Orchestra Tailgating

I go to a lots of events. And not all of them are sports related. Sure, I may go to a NASCAR race on a Sunday, but Friday night you may find me at my local symphony hall enjoying the great masters. I am that kind of guy.

Attending these variety of events has made me think how I could expand my tailgating to ALL events I attend. So here are some recipes that would work in a more sophisticated environment.

Beaujolais Cobbler with Raspberry Shrub

• 2 1/2 pints raspberries (1 1/4 pounds)
• 3 cups sugar
• Finely grated zest of 4 lemons
• 10 ounces red wine vinegar
• 8 ounces water
• 12 mint sprigs
• Two 750-milliliter bottles Beaujolais
• 20 ounces cherry brandy
• 16 ounces fresh lime juice
• Ice Orange wheels, for garnish

1. In a nonreactive bowl, combine 2 pints of the raspberries with 2 cups of the sugar and the lemon zest and mix thoroughly.
2. Cover and refrigerate for 3 days.
3. Stir the vinegar into the raspberry mixture and strain the raspberry shrub through a fine sieve into a clean 1-quart glass jar.
4. In a small saucepan, bring the water to a boil with the remaining 1 cup of sugar over moderately high heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Remove from the heat and add the mint sprigs.
5. Let cool to room temperature.
6. Discard the mint sprigs.
7. In a large punch bowl or pitcher, combine the Beaujolais, cherry brandy, lime juice, 1 1/4 cups of the raspberry shrub and 1 1/4 cups of the mint syrup; reserve the rest of the raspberry shrub and mint syrup for another use.
8. Refrigerate the cobbler until well chilled, about 4 hours.
9. Serve the cobbler in collins glasses over ice, garnished with orange wheels and the remaining 1/2 pint of raspberries.

Bonnie Prince

• 2 oz. Gin (more Gin drinks)
• 1/2 oz. White Wine (more White Wine drinks)
• 1/4 oz. Drambuie Liqueur (more Drambuie Liqueur drinks)

1. Shake with ice and strain into a chilled old-fashioned glass.