The Holidays are magical. They can also be a little stressful. Shopping, parties, parades, decorating...it’s easy for overwhelm to set in while you’re trying to make your life extra holi-dazzling. I used to try to do it all. But now that I’m a mom of two and a...
It's been a minute! I'm really good at making cocktails and food, decent at a handful of other things, but SO BAD at technology. So when my video editing software craps out on me, I find myself kind of like the guys in Zoolander, referencing Space Odyssey, i.e....
All this talk about glass and glass blowing has left me thinking about our favorite cocktail companion. The glassware it comes in! Choosing the right style of glass is like finding the perfect outfit for an evening. An evening of reading your favorite novel on the...
In this fun episode of Art of the Aperitif we take a look at the art of glassblowing: exploring the craftsmanship and artistry! Dan Neff is a glass artist and founder of Lake Superior Art Glass, a studio, gallery, and classroom just down the street from our distillery...
Welcome to another episode of the art of aperitif! Today's artist interview guest is Melanie Lieb. Melanie is the most fun and delightful human you could hope to meet, wearing a smile and incredible jewelry art (like ice cream cone earrings!) that she designs and...
A Spirited European Journey with Frenchie and Friends Canned Cocktails! (Fun fact before we start, I read an SEO thing that said I have to write a keyword phrase and then use it in my blog posts. Which I find super annoying. So I'm trying out just starting each blog...
Elevate Your Brunch Game with Creative Mimosas Using Frenchie Cocktail Spritzes To me, brunch is a fascinating cultural phenomenon. Brunch food is delicious, sure. But I'm pretty sure brunch is usually less about the meal and more about a time to gather with friends...
Welcome to another episode of the Art of Aperitif. Today I'm joined by two wonderful friends of mine for a conversation. Annie Dugan is a professional curator and art professor. She and her husband also own The Food Farm, an organic, diversified farm in Wrenshall,...
Photo of Misha's solo booth at Design Miami/Basel 2002 from Friedman Benda gallery Welcome back to another episode of The Art of Aperitif! Today’s guest is Misha Kahn. Misha is a visionary in the world of design and "one of the leading creative voices of our...
photo of Sarah Edwards and her art by David Sherman Welcome back to The Art of Aperitif - happy hour conversations with artists, to whet your creative appetite! I hope you're excited for another conversation with an amazing creative luminary. My guest this week...
foreign invasion / port, portal, point of entry / permissions granted? | encaustic, paper, gold foil on birch panel by Natalie Salminen Rude Welcome to the Art of Aperitif - Happy Hour interviews with artists to whet your creative appetite! I decided to start...
Ok, I'm going to preface this by saying that most sports involving balls are not particularly in my wheelhouse. As a Norwegian, I was raised with the indisputable conviction that the 4X15 km Nordic Skiing relay was the HEIGHT of nail-biting sports drama. And that if a...
Pairing cheese and wine? Old news. (Delicious, delicious old news, of course.) Now it's time to pair cheese with cocktails! I had the absolute delight of an opportunity recently to teach a class with Kerry Jerred, a cheese professional (which is a good candidate for...
As opposed to the American happy hour, which is often an attempt to shake off the day, the European practice of apéro is a celebration of the continuation of the day. An opening into the evening and a prepping of the palate for supper. In the words of food writer...
It's a pool, pool summer... So you probably want summer by the pool recipes. Let’s talk about pools for a minute. Where have pools been all my life? I hope for your sake you have had more outdoor pools in your life than I have had in mine. I never thought I...
It may not be a widely acknowledged fact that poetry and aperitifs are the *perfect* pairing, but they ARE. And we are headed toward picnic perfection. I was recently introduced to this poem, and I think it might be the most perfect of all (not to mention you could...
Garnish like a pro! I’m a committed garnish skeptic. I like pretty cocktail garnishes when I see them in photos, but in my actual drink? They always somehow seem to hit me in the face and then I spill down my shirt and well…I suppose it was my own fault for wearing...
