five stops for a single drink

About two hours into the drive back to NYC, M and I come up with an idea foreign to both of us: let's make cosmopolitans.

Great. But we have to buy every single ingredient, including the glasses.

At exactly the same time that we decide to make cocktails, we notice a Costco on I-95. Soon we are exiting in East Lyme Connecticut.

There's a separate liquor store at this particular Costco and I buy the Kirkland Brand of vodka—which the salesperson assures me is the exact same product as Titos. Since I won't know the difference if she happens to be misinformed, I buy it.

Our second stop is a liquor store in Greenwich. But they don't sell Triple Sec.

We finally reach the city and stop at a small wine and spirits store on York. They do carry Triple Sec.

M next parks in front of a Rainbow Ace Hardware store on First Avenue. I run in and buy an OXO shaker and two martini glasses for $3.99 each.

We get to my apartment six hours after leaving Massachusetts.  

I unpack a few things, and we order dinner from Sandros: Tropea salad with onions, cucumber and tomatoes, Cacio e Pepe (spaghetti, pecorino cheese and black pepper) and grilled butterfly prawns. 

While we are waiting for dinner to be delivered, I go to D'Agostino's (the worst grocery store around, but nearby) and get limes, lime juice, cranberry juice, and a bag of ice.

Finally, we have all the ingredients.

I get home and we put the glasses and vodka in the freezer.

Dinner is exceptional.

Afterward we print out the Barefoot Contessa's simple recipe for cosmopolitans. We halve the recipe which still yields two-glasses each.

They are perfect. As good as my sister Jean makes, and hers are incredible.

Cheers, to my very good friend M, with whom life is always interesting, as well as fun.