Champagne Babas

Babas are little yeasted pastries that resemble little chef's hats.

Babas are made with a dough enriched with butter and eggs, and then soaked in a boozy syrup (usually rum) and then topped with an apricot jam glaze.

French 75 Cocktail

This cocktail is rumored to have gotten its name from a 75 mm artillery piece that Allied soldiers used during World War I. It definitely depends upon both the French (Champagne) and British (gin), and packs a decent kick (like the field gun).

According to Wikipedia, the holder of all earthly knowledge (a title I used to own prior to Wikipedia stealing my thunder), this cocktail was invented in 1915 at Harry's New York Bar in Paris.

There are several versions of this cocktail out there. This is my favorite. If you'd like a sweeter version, just drop a sugar cube in the bottom of the glass after assembling the ingredients.

French 75 Cocktail Recipe

Ingredients

1 1/2 ounces gin

1/2 ounce orange liqueur

Lemon twist

1 1/ 2ounces Champagne or Cava 

Sugar cube (optional)

Instructions

1. Place the gin and orange liqueur into an ice filled shaker and shake for 20 to 30 seconds.
2. Strain the ingredients into a chilled coupe. 
3. Drop a lemon twist into the coupe and top with Champagne or Cava.
4. Drop the sugar cube into the bottom of the coupe. 

Boom.

Thank you to my friend Nancy for introducing me to the French 75.