With this year’s fall just around the corner, the last summer days in the District are calling for one last pool session or simply an afternoon relaxing at an open-air restaurant. And what better accompaniment to those times of leisure than a drink à la française ?
Here are simple recipes to three exquisite French-inspired beverages:
a) The French 75 (this drink was named in the honor of the famous French 75 light field gun using during World War I)
1 oz gin
1 oz Cointreau
squeeze of lime
1 sugar cube
Champagne (chilled)
Place the sugar cube in the bottom of a champagne glass. Next, strain in the gin, the Cointreau, and the lime. Finally, top the cocktail with the champagne of your choice.
b) The Panaché and the Monaco (apparently quite popular in Provence)
- For the Panaché: Mix together 1/2 French lemonade (the one that is carbonated and sold in most supermarkets) with 1/2 beer in a tall glass… et voilá!
- For the Monaco: Fill 1/2 of a glass with French lemonade, add a splash of Grenadine syrup (about a tbsp), and fill the rest with beer.
c) Chambord Truffle Cocktail
3/4 ounce crème de cacao
3/4 ounce Chambord
A dash of vanilla liqueur
Pour and mix together into a shot glass (this makes 1 serving).
Now, if you were to accompany this with a good book, I would recommend checking out a title by Catherine Cusset… (more on this author to come!)
