Hello Cocktail Lovers!
If you’ve ever searched for a recipe or information about Paris, you’ve surely come across David Lebovitz. Regular listeners will know that we had David on the show about a year ago to talk about drinking in France and you are likely already familiar with his work. With several well known and much loved books under his belt, he’s pretty much a household name. David began working in restaurants at the age of sixteen washing dishes in a steakhouse at the local strip mall, finally ending up at Chez Panisse in Berkeley, California, working with Alice Waters and co-owner, Executive Pastry Chef Lindsey Shere, who he considers his mentor. He’s been a professional cook and baker for most of his life and left the restaurant business to pursue his writing career. In 2004, he moved to Paris.
We had him in the studio this month to discuss his latest book, which is on a topic close to my heart. Drinking French is an exploration of French drinking culture, including cafe drinks, aperitifs, liqueurs and infusions, cocktails and snacks.
David’s suggested Cocktail Recipe:
Chocolate Old-Fashioned (Chocolat à l’ancienne)
Adapted from Drinking French: The iconic cocktails, apéritifs, and café traditions of France, with 160 recipes (Ten Speed Press)
For one cocktail
1 1/4 ounces crème de cacao
2 dashes chocolate bitters
2 ounces bourbon whiskey
Garnish: Candied amarena or maraschino cherry
Mix the crème de cacao and chocolate bitters together in a tumbler or on-the-rocks glass.
Add the bourbon, stir, then add one large ice cube (or a few smaller cubes) and garnish with a cherry.
Bars, Bartenders or Products mentioned in the show:
Drinking French by David Lebovitz
Amanda Boucher bartender
Margot Lecarpentier of Combat bar
Mathieu Sabbagh Alambic Bourguignon
Jeffrey Morgenthaler of Clyde Common bar (Portland)
Thanks to….
Thanks to David Lebovitz for taking the time to come into the studio. You can buy Drinking French on Amazon (or any of his other books!) Learn more about him and follow him on social media: Blog | Facebook | Instagram
Additional thanks to: World Radio Paris for editing and production and Son Little for music.
Emily Dilling of Paris Paysanne for helping me figure out how to get this online.
As always, thank you cocktail loving listeners for tuning in our downloading.
Don’t forget to drink responsibly!
More 52 Martinis:
If you’re looking for more cocktail and drinks talk between shows, head to our site, www.52martinis.com. And if you’d like to carry me around in your pocket, download our iOS app, Paris Cocktails, a guide to all the coolest Paris cocktail bars so you can find a great drink no matter where you are in the city.
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