pass the Pimms

Hello again.

I am back. Not quite back in the kitchen yet, but I'm unpacked (sort of) and ready to spend some quality time with my cookbooks again. Hi there, chopping board, I really missed you.

Going on vacation is such a treat, but after ten blissful days I have a bit of restaurant fatigue. I just can't look at another menu, you know? Even a homemade dinner scraped together from random stuff from the corner bodega is a welcome comfort after being away from home for any length of time. However, it does not make for very interesting posts. So I will share with you a drink I made recently–it's perfect for the tail-end of summer.

I had my first Pimms Cup a few years ago at my good friend Casey's house. Casey's one of the most sophisticated people I know, a lover of good restaurants and owner of many sexy shoes. She's also a very, very good cook who can put together terrific dinners and make it seem totally effortless. I believe she was throwing a Superbowl party (with, like, homemade deep-fried mozzarella sticks or something equally awesome) when she pressed one of these drinks into my hand. I think I bought a bottle of Pimms No. 1 the very next day.

Pimms is a gin-based spirit with flavors of tea, spice, citrus, and hints of Dr. Pepper. Well, at least to my palate. It comes in a very dapper-looking bottle and can be mixed in all sorts of drinks, most notably, the Pimms Cup. A great drink for warm weather (it's apparently the house cocktail at Wimbeldon), Pimms Cups are like a slightly spiked soda–nice to cool down with, but not going to get you tipsy. The cucumber garnish is two-fold: it smells nice as you're taking a sip, and is a tasty snack when your drink's gone. Fun fact: at one time, Pimms No. 2 through 6 existed. Each version contained a different spirit ranging from whisky to vodka. All of which are now either phased out or produced in very limited quantities. Interesting, no?

Pimms Cup
(Serves 1)

1 part Pimms No. 1 Cup
3 parts lemon lime soda (or lemonade--I prefer soda for the fizz)
1 peeled cucumber spear
Ice cubes
optional: mint springs, orange, lemon, and/or strawberry slices

Combine Pimms and soda or lemonade in a tall glass and stir. Add ice, cucumber, and garnishes (lemon and mint for me, please).