‘Tis the season to be jolly so why not switch it up and serve winning Christmas cocktails with your festive food instead of wine this year? Our expert food and drinks specialists at The Mixer have put together a useful guide on cocktail and festive feast pairing considerations, from appetisers, to the main meal to dessert.
We’ve been glued to our TV screens for the last month, and if you’ve been watching the second season of The White Lotus, you’re probably in the same boat—en route to the hilltop town of Taormina, Sicily. That’s right. This time the White Lotus resort is situated in Sicily, which, if you didn’t know, is the largest island in the Mediterranean. And we get to couch-travel to this incredible destination with a stellar cast, including Theo James, Meghann Fahy, Aubrey Plaza, and Will Sharpe. The ever-hilarious Jennifer Coolidge also makes a return appearance and will have you full-out belly laughing throughout.
Sicily is known for its lush vineyards, jaw-dropping architecture, breath-taking beaches, and beautiful people. It’s also home to Mount Etna—one of the world’s most active volcanos, which currently erupts once a year. And if you think that’s explosive, wait until you see the latest season of White Lotus.
We are dying to give you all the juicy details, but we don’t want to spoil it for those of you who haven’t seen it yet. What we will tell you, however, is this: orange is about to become your new favorite color.
Aperitivo Hour at Home
If you are planning a watching party / shameless White Lotus binge session, you’re going to want to serve up some Aperol Spritzes! Why? Because Italy is all about aperitivo hour—and the Aperol Spritz is one of the main events. In fact, this world-famous afternoon cocktail plays a starring role and has featured in every episode we’ve seen (so far). Trust us when we say that you will be gutted if you don’t have this iconic bright orange drink in your hand.
You’re also going to want some snacks, especially if you’re watching The White Lotus marathon-style. To create a bit of Sicily at home and to set the mood, pair these iconic aperitivo cocktails with a selection of Italy’s finest. We suggest creating a traditional Italian small plates / tapas style food. Here are a few ideas for the ultimate Italian aperitivo spread:
- Crostini topped with parmesan, cured meat and crushed olives
- Arancini with Neapolitan sauce for dipping
- Caprese salad made with real mozzarella, ripe tomatoes and fresh basil
- Figs wrapped in prosciutto
- Small focaccia bites
- Polpette / miniature meatballs
- Charcuterie board
Buon Apetito!
The 3-2-1 Aperol Spritz Recipe
Mixing up an Aperol Spritz at home couldn’t be simpler—just memorize the ‘3-2-1’ recipe ratio.
Ingredients
- 3 Oz Prosecco
- 2 Oz Aperol
- 1 Oz club soda
- Ice
- Sliced orange to garnish
Method
- Fill a large white wine glass with ice
- Pour in the Prosecco
- Add the Aperol
- Top with soda
- Garnish with fresh orange
- Serve
Helena Tip: Replace the Aperol with Campari if you want a drink that’s (even more) bitter in taste. Or for something more Sicilian combine 3 oz fresh orange juice, 1.5 oz Campari, 1 oz gin and 3 oz brut Prosecco in a large ice-filled wine glass. Deliziosa!
Discover more delicious Italian drinkspiration on The Mixer