Holiday Punch Bowls!

a cocktail orange in color sits in a rocks glass. two pumpkins and a squash are in the background. the cocktail is a pumpkin spice cocktail, a mai tai

When it comes to the holiday season, many of us lean on alcohol to help us get through family gatherings. But, when we get together with our friends (our family of choice), cocktails are used as a way to deepen conversations and delight in the company of those around us. If you’re hosting your own party this November, we have a variety of Friendsgiving cocktail recipes to keep your chosen family lively and warm while you visit and enjoy the meal.

Cocktails for Your Friendsgiving Celebration

Espresso Negroni

The Espresso Negroni, also known as the Negroni Svegliato (Italian for “wide awake”), can be both an aperitif and an after-dinner drink. Its dose of caffeine helps keep you energized to talk with friends, while its otherwise classic ingredients and proportions delight the palate.

Cranberry Kombucha Apple Cider Rum Punch

This fruity punch uses apple cider and cranberry for the perfect fall concoction. Plus, it includes kombucha, so it’s a healthier alternative to other drinks. Garnish the glass with fresh cranberries and a bit of thyme, or make a big batch in a punch bowl for everyone to share.

Spicy Orange NA-rgarita

For those who would rather forgo the alcohol yet still want the fun of a well-mixed beverage, this take on a nonalcoholic margarita is for you. It has just as much flavor as a regular margarita due to the spicy agave syrup and all the good of not having a hangover the next day.

Pumpkin Spice Mai Tai

Nothing screams fall better than pumpkin spice. Orange, clove, and molasses are featured flavors in this Tiki drink-turned-fall. A touch of orgeat, the creamy, mildly sweet nonalcoholic syrup that stars many classic Tiki-inspired cocktails, adds an extra dash of flavor.

Absinthe Spritz

The aperol spritz was the talk of the summer, but you can show your friends that you’re far from a basic trend-follower with a twist on the classic spritz. Use red absinthe rather than green for a fall-themed spin on this delightful drink.

Chocolate Martini

A candied cocktail that transcends ordinary boundaries and is fantastically easy to make. Rich chocolate flavor with a hint of vodka makes this martini the perfect dessert drink. Finish off a filling Friendsgiving dinner with a sweet treat to end the night.

Story by Kylie Thomas

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The Green Beast, a Low Calorie Cocktail

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October 28, 2024

You’ve heard of Green Goddess salad, healthy green juice…now get ready for a green cocktail. The bar team at the luxury Fairmont Hotel shared this recipe from fl.2, their bar space known for lovely ambience, quality service, and creative drinks. The Green Beast is a refreshing, herbaceous cocktail balanced with house-made thyme syrup, crisp cucumber, and zesty lime. This unique blend offers a smooth yet vibrant flavor with a hint of botanical complexity. Low calorie and perfect for sipping and savoring!

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You’ve heard of Green Goddess salad, healthy green juice…now get ready for a green cocktail. The bar team at the luxury Fairmont Hotel shared this recipe from fl.2, their bar space known for lovely ambience, quality service, and creative drinks. The Green Beast is a refreshing, herbaceous cocktail balanced with house-made thyme syrup, crisp cucumber, and zesty lime. This unique blend offers a smooth yet vibrant flavor with a hint of botanical complexity. Low calorie and perfect for sipping and savoring!

What Makes This Cocktail Green?

While many cocktails use Midori for its green color, this one uses Genepy, a liqueur that might not be on your radar. Genepy, called “the quintessential Alpine drink,” is from France and is best served chilled. It comes from a variety of artemisia (often translated into English as “mountain sage”) found principally in the mountains of central Europe. It’s beloved in French ski resorts, particularly as a digestivo after a big pot of fondue. Here it helps give this cocktail its refreshing quality and its distinctive color.

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The Green Beast

Author: Mustafa Kurtcu

Description

A low-calorie cocktail recipe that will refresh you without the bloating.

Ingredients

Scale

1 oz Hendricks
1 oz Cointreau
½ oz Genepy
½ oz Thyme Syrup
¾ Cucumber Juice
½ oz Lime Juice
Tonic to top off
Absinthe for spray
Cucumber fan for garnish

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Instructions

In a cocktail shaker, crush the cucumber slices to release their juice.
Fill the shaker with ice, then pour in the lime juice, thyme syrup, Cointreau, Genepy, and gin. Put the lid on your shaker and shake until the cocktail is thoroughly chilled, about 20 seconds.
Optional: Spray glass with absinthe before pouring.
Strain into tall glass and garnish with lime or cucumber fan.

Recipe and photo courtesy of the Fairmont

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The Giardiniera-tini, A Low Calorie Cocktail

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October 28, 2024

A giardineira cocktail outside of a fine dining restuarant

This low calorie giardiniera cocktail is a bright, lightly sweet and salty martini from the team at Ritual House, a fun and delicious restaurant in downtown Pittsburgh. All you need is a jar of pickled veggies, vodka, and ice to make this easy, fun recipe.

What is Giardiniera and Why Would You Put it in a Cocktail?

Giardiniera is an Italian condiment made of pickled vegetables, which often is served as a relish or garnish. While your typical martini has olives, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t experiment with other briny vegetables. Plus, a martini is a great low-cal cocktail option. So, the giardiniera cocktail was born as a spin on the martini. The juice used in it is the “brine” from the bottom of the giardiniera jar, just as you would use olive brine in a martini. For a more classic martini, try our Stanley Tucci-inspired martini.

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Giardiniera-tini Cocktail

Author: Emma Riva

Ingredients

Scale

2 oz Vodka (we used Tito’s)
1 oz Giardiniera Juice
Garnish with Giardiniera, pickled veggies

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Instructions

Combine ingredients in cocktail shaker with ice.
Garnish with gardiniera and pickled vegetables of your choice.

Recipe and photo courtesy of Cam Dickson at Ritual House

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TABLE Magazine’s Stress-Free Election Guide

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October 28, 2024

The election season can be a time full of stress. No matter what your political affiliation is, tensions run high and it can bring out the worst in people. We have three cocktails for you, and some healthy living guides, to make sure that you’re feeling your best and keeping your stress levels low.

TABLE Magazine‘s Stress-Free Election Guide

Drink away the election stress…

Margin of Error

One of the tensest parts of the 2024 election cycle has been how close it is, with all polls falling within their statistical margin of error. As a result, it’s impossible to predict the outcome. But this cocktail, however, has a low margin of error with simple ingredients most home bartenders already have at hand.

The Ballot Box

This whiskey sour cocktail draws its inspiration from the all important ballot box. Our votes are private, and nobody knows exactly how you’ve voted, which makes our elections both mysterious and admirable. What is not mysterious is the deliciousness of this cocktail.

He Said/She Said

One of these cocktails is campari, the other curaçao, but otherwise, they’re the same recipe. This isn’t to imply that both candidates are the same, but instead an invitation to think about the fact that often we don’t realize that we have more in common than we might realize. Mix up one of each and share with a friend.

If you want to skip the booze to relieve election stress…

Yes, drinking is a tried and true way to chill out and make a fun night out of what can be a stressful experience. But, let’s be real, it is not the healthiest coping mechanism for election stress. You might be experiencing some trouble sleeping or some nausea. We talked to some experts to get some natural, healthy ways you can make this election a little more bearable.

How to Naturally Settle an Upset Stomach on Election Day

Nausea can be a side effect of anxiety and stress. We have some recommendations including ginger, fermented foods, and heat to make sure that you aren’t dealing with physical pain alongside your emotional distress.

Natural Sleep Aids for Election Day Anxiety

A natural sleep aid tea — Courtesy of The Tea Spot

Getting to sleep on that November night can be tough, but looking for these ingredients in herbal tea can offer you a little relief. Remember, no matter what the outcome of the 2024 election is, you’ll still be waking up the next morning to a brand new day.

Story by Emma Riva

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Bobotie with a Twist

By

Kylie Thomas

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October 28, 2024

Two black dishes, one with a salad and one with a Bobotie over peas, sit on a tablecloth with flower decor around them.

Bobotie is a classic South African dish of spiced ground meat, baked in a savory custard. This recipe by South African cook Marisa de Bruyn is one of David Arment’s favorites. While the ingredient list may appear long, it’s simple to make, the leftovers are superb, and it freezes well. De Bruyn uses a combination of ostrich and beef, but you can use all beef if you prefer. Either way you’ll end up with a comforting main dish that goes well with rice and a chile jam.

How Should You Cook Ostrich Meat?

Surprisingly enough, cooking ground ostrich meat is pretty similar to cooking regular ground beef. You’re simply going to sauté the ground meat in a pan with some oil until the meat is browned. Ostrich meat is a lean meat with less than 3% fat so you want to be careful not to dry the meat out by cooking for too long. Generally you want to stick with a cooking time of somewhere from 7-10 minutes and no longer. This way you’ll end up with juicy meat for your Bobotie filling that compliments the golden custard.

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Bobotie with a Twist

Author: Marisa de Bruyn

Description

A savory and comforting entree.

Ingredients

Scale

For the beef:

1 onion, peeled and chopped
1 tbsp olive oil
18 oz ground beef
14 oz ground ostrich (or substitute beef)
1 apple, grated
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground cumin
4 tsp mild curry powder
1 tsp mixed herbs
2 star anise
1 cinnamon stick
½ cup seedless raisins
¾ cup fruit chutney
¼ cup apricot jam
Zest and juice of 1 lemon
1 cup water
Salt and pepper

For the custard:

1–13.5 oz can coconut milk
6 eggs
Salt and pepper
4–6 dried bay leaves
1 cup almonds, finely chopped

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Instructions

For the beef:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Place the olive oil and onions in a large saucepan and sauté until the onion is soft.
Add the ground meat and cook for a few minutes until browned, then add 1 teaspoon of salt, the garlic, apple, spices, chutney and jam.
Brown the mixture until the liquids have reduced then add 1 cup of water along with the raisins.
Simmer for about ten minutes, then transfer the mixture to a 9×13 inch ovenproof dish.
Remove the star anise and cinnamon stick if desired, otherwise just push them to the side when eating the Bobotie.

For the custard:

To make the custard, mix the eggs with the coconut milk.
Season well with salt and pepper and pour over the meat.
Arrange the bay leaves on top and scatter over the chopped almonds.
Bake until the custard has set and browned on top.
Serve with rice and chile jam.

Recipe by Marisa de Bruyn
Styling by Keith Recker
Photography by Tira Howard

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Consider the Oyster: Oyster Tableware to Set the Scene

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October 28, 2024

In the past, conventional wisdom maintained one should only eat oysters in months ending with “r”, but refrigeration and other factors have made these luscious mollusks viable year-round. On a recent trip to Venice, the Adriatic, and Greece with Viking, I had the opportunity to sample some world-class oysters in Croatia, off the coast of a town named Ston, a little less than an hour’s drive from Dubrovnik.

These beauties had just the right amount of brininess—rather than a saline punch in the face—and a delicious flavor and texture. We took a small boat out to a dock and our bivalves were (literally) pulled up from the water and shucked on the spot, served with nothing more than bread and a slice of lemon—oh, and some delicious local white wine. They were followed by (also freshly-pulled-from-the-water) mussels, another local specialty. If you ever have the opportunity to be in the area, definitely put this on your list.

Otherwise, oysters are plentiful this time of year. Even if you live somewhere landlocked without a good fishmonger nearby, you can get them shipped overnight. To fully enjoy them, it’s good to have the right equipment on hand, and the investment will insure that oysters will always be on the menu.

Consider the Oyster

Shucker’s Bundle

This expert set has two different knives (one for thinner, one for thicker oysters) and a cut-proof cloth give you everything you need.

A Geography of Oysters: The Connoisseur’s Guide to Oyster Eating in North America by Rowan Jacobsen

The Oyster Book: A Chronicle of the World’s Most Fascinating Shellfish―Past, Present, and Future by Dan Martino

Two books that are essential reading for oyster lovers. Jocobsen love to do a deep dive into a single topic (his book on truffles is magnificent) and you’ll learn an incredible amount. If you want even more information, check out his The Essential Oyster. Martino’s book is a sort of history of man’s relationship to the oyster—including farming, the effects of climate change, and more—and it’s completely fascinating.

New and vintage oyster plates / Hunt and Bloom

Offering their own, new plates beside a collection of vintage oyster plates means there’s a lot of potential for your table. Happy exploring!

2-Tier Stainless Steel Seafood Tower / Crate and Barrel

For a really spectacular presentation, fill the two trays with crushed ice and top with a selection of fresh oysters, shrimp—maybe some sea urchin?

Cast Iron Oyster Grill Pan / Outset

If fresh, raw oysters are king, the grilled ones are at least princes. Top with herbs and butter and put over coals. In minutes, you’ll have a real treat.

Oyster Fork Set / Sticky Bottom Oyster Company

Most oyster forks are just, well, small forks. These have nice wide heads and tines so they grip firmly and avoid fallen oysters. They even come in their own case.

Regency Lemon Wraps / The Peppermill

Sure, getting a lemon seed on your oyster isn’t the biggest tragedy, but these wraps are great looking and make your table seem that much more stylish.

Try these oyster recipes with the oyster tableware:

Story by Stephen Treffinger

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Classic Cocktail and Snack Pairings for Election Night

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October 28, 2024

a grilled cheese in the middle of a marble charcuterie board with red and purple olives and a variety of cured meats

Nothing settle you in for a long night in front of the telly like a delicious cocktail and a tasty morsel. What may be a stressful night in front of your TV can be improved with these classic cocktail and snack pairings any home bartender can master. Invite some friends over, bring out the shaker and the cheese board, and turn the night into an excuse for gathering with your favorite people.

Classic Cocktail and Snack Pairings for Election Night

Whiskey Sour & Charcuterie Board

To pair with a whiskey sour, you’ll need a flavor that the whiskey won’t overpower. Stick to your ribs foods are great choices to pair with a spirit-forward cocktail. A charcuterie board of meats, cheeses, and dried fruits packs the perfect punch.

Espresso Martini & Mocha Chocolate Brownies

A espresso martini cocktail for Sagittarius sits in a glass, topped with espresso powder with a crystal gem to the left.

A stack of brownies with a mocha chocolate frosting sits on a cooling rack amongst white sheets.

Mocha Chocolate Brownies Recipe

The espresso martini is the ultimate classy cocktail for a gathering. Anybody can feel chic with one in their hands. The chocolate and espresso are similar but not too similar, so they complement each other without canceling out the flavor. The espresso martini can also help you stay up late if you’re watching the polls into the night.

Paloma & Chocolate Pretzel Pie

Two light orange drinks garnished with Grapefruit Wedges. Paloma Cocktail

A chocolate pretzel pie on a white background

The grapefruit in the paloma will pair well with the saltiness of the pretzels, plus the tropical freshness of the paloma will keep the pretzels in this rich dish from dimming your palate. There are so many variations of pretzels, too, and a paloma will work with pretty much any of them, so vary this recipe to your choosing.

Margarita & Chicken Quesadillas with Guacamole and Pico de Gallo

A margarita cocktail for cancer in a small blue glass with a lime garnish and salt rim. Selenite sits near by on the black table.

Chicken Quesadillas on a green plate accompanied by guacamole, sour cream, and pico.

The pairing might seem a little too on-the-nose, but this follows the wine pairing strategy of “if it grows together, it goes together.” There’s a little bit of zest in the margarita that will bring out the flavor of the quesadilla and guac. You can also use a mojito, rather than a margarita, if margaritas aren’t your jam.

Aperol Spritz & Wood-Fired Focaccia

A cocktail for Leo with red liquid in a wine glass topped with an orange slice and surrounded by crystals on the table.

Focaccia is an easy thing to bake and a huge crowd-pleaser at any snack table. Serve it with a little bit of olive oil for dipping on the side. The refreshing tang of the aperol spritz balances out the bread, and the addition of a snack makes sipping on the spritz last longer.

Story by Emma Riva

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Malva Pudding

By

Kylie Thomas

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October 28, 2024

A piece of Malva Pudding sits in a white bowl dish with a scoop of white cream on top and nuts.

Malva Pudding is a South African dessert which features a spongey texture and big apricot flavors. Think of an almost marshmallowy-soft cake that resembles a tres leches and you’ve got a serving of Malva Pudding. This recipe uses a Creme Anglaise made from the simple ingredients of heavy cream, butter, and sugar. When you bite into a serving of this decadent Malva Pudding, you’ll feel the warmth of the pudding melt in your mouth alongside a creamy, sweet sauce that finishes each bite.

The dessert is a favorite of David Arment, a prominent collector of South African wire baskets. Read all about his magnificent collection, which he has gifted to Santa Fe’s Museum of International Folk Art. The collection’s first exhibit is happening in November 2024.

Where Does Malva Pudding Come From?

This popular South African dessert gets its origins from Cape Dutch settlers. In fact, Malva Pudding is thought to have made its appearance sometime during the mid-1600s, probably in connection to Dutch East India voyages back and forth between Europe and the southern tip of Africa. With a bounty of fresh ingredients like fresh apricots available in the temperate microclimate of the Cape, it’s easy to see why this recipe took hold in the culinary lexicon of South African kitchens.

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Malva Pudding

Author: Nicole Appels
Yield: 8 Servings 1x

Description

This South African dessert features a warm pudding-cake with a sweet, creamy sauce overtop.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Pudding:

1 cup granulated sugar 
1 egg
1 tbsp apricot preserves
1 tbsp butter + extra for greasing the baking dish
1 cup milk
1 tsp vinegar 
1 cup all-purpose flour 
1 tsp baking soda 
1/2 tsp salt

For the Sauce:

1 cup heavy cream
¾ cup unsalted butter 
1 cup granulated sugar 
1/2 cup hot water

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Instructions

For the Pudding:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Grease an 8×8” square Pyrex dish.
Beat the sugar and eggs until thick and lemon colored, then add the preserves and mix through.
Melt the butter and milk in a saucepan then stir in the vinegar.
Sieve, or simply mix together the flour, soda and salt in a bowl.
Alternate wet and dry ingredients into egg mixture and mix until combined.
Pour into the baking dish, cover with foil, and bake until the pudding is brown and well-risen — depending on your oven and oven dish this will be between 30-50 minutes.

For the Sauce:

In a saucepan, melt together the ingredients for the sauce, and stir well.
Pour it over the pudding as soon as it comes out of the oven.
Leave to stand awhile before serving. Serve warm. Because it’s rich, it does not really need enhancement, but if you want, serve vanilla ice cream with it, or even better, bourbon pecan ice cream.

Recipe by Chef Nicole Appels, The Mystic Santa Fe / Styling by Keith Recker / Photography by Tira Howard

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The Protea, aka a Guava Margarita

By

Justin Matase

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October 28, 2024

A person with rings holds a short cocktail glass with a Guava Margarita inside in an orange color, garnished with a lime and rimming salt.

A margarita is great choice of drink for gathering friends and family together. But…it’s exciting to mix up something different for them once in a while. Give this classic cocktail a guava upgrade the next time you go to salt your rim. This margarita mixes your favorite tequila, fresh lime juice, Grand Marnier, and guava juice. The taste is strong, a little tart, and a little spicy from the addition of pepper rimming salts. Chances are this Guava Margarita may just become your new go-to for cocktail hour.

What is Grand Marnier?

Grand Marnier is a type of orange liqueur that’s a blend of cognac and bitter orange-flavored liqueur. It’s a good way to add a bit of orange sweetness to a cocktail without overpowering the other flavors in it. You’ll find it at a 40% ABV, which isn’t a lot but when in cocktails like our Protea (Guava Margarita), it makes a big difference that you can taste and feel. If you don’t happen to have Grand Marnier available, you can substitute it for other orange liqueurs like Cointreau or Triple Sec.

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The Protea (Guava Margarita)

Author: Justin Matase