We have just passed the best time of the year for film fans, as Hollywood shines in November and December with some of the best movies of the year. And, over the next few weeks SAG, Critics’ Choice, Golden Globes, People’s Choice and of course, the prized Academy Awards, will be handed out to celebrate the films of 2011….and with the awards come the galas and the dresses and the jewelry and the flare and the festivities with hours and hours of best and worst dressed shows wrapping around every awards event.
Be a part of the fun with cocktails fashioned after this year’s favorite films. From Girl With The Dragon Tatoo to The Decendants to My Week With Marilyn to The Artist to Harry Potter to 50/50 to Albert Knobbs to W/E, this was an impressive year in film. Here are a few ideas matching my favorite films of the year.
In honor of the astounding
Girl With The Dragon Tatoo:
Smoking Dragon Shot
.5 oz Lucid Absinthe
.5 oz Midori Melon liqueur
.5 oz lemon-lime soda
1.5 oz pineapple juice
Drizzle of grenadine
Combine Lucid, Melon liqueur, lemon-lime soda and pineapple with ice and shake. Strain into a chilled shot glass and drizzle grenadine into the mix.
In honor of Woody Allen’s charming Midnight in Paris:
Parisian Punch
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
2 cups red wine
1/2 cup lime juice
1/4 cup Tabasco® brand chipotle pepper sauce
1/4 cup tequila, we used Patron Silver
3 tablespoons orange juice
2 tablespoons grenadine
Pinch of salt
1 cup crushed ice
Combine sugar and water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring until sugar dissolves; continue cooking 3 to 5 minutes longer. Remove from heat and cool completely. Place 1 cup of the cooled syrup in a blender with all remaining ingredients (you may need to blend in two batches). Blend 1 minute or until smooth; pour into a pitcher and chill until ready to serve.
In Honor of the beautiful My Week With Marilyn:
Dom Perignon – her favorite was 1953 Vintage, served ice cold with caviar.
In Honor of The Descendants:
Traditional Hawaiian Mai Tai
1 oz. Dark Rum
1 oz Light Rum
1 oz Orange Curacao
2 oz Orange Juice
1/2 oz Lime Juice
Dash Orgeat
Dash Simple syrup
Combine all of the ingredients in the order listed in a Old Fashioned style glass over shaved ice. Stir with a swizzle stick. Garnish with a slice of pineapple and a cherry.
One of my favorite lines in the thoughtful and moving film, The Help, is when Skeeter, played by Emma Stone, says that “oysters are just a vehicle for ketchup and crackers.” I was in Birmingham, AL over the weekend and had one of the best Bloody Mary’s which reminded me of this line.
In honor of The Help:
The MetroMary from Metro Steakhouse
1 ½ ounces Stolichnaya
5 ounces V8 tomato juice
1 teaspoon housemade Worcestershire
½ teaspoon fresh shaved horseradish
dash of Tabasco
squeeze of lemon
Shake all ingredients together and pour into a large, ice filled glass with an Old Bay seasoned rim. Garnish with a lemon, lime and a colossal shrimp.
If you have lasted through every Harry Potter film without ever trying to make a butter beer, this is your time to try it. So in honor of the last instalment, and some would say the best, of Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows – Part 2:
Butter Beer
12 ounces Root Beer or Cream Soda
2 ounces butterscotch syrup
2 ounces sweetened – condensed milk
1 tablespoon butter
3 ounces Vanilla or Caramel Vodka – like Van Gogh Dutch Caramel Vodka (if making adult friendly)
Our the root beer in a microwave safe container and microwave for 1 minute 30 seconds. Remove and pour into two tall mugs. In a separate container combine the remaining ingredients and microwave for 1 minute or until all the ingredients have melted together. Carefully pour half of the mixture in the top of each mug, stir together and enjoy!
