Bloody Mary: A Connoisseur's Guide to the World's Most Complex Cocktail - Tapa dura

A connoisseur's guide to the world's most complex cocktail, with recipes for variations and garnishes.

Have you ever wondered when the original Bloody was invented? Who makes the best prepared mix? Why a hangover makes you feel so bad? Here the answers to these questions - and any others you may have about this most complex, most varied cocktail: its invention at Harry's New York Bar in Paris, and the complete history, including a thorough discussion of the Bloody's inspiration - the hangover: its biological causes as well as its best (and worst) cures; twenty variations, with classics such as the Red Snapper, regional variations like the Bloody Swedish Blonde, gourmet creations including the Surf and Turf, and celebrity concoctions from David Rosengarten, Dale Degroff, Sirio Maccioni, and Ernest Hemingway; directions for fifteen garnishes, from how to make the perfect lemon twist to recipes for the likes of chilled Cajun crawfish; an analysis of the most popular prepared mixes; and a guide to serving the Bloody in style - from the proper glassware to garnish presentation - and no-nonsense advice on responsible consumption. Thorough yet accessible, and suffused with charm and wit, the Bloody Mary will delight anyone who has ever enjoyed this unlikely concoction. (7 1/4 X 7 1/4, 132 pages, color photos)