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Sunday, February 27, 2011

Booze Clues: What Cocktails to Serve at your Oscars Party

 

A Toast to The Stars Shining

You and your friends have seen this year’s blockbusters. You’ve debated their merits and chosen your favorites.  If you’ve decided to throw an Oscars viewing soiree, you may be wondering what to sip as the Academy makes its opinions known. Here are a few nominee-themed cocktail suggestions.

Bombay Sapphire Royal Tea (The King’s Speech)

Bombay Sapphire Royal Tea ShoesNBooze

 

2 oz. BOMBAY SAPPHIRE Gin

1 oz. Earl Grey Tea Infused Simple Syrup

1 oz. Fresh lemon

1 oz. Egg white

¾ oz. Fresh lemon juice

½ Rock Candy

2 Dashes orange bitters

Topped with a Bitter Orange Espuma*

Combine gin, tea infused simple syrup and lemon juice in a shaker over ice, shake vigorously.  Double strain into a tea cup.  Beat espuma mix until thick and foamy, spoon into tea cup, on top of Sapphire mixture.  Put a pinch of tea leaves in center, garnish with a stick of orange bitters rock candy on the side of the tea saucer.

Black Ice (Black Swan)

Cointreau Black Ice ShoesNBooze

3 oz. Cointreau Noir

Ice cubes

Pour over ice and enjoy

Dobel Jab (The Fighter)

Dobel Jab ShoesNBooze

 

1 1/2 oz DOBEL Tequila

1/2 oz Creme de Cassis

1 lime wedge

Ginger beer

Combine DOBEL tequila, orange curacao and vermouth with ice. Shake and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a pineapple wedge.

Friend Me Punch (The Social Network)

Friend Me Punch ShoesNBooze

2 oz. Flor De CaƱa 7-year Grand Reserve

4 sugar cubes

3 green cardamom pods (can be found at any spice shop)

3oz. club soda

1oz. lime juice

1 oz. grapefruit juice

1 dash of Regan's Orange bitters

Dissolve the sugar cubes in 1 oz. of soda water (this generally involves muddling to help process). Muddle the cardamom pods with the sugar cubes. After the sugar cubes and cloves are muddled/dissolved, add the rest of the ingredients one at a time and stir as added. Add ice once all of the ingredients have been added and stirred. Stir the punch until it is chilled.

Cheers!

(Stay Tuned for an upcoming Red Carpet Shoe Recap!)

 

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Wear or Beware? Alexander McQueen Sculpted Wedge sandals

 

Gold Leafing

Alexander McQeen Sculpted wedge ShoesNBooze

Two things that will never go out of style (at least in my humble opinion): T-straps and metallics. However, when you put them on a 1 1/5 inch platform and add a 5 1/2 inch wedge heel that’s sculpted to look like leaves wafting in the wind, it becomes a masterpiece (available at Neiman Marcus). This Alexander Mcqueen wedge from the S/S ‘11 collection is definitely a sight. The question, though, is could/ would you wear it? If so, with what and to where? I’ve got some ideas, but I’d like to know yours. Haute couture or hot mess?

Monday, February 14, 2011

Red Carpet Recap: 53rd Annual Grammy Awards

Shoe-Ins

Last night, many of us sat glued to our televisions and twitter streams to see who’d win which award and who’d wear whom on the red carpet at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards. Our eyes were on the shoes, of course. Lots of ladies clearly loved Christian Louboutin (Lea Michele, Heidi Klum, Rihanna) and Brian Atwood (Kim Kardashian, Eva Longoria, Diana Agron), but there were also a few other stand outs.

Pleaser Women's Taboo-708CM Platform Sandal,Clear,7 M US53rd Grammys Lady Gaga Arrival ShoesNBooze 

Lady Gaga arrived in an egg-like pod, so we were deprived of her red carpet shoe statement. Still, the lone female model among its escorts wore a stripperific pair of perspex platforms. (Could there be a social comment somewhere in dressing like condoms and accenting the look with stripper/ porn star shoes?)

Christian Louboutin Very Mix Pumps ShoesNBooze53rd Grammys Jennifer Lopez ShoesNBooze 

Jennifer Lopez had a “steppin’ out in my Louboutins” moment. She accented her mirrored Emilio Pucci mini with a pair of Christian Louboutin “Very Mix” studded, peep toed, platform pumps (originally made for the Marchesa 2011 resort collection).

Liza F Azlund Recycle Shoes ShoesNBoozeEsperanza Spalding Feb. 14 

Best New Artist winner, Esperanza Spalding (who really isn’t that new- but is a GREAT artist- and received threats after beating out Justin Beiber for the award), chose a pink pair of “Recylcle” shoes by Fredrika Aslund to accent her lime green gown.

Casadei 6402 pump ShoesNBooze53rd Grammys Katy Perry ShoesNBooze 

Then there was Katy Perry in a luminescent, ethereal winged Armani Prive gown and Swarovski crystal-jeweled Casadei 6402 platform pumps (available at Endless.com).

Christian Louboutin Futura ShoesNBoozeonstage during The 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards held at Staples Center on February 13, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. 

Perhaps the most talked-about shoes of the night, though were on the feet of Gweneth Paltrow as she performed “Forget You” with Cee-Lo Green. Her Christian Louboutin “Futura” booties (available to regular people in brown via Net-A-Porter) were the perfect complement to Cee-Lo’s feathers and puppets. (I think it would have been a hoot if she’d worn the Massimo Dogana F U booties I mentioned recently.)

(Images via FootwearNews.com, Wire Image, Coolspotters.com and the e-tailers found by clicking links)

Booze Review (Valentine’s Day Edition): Exclusiv Vodka

An Exclusiv Relationship

My favorite Valentine’s Day gift this year came from Exclusiv Vodka. The package arrived a bit early, but that gave me time to sip, mix and get acquainted with the Moldovan vodka before our big date.

Exculsiv VodkaFirst kiss (sip): Very simple. Slightly sweet, but pretty clean. Considering its low price point, it surprisingly managed not to taste like rubbing alcohol. Still, it definitely had a kick and quite a bit of spice.

Introduction to the crew (mixing): It definitely plays nicely with others. When introduced to orange juice, cranberry juice and other flavors, it blended well. It didn’t leave the aftertaste I’ve experienced with some other lower cost vodkas.


Cupid’s Arrow: An Exclusiv Valentine (recipe trademarked by Daniel Seelbinder)

Exclusiv Valentine ShoesNBooze

1 1/2 oz Exclusiv Vodka
1/2 oz raspberry liquor
1/2 oz simple syrup
5 rose petals
champagne
In a collins glass, muddle rose petals and simple syrup add ice. Pour vodka and raspberry liquor then fill with champagne.
 
This cocktail was crisp and effervescent, but just sweet enough to be romantic. It looks gorgeous, too. I’ll probably add it to the list of cocktails my friends and I consume at gatherings (sans rose petals).

Post-date opinion (review): We can hang out, but I will definitely have to see other vodkas. It’s great for shots and for mixing, but I can’t see myself sipping it solo on the rocks or using it in a simple martini.

Shoe Pairing:

Sergio Zelcer Women's Capri Shootie,Fuchsia,7 M
Sergio Zelcer Capri Bootie (avail. via Amazon.com)

 

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Friday, February 11, 2011

Wear or Beware? Massimo Dogana F U Shoes

 

Shooting the Bird

Massimo Dogana FU Sandals ShoesNBooze

Massimo Dogana FU Bootie ShoesNBooze

I once read in a book (The Shoe Queen” by Anna Davis) that “Shoes connect us to the world, you know, in the most direct physical sense.” Well, if that’s the case, then there are quite a few days when these Massimo Dogana F U shoes (available at Gregory’s Shoes) would come in handy. My question to you is could/ would you wear them? If they’re up your alley, what would you wear them with, and to where? According to the Fug Girls, Ashanti Recently wore a pair to the BCBG Max Azria show, and she paired them with a body-con black and white leopard print dress (image HERE). I’ve got my opinion, but I’d like to know yours. Haute Couture, or hot mess?

Runway Recap: NYFW RTW Fall 2011- Feb 10

 

The Standouts

Christian Siriano (Tough Luxe)

Christian Siriano AW 11 Green Pump ShoesNBooze

Christian Siriano AW 11 Black platform ShoesNBooze

Christian Siriano AW 11 Black Wedge ShoesNBooze

(Images via Elle.com)

Rachel Comey (Simple staples in great colors)

(Images via Style.com)

 

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Booze News: Belvedere Vodka x (RED)™

 

On the RED Team

Belvedere REDBelvedere Vodka has joined forces with (RED)TM for (BELVEDERE)RED. Starting this coming holiday season, they’ll release a specially designed bottle, and half the proceeds from its sales will go to The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The partnership will be celebrated tomorrow night with a pre-Grammys event featuring a live performance by Usher (the celebrity ambassador for the initiative) and an installation by critically acclaimed artist, Carsten Holler. (BELVEDERE)RED will be available as of September 2011.