Tuesday Toast: Watermelon-Mint Cocktail

Maybe you're in need of a mid-week cocktail hour, maybe its grocery shopping for cocktail hour, I want to make sure you're prepared with the weekly Tuesday Toast. One of my favorite things about summertime?  It's finally watermelon season again. St-Germain had me at hello during Savor Dallas, so let's mix it up with some watermelon for a summertime sipping cocktail.

 

 

A Taste of Summer: 

• 1.5 ounces vodka
• 1 ounce St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur
• 2 ounces watermelon juice (purée 3 slices of watermelon without rind in a blender)
• 5 mint leaves
• 1/2 ounce lime juice
• 2 teaspoons of white sugar (or 1/2 ounce agave nectar)
• 1 watermelon slice for garnish
• 1 mint leaf for garnish

• Pour ingredients into shaker with ice, cover, and shake well for 10 seconds. 
• Pour into a tall glass.
• Garnish with watermelon and mint.

Cheers. 

Chefs and wineries wow Dallas foodies

The main event of Savor Dallas, The Grand Tasting, is an event from a food and drink lover’s dreams. We got to The Grand Tasting right on time, no one has time for being fashionably late when food prepared by some of the best chefs in Dallas and wine are on the line. We meandered through rows of more than 60 of Dallas’ star chefs, culinary artisans, and winemakers, distilleries, and craft breweries. The boozy stations were positioned next door to each food station to provide a perfect pairing.

When you arrive, you receive a wine glass and a tray that hooks handily onto the stem (there's no time for stopping with all the food possibilities around you). Although I lucked out with free tickets, this is Savor Dallas’ priciest event ($150 a ticket). Once you’re in it’s a free for all, as much as you can eat and drink.

Grand Cru Classé Bordeaux wines were an amazing treat to taste. I also loved the Decoy, Hess Collections, and McPherson. A “spirits alley” was a fun shake up from the full bodied reds I was sipping. My favorite craft cocktail was the St Germain Cocktail - I noted the recipe below.

It’s amazing that such tiny plates of food can make your eyes roll back in your head. Some of my favorites were by: Meso Maya, Eddie V’s, Max’s Wine Dive, Rodeo Goat, SER Steak + Spirits, Texas Spice, Ocean Prime, and The Palm. The longest line in the building wasn’t for steak, brisket, or rabbit… it was for Henry’s Homemade Ice Cream. Their caramel sea salt ice cream was creamy, salty, and rich. We almost stood in that long line for a second serving. 

I can't wait to see what they bring us next year. Tips? I'd say show up right on time (some stations will run out of food/wine after the first 2 hours), wear comfortable shoes (there aren't many places to sit), and come hungry (they may be little bites, but I promise you, you'll have enough of them to more than satisfy your appetite)!

St Germain Cocktail:

• 2 parts Brut Champagne
• 1 ½ parts St Germain
• 2 parts Sparkling Water
• Stir completely in tall, ice-filled Collins glass.
• Garnish with a lemon twist.

The perfect drink for an outdoor party, it is so refreshing. Seriously guys, try this.