Much has been made of Top Chef Leah Cohen’s kitchen contributions at the West Village’s Centro Vinoteca. We think a lot of folks are peeking at what’s going on near the stove because they are really searching for some hot gossip. We decided to shift focus and take a look at the cool cocktails coming out of the bar. Leah didn’t have anything to do with the drink concoctions, but two of them are certainly worth gossiping about.
Their Cin Cin is remarkably easy to make yourself, but it seems like it requires a lot of cocktail brainstorming because of the unique Peach and Elderflower flavor combination. St. Germain has quickly become one of the city’s favorite drink ingredients. There is nothing else like it on the bar, and it imparts an earthy kick into otherwise everyday drinks. Peach Vodka and Prosecco? A mundane mimosa. Peach, bubbly, and St. Germain? Suddenly the simple drink is a complex bouquet of summery goodness. The recipe below calls for a “tulip glass”, but if you are making these on a warm afternoon, any old wine glass will do.
Vinoteca’s Centriolo is not as atypical, but who doesn’t love muddled cucumber, gin, and basil when the streets outside are sweaty? Hendrick’s Gin’s catchphrase should be ‘put a cucumber in it’, as the spritely brand’s light juniper flavors seem to be made for complementing the green vegetable. This libation is to be enjoyed when you’re so hot that you can barely even stand it. Put some ice on your forehead, some cucumbers on your eyes, and sip until the head dissipates.
The recipes are below, but it’s probably more fun to stop into the restaurant and have a few rounds. After getting a little tipsy on these summer concoctions, you can stick your head in the kitchen and spy your favorite Top Chef. Be sure to wave (and quit looking for gossip, it’s just a kitchen)!
Centro Vinoteca is located at 74 Seventh Avenue South.
cin-cin:
n. \‘ch’in\\ ‘ch’in\
St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur,
Absolut peach vodka
topped with prosecco
recipe:
1.5 oz St Germain Elderflower Liqueur
2 oz Absolut Peach
shake with ice
strain into a tulip glass
top with prosecco
garnish with fresh raspberry
Take a peek at the Centriolo below the jump.
n. \ˈchen-trē-ˌōlō\
muddled cucumber and sweet basil,
hendricks gin, citrus,
shaved cucumber wedge
recipe:
muddle 4 slices of cucumber w/ 2-3 basil leaves
add 1.5 oz simple syrup
1 oz. fresh lime juice
3.5 oz hendrick’s gin
shake over ice
fine strain into a chilled martini glass
garnish with a floating mandolin sliced cucumber
Photo credit: Bart Rozyk
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