These fruit cocktails aren't the ones that come in the metal cans that you ate for lunch as a kid. These babies are gastronomical creations involving highly aerated fruits, combinations of alcoholic beverages and a vacuum chamber. Think of pouring a bottle of booze into a watermelon, multiply it by a 100, and add a big dose of class along the way. Using some gourmet gastronomy techniques, some DIY ingenuity, The New York Times as a guide*, and the old fashioned approach of getting boozed up before embarking upon any epic journey, here's how I made alcoholic fruit cocktails.
**This project was completely inspired by the Edible Cocktails article and video in The New York Times. It's basically a DIY version of the exact same process they showcase in the article.**
**This project was completely inspired by the Edible Cocktails article and video in The New York Times. It's basically a DIY version of the exact same process they showcase in the article.**
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Signing UpStep 1: Materials
- Various fruits with a high content of air within their cell structures. I tried apples, grapes, cucumbers, watermelon and oranges...see results section in step 8 to see what worked best.
- Your favorite cocktail ingredients - the more experimental the better
- Vessels large enough to hold your fruit
- Knife and cutting board
- Vacuum chamber w/ pressure gauge and pressure release
- Vacuum pump
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This is part and parcel of what is called molecular gastronomy. The author noahw mentioned "gourmet gastronomy techniques" and that is what this is. Bravo! A new kitchen appliance (my wife will kill me).
I have to try the martini infused olives, which I prefer be stuffed with garlic.
Instructables needs a special section for how to do advant garde food prep, which this clearly is.
I will use your technique to "vacuum" infuse small pieces of fruit and add it to home made ice cream.
Should give an interesting taste. Let you know.
As for the vagaries of featuring, it seems to me that being well written and informative is as much of a criterion for featuring as "worthiness". There are a fair few ultimately silly and not very productive Instructables around, but if they tell you how to be silly and unproductive with entertaining clear instructions and good pictures then they get featured.
In my experience, what I assume you mean by "valuable" Instructables (building a community garden in Israel for example) are more likely to be featured than other equally well written Ibles, but a write up of how you save the whales without capital letters or punctuation isn't going to get featured.
In short, yes this is performed in food service, however, it is mostly done only at high end restaurants. (at least to my knowledge)
Presenting: Cucumber Gimlets
Makes 4
These refreshing cocktails are perfect for summer entertaining.
2 large cucumbers (1-½ lb total)
½ c gin
4 tsp fresh lime juice
1 Tbs sugar
1 c ice cubes
4 lime slices
Slice four ¼"-thick slices from 1 cucumber. Peel and coarsely chop remaining cucumbers; transfer to processor and purée until smooth. Pour through fine strainer set over large bowl, pressing on solids in strainer. Discard solids in strainer.
Mix 1 c cucumber juice, gin, lime juice, and sugar in pitcher; stir until sugar dissolves. Add ice; mix well. Immediately strain mixture into 4 small Martini glasses. Garnish with lime and cucumber slices and serve.