A Midsummer Night's Amaro Tasting and Book Signing at Officina del Bere 1397
Free West Village Event: Friday, July 18, 5:30PM - 7:30PM
Amaro Tasting and Book Signing with Brad Thomas Parsons
Allora! I wanted to let NYC-area LAST CALL readers be the first to know that I’ll be appearing at Officina del Bere 1397 on Friday, July 18 from 5:30PM - 7:30PM for a free amaro tasting and book signing.
I hope you’ll save the date and stop by this casual meet and greet and gathering of fellow drinks and amaro enthusiasts at Officina del Bere 1397, the West Village neighborhood shop dedicated to fine wines, craft cocktails, and spirits located next door to Bar Pisellino, the popular morning-till-late Italian bar from acclaimed James Beard Award-winning chefs Rita Sodi and Jody Williams, whose Officina 1397 restaurant group also includes the beloved West Village restaurants I Sodi, Buvette, Via Carota, and The Commerce Inn.
I’ll be pouring a selection of amari along with a sneak-peek cocktail from my next book, Drinking Italian (read on below for the story of the featured cocktail as well as the recipe). Copies of my book Amaro will be also be available to purchase at the event and to have signed by the author (me!). Let’s enjoy some amaro, sip a refreshing low-ABV amaro-and-Lambrusco cocktail, chop it up, and have a spirited time together on a Friday night in the Big City.
WHEN: Friday, July 18. 5:30PM - 7:30PM
WHAT: Amaro Tasting & Book Signing with Brad Thomas Parsons
WHERE: Officina del Bere 1397. 98 7th Avenue South, New York, New York 10014
HOW MUCH?: Free! No tickets required.
Vino Veritas
Jose Cordon, Felix Trattoria | Venice, California
On the border of Little Tokyo in Los Angeles you'll find De La Nonna, a popular square-pie pizzeria, and next door the 1970's-inspired Let's Go! Disco & Cocktail Club. While there are plenty of Italian-inspired cocktails available at both spots, including the Negroni Garbaggio (a solera-style, batched blend of random open bottles of amari, vermouth, and liqueurs), I remain obsessed with a certain cocktail that Jose Cordon, the co-owner and creative director of De La Nonna and Let's Go!, first created when he was the bar manager at Evan Funke's Felix Trattoria in Venice, California.
One summer evening I had dinner at the bar at Felix and kicked things off with the Vino Veritas, an effervescent, dark purple-hued cocktail made with Cappelletti Pasubio Vino Amaro and Lambrusco. Back then Cordon was using Cleto Chiarli Lambrusco del Fondatore due to its high-acidity and sharpness, and the dark-fruit notes of blackberry and blueberry that echoed the key flavor notes of the fortified red wine base of the Amaro Pasubio. It was so good I immediately ordered a second and later asked Cordon to share the recipe with me. He describes his creation as a simple drink, but this low-ABV-friendly stunner demonstrates how when you're using minimal quality components, less is more.
Makes 1 drink
2 ounces Cappelletti Pasubio Vino Amaro
1/2 ounce almond orgeat
Chilled Lambrusco, to top
Garnish: blackberry, fresh mint sprig
Add the amaro and orgeat to a rocks glass filled with ice. Top off with Lambrusco. Give it a quick swizzle stir and garnish with a fresh blackberry and a sprig of fresh mint.
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Sad to miss this but I just happen to have made some orgeat recently so will be sure to try the signature cocktail in absentia!