Bartending Tips
Some terms you should know when tending bar:
Muddling: Smashing herbs and fruit with a small wooden pestle (muddler) to extract the most flavour. In a glass or cocktail shaker, crush together herbs or fruit, simple syrup and ice with flat end of muddler or back of bar spoon.
Rimming: Decorating edge of glass for taste and visual appeal. Moisten about ¼ inch down edge of glass with a wedge of lemon, lime or orange, or wet with water or liqueur. Dip into plate of commercial rimming sugar, superfine sugar, turbine sugar or salt. (Avoid citrus fruit for dairy-based drinks because it may cause curdling.) Note that coloured sugars may run.
Shaking: Simultaneously mixing while chilling ingredients. Fill cocktail shaker about three-quarters full with ice, leaving room for ingredients to shuttle round inside. Hold shaker with one hand on top and the other on base; give sharp, snappy shakes until container feels icy. Serve immediately to prevent dilution.
Bar Measurements:
¼ fluid ounce = 1 ½ teaspoons (7 ml)
½ fluid ounce = 1 tablespoon (15 ml)
1 fluid ounce = 2 tablespoons (25 ml)
2 fluid ounces = 4 tablespoons (50 ml)
Dash = a couple of drops (scant 1/8 tsp or 0.5 ml)
Splash = small amount of mix (about 1 tsp or 5 ml)
Pony = the small end (1 fluid ounce or 25 ml) of a double-ended measuring “jigger”
Jigger = shot glass for pouring standard size drink (1.5 fluid ounce or 45ml). Also available in 2 fluid ounce (50 ml) size.
No Thanks: A generous host does not push drinks on a guest or press for refills. Don’t forget that the responsibility is on the host to ensure that guests do not drive if they have had too much to drink. Always have a selection of nonalcoholic alternatives available, and be prepared for overnight guests, if necessary.
** Canadian Living Magazine – December 2005
Summertime Cocktails and Blender Drinks
The smooth taste sensation of a chilled smoothie is a real treat on a summer day. Use your KitchenAid Stand Blender to create summer drinks using your favourite fresh fruits. Or to make things really easy we carry a complete line of Gourmet Village Smoothie Mixes, including blueberry, key lime, orange sorbet, peaches & cream, and strawberry banana. Great taste without the fuss, just combine cold water, ice and mix in your blender.
Good times with friends on a summer afternoon are what great memories are all about. From the Kitchen to the Table
carries a full line of Gourmet Village products. With Gourmet Village the bar comes to you.
Their bar mixes are ready to mix with your favourite liquor. From Apple Martini, Strawberry Daiquiri,
Pina Colada, Bloody Mary, Sangria, Margarita Mix or Mojito mix — entertaining has never been easier.
Summer Entertaining Made Easy!
We've got all kinds of ideas and products to make summer entertaining easy. To create your Canada Day theme, use a mix of red and white tableware, some red & white balloons and relax on the patio or poolside. Check out our summertime drink recipes. It's summer and it's Canada — so kick back, relax & enjoy!
Forever Polycarbonate Beverage Wear
Made from tough polycarbonate plastic, this classically styled collection is unbreakable and dishwasher safe. Unlike regular acrylic, polycarbonate resists cracking, clouding and crazing. These pieces offer glass-like beauty and lasting worry free strength. The acrylic wine bucket stemware caddy (top left) allows you to hang 4 wine glasses from the flared rim of this beautifully designed wine bucket so you can easily carry wine service to wherever you are entertaining. The newest iceless wine cooler (above) combines a double wall of elegantly thick clear acrylic with a stylish wide band brushed steel rim. The ultimate in wine service!
The "Forever" glass collection offers a variety of styles including: flute, wine, martini, all purpose stem, margarita, tumbler & pitcher.
