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this menu features

the bearded butchers maple & chipotle smoked turkey (Click here for recipe)

potatoes anna with caramelized onions & a smoky accent (click here for recipe…)

roasted brussels with brown butter & Toasted walnuts (Click here for recipe)

Tangy asiago rosemary & roasted garlic bread (click here for recipe)

gin bar

Cover Story | Steampunk Alice | Meet Lizzy

PUSH PLAY TO GO DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE…

Gin Bar

Step Right Up to the Gin Bar | “Drink Me” | Mix Stir Be Happy…

This interactive bar is the perfect way to entertain, engaging each guest to dibble dabble in mixology & create their own signature cocktail. Set out quality gin such as Bombay Sapphire, Prosecco & an assortment of simple syrups. We created three syrups, lemon, pear, lavender. A couple selections of fresh pressed juices such as tangerine & pomegranate to add a splash of color & personality. Finish with an offering of aromatics; fresh rosemary, lemon thyme & citrus peel, citrus wheel. We recommend that you also put out vodka for those who prefer a more neutral flavored liquor & seltzer for those who do not drink & for the ‘littles’.

for 1 cocktail

2 oz. gin
1 oz. simple syrup of choice (or fresh pressed juice)
top off with prosecco, cold

These cocktails can be served in a martini glass, goblets or over ice in whiskey glasses, whatever tickles your fancy. Simple syrup recipes below. Here are some combinations we came up with.

Do you suppose She’s a Wildflower?

2 oz. Bombay Sapphire Gin
1 oz. lavender simple syrup (recipe below)
pinch of acai powder
top off with Prosecco
garnish with an edible flower

Simple syrup is equal parts of sugar & water heated until the sugar dissolves. In this case we are making a lavender simple syrup using 1 cup sugar, 1 cup water, 1 Tbsp. of culinary grade lavender. Heat your water, sugar & lavender in a small sauce pan over medium heat stirring until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat & allow cool slightly & steep to extract the lavender oils, flavoring your syrup. When slightly cooled, stir 1/2 tsp. acai powder into the syrup. Leave this mixture on the counter for a good hour, then strain. You should have a lovely purple syrup.

To make lemon simple syrup, use the same process above but use lemon peel instead of lavender (omit acai). Remove the peel from two lemons (avoiding the white pith which is bitter) & prepare as directed above.

Smokin’ Caterpillar

2 oz. Bombay Sapphire Gin
1 oz. pear simple syrup
top off with Prosecco
garnish with burnt rosemary

1.) To make pear simple syrup. Cut a very ripe juicy pear into cubes. Saute pear chunks in a small saucepan over medium high heat for a couple minutes to release juices, stirring frequently. Add 1 cup sugar & continue stirring to hasten caramelization & break down pears. Add 1 cup water and simmer 10 minutes. Allow to cool, then strain through a fine sieve. For each cocktail, place gin & simple syrup into a ‘smoked’ whiskey glass, top with cold prosecco.

2.) To smoke the cocktail we used a cheese board with a glass decanter for a smoke chamber. Place an empty whiskey glass under a glass decanter then take a flame to a length of rosemary using a mini blow torch (or lighter but a blow torch is much more fun). You want it smoking, not burning. Place under the glass allowing the chamber to fill with smoke. Lift glass decanter, pour in your gin, simple syrup then top with cold Prosecco. Enjoy!

The Red Queen

2 oz. Bombay Sapphire Gin
1 oz. pomegranate juice
top off with prosecco
garnish with a brulee blood orange slice

The Red Queens elixir is a purists cocktail. To brulee orange slices; cut a blood orange into 1/4 slices. Sprinkle each side with a sugar of choice, you can use white sugar, turbinado, pure maple, monk fruit, whatever the Queen wishes. Place in a heat proof pan (I used a cast iron skillet).Using a mini blow torch, flame the slices until amber & fragrant. Alternately, you can pan fry the slices until golden & fragrant.

Tablescape

Tick… tock… goes the clock. We bid you farewell 2020. So it disappeared into the night with a hot, sharp scent of gun smoke. Then silence.

For this steampunk, Alice in Wonderland inspired Family Feast, we drew on classic & sophisticated black & white tablescape offset with silver accessory for a dramatic feel. Mismatched silver chargers display printed clocks faces with clear glass plates to give a whimsical & eclectic feel to this table. The center piece, a vintage black clock, a Goodwill find, goes tick tock into the night surrounded by white candle sticks in old bottles. Above the table, a silver pot & cups hang in suspended in animation from clear line (pictured below).

Everyone got to play a role in this fanciful production of Alice in Wonderland. Even our wise & gray haired ones got in on the action. The dapper Mad Hatter stole the show with his wild 2020 beard. The Cheshire Cat became quite the diva, perched precariously on an oak limb, insisting that she will “Go Viral…” & announced that she would be pleased to sign autographs… With Love “CC.”

A series of misfortunate events…

Props.

We used an old soul vintage steamer trunk for this shoot with a book page table runner. It was the perfect, steam punk vintage accessory.
Masquerade masks are fanciful, we used this style for the cat. We left them unpainted but you could certainly go wild here. A top hat with ribbon holding printed vintage playing cards made for easy dress up.
An oak tree limb & branches served as a perch for the Cheshire cat.
A silver tea kettle & tea cups hang in suspended animation from clear line.
For the tablescape we used a vintage French pattern for the table cloth with a simple black runner. If you are going to go all out, this is the Alice in Wonderland Table Cloth I would get, it’s just to perfect! Mismatched silver chargers (I went Goodwill but the ones in the link are lovely for all occasions) with clear, glass plates display Alice in Wonderland printable clock faces. Silver napkins for the final touch.

Actors & Actresses.

“CC”-The Cheshire Cat played by Cherin.
The Mad Hatter had many faces: Pop Lowell, Mark, Donny.
Steam Punk Alice played by Lizzy. Opposite, The Queen of Hearts played by Lexi.
Ohhhh….Alice played by Taylor.
“The Tweedles” played by Mariah & Brandon.
“The White Rabbit Wore Black” played by Sammie with production ‘extra’ played by Nick.

Menu 4 | Family is Messy | Down The Rabbit Hole | Ohhhhhh.... Alice!