Instant karma are the cocktails? Or so they say...Good Karma or
bad karma, taste decides, if you like it then good Karma but if you hate it
then bad
But when you chance upon the mixing techniques
to enjoy the drink to perfection then its going to be only good Karma, right?
Well this Thursday, I got an invite to attend
the workshop on ‘Mocktails and Bartending’ by mixologist Ameya Sharma at
Nature’s basket at Bandra.
Beginning of the month, my shopping was overdue at this store and
I needed to fill up my larder, this was the perfect timing for attending this workshop as well.
So before my tedious shopping of organic fruits,
vegetables, cheese and sauces, and surf the shelves for something new, I could do for some drinks.
Nature's Basket has one small inner room where hard drinks are stocked on regular days, this is the room where workshops are normally held. Until last year, we watched demonstrations as standees, crowding around the table, but over the time it is getting more organized. There were twelve chairs in three rows plus another six plastic stools. A big LCD TV in one corner and four assistants for helping with serving and attending to the comfort of the audience and the host. The table was laden with different kind of
juice packets, syrups and fresh fruits, cutlery, mixing jugs, muddler, strainers, cocktail
shakers, measuring cups, glasses and many other accessories.
Word spreads fast, because the room was full,
with hardly any space to move. The men who had come early to get the best seat, had to sacrifice their comfort for late comers, especially women who expected this service. The recipes of the drinks were handed out to all
those present and it listed all the items that would be demonstrated during the evening. The session began with the short introduction of the accessories
that are useful during mixing of drinks.
There is the way to shaking the cocktail
shakers, “Shake it like so, on the side above your shoulders” he said showing
the right direction "so as not to wet yourself during mixing of the drinks".
Volunteers from the audience were invited to
replicate the method demonstrated by host, and one by one, the drinks were mixed to
make it visually appealing and then poured into tiny glasses for tasting.
Beside the various drinks he also demonstrated different ways the glass of drink could be garnished: a curled lime rind, a fan shaped apple slices hinged on a tooth-pick, the salting of the rim. It made interesting visual impact.
After every demo, we were given a shot to taste
I am not sure how many such shots I took but I came home in a very pleasant mood.
After every demo, we were given a shot to taste
I am not sure how many such shots I took but I came home in a very pleasant mood.
Some of the one which I liked
Orange Julius
Mix and blend........
120ml orange juice
60ml milk
3-4 chunks fresh orange chunks
30ml vanilla syrup
30ml fresh cream
10 ice cubes
The taste was sweetest milky flavor
The Pom Pom
Mix and blend........
300ml apple juice
½ cup chopped apples
½ cup chopped pineapples
½ cup chopped peaches
30ml blood orange syrup
7-8 ice cubes.
There was a sweetish sour, crunchy taste of
fruits from the tiny bits that had escaped during double straining of the juice
Off Shores
Mix and blend........
5-6 coriander leaves
8-10 mint leaves
6-8 drops Worcestershire sauce
2-3 drops tobacco
60ml guava juice
Pinch of salt
3 scoops of ice cubes.
This tasted like panipuri, sweet, sour and spicy
Many people asked different recipes for various
drinks and Ameya patiently shared his recipes. My cousin had tipped me to ask
the recipe of Pinacloda
And he obliged
Mix and blend........
Pineapple juice 120ml
Fresh cream 30ml
Coconut cream 30ml
Vanilla rum 30ml
White rum 60ml
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| image source |
But looking at the ingredients I agree its High-CalAlcoholic Beverage to Avoid
