Every summer I pick a new cocktail to master. If I were to map my cocktail mastery,
I would be following the equator around the globe, moving East to West, having
started in Cuba with the Mojito. This
summer I've decided to conquer the “Jungle Juice” of all cocktails…the Mai Tai! It is yet another journey into the "Heart of
Darkness", in search of truth. There
is no doubt that it will be a perilous expedition, but I am confident I will
emerge enlightened from the dank muddled jungle that is the American bar.
What is the origin of the margarita, and what is your
favorite recipe?
Thank you in advance.
Jenna
Hollywood, CA
My Dearest Jenna,
I must first apologize...after
almost a week of exhaustive research, I have been unable to produce a
definitive answer as to who actually came up with the original recipe for the
Margarita as there are as many people who claim to have invented the cocktail
as there are variations of it. The most
logical and widely accepted story is that of Dallas socialite, Margarita Sames
. Ms Sames often hosted the likes of
Nick Hilton (Hilton Hotels), Shelton McHenry (Tail O’ the Cock-A famous Hollywood
Studio hangout), Joseph Drown (Hotel Bel-Air), and movies stars Lana Turner
and John Wayne at her Acapulco estate. Back
in 1948, at a Christmas party, her guests challenged her to invent a new
cocktail to which she responded with the delightful combination of salt, lime, sweet, orange, and tequila.
Legend has it that the “Margarita”
fueled the orgy party for three days.
Her well connected and influential guests helped popularize the
drink.
Here are my favorite “Margarita” recipes thus far...
One of the aesthetics I love most about Southern California, and stretching out into the desert and Palm Springs areas, is the mid-century architecture. There is a cleanness about the designs; the graphic lines, the smooth textures, and the inclusion of nature as a design element. I met Danny at the La Luz De Jesus 25 year anniversary show, drawn to his painting of an Oldsmobile in front of a typical San Fernando Valley garage. The image was iconic and instantly recognizable, although I had never seen it before. It was one of those puzzle pieces I feel I'm collecting throughout the duration of my life, hoping that at the end I have all the pieces. (Did I just get heavy and morbid?) Anyhoodle, I love Danny's photo-realistic painting style and subjects, and the tip of the hat via tone, to one of my favorite painters Edward Hopper.
He was kind enough to share a slice of his Sporting Life with us...
I walked past a jewelry store in the Country Mart and noticed something out of place in the window. Behind the black-velvet simulated busts displaying necklaces, was an old wooden re-curve bow, a brown leather quiver, and a dozen target arrows with white and yellow feather fletching, cedar shafts with three green stripes painted a third of the way down from the knock and on the tips were the standard target points, worn smooth. I studied the bow and arrows for identifying markings but found none. It reminded me of all the hours I spent target shooting in our yard...blue-green grass, the white-black-yellow-red circles of the target against a thick green stand of oak and maple trees....
"I shall not waste my days trying to prolong them."
-Ian Fleming
MANIFESTO:
We believe that life is to be lived in an extraordinary fashion. We believe that food, art, music, and literature are the foundations of society. We believe that living well is a state of mind. We sing the love of speed, adventure, and danger. We live life with courage and audacity. We believe that the ultimate rebellion is in the mind, and by the example we set with the actions we take. We believe in physical, mental, and emotional fitness. We believe we are the guardians of the Earth. We believe that class and manners are invaluable commodities. We are always Gentlemen and Ladies...or at least try to be.
