Don’t ever design a cocktail menu for high schoolers.  Empire Hotel, I am looking at you.
EE and I headed to the Empire Hotel this week for a drink in the Lobby Bar.  It’s in our neighborhood, and EE loves their logo (duh), which is not only monogrammed on everything monogrammable, but also forms the pattern of the carpets, and [...]

(EE-craftiness: part of a heart garland.)

I love Valentine’s Day.  I view it as an ideal holiday, and strenuously disagree with those who consider it to be over-commercialized, depressing, and all the rest.  Valentine’s is a bright spot in in the otherwise desolate month of February (at least in the Northeast).  Even before the days of EE, I [...]

An N.A. Cleanser.  Serve it on the rocks, or in a flute.  With brunch, or at cocktail hour.

If you read lots of drinking/mixology blogs, you will have noted that January is practically international sobriety month.  Everyone needs a break after the holidays.  Here in Tessin land, we try for a little more balance [...]

When I make drinks for people, I am frequently asked how or why I created the drink.  To me the answer seemed obvious: grab some bottles, pour, mix, taste.  Upon reflection, however, I realized that I do always have some sort of target.  The inspiration for that target can take many forms. 
A drink target could involve an [...]

Company-style parties at The Plaza are, in fact, cooler than parties at The Waldorf, B-List museums, loft ‘event spaces’, or less historied (and luxe) other hotels.  To be sure, we are still talking about ballroom-style events, but The Plaza has ballrooms on two floors with a cool marble mezzanine level in between.
Coordinated variations on a strong milieu are good [...]

Cranberry-infused Gin with Tonic (plus some squirrel candles)
EE and I are uber-excited to be hosting Thanksgiving dinner this year!  Because we live far from our families, and because I’m working on Friday, we are staying in Manhattan.  This will be our first chance to see the parade, and our first major holiday together without the presence of [...]

Pomplamoose (the band) is awesome, as I’ve said previously.  Pomplamoose (the word) is awesome. Say it with me, slowly to appreciate it, Pah-mm-p-la-mmoooooo-ssse.  So fun.  I’m even going to say it again to myself.  Really, thank you France for creating such a cool word for a pretty lame fruit.
I’m OK with grapefruit. I went through a [...]

I’d settle for aeroplanes having cocktail shakers, but I wouldn’t mind an aeroplane shaker…
 
I’m not exactly a frequent flier, and I don’t usually drink when I fly, but an overnight trip to Chicago gave me the opportunity to see what I could do with American’s coach beverage selection.  Since American also has wi-fi onboard, I [...]

I have taken mixology somewhere it has never been.  Luckily, mixology will survive.
EE was making dinner last weekend, her first Sunday chili of the colder months, and I was puttering around in my mixology cabinet, trying to create a chili-friendly cocktail.  EE had left some New York sharp cheddar cheese on the counter cut and [...]

If you’ve ever been to a Mexican food restaurant, then you should be familiar with the margarita.  Anyone who has lived in Texas for any period of time should be familiar with this simple masterpiece.  Falling into both camps myself, I am very familiar with the margarita. Very.
Here’s the good news: margaritas are simple and customizable.  I truly [...]