Hi there! My name is Tess, a new writer to the Dayton Most Metro Community. I live in Downtown Dayton with my husband Tim. I am a restaurant professional, bartender, home baker and cook, and a food and party planning blogger.
The calendar tells me that it’s spring. However, here in Ohio, “spring” could mean a myriad of things. It could mean rain, it could mean 80 degrees, it could even mean snow. When I was younger I used to spend spring break in Florida, we’d get home, pull into the driveway and see that our tulips had bloomed… and then died of frost. Unfortunately adulthood ensures that I never get to celebrate spring break, so I have to endure the seasons’ “awkward phase” where it doesn’t know what the hell it wants to do. But, I know what I want to do…I want to sit on a freakin’ patio and drink a freakin’ cocktail. So, until the weather makes up its mind and decides to be sunny and 70 degrees, I will just be over here wishing for spring and the delightful drinks that come with it. Here are my favorite things to sip on:
Rosé
Rosé season is my favorite time of year. Seriously, I don’t care a single bit about Christmas or my birthday…all I care about is that the newest batches of rosé are being bottled and I get to drink them. But also, because I’m basic, I like a good wine spritzer. Spritzers are great drinks for warm weather (and compliment a hangover perfectly!) So combine these two delightful things and you’ve got yourself a rosé spritzer. True to form, I’ve gussied it up a bit:
6 oz. Dry Rosé (not white zinfandel, I’m serious…through that away immediately)
2 oz. Fever Tree Elderflower Tonic
Squeeze of fresh lime
Serve over ice
The elderflower tonic adds nice bubbles, a little touch of sweetness and lovely floral note to your wine. Once rosé season really kicks off, I’ll be listing of my favorites for the year, but in the meantime I poured myself a glass of Italian rosé, known as Chiaretto.
Beer
I’m not a huge beer drinker, more often than not I’ll opt for a cocktail or a glass of wine, but if I’m out at a very casual restaurant enjoying “bar food,” beer is my drink of choice. I recently tried Rhinegeist’s Bubbles Cider at Trolley Stop and I have become obsessed. Highlighted with flavors of peach and cranberry, this cider drinks sweet, almost like a sangria. But it’s got a crisp tartness that I love. One sip of this and you’ll be feeling that Spring in your step, guaranteed.
Cocktail
Something about those first few warm days of spring makes me want to sit out on a patio, and sip on something fancy. My sister “invented” this cocktail that sings of spring and is definitely worthy of a long night on a patio, and a basket of chips and salsa. We call it a “Cosmopolita” because it’s all the cosmo fixings, but with tequila in place of vodka. Because tequila is delicious and vodka is boring.
2 oz. silver tequila
½ oz. Triple Sec or other orange liqueur
½ oz. Lime juice
¼ oz. simple syrup
1 oz. cranberry
More than an ounce of cranberry and your drink turns red instead of pink, and I’m not sure if you’ve sensed a theme here…but apparently in spring I only drink pink.
So, now I hope you’re all very thirsty and ready to sit outside with a glass of wine…and possibly a parka.
You can follow more of my party tips, and cocktail recipes on my blog Ciao Vella. Cheers and Ciao!
