I hosted my first TGIF event tonight and the booze du jour was Gin. I wasn't exactly sure how I was to structure this event, because really, I just wanted to hang loose. Some of my events are very structured where there is a definite education aspect but tonight I winged it.... and I'm go glad I did. Rather than boring folks with the history and details about gin or providing demos of how to make certain drinks using gin, I opened it up for folks to experiment.
I provided 3 types of gin & a vermouth, carbonated beverages, fruit nectars & juices and ice. It was a chance for folks to get hands on and concoct their own drinks and play with ingredients they may not have had the chance to try on their own.
1 part Tanqueray Rampur
2 parts mango nectar
highball filled with ice
ginger ale
Fill highball with ice. Combine gin & nectar; stir.
Pour mixture over ice and top with ginger ale.
2 parts mango nectar
highball filled with ice
ginger ale
Fill highball with ice. Combine gin & nectar; stir.
Pour mixture over ice and top with ginger ale.
For dinner, we had a hodge podge of eats that folks brought in and some of which I prepared:
Crab Canapes from Yumi:
Cilantro Cream and Blue Cheese Spread
from Louis (aka Joelen):
Pumpernickel Cucumber Squares from Curtis:
Fresh Pita & Hummus from Ruby & Joe
and Baba Ganhoush from Teresa:
and Baba Ganhoush from Teresa:
Sauteed Veggies w/Truffle Salt from Joelen:
Broccoli Quiche from Charity & Garrett:
Vietnamese Shrimp Salad from Linda:
Cheese Tortellini w/Vegetable Ragu from Joelen:
Chicken Alfredo Bake from Joelen:
Baklava Platter from Ruby & Joe:
Cherry Tartletts from Joelen:
Chocolate Ganache Tart from Harv:
Strawberry Angelfood Cake Salad from Nancy:
After dinner we played a round of Foodie Fight and awarded the prize of the night...
That sounds like fun! I have heard of a lot of people having similar parties. My parents aren't party people (or foodies) but I hope to host some "when I grow up."
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun idea for Friday nights! One of my girlfriends and I were thinking about doing a similar thing with a different kind of wine each time...so when we run out we'll move on to hard liquor! :) The food looks yummy too!
ReplyDeleteWhat fun. I so never drink Gin so I think that would have been a good event for me so that I could play around with it.
ReplyDeletewow what a fun night....great idea!
ReplyDeleteThatboy loves gin, but it alwyas tastes like bathwater to me.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like SO much fun! What a great idea! :-) Oh, BTW, those cherry tartlets looked so yummy!
ReplyDeleteThat looks like an incredibly fun evening. The food and drinks look delicious! What a great idea to use the fruit nectar as a mixer. Great way to kick off the weekend!
ReplyDeleteyum!! so much fun :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun event! I love it.
ReplyDelete