Elf in Amsterdam » Cocktail

Elf’s Drinky Links (IV)

elfinamsterdam — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 01:24:57 +0000

Welcome to the 4th Drinky Link

Tonight’s cocktail: Tulip Cocktail

1 shot / 30 ml / 1 oz Calvados
1 shot / 30 ml / 1 oz sweet vermouth
½ shot / 15 ml / ½ oz lemon juice juice
½ shot / 15 ml / ½ oz apricot brandy

Shake all ingredients with ice and fine-strain in to a cocktail glass. Garnish with a lemon zest twist.

The Tulip Cocktail is another taken from the pages of The Savoy Cocktail Book. It is a rich and fruity cocktail, with plenty of apple upfront and a long apricot finish. The vermouth provides a floral bitterness that along with the lemon juice provides a counterbalance to the sweetness of the Calvados and apricot brandy. The Tulip has a complexity that I really love in a cocktail, and despite the small amount of apricot brandy used it has a surprisingly strong effect on the drink. Definitely a drink worth exploring – highly recommended…

Apart from being yum, it is my choice in celebration of the Dutch national flower, to mark the 60th Anniversary of the Keukenhof. They are using the anniversary to mark the 400 years since Henry Hudson stepped off a ship owned by Dutch East India Company, purchased the land for the modern equivalent of UD$1,000 from a tribe that didnt own it and proclaimed it New Amsterdam.

Anyhow, when my mum comes to visit at the end of April we are going to visit the Tulips

On with the Linkage

While 99 Designs might not be the best way to get new work and protect your copyright Mashable held a competition to redesign their logo - which one do you like best?

The Guardian’s piece on “The Rise and Rise of Twitter” makes for interesting reading

Wallace and Gromit’s new ad for Npower, more here on Creative Review

Click here to view the embedded video.

Madonna wants to expand her brood, PopSugar reports

Yesterday it was confirmed that Madonna is trying to adopt a little girl from Malawi though there’s already controversy as the process moves forward. The little girl is an orphan named Mercy, and Madonna will appear in court on Monday to take the next steps.

Some thought Madonna got special treatment when she adopted David Banda, and the procedures could be even more complicated this time since she’ll be a single mom and there’s rumors of her personal life getting in the way

While we are on the topic of families, here are three posts from Travelling but not in love who has been hosting his lovely mother, aunt and cousin. Read these while drinking your cuppa and risk a keyboard full of tea! He is one funny guy and his mother and he make quite the double act.

Panti explains the Bicycle in homo friendly terms

The Lisa Hannigan video, for Lille, the pop up book was designed by Maeve Clancy of Flatmates fame.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Flatmates is a year old! And to celebrate, the first 10 people to send their postal address to Maeve with ‘Flatmates Poster’ in the subject heading will win signed limited edition posters.

@paddydonnelly ’s fantastic set of Origami Web 2.0 icons

Grandad opens his advice clinic doors, Sunday suit you sir?

Dine to read.ie was this weeks Tuesday Push, looks like a really interesting way to meet new people and share a book and a meal.

Kevin Coleman finished his Guide to Blogging in three easy parts

And finally,

Found this week while the wonderful @fontfiddler was over to visit

Plop Chocolate Pudding

Elf’s Drinky Links (III)

elfinamsterdam — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 23:30:05 +0000

So, better late than never, here are this weeks Drinky Links!

The only choice for this weeks cocktail is:

The Grand Slam

1.5 cl gin

1.5 cl brandy

2 cl apricot flavoured brandy

1.5 cl fresh lime juice

Shake in iced cocktail shaker & strain

Serve in a cocktail glass

So in case you live under a rock the Irish Rugby team won the Grand Slam, and as ever the wonderful Patrick Phelan had his twouds up for the pre, during and post match tweets. My favorite is this one

78 mins: DROP-GOAL Wales 15-17 Ireland

Some great charity things you should support:

@Debbiemet’s good friend in Brooklyn wants your signature to save a feral cat colony – Do It!

Friday was Daffodil Day, if you missed out, or you want to dedicate a Daffodil to someone, Plant a Daff

Two friends of mine Una & Kelly are doing a 70km from Dublin to Arklow on May 16th to raise money for Women’s Aid

On my now openly favorite topic, I’m not the only one that’s broody and if you’ve been bitten by the bug the Guardian has some advice for reducing the expense of these lovely little bundles of sleepless nights, and one very strange and freakily interesting story of the shared pregnancy experience of twin sisters

iPhone 3.0 release is another thing you *might* have heard about this week, the ever sleek and well groomed Allan Costello has been busily Tethering his nest

On the topic of nests and homes you may have noticed my new home, someone else who has a new home is Stephen Spillane *waves* Howdy Neighbour

Cool finds of the week: Polar Clock, (see below)

Drool Worthy Stairs and the Mixilator

Polarclock Screensaver & iPhone app

Gay this Week for the homos and the LGBTQ SOFA’s in the audience – Ellen on Oprah and Oprah on Ellen and from Panti’s Blog Portia DeRossi apologises for marrying Ellen.

Picture of the Week I love this image from GlasseyAlley

Finally today marks my first anniversary in Amsterdam (more on that later) and this week marks another cool anniversary, the very talented Maeve Clancy’s webcomic Flatmates

Back to work in the morning…..

Elf’s Drinky Links (II)

elfinamsterdam — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 09:00:39 +0000

Unless you live under a rock you’ll know it’s Cheltenham, and I’m pretty sure it doesn’t have its own cocktail, its not really a cocktail event….

however in the horsey theme The Kentucky Derby has its official cocktail, The Mint Julep!

Very easy to make, and might be a nice change for those that like Mojitos!

That’s the Drink… now for the links……

Xbox makes the newspaper for the second time in as many months

Gingerpixel too!

Macawilliams First photo from his new camera

Swiss Miss’s four rules more to be found on Notes to self

Proof that the Duck (like the man) is not for turning – have to say I laughed at the Registers heading for it “Bloke-Duck-Mounting”

The Guardian post Wendy Richard’s Chilli Recipe - I love the commentary on this recipe and recipes in general, which says a lot for our culinary blog friends.

“A recipe isn’t just a set of instructions for cooking, it’s a personal gift.

When someone gives you a recipe, they are not teaching you how to do something, but wanting you to experience something they loved.”

Sticking with food, the ever wonderful lady that is Grannymar has shared with us most graciously her favourite sandwich recipes – now these hit the spot in terms of my culinary prowess…

The influence of Desked, our new favourite blog is can be seen all over the place - ok so maybe not Desked influenced but it is a gorgeous desk!

On the topic of cool things on Design Milk, this is a fantastic idea for families with power hungry kids , although you would have to find a way to ensure they cant just unplug it and toss it to the side.

Don’t forget to vote for Irish man George in his attempt to get the Best Job in the World

And OF COURSE for our own Rick O’Shea in the Meteor’s

And to finish with something sweet!

What you talkin bout Willis