Lively libations for summer entertaining

Ben and I went to a fund-raiser in May that was held at Roy’s

restaurant in Fashion Island. The cause was the Harbor High Culinary

Arts program, so a three-course meal at an award-winning restaurant

seemed appropriate. The food was fabulous, and the service was

excellent. The entire event was outstanding.

One of the many impressive details was the drink they were

serving. Generally, I’m not a fancy cocktail kind of gal, but these

drinks in mini-martini glasses garnished with fresh pineapple were

too cute to pass up. They were the specialty of the house and

appropriately called Roy’s Hawaiian Martini. They didn’t even taste

like they had alcohol in them, which is probably a bad thing, but

they were so good that the next day I got on the computer and surfed

the Web looking for the recipe.

I found it. Of course, I do not have any of the ingredients you

need to make them, but one of these days, I’m going to make a trip to

a specialty liquor store and rectify that. This drink would be the

perfect addition to a summer cocktail party.

Roy’s Hawaiian Martini

Serves six

9 ounces vodka

3 ounces vanilla vodka

1 ounce coconut rum

12 1-inch chunks fresh pineapple

Combine alcohol and half of the pineapple chunks and refrigerate

overnight. Before serving, discard the pineapple and serve with a

fresh pineapple garnish.

While I was searching for the Roy’s recipe, I found a few other

drinks that I’ve ordered in restaurants, but have never made at home.

Some of them take a little effort, and they all sound fattening, but

every once in a while, it’s fun to make something out of the ordinary

when you’re entertaining.

Ramos Fizz

Single serving

Juice of 1/2 lemon

1/2 tablespoon confectioners sugar

1 egg white, whipped

1 jigger dry gin 1 dash orange juice

1 tablespoon sweet cream

Shake with ice and add carbonated water to taste.

Nutty Angel

Single serving

1 ounce vodka

1 ounce Frangelico

1 ounce Bailey’s 1/2 ounce dark creme de cacao

Shake with ice and dust with nutmeg

Long Island Iced Tea

Single serving

1 ounce vodka

1 ounce gin

1 ounce light rum

1 ounce tequila

1 ounce lemon juice

1 teaspoon confectioners sugar

4 ounces cola

Mix and serve with ice

Adult Hot Chocolate

Serves six

1/2 cup chocolate chips

3 cups milk

1 cup Half & Half

Heat ingredients, and then add:

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup rum

1/2 cup almond liqueur

Top with whipped cream.

* KAREN WIGHT is a Newport Beach resident. Her column runs

Thursdays.