Book Review: The Craft Cocktail Party

The Craft Cocktail Party: Delicious Drinks for Every Occasion by Julie Reiner

with Kaitlyn Goalen

Published by Grand Central Life & Style

 

I think it's safe to say that we are all of an age where we can legally partake, correct? Well, if not, you should probably wait to read this post until you are of drinking age. Just a little disclaimer before we get started!

 

Now, I'm no lush, but when it comes to cocktails, wine, and beverages of the adult variety, I enjoy a fine glass of ________, (fill in the blank) every once in a while. So, when Grand Central Life & Style published Julie Reiner's book: The Craft Cocktail Party: Delicious Drinks for Every Occasion, I was all over it!

 

Julie, the co-owner of The Clover Club in Brooklyn, and the swanky Flatiron Lounge in New York City has written a book, and provided us with recipes that will make all of our guests feel like we've been getting a secret degree in mixology!

 

The recipes in the book are amazing! And, best of all, they're organized around seasonality and occasion, with different themes appropriate to the specific time of year or particular events. Tips, tricks, techniques - such as infusing, and easy substitutions with things you probably already have in your home bar, are just part of the well-rounded information Julie expertly provides.

 

Putting this review together was fun! Because I got to try several of the drinks in the book to give you a sampling of my favorites. With over 200 pages of recipes however, I haven't tried them all! So, look forward to more of my favorite recipes from The Craft Cocktail Party: Delicious Drinks for Every Occasion as time goes on. For now though, take a look:

 



Sloe & Low: Photo credit: Daniel Krieger

 

If you mask it, I can enjoy gin. Pour me a gin martini, however, and you'll get a polite nod, and a full drink back at the end of the night. That's why I loved this take a on the English sloe gin (fizz). The recipe:

 



 

 

If vodka is more your flavor (and don't worry if it is - because it's totally mine, too!) I would highly suggest that you give Julie's Moscow Mule recipe a shot:

 

As delicious as it is good looking, the Moscow mule has to be one of the easiest drinks to prepare for guests, and who doesn't like a reason to have to buy new bar accoutrement? Grab some copper mugs with petit brass handles, and give this recipe a go:

When I dine, which isn't incredibly frequent, but frequent enough - I like to start the evening with a vodka drink, have a red wine with dinner (most usually a Cabernet Sauvignon) and end my night with a bourbon. If I'm feeling spry, I'll order it neat. Sometimes, on the rocks, and sometimes (if I skip dessert) I'll order a Manhattan. So, naturally, I was excited to try Julie's Manhattan recipe, and I can assure you - if you like a Manhattan (or three) it won't disappoint.

 

Whether you're a first class alcohol aficionado, or just looking to be a better host - I can assure you that adding The Craft Cocktail Party: Delicious Drinks for Every Occasion to your book stash will be a wonderful asset when the time comes to impress your friends, or, just switch up your Saturday routine. A great book to keep on hand for hostess gifts, as well! Just bookmark your friend's favorite drink with a patterned grosgrain ribbon, and leave the book in a basket along with all the makings for their cocktail of choice! I'm sure you'll be the first person they share their inaugural batch with! Pick up your copy via Amazon on the link below.



 

Book Review: Ellen DeGeneres Home

Ellen DeGeneres Home by Ellen DeGeneres

Published by Grand Central Publishing

Ellen DeGeneres: actor, daytime television royalty, avid home buyer, decorator, dancer, author, and now tastemaker - with her new book, Ellen DeGeneres Home. Who doesn't love Ellen? Her Emmy award-winning talk show has made her a household name, and her inspiring life story, charisma, and infectious smile have made her someone we all wish we knew personally. Well, while you may never in fact meet Ellen, or wife Portia, turning through the pages of her new book Home, is like being welcomed with open arms - and maybe even a little dance - into their meticulously finished private abode(s).

Over the last twenty-five years, Ellen has bought, renovated, and decorated nearly a dozen homes. Home catalogs the finished product of 7 homes that Ellen has owned, the tips and advice that she has for all of us after doing these renovations, and the things she learned after the job was complete. From Beverly Hills to The Villa (Yes, that would be John Saladino's former Santa Barbara, California estate) each home is immensely different from the next, but they all have this in common: they are among some of California's most amazing architecture, filled with unique furniture, breathtaking art, and hundreds of ideas you can implement in your own space.

Let's take a look at the inside, shall we? First, the horse ranch:

One of my absolute favorite houses that Portia and Ellen have done is the 26-acre ranch they purchased just north of Los Angeles, which was subsequently renovated, decorated, and featured in Elle Décor and Vogue, and is now featured in even more detail in Home.

 

 

 

When it comes to what owning this house taught Ellen, she says: "If you collect things, rocks, glass artifacts, etc., keep collections grouped in a way that allows for some free space around them. That way the focus is on the collection and not the clutter." 

 

Next up, another of my favorites, the Villa:

 



 

This massive 1930's mansion, perched on top of a hill of olive trees overlooking the Pacific Ocean in picturesque Santa Barbara is iconic, primarily for its rich history of ownership, and many magazine and book features when previously occupied by legendary interior designer, John Saladino. Ellen and Portia have uttered the words: "Forever Home" when talking about the Villa, and I think we all can see why.

 

Lastly, for this book review of Ellen DeGeneres Home, the brilliant Brody House in LA's Holmby Hills. While Ellen and Portia only lived in the house for a short time, they had a wonderful time furnishing the 1950's midcentury masterpiece of architect A. Quincy Jones: 

Ellen says: "When buying vintage, condition is everything. I prefer pieces in original condition with a nice patina. I almost always choose something that's reflective of its age, even if imperfect, as it has personality. If you choose well, this piece in original condition can hold its value, especially if it is a piece of design or something collectable."

For a closer look at these, and the other 4 houses that Ellen has called, and does call home, along with her incredibly witty writing and valuable interior design advice and ideas, you really have to grab the book! I've only had the book a few weeks, and I've already gone back to thumb through the more than 300 pages more than once to gain inspiration. You can purchase the book, (for quite a bargain I might add) on Amazon via the link below.