Southern Gin Cocktail - biscuits and such
southern food blog
7227
post-template-default,single,single-post,postid-7227,single-format-standard,ajax_fade,page_not_loaded,,select-child-theme-ver-1.0.0,select-theme-ver-2.8,wpb-js-composer js-comp-ver-4.3.5,vc_responsive
 

Southern Gin Cocktail

Southern Gin Cocktail

southern gin cocktail 7

A few weeks ago I was invited to Chapel Hill for the launch of the Our State Magazine April issue, an issue that focuses on food in the great state of North Carolina. The party was at Crook’s Corner, the famous Chapel Hill restaurant that is home of one of the best adaptations of Shrimp & Grits around (the recipe that taught me everything I know about loaded grits), and the flagship of Chef Bill Smith’s culinary empire.

southern gin cocktail The menu was simple and reflected the food showcased in the issue- benne, deviled eggs, house-cured ham on fresh biscuits, and a cocktail that I thoroughly enjoyed- a gin martini made with Cardinal Gin. Cardinal Gin is distilled in Kings Mountain in small batches and has all the intricate and delicate flavors you hope for with a bottle of nice gin. This is not the gin you blend with a heavily flavored mixer- this is a gin that you sip and let speak for itself.

our state magazine

southern gin cocktail 2

I’m pretty terrible at cocktail parties, I get anxious and awkward and have to resist the urge to hide in a corner and just watch. This cocktail party was no exception, especially because everyone seemed to know each other and I felt like the odd duck out. But I didn’t drive two hours to sit in a corner so I got out there and mingled, and I’m so glad that I did. I met a ton of great people, made some good connections, and got to talk about one of my favorite things- Southern food- with other enthusiasts.

southern gin cocktail 3

southern gin cocktail 6

This issue is really fantastic. I always love Our State and the stories that it culls from across the state, but this one spoke especially close to home with stories about Morehead City and small community potlucks. It also gave me some ideas for new places to visit (like Yadkin Valley) and recipes to try (benne!).

southern gin cocktail 5

The party was also a huge success in that I got to talk to some of the magazine staff about Tasting North Carolina, an opportunity I’d been hoping to have since I dreamed the project up. It just so happens that they loved the idea of the project and wanted to partner, so for the past few weeks we’ve been going back and forth with different ideas. Without further ado I’m excited to say that starting in May Our State will be publishing the entire series on their newly formed blog. The recipes will be posted on both Our State and B&S which means, hopefully, more people reading, more people loving, and more people sending me recipes. Next up in the series? A trip to the North Carolina Pickle Festival in Wayne County.

southern gin cocktail 4 Southern Gin Cocktail
Adapted from Crook’s Corner

3 jiggers of gin
1 jigger of triple sec
Splash of bitters
Orange peel for garnish

Combine all three liquors in a tumbler with ice. Shake and strain into a glass, garnishing with orange peel.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

11 Comments

  • Leila @ The Milk Truck

    19.04.2013 at 10:36 Reply

    Crook’s Corner! Good memories there. I love Our State Magazine. I grew up in VA but just a stone’s throw (quite literally) from the NC border so I’ve kind of always felt more at home in NC. I now live in SC but my brothers are in Raleigh and Charlotte so I always steal their old Our State issues when I go visit :) haha I wish we had a similar publication down here!

    Just found your blog! Love it! You’ve got a new follower!

  • Leila @ The Milk Truck

    19.04.2013 at 10:37 Reply

    OH, Also…. i LOVE your martini glass. Where is this from? Makes your delicious cocktail look that much more beautiful!

    • elena

      19.04.2013 at 11:23 Reply

      Thank you thank you! It’s actually a white wine glass from Crate & Barrel 4 years ago. I love it but man are they easy to break ;)

  • Heather Barrera

    22.04.2013 at 08:02 Reply

    Oh please tell me more about the little pig covered with benne seeds, is it a cookie? It is so cute :-)

    • elena

      23.04.2013 at 08:07 Reply

      It was a really thin, savory, biscuit or cheese straw like situation. I have NO idea what it was, but it was delicious!

      • Heather Barrera

        23.04.2013 at 08:47 Reply

        It looks delicious! And a pig shaped cheese straw is just genius!

  • Emily

    22.04.2013 at 19:34 Reply

    So cool!!! I’m a graduate of the UNC folklore program and used to live in NC (your blog makes me miss it), so I am very excited to find out about your Tasting North Carolina Project! NC PICKLE FESTIVAL!!!!! I can’t wait.

    Wondering if perhaps you met my friend (and fellow Emily Elizabeth) at the Our State party? She writes for them and you may know her at “the pimento cheese girl”…

    • elena

      23.04.2013 at 08:04 Reply

      Maybe! I met a ton of people and am terrible with names, but that sounds familiar. And man is pimento cheese delicious!

  • Emily

    22.04.2013 at 19:36 Reply

    oops–friend Emily Elizabeth Wallace, that is…

  • Judit + Corina @WineDineDaily

    23.04.2013 at 11:39 Reply

    Lovely post Emily and congartulations on your project with Tasting North Carolina!

  • 25 Holiday Cocktail Recipes | A Night Owl Blog

    11.12.2013 at 19:35 Reply

    […] Southern Gin Cocktail  // Biscuits and Such […]

Post a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.