[Sangrita: The Topic]

In my current obsession with becoming a crack Mexican home cook, I've turned to making Sangritas (ora'le!) to have with our antojitos. Actually, this past weekend was my first (and second and third...) attempt.

I first learned about this lush little "accompaniment" from my mother, who vacationed in luxury in Mexico. If you order a completo in Mexico, you get two tall, thin, cool glasses, one with good Tequila, one with the spicy chaser. She used fresh orange juice, lime juice, salt and chili powder or Tabasco. Really delicious. Sour/sweet/salty/hot/yum.

I conducted thorough research, obsessive nerd-cook that I am. Most recipes, and bartenders, insist on using tomato juice, some adding orange and lime as well, and some sort of hot sauce. The potion dictated by, in my opinion, the most trusted sources, those being James Beard (website) and Diana Kennedy, swear by sour orange juice (or a mix of sweet orange and lime); pomegranate juice/syrup, or Grenadine; and salt and powdered pequin chile.

I used the recipe from La Kennedy and, not finding sour pomegranate juice (but I do know where to find it..), used a bit of ancient Grenadine the first night and Jumex brand strawberry nectar the next. Although I juiced some sour oranges for the second try, the strawberry was a little flatly-sweet.

Anyway, a bottle of Sauza Conmemorativo later, I'm hooked. So, any experience with this delightful combination and/or opinions on the "authenticity" of the non-tomato based Sangrita? Your thoughts, por favor.

-Ping

[TDG: Foodbuzz: Edible Art]

Hi all. My first post here(finally). Hey Steve S. and Ellen, maybe I'll see you there next Thursday night. There are going to be eight chocolate dresses on display for the evening. I'm really excited at the prospect of seeing Zarela make chocolate from cacao. I just read her story of attempting to grind it on the deck behind her apartment in NYC.

I saw a great chocolate as sculpture/clothing/whatever show at a gallery in the Marais about eight years ago. The smell was heaven!