23 December 2021: City of Light

I recently heard about David Lebovitz’s newest book, Drinking French, and immediately broke our no-purchases before Christmas rule in order to get my hands on a copy asap.

The cafe culture in Paris is one that I have admired and wish I knew more about. How insanely stylish and elegant to imagine sipping an aperitif ahead of dinner.

This aperitif, The City of Light, was developed by LA bartender Christiaan Röllich of Lucques. Cointreau, dry Vermouth, and Lillet blanc along with a topping of prosecco, makes it a very sippable pre-dinner drink as sparkly and beautiful as the City of Paris, La Ville-Lumière, is even in the dark of Winter.

City of Light

Ingredients:

• half a lemon wheel, half and orange wheel, and 2 thin slices of cucumber for garnish

• 1 1/2 oz. dry vermouth

• 1 oz Lillet blanc (or Vin d’Orange - see Drinking French for how to make this)

• 1 oz. Cointreau

• 1 oz dry prosecco (or crémant)

Place the garnishes in the bottom of a footed goblet or large wine glass. Add the vermouth, Lillet, and Cointreau. Fill the glass 2/3 full with ice, stir briefly and top off with the prosecco.