something i like to do by summerfield

something i like to do

most of my friends do not know that i can make very mean cocktails.

in the mid-1990's when carpal tunnel syndrome threatened to disable my bread and butter (my hands), i enrolled, studied, finished and graduated with honours (dean's list) in hotel management. one of the courses i excelled in which i really enjoyed was "mixology". as much as i love the art of wine tasting, i love more the art of mixing spirits and beverages to make a beautiful cocktail. the course was hands-on, and we were graded on the accuracy of the amount of spirits put in the mixing glass, and the right sequence in mixing them, along with the time to mix and serve the cocktail. for our final exam, we had to make a martini, stirred, not shaken. i had to wear my wrist protector because the stirring would have been quite tedious, but i got a final grade of A+ so i took it that my martini was the way mr. bond would have wanted it.

i could do bartending when i shall have retired. definitely.

funny thing is, i don't even drink but only on very rare occasions. so, what is your favourite cocktail?

thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for your views and kind comments. they sure are much appreciated.
Tequila sunrise, please! Yummy.
February 18th, 2012  
Fabulous narrative! I bow in honor. Dark and Stormy for me.
February 18th, 2012  
great shot! You have so many hidden talents!!!!
February 18th, 2012  
@slang - aw, you're so easy! double maraschino cherries for you then :-) thank you, sean harry.

@beba8162 - hmmm..intriguing combination of rum and beer. lovely. thank you, roberta.

@cscecil - let me guess: jack daniels? :-) thank you, CS. some of my hidden talents should remain hidden! hahaha!
February 18th, 2012  
A gorgeous array of items you have stocked there . . beautiful composition, summerfield! I can see you and Tom Cruise (from his movie called "Cocktail") mixing up a mean cocktail together! I always knew that you were a multi-talented woman. I don't drink either . . but enjoy a glass of good white wine now and then. Great photo and loved your story. :)
February 18th, 2012  
Wow - way to get my attention!!! Nice shot! I wish I had that talent! I am not much of a drinker either but I love Piña Coladas! Girly drinks for me!
February 18th, 2012  
looks like you are ready for anything..... not much of a drinker either... did have a gingerbread martini this christmas season that I came home and duplicated a couple times for company. I had to go buy most of the stuff I see in your photo. You did a great job composing it.
February 18th, 2012  
Oh my, woman of SO many talents. When I went to NYC I had my first Manhattan. Man was that gross! I love Cosmos and Espresso Martinis, can you make me some when I visit?
February 18th, 2012  
Well, I can think of a few liquor companies that may want to hire you as their first photographer/bar tender! I have had only two mixed drinks in my lifetime. One was called a Velvet Cow (I think) and the other was a Margaritta (which I don't know how to spell!). They both tasted great, but I can live without them. So I guess I'll just have a Shirley Temple and remember fondly when my dad belonged to a golf club and we would go there for dinner and my sisters and I were allowed to have them with our dinner as a treat. Loooooved those maraschino cherries!!
February 18th, 2012  
so talented! you'll have a great retirement!
February 18th, 2012  
I worked in resort management for years. Have to say the "mixology" was the most fun. Wonderful to mix the perfect beverage for someone. Nice set up on this shot.
February 18th, 2012  
@karenann - thank you, karenann. you're so sweet. however, i don't do cocktails like how tom cruise did in his movie. but if i had learned this while in my youth, i could probably have made it into a profession/career. i love white wine and with some very dry ones, i put a tablespoon of cassis (blackcurrant liqueur) to sweeten it a bit.

@sbb1980 - ah, you're the smooth coconut cream kind of girl. i'd have thought you were more adventurous with your drinks, sara. hmmmm...i'm impressed! thank you, sara.
February 18th, 2012  
@lesip - yup, i had a sip of the gingerbread martini at one of the christmas parties last year. it was quite good. thank you, leslie.

@danig - sure! it means i have to learn and practice making them so you'll be more impressed. or depressed. or drunk. hahaha! thank you, mate. you're so sweet.
February 18th, 2012  
@olivetreeann - i love making margarita's. i like to drink them, too, once in a while if only for the salt around the rim. i find it offsets the taste of alcohol which i don't really like. thank you, ann.

@sunnygreenwood - yes, anne, and it can't come soon enough. thank you.
February 18th, 2012  
@jannkc - when i was taking my course, the best part of the restaurant 'apprenticeship' was being detailed in the bar and mixing the drinks. i remember being on the breakfast shift for a week and there was this executive who ordered 'rusty nail' all the time...for breakfast. that's three ounces of whisky each time. which also meant that i had to open the bar just so i could make his order. and he told the server one day that he had to attend his AA meeting that morning. we were having a blast gossiping about him at break time.
February 18th, 2012  
@jannkc - thank you, jann.
February 18th, 2012  
@summerfield impressed and drunk will be fine! lol
February 19th, 2012  
@danig - i have to warn you, you get drunk, camera will be on 'movie' setting. :-)
February 19th, 2012  
What an interesting thing to learn about you! I saw the title and thumbnail..."what I like to do....drink?" haha I prefer margaritas to anything. After that, Gin and tonic and then champagne
February 19th, 2012  
@espyetta - funny! i never really got into the habit of drinking (nor smoking). i'd have wine when in a fine dining situation. even when attending cocktails, i cheat by having coke with just a tinge of rhum and i'd be nursing the drink for the entirety of the function. thank you, MB.
February 19th, 2012  
@summerfield Argh. Rum and coke...I ran into some of those way back when....those, and rumrunners on a hot beach... needless to say, I do not drink rum. Ewww. And good for you for avoiding the bad stuff. At least I do not get into smoking. Haha
February 19th, 2012  
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