Flashback, Last Summer: It all started with the Drunken Pony

St. Augustine, rainy Monday afternoon, end of June.

My sister and I had just managed to duck into the Lightner Museum before the deluge struck. After feasting our eyes on so many beautiful things and imagining the glittering parties that were held in the former Hotel Alcazar’s heyday, we were famished.

As I flipped through a visitors guide, a coupon caught my eye. Free Drunken Pony? Hell yeah. Whatever it was, we were intrigued. We zigzagged across the wide boulevard, dodging raindrops until we found the cozy pub, McKnight’s, purveyor of the inebriated equine beverage, and also allegedly famous for fried green tomatoes. Oh yeah. We christened our visit to the Oldest City with a kick: a half Woodchuck cider-half champagne sparkler and a few decadently cheesy snacks.

Thus fortified, we set off in search of our next spirited adventure. Having a cocktail on the verandah of the white-columned confection known as the Casablanca Inn is a glamorous way to spend some time. This elegant 1914 Mediterranean Revival mansion overlooks Matanzas Bay with a front porch perfect for watching the cavalcade of humanity amble past.

We chose a couple of knock-your-socks-off-potent concoctions. I had a Kiss on the Lips—I don’t remember what was in it but it sure was good, ‘cause it made my lips tingle! (It’s hard for me to refuse a kiss like that!) Mel had a Tahiti Tini, fruity and delicious.

After that, we found more substantial fare at the Columbia, an offshoot of Ybor City’s original, occupying an old building in the heart of the historic district. Crusty hot and buttered Cuban bread and 1905 salads. We opted for mojitos—or in this case, little more than minty Sprites. The dining room was cool and dimly lit, with brick walls and arches, wood floors and handsome waiters. In short, a perfect little repast.

We window shopped our way to the piece de resistance: Casa Monica’s Cobalt Lounge. A majestic120-year-old edifice with Moorish-Spanish flair, the Casa Monica took us into another world with its sumptuous interior glittering with mirrors, fountains, exotic lanterns and metalwork, richly upholstered furnishings and dark mystery.

At the bar, we ordered our drinks—mine a classic French 75, and Mel’s a Blueberry Martini. As we sipped, we soaked in the luxurious ambience and imagined other lifetimes while the pianist at the baby grand provided the soundtrack.

If you’re going to visit St. Augustine, don’t just look at the history. Drink it.

The One-Cookbook Dinner Party

I feel bad.

I have a bookshelf full of carefully curated—OK, not so carefully curated, if you notice “Gone with the Grits” sticking out there…Whatever…I have a bookshelf full of eclectic and highly interesting cookbooks gathering dust, sniffling quietly every time I walk through the hallway where they’ve been in limbo since, I don’t know, since I started “googling” ingredients and ripping pages out of magazines. What can I say? I’m succumbing to the instant gratification trigger that is the hallmark of our modern society. I’m not proud about that either.

I also feel bad because I don’t see my friends as often as I’d like.

(Pause.)

Bingo.

Amy Sedaris helped me out with my first go at constructing an entire dinner party around ONE source, in this case, her hilarious and utterly helpful “I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence.”

My challenge: Find a beverage, appetizer, main course, and dessert from ONE cookbook—and they must somehow try to complement each other. Invite ten friends and away we go!

Beverages: Arnold Palmers (nonalcoholic) and Rum Punch Dazzler; plus we couldn’t resist inventing a twist on the Arnold so we could throw in some of that sweet tea vodka that’s been making the party circuit. We named it in honor of the late, great 80s rocker Robert Palmer, who sang about another sweet addiction back in the day.

Appetizers: Colbert’s Shrimp Paste (yes--THAT Colbert--anything w/ that funny guy involved is definitely on MY menu!) and Lil’ Smokey Cheese Ball—which was a tremendous hit. I understand why Amy sells these—they’re super tasty!

Dinner: Greek Salad, Pastitsio and Greek Beans—great combo for feeding a crowd, F.Y.I.!

Dessert: I’d rather not mention these because it shakes my confidence in my baking ability, but I tried, anyway—Tattletail’s Vanilla Cupcakes (I either overbeat the batter or overbaked so they were pretty dense) and Strawberry Shortcakes on Sweet Cream Biscuit Hockey Pucks (rolled out too thin so they didn’t puff up). It’s OK. Lessons were learned and no one went hungry. (I distracted them with more sweet tea vodka.)

Bonus: Amy’s wackily-illustrated book provided lots of décor inspiration. I had fun making the popcorn cherry blossom centerpieces and putting googly eyes on peanuts.

Well…it worked. And I’m going to do it again. This time, “Nigella Bites” will bring me one step closer to making up with my neglected little cookbook shelf.