Farewell Summer; Hello Fall!

Things have been busy, busy here at the Food Studios & Liquid Kitchen! It’s been non-stop action with things like huge recipe development (pizzas and cupcakes and burgers – oh my!). And when I wasn’t up to the gills in pizza toppings and dough, I was traveling from Miami to New Orleans to Newport Beach!

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Tasty Travels

Happy 10^th Anniversary Tales of the Cocktail!
Can you believe that it’s been 10 years since the first Tales? Neither can I! Towards the last week of July, cocktail professionals and enthusiasts of all levels flocked towards New Orleans for the booziest week ever. Full of libatious parties, informative seminars and lots of tastings, it is the place to be in late July!

Remy Cointreau USA’s Karlyn Monroe, myself and Speed Rack co-founder Lynnette Marrero out on the town in between industry parties doing some tequila shooters!

After days filled with seminars and tastings, it was time for party central! First off, I headed to the fun-filled first-ever Macallan Ice Ball Plunge! Bartenders from the world over came for this fundraiser to support the Museum of the American Cocktail. Party attendees got to watch industry leaders take a bone chilling plunge into an icy pool, inspired by the Macallan Ice Ball. Don’t worry…everyone got to warm up and stay toasty afterwards with a fun drink to sip on!

Looks chilly!
(Photo courtesy of Drink of the Week)

Then it was off to the Employees Only (an international renowned cocktail bar in New York) party in New Orleans where
they took over New Orleans’ One Eyed Jacks. The gang behind Employees Only made it a night to remember, especially with in-party fun like an EO Tattoo Bar – industry professionals who received an EO tattoo were guaranteed a first drink for free
for life when visiting the New York Bar! Yowza!

The Employees Only gang holdin’ it down!

Then there were special tastings like “Brunch with an Italian Twist.” Lead by fellow mixologist Francesco Lafranconi, this
particular brunch featured amazing Italian liqueurs, amaros, and aperitifs to try, in-between delectable bites. Two of the most memorable tastes were of Zabov Liqueur (an egg yolk liqueur) similar in style/texture to a zabaione and Toschi’s Fragoli Wild Strawberry Liqueur, which I am totally in love with now.

(Photo from The Tasting Panel magazine)

One of the seminar tastings that I attended on liquors…that was a lot to sip!

In between the wild parties and tastings, I got to sneak away for a special lunch at Hotel Monteleone’s Criollo Restaurant & Lounge – which by the way, the hotel has totally redone their bar and restaurant and it is fantastic! Open for breakfast and lunch, they just recently added a dinner menu! Led by Chef de Cuisine Joseph Maynard and Executive Chef Randolph Buck, Criollo’s (Spanish for “Creole”) dishes are infused with traditional Creole flavors and spices.

A Softshell Crab BLT…one of the many tasty dishes served at Criollo!

Tales is also about celebrating the rich and vibrant cocktail culture worldwide and awarding those who should be best recognized for their excellence. During the Spirited Awards, I was more than happy to cheer for all the winners whom I am all big fans of: Liquor.com for Best Cocktail Writing – Non-Book, David Wondrich for Best Cocktail Writing – Author, Jim Meehan for his The PDT Cocktail Book for Best New Cocktail/Bartending Book, and so many more. And congrats to the always fabulous Gaz Regan for receiving the Helen Davis Lifetime Achievement Award. It was definitely a great Tales and I am looking forward to next year’s!

The Ultimate Flavor Experience in Newport Beach
Every year at the Flavor Experience, culinary experts, corporate taste makers and restaurant owners come together to discuss and taste the emerging flavor trends and ideas in the culinary world. Hosted in Newport Beach, California, associates Heather Jones, Danny Ronen and I presented during opening night the Monin BYOC (Build Your Own Cocktail) bar where we featured my Honey Lemon Collins and my Agave Lime Margarita! BYOC attendees could add in any sorts of flavors like Citrus Blood Orange, Bella (red and yellow bell peppers, Ginger Syrup, and a Habanero Lime Syrup), and so on!

The Monin Build-Your-Own-Cocktail Bar at Flavor!

The second night we shook up drinks at our Flowers & Herbs Bar – featuring Garden Inspired Cocktails! From cocktails like my Rose Tequila Sage, Picking Flowers Champagne Cocktail, Zen Blossom and Strawberry Lavender Shag, tasters had a garden variety of drinks to sample.

Gardening for my bar display!

The Liquid Kitchen team keeping things HOT in Newport Beach!
(Our silly chili pepper photo!)

Then I headed home…
…to judge the 3rd Annual Foster Farms Fresh Chicken Cooking Competition – Washington Regional Finals held at my Food Studios. Out of thousands of Washington entrée recipes, contest organizers narrowed it down to the 5 lucky contestants to battle it out at my Food Studios. It was a tight competition – all the dishes were super tasty – but only two could be picked to move on to the next round. So congratulations to Washington’s own Sandra Gray and Rebecca Cameron! They move on to the grand finale held in Napa Valley for the grand prize of $10,000 and a year’s worth of fresh Foster Farms’ chicken! Good luck, we’ll be rooting for you both! Make sure to visit Foster Farms’ website for the final winning recipe. Check out blogger Traca Savadogo’s fantastic recap of the event of the Washington finals.

Guest Judges Jamie Peha, myself and Cynthia Nims… and a lil’ Foster Farm’s Chicken!

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Serious Sippin’ with the Liquid Kitchen^TM

Season 3 of Kathy Casey’s Liquid Kitchen is airing weekly. This season started off with great summer cocktail videos and recipes like my Bloody Good Balsamic Mary (perfect for using that garden produce) and Housemade Bitter Lemon with Gin as well as cocktails for a crowd like Metaxa Sangria. Upcoming episodes like Maple Bourbon Old Fashioned (bourbon, REAL maple syrup, and bitters) and Fair Isle (scotch, Cocchi aperitif, fresh grapefruit juice and bitters) will be great to toast the fall weather. And if you’re an oyster lover then stay tuned for my video on Citrus Splashed Taylor Shellfish Oysters on the Half Shell served alongside an aquavit-based Citrus Scandi cocktail. New episodes air every Tuesday on Small Screen Network or catch them on YouTube.

Bloody Good Balsamic Mary
Get creative with your garnishes for brunch in a glass.

Makes 1 drink

1 1/2 – 2 ounces Bloody Good Vodka (recipe follows) or your favorite vodka

4 ounces Balsamic Mary Mix (recipe follows)
Garnish ideas: assorted olives, sliced salumi, cheese, fun pickled veggies, rosemary sprigs

Fill a large Old Fashioned or tall glass with ice. Measure in the infused vodka and Mary mix. Stir. Garnish with an assortment of tasty garnishes on a pick.

Bloody Good Vodka
Makes 1 1/2 cups, enough for about 8 drinks

1 1/2 cups vodka
1/4 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes (not packed in oil)
1 small sprig fresh basil
1 small sprig fresh thyme
5 peppercorns crushed
1 small dried red chili (if you like it hot)
2 cloves garlic

Combine all ingredients in a 4-cup glass jar. Cover and let infuse at room temperature for 24 – 36 hours. Strain the vodka, pressing out as much liquid as possible, and discard the solids. Store in a bottle, tightly capped, for up to 6 months.

Balsamic Mary Mix
Makes about 4 cups, enough for about 8 drinks

1 vine ripe tomato
1/2 ea red bell pepper, halved and seeded
1/4 ea English cucumber
1 cloves garlic
3 cups tomato juice
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 Tbsp. soy sauce
1 Tbsp. prepared horseradish (or use fresh grated done on a micro plainer)
1/4 tsp. freshly ground or coarse black pepper
1 Tbsp. kosher salt
1/2 tsp. celery seed

Combine all ingredients in a Vita Mix Bar Boss Advance blender cup. Blend on setting #3. Mixture should be almost smooth – but a few particulates are remaining for texture. Refrigerate for up to 1 week.

Recipe by Kathy Casey Liquid Kitchen^TM

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Tasty & Libatious Reads

Sip Northwest
If you live in the Pacific Northwest, make sure you pick up the latest issue of Sip Northwest Magazine! The fall Harvest Issue covers posh tailgating, farmer’s markets, d’lish pumpkin ales and more. Make sure to check out my column Shake Swizzle & Stir where I share a quick recap of who represented the Northwest at this year’s Tales of the Cocktail, as well as share some of my tasty cocktail recipes. How about a P-Town Martini (Imbue Bittersweet Vermouth and Aviation Gin) to whet your whistle?

UrbanSpoon
UrbanSpoon recently launched their Urban Guides, a fun new way of finding all the hotspots in town. When they approached me for my fave eateries and bars, I was more than happy to share! I cover some of my d’lish destinations in Seattle, Portland, Los Angeles, New Orleans, and Washington, D.C. Make sure to check it out!

Iconic Spirits: An Intoxicating History
Ever wondered why absinthe was banned in several countries? Or how gin almost ruined the British empire? Author, wine and spirits guru, and NPR radio host Mark Spivak answers those questions and more in his new book Iconic Spirits: An Intoxicating History. Writing about the elusive history of the cocktail culture, he guides readers in a fun adventure covering twelve iconic
spirits. To top it all off, he shares lots of d’lish cocktail recipes, including my Rye’Invention and Rosemary Mandarin Sparkle! You can pre-order now so make sure you save yourself a copy!

Food & Wine Cocktails 2012
For all you cocktail enthusiasts, make sure you pick up the annual Food & Wine Cocktails 2012! This book covers all the classic cocktails, including inspired sips. I contributed this year with my take on the classic French 75! Make sure you pick up a copy today.

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New Restaurant Hot Spot and New Cocktails!

Good friends Michelle Quisenberry and Chef Don Curtiss have opened their 2^nd location of the popular Ballard’s Volterra Restaurant, featuring Tuscan-inspired cuisine in Kirkland, Washington! I was more than honored to be part of the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony.

(Photo courtesy of the Seattle PI blog)

Volterra Kirkland is open nightly for dinner service from 5:00 – 11:00pm and beginning in October 1^st, will be available for lunch service and happy hour as well as their famous Sunday Brunches! Don’t forget to check out Kirkland’s new cocktail menu, featuring Italian-inspired sipping like my Asti Cucumber Collins (vodka, fresh lemon juice, simple, Cocchi Americano and soda bubbles, topped with cucumber foam)!

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Where’s Kathy?

Sip for SIFF
Earlier this month my team and I were thrilled to make the signature cocktail for the annual Sip for SIFF event, supporting Seattle International Film Festival. Attendees sipped on my Liquid Kitchen Ultimate Champagne Cocktail with Honey Lemon Cointreau Foam.! This year the event raised over $90,000! Way to go!

Jason, Heather, Me and Erwin at Sip for SIFF

Come see me at – Battle of the Chefs
Thursday, October 11th from 6:00 – 9:00pm @ Bradlee Distributors
Luxe Interiors + Design & Bradlee Distributors in Seattle is hosting the second annual Battle of the Chefs event. This “Iron Chef” style competition will pit six teams against each other in a one-hour cook-off! I’ve been asked to be a celebrity judge and am looking forward to tasting all the dishes. Make sure you buy your tickets for this fun event!

I’m a model at – Ruby Room’s Annual Fashion Show
Saturday, October 13th at 5:30pm @ Seattle Center Fisher Pavillion
The Ruby Room is a wonderful nonprofit organization that helps provide formal gowns to high school girls who are unable to purchase their own dance attire. Their Annual Fashion Show & Auction is an exciting evening where local designers create and show-off some fun designs. There’ll be a DJ to spin fun music, tasty food and more. Yours truly will be modeling Not Your Mama’s Aprons down the runway! Make sure you get your tickets soon!

I hope that you’ve enjoyed reading our summer adventures and here’s wishing you a delicious Fall! – Cheers, Kathy

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This week on Kathy Casey’s Liquid Kitchen, treat yourself to my Liquid Indulgence! Perfect as an after dinner sweet, The Quiet One from Vitamix expertly blends ice, vanilla ice cream, brewed espresso and caramel. Add a float of mezcal and a pinch fleur de sel for a fun way to end your meal.

 Salud! -Kathy

If you love chocolate, this blog is for you – it’s all about chocolate! The Northwest Chocolate Festival is almost here! Taking place Saturday, September 29^th and Sunday the 30^th at the Washington State Convention Center, it is sure to be a d’lish time for all!

Make sure you check out this tasty event!

There’ll be two-days’ worth of demos, tastings and vendors abound each centered on the delectable treat – chocolate! Learn about where chocolate comes from, how it is made, the social issues surrounding its production – and even how the differences percentages of cacao (ka – cow) differ in taste.

Whether you’re a die-hard chocolate lover or a casual nibbler, make sure you buy your tickets in advanced. Yum!

And if you just can’t wait to get there  – try my recipe for Chocolate-Cherry Pound Cake! I love to top it with a scoop of chocolate cherry ice cream, and drunken cherries. Chocolates and cherries are such a classic combo. And dried Northwest cherries are available in both dark sweet and tart red varieties. I like to use the tare ones in this cake to contrast with the richness of the chocolate. Check out the Chukar Cherry Company – they have been producing all-natural choice dried cherries since 1988!

I’d love to hear what some of your favorite chocolate recipes are. – Kathy

Chocolate-Cherry Pound Cake à la mode with Drunken Tart Cherries
Makes 8 servings

Cake
8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (regular, not Dutch process)
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup milk
3/4 cup dried tart cherries
1 cup (6 ounces) bittersweet chocolate chips or chunks

Glaze
1/2 cup (3 ounces) bittersweet chocolate chips or chunks
1/4 cup heavy cream

Chocolate cherry ice cream or other ice cream of your choice
Drunken Tart Cherries (recipe follows)

Preheat an oven to 350°F. Butter and flour a 5-by-9 1/4-inch nonstick loaf pan and set aside.

To make the cake, cream the butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer until very fluffy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, until thoroughly incorporated, scraping down the sides of the bowl often. Beat in the vanilla.

In a small bowl, mix the flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture, in three parts, to the butter mixture alternately with the milk, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Mix only until well combined; do not overmix.

Remove the bowl from the mixer and fold in the cherries and chocolate chips. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan, filling evenly. Rap the pan sharply on a counter several times to release any air bubbles, then smooth the surface of the batter.

Bake for about 50 to 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Rotate the pan after the first 30 minutes of baking.

Unmold the cake and turn it right side up. Let cool thoroughly on a wire rack before glazing.

To make the glaze, in a small saucepan or in a microwave oven, gently heat the chocolate and cream until the chocolate is just melting. Remove from the heat and stir until the chocolate is thoroughly melted and mixture is smooth. Let cool to almost room temperature but still liquid. Pour over the cooled cake. Let the glaze set for 15 minutes before serving.

To serve, slice the cake into 16 slices and serve 2 slices, shingled, per serving. Top with a scoop of ice cream and a spoonful of cherries with their syrup.

Drunken Tart Cherries
Makes 1 cup

1 cup pitted dried tart cherries
1/4 cup amaretto liqueur
3 tablespoons sugar
1/4 cup boiling water

Mix the cherries, amaretto, and sugar in a small bowl. Pour the boiling water over the cherries and stir well. Cover and let sit at room temperature for at least 12 hours before using. Store, refrigerated, for up to 2 months.

Recipe from Kathy Casey’s Northwest Table, Chronicle Books

This week on Kathy Casey’s Liquid Kitchen, I make an Evander Old Fashioned! My creative take on this Golden Age classic uses two of my favorite spirits: gin and rye whiskey! Along with a housemade Spiced Angostura Syrup, Cointreau and a dash of peach bitters, this cocktail is perfect to sip on during the coming fall season.

Sláinte! -Kathy

Good things do come in small packages; sliders are a tasty example of that testament. These two-bite (sometimes one-bite!) wonders are popping up everywhere from restaurant menus to food trucks!

If you’re a slider fan and want to make them at home, don’t worry! They are super-simple to make. Belltown’s Macrina Bakery makes fresh, little slider-sized buns and there are grocery store mini-bun options and alternatives, too.

Lamb sliders!
(Photo from Kathy Casey’s Sips & Apps, Chronicle Books – Angie Norwood Browne)

Lamb, salmon, buffalo, tuna, sliced steak … anything gourmet burgers can do, sliders can do. They aren’t your average burgers and flavor combos are endless from barbecue pulled pork on ‘slaw to deep-fried clam fritters with a citrus aioli.

For your next get-together, set-up a DIY slider bar. Put out a few different mini-patties, some great local mini-buns, and lots of fun condiments – spicy chipotle mayo, horseradish aioli, blue cheese, tarragon mustard, pickled red onions, zingy slaw, and even grilled pineapple – yum!

For the last days of summer, think small and dish out big flavor with sliders! -Kathy

Lamb Sliders with Zingy Spread and Arugula & Roasted Peppers
I also like to top the hot burgers with dollops of soft goat cheese for a tasty variation.

Makes 16

Zingy Spread
3/4 cup mayonnaise, or use 3/8 cup mayonnaise and 3/8 cup plain yogurt
1 1/2 tablespoons whole-grain mustard
1 teaspoon prepared horseradish
1 tablespoon minced fresh garlic

Burger Mixture
3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons minced fresh rosemary
3 tablespoons minced onion
2 teaspoons minced fresh garlic
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 pounds ground lamb, or substitute beef

Accompaniments
16 small slider buns
Thinly sliced red or sweet onions
Roasted peppers, cut in strips
Baby arugula

To make the spread: Mix the ingredients together well. Cover and refrigerate, for up to 2 days, until needed.

To make the burger mixture: In a bowl, mix the pepper, mustard, rosemary, onion, garlic, vinegar, and salt. Mix in the lamb until thoroughly combined. Divide the mixture into 16 portions. Shape into patties, about 2 inches in diameter.

Heat a medium or large nonstick skillet or sauté pan over medium-high to high heat. Working in batches without crowding the pan, sauté the patties until just done, about 2 -3 minutes per side. (You can also grill the patties)

If you want to serve the buns warm, wrap them in aluminum foil and reheat in a 375-degree F oven.

To serve, split the buns and spread with the Zingy Spread. Place the patties on buns and top with onions, roasted peppers and arugula as desired. Close the burgers and secure with picks.

Recipe adapted from; Kathy Casey Sips & Apps, Chronicle Books

This week on Kathy Casey’s Liquid Kitchen, I make my Bloody Good Balsamic Mary! Have a summer’s bounty of garden goodies? Use them in my creative Bloody Mary recipe. Housemade Bloody Good-infused Vodka along with a tasty Balsamic Mary mix (made with my Vitamix Bar Boss Advance blender) makes for the perfect Sunday brunch drink. Don’t forget to get creative with the garnishes!

To life! -Kathy

This week on Kathy Casey’s Liquid Kitchen, I make a Gin with House-made Bitter Lemon and Soda! Home-made syrups give an added to touch when shaking/stirring up cocktails, both in the overall quality and flavor of the drink. And it’s super easy to make my House-Made Bitter Lemon when using the Vitamix Bar Boss Advance: cut up whole lemons (peel and all!) and pulse with sugar and water until smooth. Add this syrup with some gin and Perrier Natural Sparkling Water and you’re ready for some laid-back summer sippin’!

To good health! -Kathy

Everyone loves lemonade and it’s no surprise that summer and citrus go hand in hand. But why not change things up a bit – save those lemons for later and whip up a batch of limeade!

Mix fresh squeezed lime juice with a sweetener (local honey, simple syrup, agave nectar, etc.) and add a lengthener (soda water, coconut water, etc.).  It’s just that easy!

How about muddling in some fresh mint and berries or cilantro with juicy watermelon? Let your creative juices flow! For the grown-ups, a splash of vodka, light rum, silver tequila or gin will do just nicely!

My Minty Lime Cooler is a super easy way to spruce up a limeade using a zesty syrup made with fresh lime zest, mint sprigs, sugar and water. Once it’s cooled, mix in freshly squeezed lime juice and lengthen with water for a truly refreshing sip.

So for this long holiday weekend try mixing it up with a deliciously thirst-quenching pitcher of limeade! -Kathy

Photo by Kathy Casey Liquid Kitchen for Paramount Citrus

Minty Lime Cooler
Zesty lime syrup and fresh mint make for a refreshing drink, perfect for outdoor entertaining.

Makes 8 to 10 servings

3 Tbsp lime zest from Paramount Citrus® limes
8 large sprigs fresh mint
2 cups sugar
2 cups water
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1 1/2 cups freshly squeezed Paramount Citrus lime juice
3 cups water (or substitute soda water if serving right away)
Garnish: lime wedge, fresh mint sprigs

Combine the zest, mint, sugar, and 2 cups of water in a saucepan. Bring to a quick boil over high heat. Boil for 1 minute then remove from heat. Let sit for 30 minutes to allow the mint to steep and the syrup to cool.

Remove and discard mint from syrup. In a large pitcher, combine the cooled syrup, lime juice, and 3 cups of water. Serve over ice in a tall glass garnished with lime wedges and mint. Keep refrigerated for up to 1 week.

Recipe developed by Kathy Casey Food Studios® for Paramount Citrus