Cocktail[s] of the week
Absolutely Fabulous
This drink was named in honor of Patty, a character on the popular British television series Absolutely Fabulous. Recently aired on Comedy Central, Absolutely Fabulous was one of the most popular comedies on the BBC in the 1990s. The show earned two British Academy Awards and two International Emmys. Commonly called "AbbFab", the show is written by Jennifer Saunders who stars as Edina, the demented public
relations guru obsessed with keeping up with the times. Patsy, played by Joanna Lumley, is Edina's best friend and a magazine editor who can't find her office and has a habit of pill-pushing and guzzling Stolichnaya vodka and Bollinger champagne.
in honor of the show, and Patsy, in particular, this "absolutely fabulous" cocktail originated in Monte's Club in London.
Mai Tai
While the Mai Tai may sound like an exotic drink from a faraway island paradise, it was actually created right here in the USA.
Absolutely Fabuthe best," and Trader Vic named his cocktail the Mai Tai. It became a hit across the West Coast and in 1953 Vic introduced the drink to Hawaii, where it was a sensation. Its reign as island king didn't last all that long, though - Hawaii became a state in 1959 and air travel technology made for a shorter flight, bringing thousands of tourists to the new territory. In a rush to serve them all and increase profits, Hawaiian restaurants used cheaper ingredients and substituted local pineapple juice for fresh lime juice, a move that Trader Vic said aggravated his ulcer. Today, most Mai Tais on the mainland have abandoned fresh ingredients and are too sweet for Mai tauris. A few of Trader Vic's original rec-
WE LOVE FALL BREAK. BUT WE ALSO LOVE TELLING YOU WHAT TO DRINK. So, TO MAKE UP FOR A MISSED THURSDAY, WE'RE SERVING A COCKTAIL DOUBLE DOSE. SAVE YOUR PENNIES AND BUY TWO
ROUNDS.
1 Shot Vodka
2 Shots Cranberry Juice
Champagne
Shake vodka and cranberry juice with ice. Strain into a chilled, strawberry-garnished empty glass and top with champagne.
Matt Beat
You, too, can look as fabulous as Joanna Lumley on Absolutely Fabulous.
California restaurateur Vic Bergeron (known to most as the famous Trader Vic) invented the drink at his Oakland restaurant in 1944, which he served to two Tahitian friends in town that evening. One took a sip and said, "Mai tara roa e," Tahitian slang for "out of this world,"
ipe can be found in upscale Hawaiian restaurants, but who wants to go that far? Here's his classic recipe:
Pour only 80 proof J. Wray & Nephew
Add juice from half a fresh lime, some orange curacao, a dash of rock candy syrup and a dolop of French orgeat. Shake vigorously and garnish with a sprig of fresh mint.
And here's a recipe that's probably more practical, ulcer problems and all:
Mai Tai
1 oz dark rum
2 oz orange cauracao
3 oz crème de noyaux
4 oz fresh lime juice
Shake with ice, garnish with an orange and a cherry and serve. You can also blend it for a frozen drink.
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— Meredith Desmond