Tag Archives: mixology

Tanaya’s Table x American Cocktail Company Limited Edition COCKTAIL BOX!

Posted on by

Tanaya's Table ACC With Cocktail - Graphics

It’s that time of year! Fall is here with all its cozy comforts… and that includes spiced cocktails, of course! Thanks to the American Cocktail Company, my cocktail dreams came true when I was given the honor of creating my own custom #TanayasTable cocktail box for this month only. In fact it’s so limited edition, that TODAY is the last day to order it!

I’m thankful that the response was so great thus far that the box SOLD OUT early on, and now it’s in the second round of production! If you’ve been following me on social media, you got the news early – plus the behind the scenes scoop! American Cocktail Company makes all their products with the finest quality and puts great care into every step of the process, from sourcing, to packaging, to having the box delivered right to your doorstep with free shipping. I’m very discerning with whom I work with, and going forward with this collaboration was an easy decision for me!

This is my first branded product, internationally available on such a grand scale, and it ships anywhere in the US & Canada. I put my heart into perfecting the recipe for the Gin Berry Blush, with help from my wonderful friend Kendra, and I’m so excited to share it with you all! You can read the interview they did on me here, and order the box (scroll down to the “subscribe” button — you can cancel your subscription at any time, or order it as a gift — they do make great holiday gifts!) using the 10% off discount code TANAYA10 here.

Tanaya's Table ACC Gin Berry Blush Cocktail - Graphics.jpeg

As for my inspiration in creating this unique cocktail, I wanted to capture the essence of the changing seasons… from summer blueberries to a pinch of cardamom – to invoke the warmth of fall spices, and as a nod to my Indian heritage. I love that the Blueberry Finn American Juice Company mixer has a hint of apple and almond as well, which really rounds out the flavor profile.

I’m also fond of floral notes, especially rose. It reminds me of my mom, who was my best friend and confidant. She loved roses, and the scent takes me back to childhood memories with her, gardening together in our backyard. So I added rose syrup, which gives the drink a bit of sweetness and some more dimension. With a squeeze of lime juice for a fresh kick, the end result is a multi-layered, refreshing cocktail perfect for a holiday gift, a cozy staycation, or a fall party with friends. You can order it as a cocktail or even a mocktail (without the liquor; you can either add your own or leave it out if you’re not into alcohol).

In honor of my mom, I’m also donating 25% of my portion of the proceeds to the Breast Cancer Solutions Foundation. I think it’s especially fitting that it also happens to be Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I hope you enjoy this cocktail, and I can’t wait to hear what you think! Cheers to you all for being so wonderful, and for all the support along this journey filled with all kinds of highs and lows. It warms my heart to share these meaningful projects with you all, and to hear back from you as well!

To order the cocktail box (LAST DAY!) go HERE (use code TANAYA10 for 10% off!).

For the interview and inspiration behind the #TanayasTable cocktail kit, click HERE.

Photo credit for first photo: Kendra Orng | Photo credit for cocktail photo: Tanaya Ghosh

Until next time,

Tanaya ❤

Advertisement

We Tried It: New Mixlogy Classes At Hard Rock Hollywood

Posted on by
Our group of budding mixologists!

Our group of budding mixologists!

Ever thought it would be fun to learn the art of mixology with your friends? A few days ago, the Hard Rock Cafe Hollywood at Universal CityWalk invited us to try just that, as they’re launching a new interactive bartending class called “Shake It Up” led by the Hard Rock’s very own skilled– and charismatic– mixologists.

We got to play bartender for the night, learning how to make martinis (gin and vodka), margaritas, and even the secret to the Hard Rock’s #1 seller, their world famous Hurricane. It’s been years since I took bartending classes (yup, took ’em back in college), so it was fun to see what I remembered (four-counts, layering, certain drinks) yet how new it felt all over again to be behind that bar and to try and pour perfectly (harder than it looks, I swear).

Our mixology leaders Justin and Will (who have worked at the Hard Rock for over three decades, combined) taught us fun facts about cocktails, liqueurs and the quirky history behind some of the featured drinks. Then came the extra-fun part, where we got to build our own drinks just like the pros. Well, besides the amateurish spills we (I?) had along the way! Check out the one-minute video below for some real, unedited footage of some serious cocktail making… with plenty of laughs along the way:

Take in all the mixology action right here, spills and all!

Take in all the mixology action right here, spills and all! (Here I am, making a gin martini)

We participated with a sizeable bunch of other fellow LA-based food writers, but the classes accommodate any group size between 7 to 40 people so you can either bring your close friends or your extended family if you wanted. 😉

You can make reservations for classes at Hard Rock Cafe Hollywood at Hollywood & Highland, and Universal City Walk (where I took my class). The classes run from $42 per person for just the bartending class (drinks included!), or as part of a three-course meal from Hard Rock Cafe’s newly revamped menu for $65 per person. Considering Hard Rock International has venues across 58 countries, it’s great to know that the “Shake It Up” classes are offered right here so we can take advantage!

Off the top of my head, I’ve been to the Hard Rock in Hong Kong, Las Vegas and Bali… all are in prime locations within each city and I have great memories at each of them. One that truly stands out is when a couple years ago, my American friends were working abroad in Hong Kong for a summer.

We chose to start that Fourth of July off at the Hard Rock Hong Kong, and that classic clip of Whitney Houston singing the national anthem started playing on TV. Everyone quieted down and it felt like a great moment of American solidarity, right in the middle of Lan Kwai Fong (Hong Kong’s nightlife hub). I usually don’t go to American establishments when abroad (I’d rather be soaking up local culture!), but that Fourth of July was definitely a special patriotic moment abroad that I’ll cherish.

I’ve had some great memories at Hard Rock Cafes around the world, but the latest has been the most interactive and informative one, thanks to our very own local Hard Rock Hollywood’s mixology class.

Whether celebrating a birthday with friends, or taking your team members or colleagues out for a night of team building, the new “Shake It Up” classes are a unique and memorable activity to try. Not only do they offer a great experience during the couple of hours of hands-on fun, but they also give you lots of great tidbits of interesting knowledge to pepper into your conversations at future social gatherings. For example, did you know that gin is essentially vodka infused with juniper berries??

Bottom line, the class was a lot of fun and fits perfectly with my life philosophy to get out there and try new things, learn as much as you can, and have a good time while you’re at it. So dive in and get mixing, I think you’ll like it!

You can make a reservation by calling the Hard Rock on Universal City Walk at 818.622.7660 or the Hard Rock on Hollywood Blvd. at 323.606.7150. Cheers!