Thursday, December 3, 2009

Thirsty Thursdays: Lavender Syrup Give-Away Edition


I'm very excited about today's give-away. You see, it gives me the opportunity to introduce you to both a wonderful product and an amazing resource. Not only that, I get to shout-out a blog friend in the process. Let's get to it, shall we?!

Last month, Jessica from Cube Marketplace reached out to me on the advice of blog friend, Erika, from In Erika's Kitchen. Seems that Cube Marketplace was organizing some pre-holiday give-aways and Erika was kind enough to suggest my blog to Jessica. Thanks, Erika!

Cube Marketplace is an online gourmet emporium, specializing in unique artisanal products from around the globe. Jessica offered me two of any product I should choose; one to feature in a recipe and one to give away. Color me delighted! I immediately clicked over to their site and began searching through the staggering array of delights. Soon enough, I fell completely in love with Cube. Quite honestly, it was a bit like turning a kid lose in a candy store. I was torn between the truffle salt, the pine syrup, the cheeses, the vinegars, the mushrooms ... just go ahead and click, you'll see what I mean.

Eventually, I settled on a bottle of Le Pere Pelletier Lavender Syrup. Why, you ask? So I could turn it into an elegant and intriguing cocktail, of course!

Lavender Lemon Martini:
  • 3 ounces of premium vodka
  • 3/4 ounce of Le Pere Pelletier Lavender Syrup
  • 3 to 4 drops lemon bitters
Fill a martin shaker with ice and over it pour the vodka, lavender syrup and lemon bitters. Shake well, until the outside of the shaker frosts, and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a lemon twist or slice. Serve and enjoy, repeat as necessary!

As written this recipe will yield one incredibly delicious and enchanting martini. The lavender flavor is present, but not over powering, and the lemon bitters lends just enough of an edge to compliment the sweet notes.

If martini's aren't your thing, fear not, the lavender syrup can be used in a myriad of ways. You can add it to coffee, tea, ice cream or milkshakes. You can swizzle it into some fresh lemonade for an unexpected twist. You can even bake with it. Can you imagine a chocolate-lavender cheesecake for instance? I can. Heck, I already have and am working it out in my mind as we speak.
Photo courtesy of CubeMarketplace.com

And here's the really good news: you all have a chance to win a bottle of this magical elixir for yourself! To enter: simply leave a comment on this post telling me what you'd like to make with the lavender syrup. You have until midnight on Wednesday, December 9th to enter. One winner will be selected via use of a random number generator. I will announce the winner on the afternoon of Thursday, December 10th. Contest is open to U.S. residents only. Winner must be willing to provide me with his/her name and mailing address so I can send off the syrup. Good luck!

Many, many thanks to Jessica and Cube Marketplace for sponsoring this fun and festive give-away! I can't wait to continue my experiments with the lavender syrup.

Lastly, if your holiday shopping list includes anyone who likes to cook (or eat!), you're sure to find all manner of good things for stuffing those stockings at Cube Marketplace.

Cheers!

p.s. - In order to keep things simple for the give-away drawing, I will not be responding to comments on this post. If you have any questions about the syrup, or anything else, leave me your email address or contact me at: divaonadiet@gmail.com .

24 comments:

Fresh Local and Best said...

Diva, I just checked out the Cube Market place, it looks like a very cool source for gourmet foods and ingredients! Thanks for sharing.

What would I do with this lavender syrup? I would pour this over fresh strawberries, add some sugar and roast it in the oven. Or I can make lavender strawberry jam with frozen strawberries.

I'll tweet about this so you can get more entries. Thanks again for sharing!

Anonymous said...

Ooooo...looks delish! I would probably use the lavendar syrup to make that exact cocktail...or maybe add some club soda to it for a little fizz.

Delicious Dishings said...

That drink sounds delicious to me! I've seen a recipe for lavender cupcakes, and I think this syrup would be perfect in them.

Daily Spud said...

Ah, not eligible to enter due to a minor matter of geographical location but I'd still like to use that syrup, maybe in some ice cream (though first I would have to have one of those cocktails for sure!)

Clem Can Cook said...

Lavender SYRUP!? Want. Want!!

Laura said...

I love love love Cube!! so hard to choose one product though oh man! I love their cake stands they look like bird baths so cute! Ok enough gushing only I wish my GOD FRIEND Erika had sent them my name :) lucky you!

I would probably make lavender ice cream or drinks.

LUCKY!
I'll post this on my blog tonight and send some readers your way or not so I have a better chance.

Christo Gonzales said...

lovin' the photo - make mine a double!

Dana McCauley said...

Lavender syrup? I'm listening! I don't think I've seen that here yet. I make a similar drink with rose elixir though. It's fantastic! I'm going to serach for the lavender syrup and try this drink as soon as I can.

Anonymous said...

I've actually made lavender syrup and it was amazing! I would be very curious how this one tastes! I've paired mine with the spiced mango fried ravioli before, and probably will do again, it was a great combo!

The Duo Dishes said...

Cube is awesome and close to both of our jobs! Good food and really nice in-store product line. This syrup would be an awesome win! Just imagine the cocktails we could make...like this one. Oh, and cookies. It'd be great in a lemon lavender cookie. Just sayin'!

stephchows said...

The syrup sounds amazing! And that store sounds totally fun, going to check it out next! Hmm what to make... I'd love to try a pizzelle with this syrup infused in the batter.... oh man that sounds good!

Erika Kerekes said...

I would just like to say that Cube is ah-freakin'-MAZING.

You don't have to enter me into the giveaway. :)

Erika Kerekes said...

Uh oh, and I just realized I'm in trouble with Laura (@whats4dinnermom) for not sending Jessie her name. So sorry Laura! My bad! Next time....

Katherine Roberts Aucoin said...

i am on my way to go check them out! Your cocktail sounds so light and refreshing...I'd love to have a pitcher of these to serve tonight!

Libby said...

I just realized that I was suffering from lavender martini deprivation. Thanks for sharing the syrup and the recipe!

words...words...words... said...

How amazing that you found Cube! As an LA person, I've been there MANY times, mostly to purchase their excellent fresh pasta and their fantastic cheeses. Very good stuff.

As for lavender syrup, I'd probably try to make a cookie with it, considering the season. Maybe a mildly flavored butter cookie, like a shortbread. Mmm.

Renee G said...

I'm intrigued. I'm thinking I would start by making some lavender meringue cookies.
rsgrandinetti(at)yahoo(DOT)com

kathy55439 said...

lavender ice tea would be wonderful.....

Ali said...

Lavender creme brulee! hmmm, lavender and almost anything, but I would probably try a cocktail first too, maybe with champagne and strawberries. What a great product!

I was afraid to look too much at cube because I've already done most of my Christmas shopping but I'm a foodie who doesn't mind sohpping for themselves!

The Bee Raw Cheese Complementing Varietal Honey Flight is awesome looking,I love sampling different grades of things!

jennem said...

I'd use it to make ice cream!
Jennifer, jennem22 at yahoo dot com

Nicole D. said...

I would try it in some vanilla tea...ooh. sounds yummy.

wendy wallach said...

I would like to make some iced tea!

madamerkf at aol dot com

Clarence said...

Wow!! What an incredible blend. My daughter just finished a course on bartending, so I'm sharing this with her also.

Merlin said...

Nice recipe. Lavender is a great flavour and very popular in the UK where we grow vast amounts in Norfolk.
In cocktails I find it absolutely loves gin - one of the main flavour notes from juniper as well as pine is lavender.
Try this simple twist on an Aviation cocktail (Hugo Ensslin, Wallick House Hotel, 1916) which originally called for Creme d'yvette a violet liqueur.
THE RAF COCKTAIL
40ml Gin (i used Oxley Gin)
20ml Lavender syrup (2:1 simple syrup, lavender cold-infused to retain colour)
20ml Maraschino Liqueur
30ml Fresh Lime Juice
Shake and fine strain into a coupe
Garnish with fresh lavender sprig
Cheers!