PAPERDOLL HOUSE FALL 2008

Raising the Bar

Corey at Woodberry Kitchen is an artist among bartenders. In keeping with the restaurant’s philosophy, he uses only natural, locally grown ingredients to concoct his cocktail classics— and create brand-new favorites. We asked Corey to share tips for bartender novices looking to go party-pro, plus a couple of his most requested recipes. We enlisted the help of the utterly creative Krista Smith, entertainer extraordinaire, for bar design.

Corey’s Special Instructions:

Whenever possible challenge yourself to use fresh, seasonal ingredients— don’t do it because it’s the new trend; do it for the enhanced flavor.
Be prepared. Stock your bar with all the spirits you could possibly need, plus lemons and limes. Have on hand a nice shaker and a jigger or two.
Corey recommends the following names: Milagro tequila, Ketel One vodka, Cruzan Rum (inexpensive but great), Blue Goat gin and Noah’s Milk bourbon.
Check out cocktail menus when you drink and dine out, in Baltimore or far from home. Bring a notebook and keep a drink log, and buy a cocktail guide for behind the bar.
Fruit syrups are easy to make at home and they cut some alcohol from the drink. (Lighter drinks are a new trend at parties.) For a house party, buy 10 pounds of rhubarb (or the seasonal fruit of your choice), add sugar (15-25 percent of total recipe weight) and double-boil. Do not add water. The sugar will pull all of the juice from the fruit.
Make your own simple syrup. Use two cups of sugar to one cup of water. Simmer at 185 degrees. This syrup can be used in just about any drink.
Use old-fashioned ice trays rather than an ice machine, which generates “fast” ice that melts too quickly.
Tend to freeze up behind the bar? Add almost any favorite non-alcoholic element to vodka, as a way of experimenting with taste. Vodka is an easy mixer.

Woodberry Kitchen, 2010 Clipper Mill Road, No. 126 (410) 464-8000

Party School

We asked Stephanie Bradshaw of Bradshaw Interiors to share creative party-throwing tips. Stephanie specializes in interior redesign, interior decoration, home staging to sell, shopping for the home, color consultation, and retail design. This gal knows staging. Here’s how to set your stage for fun.

Theme your event and follow it through from start to finish with pretty paper invites to fine linen and fun party favors to boot!
Encourage your guests to be festive in their attire. Putting on a pretty dress or a collared shirt is not that much more effort. It will help set the tone of the evening and be a fun change of pace from the regular workday dress.
Think outside the dining room and add special touches all around the house. A lovely bud vase in the bathroom with a sweet-smelling soap goes a long way.
Have some sort of interactive activity at your soiree. I love having a Polaroid camera on hand to take pictures of my guests as they arrive. Put up a pretty bulletin board in the main event room and post the photos for guests to see throughout the evening. Let them take one home as a memory of their time shared with you.
Don’t forget good music, even if it is in the background of your gathering. It will help set the mood and make the evening more special for all.

http://www.Fashionforthehome.com (443) 421-1452