FOOD + ENTERTAINING
Season’ s Bounty
STRAWBERRY FIELDS
Makes 1 cocktail
Seasonality is just as important with cocktails as it is with food. In this Bottega creation, we have the flavor of spring in a martini glass, to be made only when aromatic strawberries are at their sweet prime.
2½ ounces strawberry-infused vodka( see box)
1½ ounces lemonade A strawberry half
Pour the vodka and lemonade into a cocktail shaker half filled with ice. Shake and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with the strawberry. STRAWBERRY-INFUSED VODKA
Combine a bottle( 750 ml) of vodka with 4 pounds stemmed ripe strawberries and let sit in a cool, dark place for two weeks. Strain and sweeten with Simple Syrup( recipe below) if desired. You can use the same technique to infuse vodka with other fruits.
SIMPLE SYRUP
Makes 2 cups
Keep simple syrup on hand for mixing cocktails or sweetening your tea or fresh-squeezed lemonade.
2 cups sugar 2 cups water
Combine the sugar and water in a small heavy saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring and swirling to dissolve the sugar. Dip a pastry brush in hot water and wipe down the sides of the pan to dissolve any sugar crystals that cling to the sides. Simmer for two minutes, then remove from the heat and let cool.
Simple syrup keeps for weeks in a tightly sealed jar in the refrigerator.
Photo: Bottega
Excerpted from Bottega Favorita by Frank Stitt( Artisan Books). Copyright 2008. Christopher Hirsheimer photographer.
SPRING 2017 37