Before Dinner: A Campari Apéritif An apéritif comes before the meal. The word comes from the French apéritif, derived from the Latin aperire, meaning “to open.” An amuse-bouche prepares the palate for the meal. An apéritif wakes up the appetite and signals the beginning of the dining experience. Think Pastis, Campari Soda, Aperol Spritz, Select Spritz, Lillet Blanc, Negroni Sbagliato or Champagne. Each serves the same purpose: to mark the beginning of the evening and awaken the appetite. Today, I am featuring a Campari Soda, one of my favorites. For those of you who may not know, Campari is an Italian aperitivo known for its vibrant red color and pleasantly bitter profile. Produced in Italy since 1860, it has long been a staple of bars, cafés, and dinner tables. Served simply with soda water and a neatly trimmed orange or grapefruit slice, it remains one of the easiest apéritifs you can make. Fun fact: Campari’s signature red color originally came from carmine, a natural dye derived from cochineal insects. One of the things I appreciate most about the apéritif tradition is what it represents. It creates a pause between the day and the dinner table and what better way than a cold, crisp, bittersweet apéritif. A moment to gather, converse, relax and enjoy. Have one or two. Who’s counting? Campari Soda Ingredients 2 oz Campari 3–4 oz soda water Orange slice or grapefruit slice, neatly trimmed Ice Method Fill a glass with ice. Add the Campari Top with soda water Garnish: neatly trimmed orange or grapefruit slice Glass: A rocks glass, double old fashioned, or what I still call a bucket glass Bar Chef Notes The beauty of this drink is simplicity. There is an elegance in simplicity. Sometimes hospitality is not about doing more. Simple drinks often have the longest history. Lime offers a brighter, sharper citrus note than orange or grapefruit, should you choose. Some days a coffee cup instead of bucket glass is just fine too. In the end, it’s about creating space for people to slow down, enjoy what is already in front of them, appreciate the good company around them, and appreciate the simple ritual of beginning a meal together. Cin cin. Toast. Taste. Train. Shop the post Purchases may be commissionable.
Pet Nat and Cake This wine is pale pink. This wine is sparkling. This wine is light fruit forward with delicate bubbles. This wine is acidic and bright. This wine is from France. This wine is Pet Nat. This wine is. What is Pet Nat? Pet Nat is a sparkling wine lower in sugar and alcohol content. It’s known for being unpredictable because it is bottled before first fermentation takes place and without additional yeast. This method is known as methode ancestrale. This method is completely different than that of champagne’s Méthode Champenoise despite both being sparkling wine and both originating in France. Friendly reminder, champagne isn’t Champagne if it’s not from Champagne, France. Domaine Saint Cyr Pet Nat Gamay Rosé is a light sparkling wine made from 100% Gamay grapes. It is priced at an average of $28 USD per bottle. I purchased this particular wine from my local Erewhon Market. I decided to pair it with my sour cream buttercream-frosted sour cream vanilla cake due to its acidity, fruitiness, and texture. In addition to cake, this wine also pairs well with shellfish, sushi, and salads, and squash and cheese. It is a fun, bright light wine with a pop top that can be enjoyed on any occasion, whether it’s a regular everyday kind of day or a special event. I say everyday as life is the special occasion after all. Don’t you just love the label? “Oh, and what is Gamay, you ask?” Gamay is a red grape variety that is primarily grown in the Beaujolais region of France. It is known for producing light-bodied, fruity wines with flavors of red berries, cherries, and sometimes a hint of banana. Gamay wines are typically low in tannins and have a refreshing acidity, making them an easy to drink wine. Gamay rosé wines, which have a pale pink color and exhibit similar fruit-forward characteristics as the lighter red wines. Gamay rosé is often enjoyed as a refreshing summer wine. This, Domaine Saint Cyr Pet Nat Gamay Rosé, certainly fits the bill indeed. Waiting for the light.. Where to buy the food? You know sparklers, glasses, bottle opener and such? I may earn commissions with eligible purchases, FYI. Blonde Behind the Bucket Storefront of course. Please enjoy responsibly and be of the legal drinking age.