The Backyard Bartender: 55 Cool Summer Cocktails [Hardcover]

Nicole Aloni (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2007

Muggy afternoons spent poolside, picnics at the beach, parties under a starry sky; summer is all about relaxation and fun.

And when the mercury climbs, there’s no better way to unwind than with an ice-cold cocktail. With more than fifty recipes for stylish martinis and fizzy libations that celebrate summer’s laid-back attitude, The Backyard Bartender brings out your inner mixologist and turns your yard into summer’s coolest hangout. Frozen, on the rocks, or shaken, The Backyard Bartender offers an array of must-try concoctions that celebrate the season. Nicole Aloni includes creative recipes based on summer’s freshest ingredients, refined interpretations of classics like martinis and sidecars, plus nonalcoholic quaffs with plenty of zing.

Why not try a:
Spicy Ginger Blush Martini
Aromatic Lavender Lush
Dessert-inspired Key Lime Pie
Swimming Pool-blue The Deep End

From cocktail lingo to the tools of the trade, you’ll find everything you need to transform your backyard into a summer retreat.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

NICOLE ALONI is the author of Cooking for Company and Secrets from a Caterer’s Kitchen. After receiving her culinary training in France, she began a catering career that spanned twenty years of glamorous events. Aloni catered the Academy Awards four times, prepared a state luncheon for Queen Elizabeth II, and produced galas in honor of American presidents, foreign dignitaries, and Julia Child. Aloni makes frequent television and radio appearances and is a contributor to Bon Appétit and Better Homes and Gardens, among other magazines. She teaches cooking and entertaining across the country. Aloni lives in Seattle, Washington.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

ipanema punch
Makes 12

Glass: Tall or punch cup
Garnish: Mint leaves and 12 pineapple wedges

All of the flavors of the tropics make an appearance in this sensational, lemon-hued punch—banana, rum, pineapple, and orange. Serve this at a BBQ featuring great pork ribs.

   • 1⁄2 cup Cointreau
   • 2 cups light rum
   • 3 ounces crème de banane
   • 1 cup pink grapefruit juice
   • 2 cups fresh orange juice
   • 1⁄2 cup fresh lime juice
   • 1 cup pineapple juice
   • 36 frozen whole strawberries or raspberries
   • 3 to 4 cups ginger ale


In a large bowl, combine the Cointreau, rum, crème de banane, grapefruit juice, orange juice, lime juice, and pineapple juice. Cover and chill for at least 1 hour or overnight.

Pour the mixture into a punch bowl or large pitcher. Add the frozen berries   (as “ice cubes”).

Top with ginger ale and stir gently to blend. Garnish each glass.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 112 pages
• Publisher: Clarkson Potter (May 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0307381056
• ISBN-13: 978-0307381057
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 0.5 x 7.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #614,350 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I have enjoyed an exciting, diverse career in the culinary arts. In my teens, I opened a small catering business. In my twenties, I completed the diploma course at La Varenne, Ecole de Cuisine in Paris and stayed on to work as a chef at chateaux in Burgundy. In California, I owned a natural foods restaurant, directed one of the country's most prestigious catering operations, owned my own catering company and produced a line of gourmet food products.

For six years, I was the Director of Catering at the Los Angeles Music Center where I catered the Academy Awards four times, prepared a state luncheon for HRH Queen Elizabeth II, and produced galas in honor of three American presidents, foreign dignitaries, divas and Julia Child. Julia was the one that wowed me!

Then I opened my own company, Nicole Cottrell Productions, Inc. My company catered elegant events for clients such as the Four Seasons Beverly Hills, the Tournament of Roses and the Kirov Ballet. We also manufactured packaged foods for fine grocers like Vons/Pavilions, Gelsons, Trader Joe's, Larry's and Neiman-Marcus.

Ultimately all of this had provided me with plenty to talk about, so I began to write books. My first book, Secrets From a Caterer's Kitchen, was published by Putnam in 2001. The second book, Cooking for Company, was published in September 2003. My most recent, The Backyard Bartender, was published in 2007 by Clarkson Potter.

As I write this, I'm at work on a cookbook for the environmental idealist in all of us. I also talk about cooking and entertaining across the country on television and radio, teach at schools like Sur La table, Draeger's and Central Market, and write lots of articles every year for national magazines. I live and cook in Seattle, WA.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun cocktail book, May 18, 2007

By 

Abigail Carter (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Backyard Bartender: 55 Cool Summer Cocktails (Hardcover)

What an absolutely FUN cocktail book. I love the clear, organized layout, the list for stocking a proper bar, the simple explanations, the inspired drink names (Barefoot in Bali) and the brightly colored photos. I want to buy this for all my friends with summer birthdays along with some cute martini glasses or have a summer backyard party.

i can highly recommend this book for anyone who aspires to more than just uncorking a bottle as a way of entertaining their guests.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring book for summer cocktails, May 13, 2007

By 

J. Delf (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Backyard Bartender: 55 Cool Summer Cocktails (Hardcover)

Beautiful book with inventive recipes and inspiring photographs. Way beyond your'usual' cocktail book, with so many new takes on familiar favorites. Great tips and commentaries along the way. The two drinks I've tried so-far have been big hits with guests: "Orange-Basil Mojitos" and "Lavendar Lush". Yummmmmm !

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Can't wait for Summer!, May 1, 2007

By 

Leslie Marcus (Santa Monica, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Backyard Bartender: 55 Cool Summer Cocktails (Hardcover)

The Backyard Bartender is going to make summer much more fun. I can't wait for the first pool party. This is the perfect solution to the same old Cosmo or Margarita. The book is filled with wonderfully inventive recipes, beautiful photographs and lots of great tips. Make any one of these cocktails and it's a sure way to impress your friends. Anybody who likes entertaining will love it this book.