Libations for a pregnant guest

[Zee]

We are having some friends over for dinner this weekend and look forward to doing some interesting food and wine pairings. This group loves their wines. The menu includes a crab and salmon tortellini in a crab bisque and lamb ragout with spring vegetables. The problem is, one of our friends is (possibly) pregnant and abstaining from alcohol for now. We are supportive of her goal but hope to find some more interesting options for her. (In case someone suggests non-alcoholic wines, let me just say that she's poured some down the drain already). Ideas?

[Kouign Aman]

creative use of rum extract?

Sparkling water and .....pick your flavoring

[Rehovot]

How about some kind of Italian ice (drink)? Or a citron presse?

Other ideas--

Cocktails without Alcohol (from Daniel Rogov); also courtesey of Rogov: Frappes and Granitas .

[KatieLoeb]

She won't pour Navarro Vineyards Pinot Noir or Gewurtztraminer juices down the drain. Both much too tasty and a nice wine flavored non-alcoholic alternative for the teetotaling guest.

Le Mousseaux sparkling cider is also delicious and appropriate for toasts.

Either of these will have your guest happy and not feeling left out of the festivities.

[ctgm]

doctors keep on changing their minds as to whether alcohol in pregnancy is good/bad. here in the UK the latest is that about half a bottle a week is good.

my wife is 7 months pregnant and actually drinks very little since getting pregnant. prob averages a glass a week if that. she just doesn't feel like it. quite happy on still/sparkling water

[djsexyb]

She won't pour Navarro Vineyards Pinot Noir or Gewurtztraminer juices down the drain.  Both much too tasty and a nice wine flavored non-alcoholic alternative for the teetotaling guest.

Le Mousseaux sparkling cider is also delicious and appropriate for toasts.

Either of these will have your guest happy and not feeling left out of the festivities.

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i would strongly second the navarro juices. these are remarkabley good.

[Fat Guy]

The virgin cocktails topic contains some excellent suggestions.

[PatyGirl]

In Amuse Bouche (Rick Tramonto) there's a whole section dedicated to the most fantastic non-alcoholic drinks. For example:

Passion fruit juice with lemon balm,

honeydew melons with pink peppercorns,

celery-pear juice,

tangerine and sage,

apple and rosemary

...

Most are made with a juicer though, and.. pairing them with food might be hard. I hope you fnd them inspiring nonetheless!

[ludja]

Thanks for your post, Patricia Bun; those combinations do sound very interesting.

I've mentioned it in some other threads, but a nice non-alcoholic drink that is interesting and might also pair well with some different foods is elderberry flower syrup with club soda. It has a reallly haunting floral taste that could be somewhat reminiscent of a Gewurtztraminer or Riesling. (It's also great with champagne.) The producer I know of is D'Arbo and it's available at Whole Foods in CA anyway.

If you can find the Navarro non-alcoholic grape juices whereever you are, I also agree that they are very nice.

Another idea might be a nice limey non-alcoholic mojito-inspired drink--lime, some sugar syrup, mint, club soda. Or something similar with cucumber and lemon.

[Fat Guy]

Let me also add to the list really good iced herbal tea. It doesn't have a tremendous amount of flash when presented, but made well it can be a great pleasure to drink.

[Zee]

I have a couple of ideas brewing in my mind now. I can see taking our guest from the appetizers to the pasta course with a syrup and soda concoction and then a citrus and lemon balm blend. Perhaps a simple soda water with lime for the main course.

Katie and djsexyb: Unfortunately, Navarro is not available here in BC, Canada. I did find a Loxton Sparkling Brut, however. Could be interesting.

Patricia: Couple months back when many Vancouver restaurants were offering 3 or 4 course deals (Dineout Vancouver), I spotted one menu with a short but thoughtful selection of virgin cocktails, priced a step up from hot water with lemon. I remember them being similar to those described in Rick Tramonto's book. (The book's been sitting in my Amazon shopping cart for a while now).

ludja: I believe elderberry syrup is available at the IKEA here. I'll definitely give it a try.

Fat Guy: A nicely chilled herbal tea is a wonderful thing

I'll be turning my attention to picking the wines for the rest of the guests now.

[ludja]

...

ludja: I believe elderberry syrup is available at the IKEA here. I'll definitely give it a try.

...

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Good luck planning the rest of your party, Zee!

I think they would both be good, but just to mention that the syrup I was recommending is elderberry flower syrup. It is made from elderberry blossoms rather than the berry and the resultant syrup is a light golden color.

[SWISS_CHEF]

Yes I have it...

I had this drink at my friend Sergio's at Cafe Gourmand in Geneva

An outstanding and very unusual apero made with ginger and fruit juice. The spice from the ginger is surprising and you will almost think you are drinking a high-octane cocktail but in fact there is no alcohol in it at all.

"COCKTAIL DE JUS FRUITS AU GINGEMBRE FRAIS"

200 gr. fresh ginger

6 oranges

1 small pineapple

6 mangos

1 lemon

cane syrup to taste

Pass the fruits through a juicer, add syrup to taste and leave to rest in the fridge for 6 hours.

Serve cold in a champagne flute with a cub of ice.