{"id":6602,"date":"2014-06-13T14:02:14","date_gmt":"2014-06-13T21:02:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lesliedinaberg.com\/wordpress\/?p=6602"},"modified":"2014-06-13T14:02:14","modified_gmt":"2014-06-13T21:02:14","slug":"cocktail-corner-miros-and-nanettes-ticket-to-paradise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lesliedinaberg.com\/wordpress\/?p=6602","title":{"rendered":"Cocktail Corner: Mir\u00f3’s\u2014and Nanette’s\u2014Ticket to Paradise"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Mir\u00f3

Mir\u00f3 restaurant bartender Nanette Rapuzzi muddles cucumbers for her new cocktail, “Ticket to Paradise.” Photo by Leslie Dinaberg.<\/p><\/div>\n

A spirited toast to all things alcoholic! By Leslie Dinaberg<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Five years ago, Mir\u00f3 r<\/a>estaurant\u00a0bartender Nanette Rapuzzi<\/a> came with big dreams from her native Peru\u2014where she trained at the front desk of another five-star resort\u2014to work at the Bacara Resort<\/a> in Santa Barbara.<\/p>\n

“I love working with people. I always have. People on vacation, or enjoying themselves at a beautiful resort, are always so happy,” says the bubbly blonde, who started out at the Bacara’s front desk but soon asked for opportunity to train as a bartender. Her goal, generously supported by hotel management, is to work in many different aspects of the hotel business and ultimately to own and run her own resort in Peru.<\/p>\n

“But I want something a bit smaller than the scale of the Bacara,” she laughs.<\/p>\n

Currently enrolled in the Santa Barbara City College School of Culinary Arts and Hotel Management Program<\/a>, a unique local program which develops skills and competencies for positions in the hospitality industry\u00a0and is recognized nationally as a leading center for hospitality training, Rapuzzi is on her way to making her long-term dream come true.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, she has a smaller, but still impressive ambition: to win Restaurant Hospitality’s Best Cocktail in America Contest<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Mir\u00f3

Mir\u00f3 restaurant bartender Nanette Rapuzzi and two versions of her new cocktail, “Ticket to Paradise.”<\/p><\/div>\n

“You know how Cosmopolitans<\/strong><\/a> are so popular … I’d like for my drink to be the next Cosmopolitan,” says\u00a0Rapuzzi. “But I think people are ready for something a little less sweet and more refreshing, that was my inspiration for this drink.”<\/p>\n

The “Ticket to Paradise<\/strong>,” whose name was inspired by the glorious panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean, which is always visible\u00a0from her perch at\u00a0Mir\u00f3 Bar, is the one that Rapuzzi hopes will be her ticket to national cocktail fame and glory.\u00a0The cocktail is made with muddled cucumbers, Hendricks Gin,<\/a> St. Germain<\/a> and a splash of fresh lime juice, and served either straight up in a Martini glass or on the rocks.<\/p>\n

\"The

The cheese plate at Miro is almost as beautiful as the ocean view. Photo by Leslie Dinaberg.<\/p><\/div>\n

We tried it both ways. I\u00a0preferred the rocks and my husband liked it straight up. Either way, the drink is absolutely delicious and refreshing! Gin isn’t usually my spirit of choice, but the cucumber, citrus and St. Germain balance it out perfectly.\u00a0Try\u00a0the Ticket to Paradise\u00a0with the museum-worthy fruit and cheese plate, featuring edible flowers and a pretty Pistachio emulsion\u2014it was almost too lovely to eat (but somehow we managed).<\/p>\n

Meanwhile our fingers\u2014and swizzle sticks\u2014are crossed that Rapuzzi’s drink brings home big honors. We’ll keep you posted.<\/p>\n

Cheers!<\/p>\n

Click here<\/a> for more cocktail corner columns.<\/p>\n

\"Leslie<\/a>

Leslie Dinaberg<\/p><\/div>\n

When she\u2019s not busy working as the editor of Santa Barbara SEASONS<\/a>, Cocktail Corner author Leslie Dinaberg writes magazine articles, newspaper columns and grocery lists. When it comes to cocktails, Leslie considers herself a \u201cgoal-oriented drinker.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

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