We asked our resident mixologist Ori Geshury, head of development, training and research for Cherry Hill’s Mixology Wine Institute, for the perfect libation to help us officially welcome spring. What we got was a modern take on the classic screwdriver. “You don’t need to mess with perfection,” Geshury says. “[But] we can really make this drink exciting while keeping its essence.” To do so, he adds orange bitters and a splash of Aperol—a sleek Italian Amaro that adds a touch of bitterness and herbal complexity to the drink.
Screwdriver
Grey Goose L’Orange vodka
Splash of Aperol
Three dashes of orange bitters
Juice
Fill the glass one-third of the way with vodka, Aperol and bitters. Then top off with a combination of fresh blood orange juice, clementine or tangerine juice, and fresh orange juice. Stir gently and serve.
Drink Up
Pairing food and wine is fairly commonplace, but craft beer’s increasing popularity has inspired plenty of foodies to seek the perfect matching suds for their suppers. So, we asked Casey Hughes, head brewer for Cherry Hill’s Flying Fish Brewery, what he looks for when trying to find the perfect pairing.
“I always look at the beer to complement the food. If I have a hoppy beer I like to pair it with a spicy or robust food to match the assertiveness of the hops. There should be a good balance between the beer and the food—I wouldn’t pair a malty beer with a salad with a vinaigrette, because the acidity of the dressing would overpower the beer.”
Last Call
• On May 7, the local hopheads known as the Barley Legal Home Brewers will host a National Home Brew Day event at Iron Hill Brewery in Maple Shade. For a $10 donation, guests can sample the creations of fledgling area beermeisters and pick up a few tips on how to launch a nanobrewery right in your basement. The event runs 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the parking lot, rain or shine. The following weekend, if you already have your own homemade beer concoctions perfected, you can show off your skill at High Street Grill’s Spring Home Brew Contest on May 15, noon to 4 p.m.; IronHillBrewery.com; HighStreetGrill.net
• The Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge in Medford invites guests to a gourmet picnic complete with a chance to mingle with live animals at its Wine and Wildlife Festival on May 21 from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $50. Visit CedarRun.org for further details.
• Also in Medford, the town’s annual Art, Wine and Music Festival will take place June 5 from noon to 4 p.m. along Main Street. Attendees will enjoy live entertainment as they sip vino from several wineries and dine on plates from local restaurants. Visit MedfordBusiness.com/events for more information.
Did You Know
At Wineworks in Marlton, you can sample wine right in the store as part of their Enocard program. For a $10 membership fee, you’ll be able to taste up to four 4-oz. pours a day from the constantly rotating 12 selections available. 319 Route 70 W., Marlton, (856) 596-3330, WineWorksOnline.com
Published (and copyrighted) in South Jersey Magazine, Volume 8, Issue 2 (May, 2011).
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