We were very lucky to be invited to dinner at Elise and Preston’s house this last week. The food was delicious and beautiful, the table was stunning and the company superb. I wish I had taken a picture, but then I really rarely do and I don’t want to de rude and interrupt the ambiance by whipping out my phone. So, sadly, no pictures of the lovely miso and Mirin glazed salmon and the colorful summer vegetable  bake with rice, and the heady dark chocolate pots de crème with raspberries that Elise prepared and we all enjoyed immensely.
Preston is a superb bartender and made a lovely Gin and Tonic for me as a pre-dinner cocktail. However he made a smashing Manhattan for another guest and I woke up the next morning with this watercolor in my head.
Below is a standard Manhattan recipe- but I do believe that it is the bartender and the ingredients which make the drink:

  Manhattan makes 1

• 1-1/2 ounces rye or bourbon (Maker’s Mark is good here)
• 3/4 ounce sweet red vermouth
• 2 dashes Angostura Bitters
• 2 dashes orange bitters
• garnish with a maraschino cherry (probably best to leave off the English Robin in a tophat! 🙂 )

Enjoy responsibly with someone you love!

xxoo

G