Craving Comfort
After the last night of the year, and all the celebrations that stretch into the next morning, January does not have much to recommend it. Sure, around here we enjoy the antics of the Phunny Phorty Phellows lumbering down St. Charles Avenue, in a streetcar, announcing that Carnival Season has begun.
But after that, particularly this year with a late Mardi Gras, March 8, we are bereft of great occasions. What we do have is cold, wet weather. All month.
Comfort foods are high on everyone’s list, with easy to prepare, mouth-pleasing, tummy-filling fare sounding like the right response to early darkness and cold nights.
Apples and spices are always appropriate, and, because we are in New Orleans, some spirited beverage must be involved. We don’t make the rules; we just try to uphold them.
Vinny Nguyen, bar man extraordinaire at Salú, 3226 Magazine St. in the Garden District, has created a smooth and delicious drink that makes you forget about the bad weather, and maybe a few other things.
Apple Pie-Tini
2 1/2 ounces apple vodka
1 1/2 ounces Amaretto
Splash St. Elizabeth all spice
Splash simple syrup
1 ounce lemonade
Add ingredients to shaker with light helping of ice. Shake and strain. Garnish martini glass with sugar and cinnamon.
