FOODGASM Live!

Here's an opportunity if you are in the Chicago area. Filo Restaurant, in collaboration with FOODGASM, is presenting a series of cooking demos.

Healthy cooking demos, they will be. But because it's me and Foodgasm. you know there'll be something a little extra. It's where healthy nutritional food gets a little sexy!

The first of these demos is fast approaching: 

-->

October 1, 2012

7-8pm (FREE)

Healthy and quick hearty grain/rice salads

(Complementary food samples at demo)

The second of these demos will be in two weeks.

-->

October 15, 2012

7-8pm (FREE)

Gluten-free seasonal soups

(Complementary food samples at demo) 

All of these will be held at the new Filo Restaurant. That's at :

 

-->

959 N. Western Ave.

Chicago, IL 60622

773.772.3456

If you are not in the Chicago area, no worries. We'll take pictures. And recipes will be posted on the blog.

Last Summer Fling Cocktail

The last beautiful days of summer are upon us. What better to enjoy it than to drink the last summer-time cocktail. If you’re lucky you can still find some beautiful cucumbers at your farmer’s market or maybe even in your own yard to make this drink. Cucumber Ginger sake-tini pairs really well with an Indonesian dish called Gado Gado, (click for recipe/blog post). 

This cocktail is a little unusual since it uses a  Japanese liquor made from fermented rice called Sake. Sake can be enjoyed by itself either hot or chilled and of course great in this cocktail. It’s super tasty on it’s own and especially if enjoyed with a special friend. Teehee! These would also be great for a cocktail party. Cucumber Ginger Sake-tini is fun to say, look at and of course to drink.

With out further ado I give you the recipe to my sassy Cucumber Ginger Sake-tini!

CUCUMBER GINGER SAKE-TINI

Serves 1

Ingredients

2 T chopped fresh cucumber

1 T chopped fresh ginger

1 T chopped fresh mint

2 T agave nectar or simple syrup* or to taste

2.5 oz. Vodka (I like to use an organic vodka called Square One. It is very smooth and delicious.)

2.5 oz Sake (I like to use a clear sake from Osaka calledJunmaishu from Akishika.)

Ice cubes

Thin cucumber slices and mint leaves, for garnish

*Simple syrup is made of equal amounts sugar and water heated until sugar is dissolved and then cooled.

Directions

Add the cucumber, mint and ginger into a cocktail shaker and muddle. Add the agave syrup, vodka, sake, ice and shake to combine. Adjust sweetness if needed. For the garnish lay a cucumber slice down with a mint leaf pressed onto it. Slice through the cucumber slice with mint leaf from middle to end and put on the rim of a martini glass. Strain drink into a chilled martini glass, serve and enjoy.