During my summer staycation, I have been researching trends and pairings in the cocktail and wine industry. One trendy new idea intrigued me so much that I decided to try it out myself. The idea of drinking whiskey, bourbon, and rye with a slice of pizza, or the whole pie, sounded both savory and delicious. So, I set out on a journey to create the most delicious whiskey, bourbon, and rye cocktails that could pair well with pizza. Pizza is a favorite of everyone. It’s comfort food, right? I know what you are thinking. Pizza and whiskey, nah! Pizza and wine, yes! After doing my research I found ..read more

New Orleans is unquestionably a food and beverage city—locals and visitors are accustomed to having their every food whim met with readily available, flavor-packed dining experiences. The last four months, however, have delivered night after night of home-cooked (and likely microwaved) meals at the same old kitchen table. This month, the Downtown seafood and spirit specialists of Briquette are looking to change all of that. Briquette’s new Staycation Dinner Series welcomes residents tired of their own worn-out recipes to stop in for some socially distant, contemporary coastal food and fun. The ..read more

With the New Orleans heat and humidity punishing everyone during the dog days of Summer, I always seek refreshing ways to beat the heat and enjoy a cocktail while unwinding in the pool, reading on the porch, or having dinner with friends. Summertime is also the perfect time to experiment with cocktails using fresh fruit. For the cocktails featured in this article, I used freshly ripe pineapples, mangos, strawberries, and pears. I was able to use the pears, strawberries, and mint from my garden. It brings me great joy to be able to use fruit and produce that I have grown. Also, I played with in ..read more

Trying the new pre-mixed cocktails and seltzers in a can available in our market has been the most fun and the easiest job this girl has had in a while. I partnered with Republic National Distributors to do some research on the hottest trend in the liquor industry right now. These cans went to French Quarter Fest, a crawfish boil, poolside, and Jazz Fest pre-gaming. After this was over, I truly felt like a SELTZPERT! So, here is the low down on these delicious products: Perfect for poolside, beach, and afternoon sipping was Malibu Cocktail: Pina Colada & Pineapple Bay B ..read more

Spring is in the air, and this is the perfect season to enjoy some light and refreshing drinks with botanicals, seasonal fruit, and GIN. Many people have a love/ hate relationship with gin. Others have a life memory involving gin. A lot of people when they think of it order the classics like gin & tonic or a gin martini; however, with the wide range of herbal ingredients and distinct styles, gin is being reimagined with a variety of cocktails. I feel like gin is making a comeback, and I decided to craft some cocktails with different brands using different botanicals and aging processes. Th ..read more

The idea for Shaken Up NOLA Craft Cocktail Classes was born out of the pandemic and came to life in 2022. During the pandemic I was trying to produce fun creative ways to engage guests in a small group setting in the restaurant. I was brainstorming ideas over cocktails and thought, “Why not do craft cocktail classes over lunch or dinner?” A light bulb went off in my head… We have a ton of great food tours, cocktail tours, and ghost tours in NOLA; so why not a craft cocktail tour or class paired with a 3-course lunch or brunch? When traveling, I certainly enjoy getting to taste the culinary del ..read more

I miss holiday travel, and especially the beloved Christmas markets that pop up in Europe this time of year. Nothing gets you in the spirit like walking around these markets with a warm holiday cocktail, smelling the delicious aromas of traditional Christmas fare, and seeing all the smiling faces of vendors selling their cheese, sweets, and hand made goods. So, with this mind I wanted to re-create these festive memories at home this Holiday season. Our first stop on the holiday drinking-around-the-world tour is the Christmas market in Nuremburg, Germany, home to the famous Gluhwein – German mu ..read more

There are plenty of classic cocktails that are gone but not forgotten. Everyone is serving versions of the Old Fashion and the Manhattan, but what about the others that were favorites back in the day? I decided to play around and bring some of those “old school” drinks back to life. THE ALABAMA SLAMMER Loved by the college crowds in the 80s served as a shaken shot but was made famous by Brett Favre. 1 oz amaretto 1 oz sloe gin 1 oz Southern Comfort 3 ounces orange juice Mix all ingredients in a shaker tin filled with ice and strain into a shot glass. THE SALTY DOG A drink that dates to the ..read more

We all know by now that living in NOLA during the Summer is HOT! So, I have decided to work on some refreshing hand- crafted cocktails that are perfect for beating the NOLA heat. All of these cocktails will use fresh berries or juices to enhance the hand- crafted cocktail experience. I will be featuring products from Sovereign Brands. Y’all, they produce the best products using high quality ingredients, and their bottles are so beautiful; true works of art on your bar. First up McQueen and the Violet Fog Gin cocktails. McQueen has 21 botanicals; including six that are rarely found in gin. This ..read more

Like many of you, the stay-at-home order has unleashed in me many emotions (sometimes all in one day). It has also taught me new things about myself. For instance, I do have a green thumb and I really do like tequila. While sweatily planting my herb garden one afternoon, I started thinking about ways to cool off in this NOLA heat. Let’s face it…we only had spring temperatures for half of March, then the heat started. As I began looking at the blooming lavender, mint, and rosemary, my mind started working creatively again, which was fun. Frozen Craft Daquiris was my “ah-ha” moment. I missed goi ..read more