Negronis

I just finished Gabrielle Hamilton's Blood, Bones, and Butter. I can't quit the food memoirs. I enjoyed most of it very much, and she's one of the increasing few who have the material for an engaging memoir. A lot of the book, before she opens her restaurant, is about the crazy world of high-end catering. It's another reminder that there are so many kinds of intelligence in the world, and the kind that's delivering lunches for 800 doesn't get recognized very often. What I liked most about the book was that I could feel myself with her in whatever kitchen she was in--lifting giant pots of boiling water, making long lists, tipping beans, being bone-tired at the end of the night. 

And she mentions negronis so many times that I had to make them. When Yancey and I were in Italy--that pre-children, sweetest of trips that we still bring up weekly--we grew to love the bitter liqueur Campari and would order Americanos (Campari with sweet vermouth).  Add a good jigger of floral gin (Hendricks is my choice), a squeeze of lemon or lemon twist, and you've got the perfect cocktail for memoir-reading, narcissistic blogging, or sitting in the spring sun doing nothing.

There is so much change in our family's life right now--our house is pending after only 2 days on the market (miraculous!), we're furiously looking for a place to live in less than 30 days, the kids are leaving their schools, we're having a giant goodbye party next weekend, and I just got a bunch more work that I hadn't planned on for the month. At the moment, I am ignoring all of that, sitting at my sunny kitchen table, drinking a negroni, and happily imagining what you might be doing. Happy Memorial Day.

Negroni
Makes one. Certainly you could use another kind of gin, but I'd suggest springing for Hendricks. And you can top with a splash of soda if you like, too. The classic recipe calls for equal measure of all three liquors, but I like mine heavy on the gin. No surprise to some of you.

1.5 oz Hendricks gin
1 oz. Campari
3/4 oz. sweet vermouth
lemon wedge
ice

Put 3 or 4 ice cubes into a highball glass. Pour gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth in, and stir to combine. Squeeze a wedge of lemon or drop a lemon twist in. 

Comments

[stacey snacks]

How strange. I am almost done with the book, and when I was reading about the Negronis, I had to make one too!

I have been to PRUNE a few times now, so good, but after reading about the guy outside w/ the man boobs and the rats and feces, I was kind of turned off!!!!!! Now that is ingrained in my mind and I can't stop thinking about it!

Love those Negronis!!!! Enjoy your holiday weekend.
Stacey

[bethany]

make mine heavy on the gin too. :) sounds delicious. i like the image i have of you sitting at your sunny kitchen table drinking a negroni. maybe i can host you my back deck this summer for one.

[cate]

House under contract. . . amen.

[mfm]

"sitting in the spring sun doing nothing"... way to seize the moment! It's what you do best.

[Alicia]

I stumbled across your blog a few hours ago and have been diligently reading as many posts as possible before I fall asleep in front of the computer. After a long weekend filled with mistakes, mishaps and an overwhelming feeling of disorder it was wonderful to forget it all and just enjoy your recipes, photos and anecdotes. Thank you for sharing - you made my weekend and I truly appreciate it!

[Lizzie]

YUM. I might just make one of these right now...
Blessings in your transition! Thank you for taking us along for the ride :)

[Stacy O]

I love reading your blog but have never posted unitl now. For one, I worked with your mother for a couple of years and totally LOVE her and feel closer to her as I read your inspiring messages and recipes before bed. Second, I totally relate to your "pre-children, sweetest of trips that we still bring up weekly" comment as my children are about the same ages as yours and we were able to go to Costa Rica for a month before I had my son. Third, I love the idea that you are moving to Bellingham and hope the chance to meet someday. I'll have to invite you, the kids and your mom over for lunch this summer.

[carrie]

I was in rome last summer and we drank quite a few of these. We would order them and hang out on our hotel balcony. It was alot of fun ;)