Sips & Apps is a fun cocktail and appetizer book from Kathy Casey.  Ms. Casey is a trained chef who loves her cocktails.  She consults on food, cocktails and pairing for many multinational companies and is the host of Liquid Kitchen on Small Screen Networks.  Her training as a chef and love of cocktails shine through in this innovative work.

In Sips & Apps, Ms. Casey starts out with the drinks and divides them into five chapters.  The first is on Creative Cocktails and Ms. Casey offers up some cocktails that you wouldn’t expect but will love.  I am a fan of the Strawberry Slag (just fun to say) and the Ginger Sake Cocktail Cocktail.  The next chapter is Inspired Classics and offers Ms. Casey’s twists on classic cocktails.  Interesting selections like the Mango Mai Tai and the Celery ‘N’ Tonic.  Next up is the chapter on Cocktails for a Crowd and then the mocktail with the heading of Clear-Headed Cocktails.  The finale is the chapter on the dessert drinks in Liquid Desserts and Hot Drinks.  Don’t you want to drink a Lemon Meringue Puff or Key Lime Pie?

In addition to the creative cocktails, Sips & Apps offers the obligatory chapters on using citrus and fruits, bitters, sweeteners and syrups.  The comes the advice on bartending techniques, bartending equipment and glassware.  But, it’s the chapter on Apps that steals the shows.  It highlights fun bite size and finger foods that pair well with cocktails.  My only wish is that the recipes were in reverse.  More Apps and less Sips.  I only say that because I read a-lot of cocktail books and yearn for more information on foods that go well with sips.

Sips & Apps: Classic and Contemporary Recipes for Cocktails and Appetizers

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