June 2007 Soundbites

Though we sometimes think we are, we know here at Cafe Drake that we're not the only blog on the internet. Another topic we love is the inherently related arena of home design, so crucial to successful entertaining, and some of the best sites on the subject include current faves: http://anothershadeofgrey.blogspot.com; http://chameleon-interiors.blogspot.com, and http://decor8.blogspot.com. While we're throwing internet props, Cafe Drake's sister site Satan's School for Girls (http://70stvhorror.blogspot.com/) is back in summer session after a year's hiatus, bringing you more nostalgic thrills from 70s horror TV. We promise to update SSFG more frequently and have plenty planned for an upcoming infernal season.

Favorite Ingredient of the Month: Cepa Vieja Sherry Vinegar

Sure you may balk at the $20 price tag, but if you're thrifty like us you can extend a bottle for a half-year or more, reserving for special salad dressings and treasured guests. Unlike the more popular balsamic vinegar, now a contemporary kitchen staple, sherry vinegar can be aged up to 75 years. The above-mentioned bottle happens to be 40 years in an oak casket, and just a few drops paired with a good olive oil will transform the most mundane lettuce into a masterpiece; this stuff glorifies iceberg, kids! Especially good splashed over starter compositions featuring shaved raw fennel and top-notch Reggiano Parigiano, any quality sherry vinegar will do, and many are available for under $10.

Cafe Drake's dear dear friend of YEARS, Ms. Amee Simmons-Spondike of Ann Arbor, Michigan always inspires us, with a mercurial wit and silver tongue and equally in the kitchen as well. Ms. Amee has already given us the genius Summer '07 dessert of local strawberries macerated with fig-infused balsamic vinegar (shall we try it with the sherry varietal?), turned us on once again to the June pleasures of Campari in virtually everything, and also the Salade Caprese with a twist of tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil, cracked peppercorns, olive oil and diced peaches - who knew? Cafe Drake's mother promptly assembled said salad and gave it 5-stars. While we post Amee is no doubt brainstorming her next patio soiree at her Midwest mid-century modern home.

Cocktails are a daily feature at Cafe Drake, so frequently and habitually

consumed as to be compared to an IV or osmosis. Frankly, we'd take the following summer quencher in any form of bodily delivery. Shockily decadent and retro and fierce in equal combinations, this currently rules as the house drink at New York's Marquee Club, where we first sampled the glam concoction. Guaranteed to keep you dancing all night long, forget you ever swallowed that embarrassing frat travesty of a drink, the Red Bull with Vodka.

Champagne on the Tab

Fill a chilled flute glass with quality champagne and spike with Tab Energy Drink (that's right, the reincarnation of the 70s diet soda) as a float on top.