Celebrating Sidney Poitier, ‘Juicy January,’ More
IG LIVE! Culinary Series returns with fresh new guests, perspectives on state of restaurant industry.
It’s a new year, the restaurant industry is still in a precarious state, and we will continue to do our part by addressing various issues during the Instagram LIVE! Culinary Series.
That’s the social media platform I use every Friday at noon CT to chat with high-profile chefs like Erick Williams and Chris Curren, plus beverage experts, restaurateurs, and others to find out how they’re progressing throughout this tumultuous period.
Since launching the series in March 2020, I’ve broken industry news, interviewed experts from Kentucky to Kenya, and strived to be an outlet for Black, POC, women, and other marginalized voices in the biz. This year will be no different as it continues, yet I am always looking for innovative and exciting folks with fascinating stories to tell.
I aim to set the LIVE! Culinary Series apart from similar platforms on IG with the excellent contributions from master mixologist Lynn House. Each week, she demonstrates two original cocktails from her vast portfolio, plus she offers a little history and tricks of the bartending trade as bonuses.
In the first episode of the year, House pays tribute to Hollywood icon and trailblazer Sidney Poitier by creating a spirit-free beverage in his honor. Her ability to quickly pivot to create “Flowers for Sidney” after only a few hours of the announcement of his passing demonstrates skill at the highest level. The drink is not only well executed, but it also offers impressive depths of flavor. See for yourself in the recipe below:
Flowers for Sidney
2.5 oz hibiscus tea
2.5 oz organic apple juice
1 egg white
5 dashes Fee Brothers bitters
Mix ingredients, then garnish with freshly grated cinnamon.
Throughout the month, House will focus on what she’s dubbing “Juicy January” drinks. Look for her to add a little pizzazz to booze-free beverages each Friday on the LIVE! Culinary Series.
Also during this episode, House and I welcomed Alex Cuper, beverage director and general manager for Chicago’s award-winning El Che Steakhouse & Bar, as our guest. In addition to discussing how the city’s brand-new vaccine card mandate is affecting bars and restaurants, he talked about what to expect in 2022 at the South American-inspired sensation.
Cuper discussed a unique monthly wine class where participants get to sample some rare South American offerings by the glass; the restaurant’s virtual and on-premise marketplace for buying wines by the bottle, steaks, and house-made provisions; and what to expect for Valentine’s Day weekend.
Check out the full interview right here.