes. Together with the other elements, we create “Gaia”, like a shot of green bursting forth from the hardest rocks…

gilded fork, recipe, cocktail, holiday

Recipe: Lychee Martini

With an illustrious recorded history going as far back as 1059 A.D. in China, the lychee fruit is symbolic of both royalty and love. Legend speaks of the imperial Lady Yang Kuei Fei who had a passion for fresh lychees; the Emperor Hsuan Tsung had guards mounted on fast horses traveling 600 miles south of the palace to bring back the fresh lychees to woo her. Today, used to create the lychee martini, perhaps the lychee can help you do to some wooing of your own.

gilded fork, recipe, cocktail, lychee martini

The Main Ingredient: Cocktails, Anyone?

Ah, the cocktail. It is the introduction to “happy hour,” the ice-breaker, the way to finish a long day and start a magnificent evening. Cocktails can be as simple as scotch on the rocks or as complex as one’s imagination will allow, so it is the one type of beverage that allows for utter creativity.

Some cocktails have fallen strictly under the umbrella of “girlie,” i.e. the Cosmopolitan, sweet martinis (chocolate et. al.) and fruit-laced concoctions, while others are very “masculine.” Think of the dry martini, gin and tonics or any kind of strong spirit. We tend to stay away from lines of gender demarcation and bring all varieties of cocktails together for our favorite type of gathering: the cocktail party. (read more)


gilded fork, cocktails, cocktail party, holiday entertaining

Cocktail Recipe: Clove Spiced Champagne

The flavors and fragrances of this champagne are elegant and timeless, with a generous hint of spice, echoing the flavors of a mulled wine. The spiced syrup can be made well in advance, and its flavors will intensify as it rests.

gilded fork, cocktail, recipe, champagne, clove, spice