Title:

The Backyard Bartender
(Clarkson Potter, Publishers, 2007) ISBN 978-0-307-38105-7 0-307-38105-6

Theme:

In Backyard Bartender, readers will find recipes for alcoholic and non-alcoholic frozen, on-the-rocks and shaken summer drinks. Nicole Aloni's creative recipes include martinis, sidecars, margaritas, punches and desserts in a glass. This cocktail book gives home mixologists recipes for cool drinks to serve pool-side, at barbecues, picnics and summer parties.

Sample Recipes:

Cajun heat martini. The Kiss. U-pick raspberry martini. Classic margarita. Manhattan. Sangrita rooster tail. Ten thyme smash. Orange basil mojito. Agua fresca. Salty puppy. Ginger blush martini. Mango-lime sangria. Pomegranate freeze.

Notable Elements:

This 112-page hardcover book provides the basics, like how to stock a basic bar or dream bar, with appropriate quantities of liquor needed for entertaining, mixologists' techniques and tools. Readers learn how to frost a glass, how to create a flavor rim, how to muddle and how to make a simple syrup. A glossary defines cocktail terms like bitters, jigger, dirty martini and infuse.

A chapter on infusing summer flavors into spirits includes recipes which use hot peppers, fruit, vanilla beans, ginger, coffee or herbs.

Tone / Style:

The Backyard Bartender chapter introductions feature a light and lively cocktail history and celebrity quotes. Each of the 55 recipes includes number of servings, ingredients, recommended glasses and garnishes, and the author's description and serving suggestions. Nicole Aloni lists drink preparation instructions in one to five easy steps. An umbrella symbol designates non-alcoholic cocktails.

Visuals:

Colleen Duffley's full-color images depict the thirst-quenching drinks with garnishes and glassware.

Contents:

• Introduction
1. How to Stock Your Bar
2. Techniques and Tools of the Mixologist
   Cocktail ABCs
3. Martini Madness
4. Classic Cocktails
   Ice Cube Central
5. Soon-to-Be Classics
6. Coolers and Tropical Cocktails
   Alcohol Never Came into It
7. Cocktails for a Crowd
8. Sparklers
9. Dessert in a Glass
   
   
• Infusing Spirits
• Glossary of Cocktail Talk
• Index
• Index by Type of Alcohol Used

Author:

Nicole Aloni

Claim to fame:

Nicole Aloni trained in France before beginning her 20-year catering career. She has catered the Academy Awards, prepared a state luncheon for Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and staged galas for U.S. presidents and foreign dignitaries. She wrote Cooking for Company and Secrets from a Caterer's Kitchen.

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