Classic Cocktail and Seasonal Wine
Recommendations from
Some Special Brooklyn Haunts

Making a Classic Cuban Daquiri
When you think of a daquiri, something frozen and strawberry probably comes to mind. But the original daquiri (or daiquiri, as in the Cuban beach) was invented in 1905 in Santiago, Cuba, is served straight up and has a crisp and refreshing limeade flavor. The charming and expert staff at Cubana Cafe, a cozy, baby blue-tiled venue serving deliciously authentic fare in Carroll Gardens Brooklyn, demonstrated to us the proper way to make a traditional daquiri. Enjoy our video with Steven and Oswaldo as they pour the perfect Cuban classic!

Ingredients: 2 oz Bacardi White Rum; 2 oz lemon or lime juice; 1 tbsp sugar (or simple Sour mix optional).

Choosing Wine for the Fall/Holiday Season
With Fall underway and the holidays rapidly approaching, how do you find the right wine to serve with dinner and to sip afterward with family and friends? Prime Viste (PV) spoke with expert staff of two very special Brooklyn wine boutiques - Big Nose, Full Body (BNFB) and Smith & Vine (SV) - about which bottles they recommend pairing with seasonal cuisine.

PV: Are there red and white wines that are especially appropriate for the Fall/holiday season?

BNFB: For the holidays I like to have bigger wines. We just got a really nice red wine in, Carignane from the Luddite Vineyards, which is lush and rich. For whites, I like the Domaine de la Saraziniere Bourgogne Aligote. It is full-bodied with tastes of ripe apple and pear fruit.

SV: White wine is good for all seasons, but Chardonnay is a nice Fall wine because it goes well with such seasonal flavors as pumpkin and squash. I like French Chardonnays, as well as Santa Laura Colchagua Valley 2005 from Chile.

PV: What wine (or two) would you recommend for a seasonal dinner with friends?

BNFB: For Thanksgiving dinner, I enjoy the Poppy Pinot Noir from California. It is a light fruit wine and is very elegant. For a white wine, I really like the Gewurztraminer from St. Michael-Eppan. It is bone-dry with great spice notes.

SV: Cabernet Franc is wonderful with Thanksgiving dinner, because it is a medium-bodied wine that will not be too heavy with the meal. It is also a great match with cranberries. Any Loire Valley reds, really, are a good choice for dinner this season.

PV: How about a festive dessert wine? What would you suggest?

BNFB: For dessert wine, I prefer the Pellegrini Finale from Long Island. It is made in an ice wine style and has a honeyed fruit taste with a clean acidity.

SV: Sweet sherries are wonderful to serve as a dessert wine for the holiday season.