Drinks can take us travelling vicariously in the same way food can – a Bellini in Venice, iced Vietnamese coffee in Hanoi, mango lassi in Delhi or hot chocolate in Zurich. Here are some of my favourite drink recipes: cocktails, coffees and more.
Sharbat Sekanjabin Sharbat is Persian cordial, a syrup flavoured with fruits and/or flowers, usually with a sour touch, that’s then diluted with water and served over ice. The word is related to sherbet, sorbet, shrub (in the drinks sense) and syrup, via the Arabic šariba meaning ‘to drink’. Sharbat sekanjabin, made from honey, white wine […]
Pomegranate Juice I’ve enjoyed ob’eh anar, freshly squeezed pomegranate juice, from street stalls all over Tehran; some are even open through the night, especially in summer, to refresh late night workers and people on their way home from an evening out. Pomegranates are native to Iran and steeped in symbolism, representing fertility, life and rebirth […]
Paloudeh Talebi (Rockmelon Slushie) Paloudeh talebi are rockmelon slushies sold by street vendors and made in homes throughout summer in Iran; paloudeh is a variation of the word faloodeh, Persia’s famous rose water, lime and noodle granita. These Persian rockmelon slushies can be simply fresh rockmelon chunks blitzed up with ice and a little sugar […]
Doogh (Persian Yoghurt Drink) Yoghurt is popular throughout the Middle Eastern region, dolloped onto rice, stirred through vegetables for a tangy dip, and often blended into refreshing drinks. In Iran, it’s used to make doogh (also written dugh), a slightly salty, minty, fizzy drink that’s most typically enjoyed with kabob koobideh (minced lamb kebabs). It […]
Some of the oldest American cocktails come out of the South, which makes them some of the oldest cocktails in the world given this style of beverage was at least popularised in the USA. Here are my favourite classic Southern cocktails, using some of my favourite Australian spirits (and a Kentucky bourbon). Each recipe serves […]
For a short time during my travels around Turkey I helped out in a friend’s cay evi (tea house) and became quite a dab hand at making Turkish coffee, called kahvesi. The trick to getting that prized thick foam on top is removing the pot – called a cezve (pronounced jez-VEY) – from the heat […]
Barbajada This traditional Milanese drink is the best mocha you’ll ever taste. It was created in the mid-1800s by Domenico Barbaja, a waiter at Café Cambiasi next to Milan’s famous La Scala Theatre. Traditionally it’s made with equal quantities drinking chocolate, coffee and cream (or milk). My recipe is inspired by Alessandro Pavoni’s decadent version […]
Mango Lassi Sometimes made with buttermilk instead of, or as well as, yoghurt, lassi is a refreshing drink that can be served for breakfast or as a snack at any time. It can be flavoured with pureed fruit such as mango or made in more of a savoury style seasoned with spices like saffron or […]
Vietnamese Iced Coffee When I first visited Vietnam in the mid-90s it was impossible to get any coffee except the traditional dark roast dripped into a cup of sweetened condensed milk from a small aluminium filter called a phin. As I’ve never taken sugar in my coffee it took some getting used to … but […]
Top 5 Dessert Cocktails While cocktails are typically served before dinner, I find some are better suited to the end of the evening. Here’s my version of five classic cocktails that are perfect after, or instead of, dessert. Make your own simple sugar syrup by combining equal quantities of water and sugar or have fun […]
