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Come Party With Me: Wedding - Drinks

partysugar — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 14:31:19 -0700

One of the biggest expenses at a wedding reception is the drinks. Hosting a full open bar is a costly option, and if you don't have an unlimited budget, I would not recommend doing it. Instead offer guests one signature cocktail and an assortment of beer and wine. Another option is to host a day reception, because people don't drink as much when the sun's out. Be sure to ask the wait staff not to pre-open wine bottles. If they do, you may be left with a bunch of open, full bottles.

Along with the signature cocktail at Elena and Sean's wedding, guests will have a choice of Champagne, red or white wine, or a selection of local beers. The cocktail is a refreshing, delish blend of rum, cointreau, and sparkling pomegranate. It has a glorious hue that matches the wedding's color scheme.

For more wonderful wedding ideas, check out IDoSugar. To take a look at the recipe, read more.

Rum Pomegranate Cocktail
From Brides magazine

Ingredients

1½ oz. Bacardi White Rum
¼ oz. Cointreau (orange liqueur)
Splash of lime juice
2½ oz. Izze sparkling pomegranate juice
Colored sugar (for rim)

Directions

Dip rim of glass in water, then in colored sugar.
Combine rum, liqueur and juices with ice in the glass, and stir.

Serves 1.

Print recipe with images | without images

Happy Hour: Signature Cocktails

partysugar — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 05:59:31 -0700

A great way to cut back the costs of a wedding reception is to offer guests wine, beer, champagne, and one signature cocktail instead of a full bar. Signature cocktails have become quite popular within the last few years and more and more couples have decided to create their very own specialty drink. There are several ways to go about creating your big day's cocktail. Start by either choosing a drink color (green, blue, red, clear, etc), a liquor base (vodka, rum, gin, etc), or a cocktail type (frozen, shaken, stirred, etc). Once you have made these decisions, build your drink from there. Like every other aspect of the party, consider the season and style of the event. If you are having a beach bash with orange and hot pink as your accent colors, a raspberry mojito is a great cocktail option.
Change the name to feature your personalities or particular place memorable to you as a couple (the park where you had your first kiss, the restaurant where he proposed, etc). After you've figured out the name and components of the drink, decide the best way to serve the signature. Will bartenders be mixing up fresh batches all night or is it easier for guests to serve themselves out of large pitchers set on the tables? Stay with the tone of your wedding - if it's more formal, waiters passing around the drinks on trays is chic and if it's more informal, large punch bowls on the tables would be fabulous. To help you create your signature cocktail, check out the wedding section at Stirrings - they have cool downloadable, personalized garnish labels. Oh and if you are a fabulous and single (!) girl like me, and are planning a party in the future, why not fashion your very own cocktail? Party-Sugartini anyone?

Let's Dish: What's Your Signature Drink?

YumSugar — Mon, 11 May 2009 14:30:13 -0700

With so many cocktails, beers, and varieties of wine to choose from, it's good to have one standby drink you don't have to think about. Something that every restaurant stocks or every bartender knows how to make - your signature drink, if you will.

That way, if you're feeling undecided, you can just sidle up to the bar and shout your usual order. I tend to change my signature drink every so often, but my go-to beverages include gin and tonics, a Manhattan, or a glass of Sauvignon Blanc. Of course, I always need fresh ideas, so tell me: what's your signature drink that you usually order at a bar?

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Melissa d'Arabian's Helpful Hints For Feasting on a Budget

YumSugar — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:00:31 -0800

Of all the year's celebrations, Thanksgiving often is the most expensive. In 2008, roughly a quarter of you said you were spending $150 or more. This year, to help you stay well within your budget, we've enlisted the help of Melissa d'Arabian, winner of the Next Food Network Star and host of Ten Dollar Dinners With Melissa d'Arabian.

On her Food Network show, Melissa makes dinner for four for under $10 - and her Thanksgiving is no different. She's partnered with Walmart to come up with a turkey day feast that's only $20, and plans to serve it to her own family this holiday. "My family is really getting the $20 thanksgiving!" she says. Regardless of how much you've got in your wallet, she has some pointers to help you stay under budget. See them when you read more.

A Conversation With Diddy

partysugar — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:00:03 -0800

Rapper and mogul Diddy was in San Francisco last week promoting Cîroc, his vodka brand. I was lucky enough to sit down with the musician, and we chatted about entertaining. Not surprisingly, he consumes a lot of Cîroc and his signature drink is a Cîroc and lemonade - say it fast and it sounds like a lyric in one of his songs, "ci-rocking lemonade." To find out what the Diddy had to say, read more.

PartySugar: What’s new with Cîroc?
Diddy: The newest thing with Cîroc is our success. Our success and our appeal. The sales went up 1,000 percent and just the appeal is becoming more recognizable to the consumer.

PS: Aren't you coming out with some new flavors?
D: Yeah. In the world of Cîroc, one of the biggest differences is the flavors. Red Berry and coconut. Now most flavors, to be honest, in the vodka industry, most flavors just haven’t been done right. They taste like cough syrup. I went down with the innovation team, and I was like, whatever we do I want to make sure that this doesn’t taste like cough syrup.
And then also make something that really tastes like what it says. If it says coconut, let’s make sure it tastes like coconut. If it says red berry, let’s make sure it tastes like red berry.

PS: Do you ever cook?
D: I cook breakfast.

PS: What music do you recommend for cooking?
D: Music for cooking? Marvin Gaye’s always good for cooking.

PS: What are your guilty pleasure foods?
D: I would probably say jello. Strawberry jello.

PS: If you had to drink one type of alcohol for the rest of your life what would it be?
D: Vodka. Cîroc.

PS: Besides yourself, who are some celebrities that know how to entertain/host a good party?
D: I never seen anybody do it how I do.

PS: What was the first alcoholic drink you ever drank?
D: Peach schnapps and orange juice, before I was enabled.

PS: What do you think will be the next big thing in cocktails?
D: Jello shots.

Stay tuned for Diddy's tips for hosting the ultimate party!

Heidi Klum and Seal Come Out as Crows For Halloween Fun

PopSugar — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 05:00:00 -0800

Heidi Klum went all out for her 10th annual Halloween party at Voyeur in LA on Saturday. She and Seal looked amazing as they arrived dressed as black crows just weeks after welcoming their new daughter Lou. Heidi's party is always huge and she revealed that the elaborate costume planning starts every year in July. Rachel Zoe looked beautiful dressed as an Indian warrior princess with her hippie husband Rodger, while the ladies of the Vampire Diaries posed together on the red carpet. Paris and Doug managed to stand out in the crowded club when they arrived in matching white tutus, Paris dressed as a swan princess and Doug a tooth fairy.

Once inside, Heidi and Seal mingled with guests, looking unrecognizable in their incredible masks and face paint. The photo loving pair took pictures all night long as Heidi kicked off her hot boots and got comfortable on the couch. Jessica Alba and Cash Warren arrived with friends bouncing between parties as Dora the Explorer and Diego. Kelly Osbourne and her boyfriend were spotted dancing the night away, dressed as eggs and bacon. Paris showed off her moves standing on the couches, while others sipped on Heidi's signature Skyy vodka Halloween cocktails. The entire event was a quite a sight and made for some amazing celebrity sightings as the stars partied the night away.

Many more images from the party including Eliza Dushku and Rick Fox, Kyle MacLachlan, Project Runway alums and more so read more.

View 35 Photos ›

Images include: Cisco Adler, Doug Reinhardt, Eliza Dushku, Heidi Klum, Kelly Osbourne, Kyle MacLachlan, Nick Verreos, Paris Hilton, Rachel Zoe, Rick Fox, Santino Rice, Seal, Selita Ebanks, Jessica Alba, Cash Warren, Luke Worrall, Kayla Ewell, Katerina Graham, Nina Dobrev, Sara Canning, Derek Hough, Russell Simmons

Celeb Style: Angelina Jolie

FabSugar — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 10:02:50 -0700

Angelina got in major sexy mode last night at the Inglourious Basterds premiere in LA. Despite the fact that she stuck to her signature color, black, she knocked it out of the ballpark with her strapless leather Michael Kors dress. If you recall, Angelina's stylist Jen Rade once told me she puts the actress in black because it allows her strong features to shine. The strappy black Christian Dior sandals and red cocktail ring keep her chic, not biker-chick. But of course, her best accessory is Brad in an all-black (Tom Ford?) suit. Damn.

Faux Leather Strapless Dress - $24.80	Dior Strappy Platform Sandals - $750.00
Megan Rhinestone Ring - $3.80	MICHAEL Michael Kors Delancey Clutch - $198.00
14k Gold Brown Crystal Stud Earrings - $90.00

Check out CelebStyle for lots more celebrity street style!

Breaking News: Roksanda Ilincic for Whistles

FabSugarUK — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 05:00:17 -0700

It's been a good week for collaborations! Earlier this week I reported on Jimmy Choo's collection for H&M which is due to hit stores in November, and now I literally just heard about another great capsule line arriving at Whistles in the Autumn.

London based designer Roksanda Illincic is to create pieces for the High Street store which represent her signature style. She will use satins and silks to create a line of seven cocktail dresses which will be feminine with a modern touch.

Retail guru and CEO of Whistles Jane Shepherdson commented, "We have worked closely at every stage of the design process with Roksanda to capture her unique sense of play and contrast in colour, fabric and texture. It would be hard not to fall in love with the resulting collection."

The limited edition pieces will begin to hit stores in early September and will be priced between £175 - £300. Are you excited for this collaboration? I think the frocks will make perfect partywear.

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Talking Mixology With Dale DeGroff

partysugar — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 12:30:52 -0800

Last week I had the wonderful opportunity to sit down with Dale DeGroff. If you've never heard of DeGroff, you'll be surprised to know that he has changed your life. Remember that basil gimlet you enjoyed at the bar last week? You can thank Dale for that. Or what about that perfectly poured martini? Dale's responsible for that, too. Known to food insiders as the King of Cocktails, Dale DeGroff is single-handedly responsible for the renaissance of classic cocktails. Back in 1980s New York, at a time when the majority of bars served drinks made from overly-sweet mixes, Dale was mixing drinks with fresh, seasonal, local ingredients and creating cocktails based on preprohibition recipes. To find out what the master has to say about cocktail trends and to see who he thinks is the best bartender in America today, read more.

Dale was in San Francisco to promote his new book The Essential Cocktail and to run the Pernod Ricard mixology course for bartenders, BarSmarts.

PartySugar: What do you consider yourself? A bartender, bar chef, mixologist?
Dale DeGroff: Retired. Now I am a teacher and an author.

PS: What do you consider your signature drink?
DD: The Ritz cocktail, which was named in tribute to the classic champagne cocktail and featured in Playboy magazine. The whiskey smash, which is currently on menus from London to Australia. Bobby Flay serves it at his restaurants. That one was based on a 19th-century drink, but I changed the name. The Fitzgerald is another one.

PS: What qualities make a good bartender?
DD: Speed, accuracy, friendliness, a certain passion and love affair with life. You have to be confident and a chameleon, and you have to love it.

PS: Who are the best bartenders in America?
DD: The list is long in terms of exclusivity. There's lots of guys who can make amazing, culinary drinks, but Doug at PJ Clarks, handles that crowd with such ease, speed, and accuracy. That bar is packed every night and he makes a good cocktail. He doesn't do special cocktails, but he could learn everything those other guys do in exactly a month.

PS: What's your ultimate hangover remedy?
DD: Don't start drinking or don't stop drinking. Aspirin. Nothing beats a milkshake and a hamburger. Some people say soaking your feet in oatmeal works.

PS: What's the next big thing? In cocktails and spirits?
DD: We are in the middle of the next big thing! The overall idea is that we've taken the cocktail out of the beverage category and turned it into something culinary. Bartenders have to look at their bars like a chef would look at his kitchen. They are looking at their ingredients like a chef looks at his ingredients. You've got to go to the cupboard, go to Whole Foods and buy what is fresh and in season. I'm really into pepper jelly, spices, and herbs. Pisco is going to be big. Anything from South America really. Brown liquors are on the rise. The geeky bartenders are making drinks with bourbon and rye. Rhum agricole. Tequila, anything Latin really. Sherry is popping up in cocktails everywhere.

PS: What's your advice to the home mixologist?
DD: Buy the best, freshest ingredients you can afford from the liquor down to the mint. Follow recipes! Bartending is like baking, there is a science to it. My drinks really work. Make it fun, get your guests involved. Stock your bar with gin, an old-fashioned like Beefeater and a new wave like Plymouth. Vodka, cognac, rum, rhum agricole. Three whiskeys: scotch, bourbon, rye. Tequila: blanco and reposado. Cointreau , good vermouth. Don't buy domestic vermouth, get an Italian red and a French white.

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Come Party With Me: Rehearsal Dinner - The Look

partysugar — Fri, 29 May 2009 09:15:09 -0700

With a few simple touches, you can transform an ordinary backyard into a chic setting for the perfect rehearsal dinner.

Start by placing tiki torches along the entryway and edge of the yard. Hang round lanterns from large tree branches and line low bushes with small twinkling Christmas lights. Cover the table with a pretty printed cloth. Place outdoor glass ice buckets in various locations throughout the space (this will create a flow and promote mingling). Fill the buckets with ice, beer, and wine, and let guests help themselves to the beverages.

Pass the pizza on circular serving platters and serve the signature cocktail in blue glass tumblers.

Create customized napkins that say the bride and groom's names, but leave the wedding date off, so the napkins can be used at the rehearsal dinner, wedding reception, and any future parties the couple may host. For a romantic, welcoming glow, light lots of votives. Save the stunning floral arrangements for the wedding; instead opt for a single vase filled with fragrant flowers.

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