Mambai Mango

Still on our temporary hiatus, and in search of a new home for the blog, here is another leftover cocktail recipe/review that was somehow omitted from the usual run. Cheers!

Landslide award winner of the Annual Salem Cocktail Competition, 2009.

Joe served up this specialty cocktail to my trusted research partner, Kerry, who provided me with her impressions and field notes. Thanks for all your hard work, Kerry!

The Recipe:

Into a cocktail shaker of ice, add:

- a 4 count of Svedka Vanilla Vodka

- a 3 count of Svedka Original Vodka

- a 2 count of Grenadine

- a HEAVY 3 count of Mango Lassi, (an Indian yogurt drink)

- Shake well, and strain into a chilled, 16 ounce pint glass filled with ice.

- garnish with strawberry and orange.

Recipe by Joe the Bartender, Passage to India Restaurant, Salem, MA

Bartender’s Notes: Lassi is a traditional Indian yogurt-based drink. Very thick and creamy, there is no such thing as a ‘diet lassi.’

Kerry’s Notes: Rich, thick and fruity, it is sort of like a smoothie for grown-ups. In fact, this could easily win out over the Mamosa and the Bloody Mary as the first-pick breakfast cocktail.

A la sature! - Chris

Santa Toronja

"Santa;" Spanish for Saint. "Toronja;" Spanish for grapefruit. And of course, that Spanish for the tequila!

The name pretty much sums up this week's Greatest Drink. Oh, but a tasty one it is, too! Try this one out! You'll dig it!

The Recipe:

Into a large pint glass full of ice, add:

- a 4 count of silver tequila,

- a 2 count of St-Germain,

- a 4 count Grapefruit Juice, (Chris prefers the "Ruby Red!")

- a drop of Grenadine.

- Shake. Shake that thing like Charo's maracas!

- Strain over fresh ice,

- garnish with a fresh slice if lime and a maraschino cherry!

Chris's Notes: Recently, I began watching a new television show. It's called "Real and Chance: Legend Hunters," and stars these two brothers, a pair of South Central L.A. city slickers, all hip-hop and urban mod, going into deep wilderness to chase down creatures of mythical proportions. This particular entry in the Reality Show format plays heavily on the fish-out-of-water scenarios and more frequently than not has our two stars in the very middle of trucker-tanned rednecks and thick, inhospitable nature.

But it was while watching this show that I first saw the starting point of week's Greatest Drink. The stars, Real and Chance, (who also call themselves "Stallionaires," for some reason,) between actual "legend" encounters, often get a chance to "let down their hair," (sometimes literally as well as figuratively,) and will, more frequently than not, order a tequila and grapefruit juice.

"Oh, these boys got something right there!" I thought, and went straight out to buy some assorted grapefruit juices for further home research that week. It was the mix with the Ruby Red grapefruit juice that was most welcomed by my ever-discerning palate, so that is my first recommendation.

Still, there was something amiss. "What would Joe do?" I asked myself. And I knew instantly St-Germain was the ticket!

Thusly, I was very excited to see get to the Passage Lounge and run this by Joe!

Joe's Notes: As usual, Chris came bounding into the Passage Lounge, "Hey, Joe, you know what I have been drinking all week? Tequila and grapefruit juice!"

"You have been drinking all week?" I quipped.

Choosing to ignore my snippy remark he continued. "I think it is a great combo that we could really work with." Chris suggested that we add St-Germain. Not having the "Ruby Red" grapefruit juice at hand, I added a spot of grenadine for color and added sweetness. The result was more then worthy of an entry into TGDitWTW.

I don't use grapefruit juice in many cocktails. In fact, apart from the Seabreeze, the Pale Deacon and the Salty Dog, no others spring to mind.

It is not that I dislike grapefruit, it is just they do hold somewhat of an unpleasant childhood memory. The breakfast table, when I was a child in the U.K., was completely devoid of Count Chocula, Fruit Loops or any thing that a child may actually choose to eat. Oh no! We were given a halved grapefruit covered in sugar. The sugar made the bitter acid of the fruit barely palatable, the more sugar you added, the less of the grapefruit you could taste. So while the grapefruit acid ate away at your stomach lining, the sugar rotted your teeth, (think Austin Powers.) Looking back the toast was also a bit strange. Our mother only ever toasted the bread on one side. I had forgotten about this until I heard Sting's song "An Englishman in New York." In this song about Quentin Crisp he mentions this odd fact.

To accompany the half-toasted bread, we where given Marmite. Marmite is a thick black paste made from yeast extract.

If we chose to decline this breakfast we could always opt for my fathers choice: Porridge. Porridge is basically oatmeal but it is made so thick you could actually slice it like meatloaf. The thick splodge of porridge was then floated in cold milk and a dollop of strawberry jam was added.

I should probably leave all this behind me and give grapefruit another go. After all, I did very much enjoy this week's cocktail.

Although, I did read somewhere that grapefruit juice adversely interacts with some antipsychotic medications, (not that I have to worry about that just yet.)

Cheers,

Joe the Bartender

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This week's video: Hard Knock Life by Dr. Evil and Mini-Me.

Yeah, I know. Sorry.

Ginger Grant

Joe decided to prepare a tropical-style, "cabaña drink," made with Canton, one of his favorite liqueurs, with this week's this cocktail, that so reminded me of "The Movie Star."

Into a cocktail shaker full of ice, add:

- A 3-count of Cabo tequila

- A 3-counton of Canton Ginger Liqueur,

- A sploosh of Falernum

- A 2 count of Goya® Passionfruit Juice,

- A "feather" of grenadine,

Squeeze the juice from one wedge of lemon and then a wedge of lime directly into the shaker,

Shake (like a tropical monsoon!)

- Strain over fresh ice,

- Top with a splash of soda

Garnish with a slice of orange and a maraschino cherry

Original Recipe by Joe the Bartender, The Passage Lounge, Salem, MA.

Chris's Notes: My fascination with actress Ginger Grant is well-known and well documented, but who could blame me? That gorgeous amber hair, that slinky walk, those curves, and of course, when that music came up and she was "turning on her charms," what man could resist her passion?

It just so happened that I was daydreaming about the lovely Ms. Grant, and a particular episode of Gilligan's Island, ('The Prodigal Husband ,' Season 3, Episode 31, in which Ginger's long-lost common-law husband finds her on the island,) when Joe presented me with this vision.

It's tall sexy shape, its deep rich color, exotic smells... I needed a taste. As I was kissing her, I mean sipping her, er, it, Joe began to tell me, "I decided on something with Ginger." He went on to list the other ingredients, (something about 'passion?') but I'd heard enough. I knew that this drink would be named after her. And in her honor!

The cocktail had a strong fruity sweetness, thanks primarily due to the passionfruit and Grenadine, but softened and sharpened by the ginger of the Canton. The sparkle of the soda, and the snap of the tequila round this out very nicely.

I was afraid at first, that this would be viewed as a "girly drink." I was conflicted. My thoughts tumbled in my head like underpants in a dryer with no Cling-Free. How could I, a big, burly, manly man, be enjoying a "girly drink?"

Of course! This was one of those cocktails that falls into a classification devoid of gender exclusivity! A tropical punch "Boat Drink!" A reminder that, despite schools being back in session, and a hurricane knocking on the door, it IS still summer. Cheers!

Oh, you may have noticed that Joe posted no notes this week. Actually, he had a very interesting and insightful tale with many an unseen twist! It was really some of his best writing.

Unfortunately, in his narrative, Joe hinted at a preference for Mary Ann in the show Gilligan's Island. WHAT!?!

Because of this, I felt it best to edit his entire commentary out this week.

That'll learn 'im.

Our weekly "Barely-Related Video" this week is actually quite related!

Watch with me now The Honey Bees with You Need Us!

Turkish Delight

This week's drink,"The Turkish Delight," shares its title with the candy of the same name. The candy version is a sweet, soft, pink, jelly candy, usually cut into small squares and most often arrives in a soft tissue-lined candy box sprinkled with superfine sugar.

Turkish Delight, (the candy,) dates back to 15th century Turkey, where it was known as Lokum, (Arabic for 'morsel' or 'mouthful.') It was introduced into England in the mid 19th century under the name Turkish Delight. It was supposedly a favorite of Lawrence of Arabia.

Turkish Delight is featured in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis and has seen a recent surge in popularity in Europe since the release of the film version: "The Chronicles of Narnia ."

The Recipe:

Into a cocktail shaker filled with ice:

- Add a 3 count of Svedka Vanilla Vodka,

- Add a 2 count of White Creme de Cacao,

- Add a dash of "rosewater,"

- Add two tablespoons of honey,

- Add 1 shot of chilled water,

- Add two drops of Grenadine,

- Shake festively.

- Strain into a Brandy Snifter,

- Garnish with a cherry and a slice of lemon.

Original recipe by Joe the Bartender, Passage to India Restaurant, Salem, MA

Bartender's Notes: I have included this cocktail in the 'Greatest Drink in the World' for two reasons: Firstly, because it tastes exactly like Turkish Delight. And secondly, because no Christmas in England would be complete without a box of Turkish Delight. In modern England, it may appear peripheral, but it is still present.

Turkish Delight is not to everybody’s taste, it is rather an acquired taste, in fact, I recently found it on a list of 100 things to eat before you die. But if you follow the recipe exactly and give it to your English friends, they will be amazed. Try serving it with a bowl of unshelled roasted pistachio nuts with a squeeze of fresh lemon.

Chris's notes: While fellow patron, Johanna, likened the flavor of this drink to the popular Scottish beverage, "IRN BRU," I found the taste of this drink to be just like drinking a glass of candy. I can only assume the candy in question is the Turkish Delight that the drink is named after, as I am unfamiliar with this particular confection, (as I likewise am with IRN BRU,) but this was quite yummy and I believe its namesake was what the White Witch from Narnia used to seduce that kid into betraying his siblings. That there's some formidable stuff!

Happy Christmas!