A Bar Full of New Friends
JUNE 14, 2018 // COCKTAILS
Hello beautiful people, it’s Jess – did you miss me? Well, I sure missed you all! I am here to chat with you about some pretty exciting additions to our Del Frisco’s Grille cocktail line-up. These little ones are near and dear to my heart and I am thrilled to finally share them with you. You are going to love them and I cannot wait for you to experience them in our restaurants!
Alright, on to the reveal – I am happy to announce the rollout of… (drumroll please…)
Our new cocktail program!
We have a whole new team of unique and delicious beverages coming to a Del Frisco’s Grille near you and I thought it’d be fun to share a bit of background. Allow me to introduce you to our new regulars:
NICK’S NEGRONI
Created in Italy during the early 1920s, the Negroni is a traditional cocktail made with gin, bitters and Campari. In recent years the Negroni has become one of the most popular kids in school, so we decided to take a friendly twist on the classic while still paying homage to its traditional heritage. Made with Aperol and Lillet Rouge, opposed to Campari and bitters, it’s topped with an orange peel-infused ice cube that incorporates a citrus essence as the ice melts. A great partner in crime to Quinn’s Filet Burger because what’s better than a burger and a cocktail?
WATERMELON FROZÉ
There’s not a lot to say about frozé other than it’s just plain fun. Whenever I think of summer, watermelon is one of the first things to come to mind. As a flavor profile, it is just starting to trend in cocktails but isn’t quite full-steam just yet. Loved by many and refreshing in the warmer seasons, watermelon frozé is the way cooler friend to your blue raspberry slushie and the perfect summer beverage. Lemon Ricotta Pancakes with Watermelon Frozé is brunch heaven. However, if you find yourself sipping of Watermelon Frozé Monday through Friday order our Ahi Tuna Tacos for a great meeting of the minds.
MOLÉ MANHATTAN
The Molé Manhattan is the second of our three traditional cocktails coming to the cocktail menu. You get the smallest whisper of dark chocolate, but it’s still a Manhattan at its core. A well-made drink like this needs a meal to match – I recommend the Prime Beef Short Rib Stroganoff – trust me, your taste buds will thank you.
FRUIT & FLOWERS
Fruit & Flowers is one of the livelier cocktails joining the team and can be described in one word… “Instagramable!” It’s fun, flirty, and adorned by a purple swizzle stick. Not gonna lie, I was so excited about the swizzle stick idea that I built this cocktail around it to capture its playful vibe. The Fruit & Flowers is our chameleon cocktail because as the swizzle stick is stirred in, it changes in color. Perfect at happy hour along with Cheesesteak Eggrolls, this drink will have your Instagram followers wanting to join the party.
SPANISH GIN TONIC
Gin Tonics (minus the ampersand) are a full-on movement in Spain right now. At any given bar, you will likely find a myriad of Gins to choose from and your cocktail elaborately garnished with herbs, spices & flowers. The variety of combinations is excitingly endless and we decided to capture the trend on our own turf. Cardamom and juniper berries are infused into ice cubes which release the flavors slowly as the cube melts, so no sip will be the same as you make your way to the bottom of the glass. Our new Greens & Grains Bowl is my go-to pick with the Spanish Gin Tonic – green is the new black.
HONEYMOON IN PARIS
I pulled personal inspiration for some of the ingredients in the Honeymoon in Paris, resulting in a medley of fond memories. Apricot nectar is the secret ingredient, which is an off-the-beaten-path flavor for most people, but something my grandmother served me often as a child. Not only super close to my heart but also adds a unique brush-stroke of flavor. It’s finished with a sprig of lavender, inspired by my mom’s lavender garden. You will often find me sipping this cocktail with our Pan-Seared Scallops – I recommend you do the same, you can thank me later!
OLD FASHIONED
Traditional drink #3. If this drink were a person it’d be best friends with Greta Garbo, Audrey Hepburn and Sean Connery. Super classy folks. Simply made with top-notch ingredients, it is a timeless, sexy stunner. Great as an elegant companion while you are channeling “mysterious” sitting at the bar, or a polished cocktail to complement our quality steaks.
We are going to take a slight detour here and talk about why the classic cocktails (Negroni, Manhattan, Old Fashioned) are considered classics. Well for starters, these guys have withstood the test of time and the ever-changing cycle of trends. Furthermore, they have simple ingredients and a fool-proof recipe that can be executed by just about anyone from amateur-enthusiast to master-mixologist. There is a certain sophistication to their simplicity, like the perfect black dress. Plus, it feels super cool to walk up to a bar and say, “I’ll have a Manhattan.”
HIBISCUS MARGARITA
“Why hibiscus?” you ask. “Why not hibiscus?” I say. A flavor profile that you wouldn’t normally associate with cocktails, hibiscus is just different enough to throw some spunk into your same-old routine. Tart red-fruit – think cranberry, pomegranate, or under-ripe raspberry with hints of crushed flower petals & black tea. We could not resist choosing Casa Dragones Blanco, a small-batch Tequila from Jalisco to play first fiddle in this fun new cocktail. Not only the ultimate in smoothness but co-founded and operated by Bertha González, the first and one of the only female maestra tequileras (tequila masters) in the world. Pretty darn cool stuff. Take a walk south of the border and pair with our Fish Tacos for a truly legit experience.
These cocktail creations came from my heart – I have enjoyed them on my front porch and I wanted to pass that special feeling on to you wonderful folks. If you’re looking for a new summer cocktail or a spin on your go-to drink, I encourage you all to come try our fun-loving, friendly, and outside-the-box concoctions.
To celebrate the welcoming of our “new regulars” I put together a recipe for you all reading this to get the party started at home. Perfect for group gatherings, the Summer Sangria is simple to make and delicious to drink. In a large plastic Cambro container, combine 1 bottle of Miraval Côtes de Provence Rosé, 4.5 oz Peach Schnapps, 4.5 oz Monin Mango Purée and stir until well mixed. Fill a glass pitcher with the Summer Sangria mix and add quartered strawberries, sliced peaches, lime rounds, and ice.
Until next time, love your faces. – Jess