DRINK OF THE WEEK: Red’s Bar & Tapas Strawberry Valentini

Hello young lovers, wherever you are! Are you ready to celebrate V-day with an exclusive cocktail just for your significant other? We called on our friend, Ali Reide, host of the cupcakes and champagne tastings at Corks n’ Crowns, to see if she was prepared for the big day. Indeed, she was, and soon we were meeting at an undisclosed location to try her Strawberry Valentini. OK, strawberries and chocolate scream Valentine’s, and we weren’t complaining because she had brought a whole container full of chocolate-dipped berries for garnish. You know, just in case the garnish wasn’t perfect.

The drink itself looks like said strawberry. Ms. Reide coats the inside of the martini glass with chocolate syrup, while the drink itself is a mix of vodka, 360 Double Chocolate vodka and strawberry puree. The rim is all chocolate; use a skewer or a careful slice to keep the chocolate-dipped strawberry on the rim. The chocolate hits the taste buds at the same time the strawberry puree aroma arrives at the nose.

The recipe here makes enough for two. Or one big one if you get stood up! Hey, don’t feel too bad — you’ve got a whole bunch of strawberries to go through. Seriously though, it’ll be OK. We love you.

Ms. Reide will be hosting a Valentine’s Day pairing of cupcakes and champagne starting at 9 p.m. Feb. 14 at Reds, 211 Helena Ave.

STRAWBERRY VALENTINI
Chocolate sprinkles, for rim
1 ounce vodka
2 ounces 360 Double
Chocolate vodka
2 ounces white creme de cacao
1/2 cup strawberry puree
2 chocolate-dipped strawberries, for garnish

Rim 2 martini glasses with chocolate sprinkles. Combine liquids over ice in shaker, shake and strain into martini glasses. Garnish with chocolate-dipped strawberries.

Yield: 2 drinks

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