Sunday, February 20, 2011

What We're Drinking: The Golden Cadillac

The Golden Cadillac (Photo by Stockfood)

I arrived at Zak Pelaccio's Carmine Street pop-up restaurant Fatty Johnson's last Thursday night and sidled up to the bar. Frank Cisneros, who incredibly balances the job of Dram Bar's head barkeeper, Bols Genever brand ambassador, and running his own new bar Drink in Brooklyn, was guest bartending so I was excited to see what was on tap.  It was nightcap time which typically means a flip during the winter months. So, I found the perfect alternative on Frank's one night only custom menu,  an old classic that is making a comeback - The Golden Cadillac!

The Golden Cadillac was created at Poor Red's BBQ in the old Gold Rush prospector town El Dorado near Sacramento, California. According to Poor Red's website, they are the largest consumer of Galliano in the world and crank out thousands of the cocktail each year.

Technically, the libation is part of the Alexander family using one part liqueur, one part crème de cacao,  and two parts heavy cream. The key ingredient of the Golden Cadillac is the Italian liqueur called Galliano L'Autentico. Weighing in at 42.4% Alc/Vl (84.8 proof), this elixir packs quite a punch. Here is a quick run down of Galliano facts:
- Developed in Livorno in 1896, during what I consider the golden age of Italian liqueur innovation
- 30 herbs and spice, including anise, juniper, vanilla, and lavender with an aroma of anise.
- The production process involves 7 infusions and 6 distillations
- It was recently re-engineered to capture the original 1896 formula
- Bright yellow color that catches the eye
- Iconic slender and tall glass bottle

I regard Galliano as the Italian cousin of the monastically produced  herbal liqueur Yellow Chartreuse. However, Galliano is less sweet and it's current formula emphasizes anise flavor over vanilla. This balances well with the chocolate flavored crème de cacao and the result is a cocktail that is rich, potent, but not overly sweet.

The Golden Cadillac
1 oz Galliano L'Autentico Liqueur
1 oz white crème de cacao
2 oz heavy cream
ground cinnamon 
orange zest (optional)

Tools: Mixing tins, Hawthorne strainer, fine strainer, jigger, French peeler

Combine Galliano, crème de cacao, and heavy cream over ice. Shake rigorously for 10-15 seconds and double strain into chilled cocktail glass. Dust with cinnamon and garnish with thin strip of orange zest.

Where to get it: Painkiller Tiki Bar in NYC features the Golden Cadillac on their spring cocktail menu, Dram Bar in Williamsburg, and Poor Red's BBQ in El Dorado, California of course.

The Golden Cadillac is a great night cap or dessert cocktail. Bartenders love to make it and the drink has a cult following which will only increase as Galliano's resurgence continues.

Salute!
- Fredo

Saturday, February 5, 2011

The Salon's 10th Anniversary and Salute to Frank Sinatra

(photo by Michael Soluri)
We are helping produce and directing the cocktail program for the 10th Anniversary of The Salon (http://www.thesalon.biz ) party. This year the  Salon instigators are celebrating the music of Frank Sinatra by getting his old band back together for a unique evening. The band includes jazz greats: Bucky Pizzarelli, Derek Smith, Jerry Bruno and Jimmie Young. Plus special Guest Tony Sotos. Watch our video w/exclusive interviews: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4tl73W6sM4

The event runs from 7pm to 1 am on Friday March 11th.  Doors open at 7pm for a three course dinner seating on the main floor and at 8pm for general admission which includes Top Shelf Open bar. Loungerati's Fredo will be creating a cocktail menu that is part classic and part Sinatra hey day period cocktails.

EARLY BIRD SPECIAL:
  • Get your tickets online before February 10th:
  • General Admission is only $40 / Dinner is only $135
Top-shelf open bar all night and hors d'oeuvres - doors at 8pm. Tips, taxes and coat check included.

I highly suggest buying advance tickets because the prices go up after Feb 10th.

Here is the official Press Release:

Please join us Friday March 11, 2011 at the beautiful Edison Ballroom for THE SALON's 10th Anniversary! Early-bird tickets available thru Feb. 10th - only $40 including open bar! http://www.thesalon.biz/


For this extravaganza, we're pulling out all the stops... we've put together a band featuring four legendary musicians who played with Frank Sinatra, and we've invited some of the best singers on today's scene to perform their favorite tunes from the Sinatra Songbook. Plus we have a full lineup of live music, burlesque, DJs and mixologists at the beautifully restored 1930's Edison Ballroom, which boasts one of the best dance floors in NYC!

CELEBRATING SINATRA - with Bucky Pizzarelli, Derek Smith, Jerry Bruno & Jimmie Young. Featured Singers - Hilary Gardner, Ron Sunshine, Queen Esther, Todd Londagin, J. Walter Hawkes, Dandy Wellington, and more!

Watch our promo video w/exclusive interviews: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4tl73W6sM4

additional live music by:
HARLEM RENAISSANCE ORCHESTRA
Swingin' 18 piece big band on the best dance floor in NYC.
Two full sets following the Sinatra band!

J. WALTER HAWKES, TODD LONDAGIN and BAND
Performing throughout the night in the Lounge

GELBER & MANNING
The feuding vaudeville lovebirds.
Performing on the mainstage during the VIP dinner hour, and later in the lounge.

burlesque by:
ANGIE PONTANI
The Reigning Queen of Burlesque and Miss Exotic World

The World Famous
PONTANI SISTERS

GRACE GOTHAM
Humor's Favorite Temptress

DANDY WELLINGTON
Emcee Extraordinaire

DJ ADAM LEE
Swingin' hard on main dance floor

DJs GAYLORD FIELDS & JACK FETTERMAN
Groovin' in the Lounge

Artisanal Cocktails by
FREDO from Loungerati.com

and more to come!

Admission includes:
Top-Shelf Open Bar and Hors d'Oeuvres
Coat Check, Tips, Taxes & All Gratuities included!

FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2011
THE EDISON BALLROOM - 240 west 47th Street
VIP Dinner Seating at 7pm / General Admission at 8pm
Live Music from 7pm to 1am / 21+ with ID at Door

For tickets and more info:
http://www.thesalon.biz/

EARLY BIRD SPECIAL:

Get your tickets online before February 10th:
General Admission only $40 / VIP Dinner $135

TICKETS:
General Admission: $50 in Advance / $60 at the Door
Top-shelf open bar all night and hors d'oeuvres - doors at 8pm. Tips, taxes and coat check included.

VIP Dinner: $150ea
VIP table with prime view of stage, Four Course Dinner, top-shelf open bar all night - seating at 7pm - special VIP performances by Grace Gotham and Gelber & Manning. Tips, taxes and coat check included. Dinner menu available on website.


THE STORY
For The Salon's 10th Anniversary extravaganza, we're pulling out all the stops... we've put together a band featuring four musicians who played with Ol' Blue Eyes himself, along with some of the best singers on today's scene, performing their favorite tunes from the Sinatra Songbook.

We also have a few of our favorite bands from the last decade, and some of NY's top Burlesque dancers and Mixologists. Don't forget the open bar all night long and free hors d'oeuvres. Everything is included, and we mean everything - tips, taxes and coat check. All of this and more at the beautifully restored 1930's Edison Ballroom, which boasts one of the best dance floors in NYC. Some might suggest this night will be historic; What can we say... we just like a swank party.