07/09/2008 by Pete.

Unlike the most of cocktail books nowadays, the Hollywood Cocktails does not try to list every cocktail recipe known to a man and his grandma. It actually has only hundred or so recipes, so if you’re in a lookout for something equivalent of Encyclopedia Britannica of cocktail recipe books, give this a miss.

So to whom this book is best suited for then? To those who want to learn more than a recipe of a drink. Not only you get the recipe, you also learn bit about the history of the drink and as the title suggests: it’s association with a Hollywood film, that is, you will find out in which film the drink was featured and a brief synopsis of it. So next time you create and serve that perfect after dinner drink, you can show off your knowledge by telling your guests about the history of the drink and film it was featured in. It doesn’t necessarily make you bettercocktail maker, but it does make you a better bartender.

Well worth buying to those to whom making drinks is not just mixing stuff together and serving it!

Rating 9/10

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07/09/2008 by Pete.

Bellini was inspired by the work of Giovanni Bellini, the 15th century Italian painter, especially the glowing pinks in his paintings. It was created by Giuseppe Cipriani at Harry’s Bar in Venice during the early 1940s.

• 1/2 fresh peach juice
• 1/2 Champagne

Half-fill a Champagne flute with peach juice, top up with the Champagne and stir.

Serve chilled.

Taken from Hollywood Cocktails

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