Tag: drink

Dry January, what it is and soft drinks to try – Italian cuisine reinvented by Gordon Ramsay

Here we are in full Dry January, and if we talk about it this year it is also thanks to the French president Emmanuel Macron, who has just said he is against the idea of institutionalizing the initiative: an invitation not to drink alcohol for an entire month, January in fact. For him, a well-known lover of good drinking, it is not necessary to officially promote abstinence from alcohol, but his stance has sparked a controversy of international dimensions which has involved enthusiasts and expert commentators.

What is Dry January

What is certain is that the position of the French president goes against the trend: now almost all over the world there is a race to prove the benefits of Dry Januaryan initiative born in England in 2013 thanks to the athlete Emily Robinson and the association Alcohol Change UK, British body that raises awareness of the effects of alcohol. One way to promote the conscious use of alcohol, to remind everyone of the risks of use and abuse, and to invite even moderate drinkers to experience what it is like to do without it for a symbolic period, giving their liver a break. In fact, many studies have demonstrated the advantages of alcohol abstinence are many, even in the short term as well as in the long term, and which reflect on everyone’s physical and mental well-being.

The new trend of non-alcoholic drinks

So, password: lighten. How many years have we heard it? Many. Yet she never goes out of fashion, on the contrary (rightly) she renews herself by adapting to the evolution of the times. For this reason, even the world of mixing has now been involved in the process and it is difficult to imagine a cocktail bar that is not able to offer low-alcohol drinks and mocktails (a neologism that derives from the portmanteau of two words mock = fake + cocktail).

What are the new alcohol-free drinks like?

The good news is that the era of syrupy long drinks based on fruit juices and smoothies has been replaced, or enriched, by that of fermented products such as kombucha (sparkling teas that could replace bubbles) and switchel (an invigorating mix based of apple cider vinegar, ginger, honey and lemon), from fruit and vegetable extracts, from sodas offered in every imaginable flavor and above all from non-alcoholic spirits.

The new alcohol-free products

In Italy and around the world this trend is naturally reflected on the market and on the choice of large groups (and small producers) to have one or more alcohol-free products in their catalogue. From 2015, the year of debut of Seedlip (the line of non-alcoholic spirits, distributed by Diageo, which is by far the best known and served in cocktail bars), to today the panorama has rapidly enriched itself, so much so that forecasts speak of a growth of 400% for the next few years.

Barbajada: the Milanese drink with coffee and chocolate – Italian Cuisine

We rediscover a very popular recipe in Milan between the 19th and mid-20th centuries to indulge in this delicacy at home when we feel like it

There Barbajada it's a typical Milanese drink, born in the early 1800s and remained in vogue until the middle of the last century. It is prepared with coffee and chocolate and is perfect to accompany the desserts or for a tasty break.

The very particular name derives from that of its inventor, Domenico Barbaja who, as a young boy in a famous Milanese café, later became very famous in the shadow of Madonnina and founded one of the most famous literary cafes of Lombard capital: the Caffé dei Virtuosi, right next to the Teatro alla Scala.

There Barbajada is very simple can also be done at home and is prepared with just a few ingredients. The taste combines that of coffee and chocolate and this has made it their fortune.

How to make the barbajada at home: the recipe

Ingredients

To prepare a portion of barbajada you will need: 50 ml of ready-to-drink coffee, 50 g unsweetened cocoa powder, 30 ml of water, 30 ml of milk, 30 ml of cream, 40 g of sugar, whipped cream.

Method

The preparation of the barbajada, as mentioned, is really very simple. The first thing to do is prepare the coffee with a mocha and leave it warm. The second step is to sift the unsweetened cocoa into a saucepan, gradually adding the milk and water.

The mixture is vigorously mixed with a whisk and blended until it boils. The chocolate must then cool and thicken. At this point, the coffee and cream are added and the barbajada is put back on the heat, blending vigorously until a nice foam is obtained on the surface.

Barbajada, hot or cold

The barbajada can be drunk hot, in the winter version, with a splash of whipped cream on top or in the cold version, ideal when it's hot, by simply adding two ice cubes to the mixture before serving.

Browse the tutorial to discover other curiosities and tips on the barbajada

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Glenmorangie A Tale of Cake, the whiskey to drink with the cake – Italian Cuisine

Aged in Tokaji barrels, this special limited edition whiskey is perfect as an accompaniment to cakes and desserts

A whiskey as a snack it might seem a bit risky idea. Yet this is the provocative and – honestly – fun prospect that the latest proposal from the house Glenmorangie is able to suggest: the new limited edition single malt, christened Glenmorangie A Tale of Cake, is in fact a spirit specially designed to accompany cakes, pastries and the like. Perfect for after dinner, therefore, as well as potentially for all the sweetest moments of the day.

The whiskey of the party

The cake, on the other hand, has always been synonymous with celebration, joy, sharing with loved ones. Dr. Bill Lumsden, director of creation of Glenmorangie, who thus tried to encapsulate that magical, happy and greedy atmosphere in a bottle of single malt. To do this, he thought of having the whiskey complete the maturation in barrels of Tokaji: superimposing the sweet notes and the honey scents of the famous Hungarian wine with the fruity and delicate character of Glenmorangie, A Tale of Cake was born. A whiskey with a very particular complexity, where honey meets white chocolate, ripe fruit, a hint of mint.

What to expect

The explosion of colors of the Glenmorangie A Tale of Cake package anticipates the intense copper color of the whiskey once poured into the glass. The nose is complex, rich and multilayered, with hints of passion fruit, peach, pear, mango. In the mouth, however, more flavorful notes can be identified such as bread, oak wood and a curious one minerality, to then continue with the most characteristic features of Glenmorangie such as honeycomb, vanilla and almond, with a pinch of milk chocolate. An advice? Try it also with a splash of water (or an ice cube, on the rocks), to notice the spicy notes of apricot, elderflower, honey and peach syrup.

Because it is suitable for cakes

On the palate, therefore, there is a succulent and sour sensation at the same time, which leads to an explosion of sweet flavors, similar to candy, ranging from honey, white chocolate, apricot, almond, vanilla and pear. To balance it all, a pinch of orange and menthol, both classic Glenmorangie flavors. Finally, the aftertaste gives notes of chocolate almonds and pecans. A bouquet that can therefore fully recall the ingredients of one real cake, and that for this reason it is able to guarantee an excellent combination with the world of sweets. It is no coincidence that Glenmorangie A Tale of Cake was launched on the Italian market in collaboration with the renowned Cova pastry shop in Milan.