Learn the difference between Tequila and Mezcal, El Carmen Taquería

Here is my latest Makin' it with Maren video! Learn the difference between Tequila and Mezcal from Gilbert Marquez at El Carmen in Los Angeles.

Makin' it with Maren, "The Grape Gatsby" cocktail recipe

Learn how to make a cocktail inspired by The Great Gatsby without spending all of that Gatsby loot!

Makin' It With Maren - "Beat the Heat" Summer Cocktail Recipe for 4th of July

Last week was insanely hot. I was miserable inside my radiator of an apartment, so I decided to make the most of my Sunday and head to the Farmer's Market for seasonal inspiration. While the sun followed my every move, the slightly overcast sky kept the weather bearable (considering LA was supposed to hit record high temperatures on that particular day).

I purchased a big container of apricots and some unique looking wildflowers that caught my eye. Hmmm, what could I make with apricots?

After we noshed on a Rueben sandwich at Michael Voltaggio's nearby Ink Sack, my boyfriend and I head to Trader Joe's to grab our weekend groceries. Directly to the left of the TJ's entrance you will find a vast selection of affordably priced bouquets, which, to my delight showcased fresh lavender.

Once we returned home, I was greeted by the two-faced neighbor cat. She posed for my camera and then scurried off.

I unloaded our groceries and decided to take a risk. Fuse flowers with fruit - why not?! I boiled half sugar and water, some of the lavender and some lemon rind to create a infused simple syrup. After the syrup cooled, I added it to some muddled apricot and blueberries.

I then added brandy, ice and a sparkling soda topper to create what I call: Beat the Heat. And, boy did it ever. I took my cold, fruit-infused cocktail and enjoyed it to the outdoor patio. I could smell the lavender garnish as I sipped my drink. Yum.

This cocktail will be great for your 4th of July! Blueberries and apricots are in season, so pick them up and make the perfect fourth of July cool-down cocktail!

Ingredients: Apricots, Blueberries, Brandy, Lemon, Lavendar, Soda Water, Ice

Mix: Muddle 1 apricot (pit removed) and 5 blueberries. Add 2oz of brandy, 3/4oz lemon-lavender simple syrup (see recipe below), ice and shake. Strain over fresh ice and top with sparkling water. Give a quic stir and garnish with fresh lavender sprigs.

Lemon-Lavender Simple Syrup:

Boil equal parts (1 cup) sugar and water with the peels of 2 lemons and 5 sprigs of washed lavender. Once cool, strain into airtight contair and keep for future use.

Cheers,

Maren

Summer Sangria Recipe

This heat wave is crazy! Keep cool with my easy Summer Sangria recipe!

Ink and Vine - Rhone Rangers Wine Tasting Event 2013 - Downtown Los Angeles, California

Rhone Rangers Los Angeles 2013

by Maren Swanson

If you are a wino, and especially one into Rhone varietals, then the Rhone Rangers tasting event as the historic Vibiana in Downtown Los Angeles is a no brainer. This Sunday, June 23rd, taste samples from over 200 wines served from over 40 wineries, including a silent auction and food trucks.

Epiphany Cellars, Andrew Murray, J. Lohr, Qupe, Zaca Mesa and many other wineries come here to showcase some of their award-winning varietals like Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, Marsanne, Mouvedre and the ever-popular growing GSM blends.

Advance tickets start at $45 and go up to $ 95 for VIP admission which includes a ticket to the wine seminar, “Rare Wines, Come Taste the Unusual,” lunch with the winemakers and early entry tot the walk-around tasting along with trade and media.

For tickets and additional information, visit the Rhone Rangers website. Salud!

Vibiana (Downtown LA)

214 S Main St

Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 626-1507

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Makin' It With Maren - "Cinco de Maren" cocktail for Cinco de Mayo

I have a special place in my heart for Cinco de Mayo. Ok, I admit it's my birthday, so I have even more love for it. Most people groan about sharing their birthday with any type of holiday, but for me, it's a great bonus because tons of people to come out to celebrate and raise a glass. One big party!

So, in honor of my birthday and the day the Mexico defeated the French at the Battle of Puebla, I've created a memorable and celebratory cocktail: The Cinco de Maren! Mind you, this drink is not for the faint at heart; it's juicy, strong, slightly sweet and spicy - just like me! I always love using fresh ingredients, so for this cocktail challenge, I worked with Mexican flavors and colors: red (strawberries, sriracha) green (jalepeno, basil) and white (tequila blanco).

This drink is sure to leave a lasting impression on your guests! Show them your wild side by serving the "Cinco de Maren" at your Cinco de Mayo party. Garnishes are an important part of this drink's aesthetic presentation, so use you original ingredients to bring out its personality!

You will need a tequila blanco of your choice (we tried Sauza), triple sec (or Cointreau if you have the budget), ripe strawberries, jalepeno, sriracha, basil, agave, lime juice and ice. The flavors of this drink are similar to a margarita, but packs more of a punch. Salud and happy Cinco de Mayo!

"Cinco de Maren" cocktail:

2 ozs Sauza Tequila Blanco
3/4 oz Triple Sec
3/4 Lime Juice

1/2 oz Agave nectar

2 Ripe Strawberries

2 Big Basil Leaves
1 Slice of Jalepeno
1 Small Squeeze of Sriracha hot sauce
Ice

Make It:

Muddle Sliced Jalepeno First

Add Strawberries and Basil and Continue to Muddle
Layer Tequila, Triple Sec, Agave Nectar, Lime Juice and Sriracha
Add to Ice and Shake
Strain into Fresh Glass of Ice and Serve
Garnish with a Strawberry and Jalepeno Slice or a Small and Sweet Red Pepper (I added a sprig of basil for color)

Tips:

1. Use ripe strawberries for an overall better flavor and natural sweetness.
2. Red or green jalepenos both work (but red ones tend to be more mild).
3. Adapt the recipe to your tolerance of spice (taste before you pour and more or less sriracha according to your preference).
4. If the drink is a little on the powerful side for you, add a topper of sparkling water.
5. A toothpick will work great to hold the garnishes together.

Cheers,

Maren

Makin' it with Maren: Mixology Made Easy

Ink and Vine - Meet Tessa Marie Parker: Wine Maker.

Meet Tessa Marie Parker. You've probably heard of her grandfather, legendary film and television actor, Fess Parker. Well, if you didn't know, Fess Parker started his own winery after his acting career along the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail, and that's what pretty much led us to Tessa.

My boyfriend and I headed up to the Los Olivos area about a year ago. He is a huge Davy Crockett fan, so we had to stop into the Fess Parker Winery nearby. Like his name, the Fess Parker Winery was huge, and accordingly packed with people waiting to sip his family's wine. Near the end of our tasting, we were offered an 2 for 1 tasting at Epiphany Wines in Los Olivos. I had been to the Epiphany tasting room before and tried some lovely wines, so I was encouraged to return again.

While we were at Epiphany, a stranger next to us recommended that we check out Tessa Marie Wines down the street - "great Sangiovese," he exclaimed. I'd never heard of Tessa Marie Wines, so we decided to give it a go. It was a quiet day, (we always like to head up to that area on "off" days like Sunday and Monday to avoid the large crowds) and when we got to the tasting room, we were the only ones there.

Behind the counter stood a beautiful blonde woman (she could've been an actress herself), with an expectant belly and a big smile. She began to pour us some extraordinary Italian varietals and we all just hit it off. I love the experience of visiting the wine rooms; tasting new pours, exchanging silly or serious adjectives and making immediate short-term friends. Some tasting rooms are better than others, and not just because of the wine. The personality behind the counter contributes greatly to one's "take away," while the wine definitely enhances it.

And that's what drew us back to Tessa Marie on our last trip. She and I had struck up a Twitter friendship and we had planned to meet up this time so I could get an interview from her. With her new baby boy brought into the world, she was once again ready to open up with her life and some great bottles of Italian wine. Her star player and all-time favorite Italian grape: Sangiovese. However, she also makes a vibrant Vermentino and her mood-expressing Coquette.

What I hadn't mentioned, is that, I didn't even learn about Tessa Marie's family lineage until almost the end our first tasting. It wasn't until long into our conversation with Tessa, that she revealed the wines she poured us were hers and told us about her family's history. While we had been suggested to hit the Parker's trail of tasting rooms, no one had mentioned they were all "related," just that they had great tasting wines.

Tessa Marie Parker made an impression on us with both her personality and her line-up of Italian wines. You won't find many tasting rooms in Los Olivos that offer the Italian grapes, so it's definitely worth checking out. To get a better story her and her wine, take a peak at my interview with Tessa last week!

Follow me @MarenSwanson

Tessa Marie Wines

2901 Grand Ave.
Ste C
Los Olivos, CA 93441
(805) 688-6081