italian spritz cocktail

I made this little drink. Well, truth be told I’ve been making it (and ordering it at bars) quite a bit recently. I wanted to raise a glass especially to say cin-cin as I celebrate a new look for familystyle food and the Spritz seemed a perfect choice.

I’m smitten with the new cookbook from the restaurant of the same name; Polpo, “A Venetian Cookbook of Sorts”. It’s got everything I want in a book, cooking related or not: great stories and photography, maps, and a really stunning design. I’m in love with the book’s Japanese-style exposed binding, which looks strangely sexy to me. Like a 19^th century woman stripped down to nothing but her corsets and crinolines….oh, wait, I’m getting off topic.

I meant to say I’ve been flipping through the book, getting hungry and wanting to buy a trip to Venice. The recipe for a Spritz in the book – the way they do it in the Veneto – is made with white wine and soda water. It made me thirsty, but I like mine with Prosecco because the wine and bubbles are all in one.

I also like Aperol in place of the more usual Campari, but that is a personal choice. Aperol has a tiny bit less bitterness.

Giving this blog a facelift has been on my list for a long time. But life, work, fits and starts complicated the process a bit.

I finally found a perfect fit with Katelyn Baird and Smitten Designs – I’m so, so happy I did. I’ve become a fan of Katelyn’s blog Katelyn Brooke too..she shares smart, savvy ideas about design, life and style.

A simplified, clean layout and way to print recipes was my main agenda, but I also updated my logo with Katelyn’s help. I hope you’ll come and visit me here often. I promise there will be drinks. And lots of good things to eat.

Salute!

Check out:

Aperol Spritz Cocktail at The Italian Dish

Venetian Spritz at Coco & Kelley