Jeff and Me

When I’m invited to an event sponsored by an alcohol company it takes me about 2.4 seconds to accept. The reason for this is two-fold: 1) Alcohol companies always throw a good party. And 2) I like free drinks. So when an invite from Kahlua arrived, I replied within 2.2 seconds. (I was apparently extra-excited/zippy.)

Kahlua Horchata

My buddy Jeff and trekked to Loteria in Hollywood (we walked there from Jeff’s – passing the cross-dressers and tourists on Hollywood Boulevard along the way). Loteria is a Mexican restaurant that started as a kiosk in the famed Farmer’s Market on Fairfax and then Chef Jimmy Shaw expanded to this full-size joint on the boulevard. We were greeted with horchata and Kahlua cocktails as well as taquitos, guac and empanadas.  So far, so good.

Chef Shaw developed a menu for the night where each dish has the coffee-flavored liquor in it. Here’s what we ate:

Queso Flameado

Queso flameado: this is a plate of melted cheese (aka love) accompanied with a shot of Kahlua, which the waiter lit on fire for a fun little flambé action.

Ensalada: there was all sorts of yumminess in here – dates, monchego cheese and a Kahlua-tinged vinaigrette.

The main was a choice between chicken or pork with a Kahlua mole sauce, with rice and beans on the side.

Churros

And dessert: churros that you dipped in a Kahlua hot chocolate.

New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc was served (and drunk) throughout the meal. Right, right I couldn’t eat everything (bad gluten, bad!), but what I did have was absolutely outstanding. And it reignited my taste for Kahlua. Here’s a recipe I know my mother would enjoy.

The Curious Russian
1 part Kahlúa Coffee Cream
1 part Kahlúa Coffee Liqueur
1 part ABSOLUT Vanilia
Lightly shake and strain over ice in a rocks glass. Vanilla bean garnish.

I just realized I post a lot about cocktails. Cheers!

I think it’s safe to say that the Treats are usually the best part of Halloween. But I’m not a huge candy eater, so I prefer a more adult treat, in the form of a festive cocktail. Here are a few bevies to try this holiday!

Candy Corn SkinnyTini

As I’ve previously covered, I love Skinny Water. Here’s an orange-colored drink that’s only 133 calories.

2 oz Vanilla Vodka

2 oz Orange Cranberry Tangerine Skinny Water

1 oz Diet Ginger Ale

Candy Corn

Shake the vodka and Skinny Water over ice; strain in to a martini glass, top with ginger ale and garnish.

Smoky Diablo

This drink will impress others; it was developed by master mixologist Duggan McDonnell of Cantina in San Francisco.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 oz Tequila Don Julio Blanco
1/2 oz limoncello
1 oz grapefruit juice
1 tsp agave nectar
1/2 tsp dark chili powder
Ice cubes
Orange peel for garnish

Add Tequila Don Julio, limoncello, grapefruit juice, agave nectar and ice in a cocktail shaker. Shake well. Strain contents into a tall glass filled with ice.  Sprinkle dark chili powder over ice and garnish with orange peel.
*Optional: Rim glass with chili powder and salt mixture before pouring contents into glass.

Zombie Mar-Tiki

1 oz Voodoo Tiki Platinum

1 oz Mango Rum

1 oz Dark Rum

1 oz Pineapple Juice

1 oz Orange Juice

1 tsp. Vanilla syrup

juice of half of lime

Add all the ingredients into a cocktail mixer with ice and shake, strain into a glass.