Cocktails – Snapshots & My Thoughts by Ailee Petrovic

Food September 9, 2014

St-Germain French 75 Cocktail Recipe

It is no secret that I love St-Germain liqueur. It was the ‘her’ drink at our wedding (see menu below), and I missed it a lot during my pregnancy. Now that I’m breastfeeding, I can only have it in small amounts, which is why I made this delicious French 75 recipe in a champagne flute-proportion (also because it’s pretty with the garnish!). If you’re also breastfeeding, I highly recommend these Milkscreen Alcohol Detection Strips!

McKenzie and I used to go to my favorite bar in Houston, Anvil, when we lived together and always ordered French 75s. They were amazing (and strong!). It was made with champagne, lemon juice, simple syrup and gin. Instead of using simple syrup to sweeten it, I decided to use lemon flavored La Croix, as there is no sugar in the drink (healthy perk!). I decided to mix a little St-Germain into the recipe and ohmygosh, yes. It works. It’s delicious, and I highly recommend that you try it.

Ingredients

1 1/2 ounces Prosecco, Brut champagne, or dry sparkling wine
1 1/2 ounces St-Germain
2 ounces Lemon La Croix
1/2 ounce gin (I recommend Hendrick’s Gin)
Lemon twist, for garnish
Ice cubes (if you like it cold)

Personal November 4, 2013

Whirlwind Trip to NYC

I love, love, love New York City. It has so much energy. I adore walking around all day long, eating far too much (delicious) food, acting like a total tourist with my big Nikon DSLR, getting excited about things I’ve now seen numerous times, like Central Park and the Empire State Building. I spent a very brief 36-ish hours in NYC this weekend with a good friend of mine – play-by-play itinerary below. What are your favorite things to do in the city? We’re thinking about making this an annual trip, so I welcome suggestions!

Friday

Landed around 2:30 and took an Uber cab to the Ace Hotel
Walked to Eataly and roamed around, then went to nearby Mangia for a quick salad
Walked to the observatory level of the Empire State Building (totally worth doing once)
Returned to the hotel and drank at their very hipster bar
Walked to Almond for an early pre-show dinner (I highly recommend this Flatiron spot)
Cabbed to the Al Hirschfield Theater for Kinky Boots (a must see)
Walked through Times Square and then back to the hotel
Step count: 7.5 miles

Saturday

Breakfast at Pastis (we ran into one of my best friends and her boyfriend while walking, so they joined us!)
Sat awkwardly at Pastis while they filmed a movie right beside our table for 30 minutes
Popped into Kate Spade Saturday’s Pop Up Shop
Got a drink at Revel Garden Bar (gorgeous, gorgeous spot)
Strolled through Chelsea Market enjoying the aromas and sample sales!
Walked along the High Line
Left the Meat Packing district and walked to the Gramery Park Hotel bar
Walked to Barbounia for lunch – amazing hummus and falafel and the busiest restaurant I’ve ever been to
Returned to the hotel to freshen up and drop shopping bags, then cabbed it to Barneys (sigh)
Stolled through Central Park as the sun was setting
Went to Kate Spade Madison Avenue – I want it all
Walked to Bloomingdales and spent ages lusting at Equipment blouses
Took a taxi to Market Table, which is a perfect West Village restaurant (try the Brussels sprouts!)
Crossed the street for some froyo at 16 Handles
Walked back to the hotel for an early-ish bed (due to a 5am wakeup)
Step count: 12.5 miles

Kate Spade Madison Avenue changing rooms… I need this wallpaper!

ASP Wedding September 12, 2013

Our Wedding Pictures: Part 2

Et voila – the second half of the wedding (you can see part one here). We had custom cocktails, delicious food, hilarious speeches, and lots and lots and lots of dancing. There was a good mixture of Scottish and Serbian dancing, and of course, plenty of bouncing around to Miley and T-Swift (yes, he’s 32). I was a hot, sweaty mess at the end of the night, as I feel I should have been. I could not have dreamed up a better wedding for the two of us. I’m so happy to have these pictures and go through them time and time again. Love y’all – thanks for reading!

Wedding Venue: The Carneros Inn

Wedding Coordinator: Brooke Baglietto (at The Carneros Inn)

Florist: Julie Stevens

Dress: BHLDN

Shoes: Jimmy Choo

Bridesmaids Dresses: J. Crew

Hair and Makeup: Katie Donaghy of It’s a Date at the Powder Room

Photographer: Ryan Ray

Vegan Cupcakes: Fat Bottom Bakery

DJ: Aaron Long

Cake Toppers: Ready Go Wedding Co. on Etsy

Paper Goods: Papellerie

String Trio: Synchronicity Strings

Groomsmen Kilt Rentals: Kilt Rental USA

Stationery June 26, 2013

St. Germain + Oh So Beautiful Paper

Oh So Beautiful Paper just announced a summer cocktail series with St. Germain (um, what? dream collaboration come true). Nole has been posting fun St. Germain drinks for awhile, but these new recipes look amazing. I’m not drinking until the wedding, but you’d better believe that I’ll be trying all of these post-July 19! The illustrations and photography are also incredible.

Other St. Germain posts of mine:

Elderflower and a Paper Straw, Please!

Sipping in Style

St. Germain Cocktails

His and Hers Cocktails

Bar Boheme and Wine Cafe

Wedding May 21, 2013

St. Germain Cocktails

Is there any drink better?

To call myself ‘obsessed’ with St. Germain sounds kind of… eh… bad. But I do love it. I had my first sip on a trip to Chicago last year (see post here), and I’ve been hooked ever since. I literally could not stop grinning when I saw this Cocktails Fridays post on Oh So Beautiful Paper. That illustration! Those pictures! Those recipes. Sigh. July 19, come quickly.