Lavender Soju Lemonade

Happy Thirsty Thursday, everyone! I'm delighted to share with you not only a new cocktail recipe, but my very first food & cooking video, made by yours truly! I literally did everything by myself! Just a quick mention: I know a lot of you have asked me in the past who does my photos, who edits them, etc.; when many have assumed they were strictly done by my husband (who, yes, is a pretty well-known and very talented photographer) but besides the editorial fashion shoots we try and do once a week, everything else is my own content! And when it comes to video editing, that's all done by me too. Interesting fact? I learned how to cut & edit music, plus video, from my childhood figure skating days! And with photos of myself, if it is not mentioned that it's a self-portrait photograph, the pictures of me are done by my love. :)

Now back to the lecture at hand... ha ha! I've been in a creative rut lately, feeling like my recent work has been flat. Something didn't fit quite right. Yes, I'm a perfectionist and am completely guilty of being hard on myself (too much at times). But as they say, 'when life gives you lemons, make lemonade!' I've never worked with lavender in terms of culinary use, and when the idea of a refreshing yet soothing cocktail came up on a 'last days of summer' drinks story, I knew these little enchanting flowers were the perfect choice! Plus, having the excuse to buy extra lavender is always a good one. My whole apartment smells inviting yet calming. 

My favorite part was removing the flowers from its stems. The aroma is intoxicating, I couldn't get enough of it! You can steep it for less or more than the 10 minutes I did. For a lighter scent, I'd recommend 5 minutes. If you really want to kick it up a notch, I'd go for a little bit longer than the 10. Observe the coloring, as the more it steeps, the darker the color. I also really enjoyed watching the colors combine with each other. The dark purple with the bright, vibrant yellow from the lemon juice. You can also use a juicer if you're not a fan of squeezing 'em by hand. 

Lavender Soju Lemonade

Cocktail recipe + photos by © Suzanne Spiegoski

Serves 8

Ingredients:

1c. lavender flowers
2c. boiling water
2c. cold water
1c. lemon juice
1c. sugar
5fl. oz. soju
1 tray ice cubes

Directions:

Place freshly cut lavender flowers in a pitcher; pour the boiling water over lavender; cover with plastic wrap and allow to steep 10 minutes; strain and discard the lavender from the water and return the water to the pitcher. Add cold water, lemon juice, and sugar to the pitcher and stir until the sugar dissolves. Add in soju, mix well. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Garnish with a stem of lavender. Enjoy!

I also used pure organic cane sugar to be on the healthy side. (Even though I'm a sugar addict) And then the most important ingredient! I always use Charm Soju when it comes to this Korean liquor. It's my favorite and the quality is high. The secret is to add it last. You'll want the sugar to completely dissolve before mixing in the soju. I kept it light and simple when it came to serving the drinks. Over several ice cubes and a stem of lavender, I kept the garnishing straight-forward. But the idea of also turning these cocktails into a slushies did come to mind. Or perhaps Korean shaved-iced? Now that would be a fun cocktail to do! (Hint, hint!) 

Thanks so much for stopping by and checking out the latest cocktail recipe I created! Be sure to check out the how-to video I also made down below! (Full steps included.) We hope you enjoyed the lavender Korean-fusion inspired lemonade we shared with you today and that you are soaking up as much fun in the sun before summer ends. Coming up on the blog, a brand spanking new travel diary (so excited to go!) and lots of NYFW coverage. It's gonna be a crazy, hectic next couple of weeks so brace yourselves! ;) Stay tuned... 

---

Videography + photography, styling + editing by: Suzanne Spiegoski 

Hey everyone! I got into a bit of a creative funk the past few days, so instead of whining about it I did this! It's my first food & cooking video! Better yet, it's how to make lavender soju lemonade! Cheers!

LOVE & XX'S,

FOLLOW MAQ + SUZ

OTHER SIMILAR POSTS

Green with Envy

Happy Monday! I'm starting the week off with a bang and getting rid of those Monday Blues, pronto! Did you see last night's episode of Game of Thrones? If not, it's cool. I'm not going to give away any spoilers but I am going to talk about one of my favorite characters on the show, however, and how she came to be the inspiration behind this drink!

When I think of dragons, and more so, the Mother of Dragons, the first color that comes to mind is green. You'd think I'd go with a red, an orange; anything fiery. Passionate. But there's something cold and earthy about Khaleesi. She is a force to be reckoned with. AND she makes mistakes, regardless of what and who she's made up of. That's real, and the color green, to me, has a tranquil feeling but at the same time, there's something powerful within the palette of green. And that she is. Tell me a woman who watches GoT that you know of who isn't a little envious of her life. She's got pet dragons, for Pete's sake!

Cocktail recipe + photos by © Suzanne Spiegoski

Green with Envy

Ingredients:

2 oz cucumber, roughly chopped
A sprig of basil
1.5 oz Korean Soju
.5 oz lemon juice
.5 oz Limoncello
Sprite or club soda
Extra cucumber for garnish

Directions:

In a juicer, press cucumber and basil.
Shake ingredients together (EXCEPT carbonated drinks) with ice and strain into a chilled martini glass.
Garnish with cucumber rose and top with limoncello and Sprite/club soda.

Mostly consisted of cucumber, then basil, lemon, Korean soju and a mixture of carbonated drinks, the Green with Envy cocktail is subtly sweet and refreshingly cool. Perfect for warmer weather. Have you heard of Secret Squirrel Food? She is an amazing food blogger based in Dubai who's been trendsetting the 'avocado rose' while also playing up on different fruits and vegetables incorporating the same style of plating like with the avocado. When I made my first avocado rose, it was so beautiful, that I didn't want to eat it! So as a final touch to my cucumber garnish, I recreated a miniature version of a cucumber rose Secret Squirrel Food did on her blog. At first, I thought it'd look super cute, like a water lily pad, within the drink, but then I figured it would be too big and in the way.

Which is why it's teeny-tiny and in my opinion, a nice modest touch to the cocktail. Especially when in a martini glass, the garnish should remain sleek and sophisticated just like the glass. What's your favorite drink in a martini glass? A classic martini? Gin or vodka? Maybe a Vesper like James Bond? I'd love to hear your favorites! Leave your comments down below. Thanks for reading! As always, you can download the recipe from the click-on button. And you can also find me on Yummly and foodgawker.

LOVE & XX'S

FOLLOW MAQ + SUZ

Soju Purple Rain

I know my post from Saturday was a Prince tribute through an outfit, and I really couldn't help but pay tribute again through a fancy schmancy cocktail! Hump Day calls for vibrantly, fresh drinks. And after last night's event at 80 Washington Place, a $31.5M townhouse I had the wonderful pleasure of attending Out of Office NY and Drink Lynk's influencer cocktail party! It was packed and it was poppin' (bottles).

And so, with inspiration from last evening's soiree, I leave you with Soju Purple Rain. The majority of this cocktail recipe is fresh fruit. Healthy, yummy and appealing, I used blackberries, blueberries, and pineapple. 2/3rd's of berries and the rest pineapple. But instead of the classic Purple Rain cocktail, I opted for Korean soju, as this is mostly the only liquor, besides scotch, that I have been experimenting with lately. 

I had to use vintage Playboy stirrers for the occasion. I think of Prince, the ultimate sex symbol, and what came to mind next? Bunnies, lots of Playboy bunnies. Ha ha ha! And how cute is it with some garnished fruit? Very sexy, fun, and cool. Just the way Prince would've liked it. 

Cocktail recipe + photos by © Suzanne Spiegoski

Soju Purple Rain

Serves 2

Ingredients:

4 oz Korean Soju
3 oz blueberry juice
3 oz blackberry juice
2 oz pineapple juice
1 squeeze of fresh lemon
2 Stirrers
Blackberry, pineapple and fresh mint to garnish.

Directions:
Shake all together with ice and strain into a chilled glass with ice.
Place a piece of pineapple and blackberry onto stirrers. Fresh mint to garnish.
Enjoy immediately!

I also added a squeeze of lemon to bring all the fruits together and to keep the color brightly alive. Can't forget the mint for extra garnish! I think it brings all the colors together nicely and makes for the perfect spring drink! I always like coming up with a healthier kind of cocktail, that way it's not as bad when I decide to have one (should that ever be more than a little prosecco or Korean vodka, because that's basically all I drink, and it's maybe only once a month.) 😉

LOVE & XX'S

FOLLOW MAQ + SUZ

The Chella

Happy Sunday Funday! With Coachella rockin' hard into the weekend, I've been inspired by non-stop photos/videos of spinning grooves and wild, carefree bohemian free spirits! And since I couldn't be there this year, [insert sad face (NEXT YEAR!)], I am in spirit!

So, while my fellow hipsters are enjoying the endless amounts of parties and dancing in the desert, I opened all my windows in my New York City apartment while doing some spring cleaning today. Of course, some beats were playing amidst the background while sprucing up the joint!

Let me tell you about The Chella: She's sweet, playful, fun and even a bit flirty. It contains three simple ingredients: Cantaloupe juice, CALPICO® original soft drink, and Korean soju. The CALPICO® soft drink was a childhood favorite and oh, so, Asian. It's fresh and white, with a distinctive flavor. It kind of tastes like coconut, but less nutty. Think vanilla yogurt. It's absolutely delicious and goes perfectly well with the melon.

Photos & recipe by © Suzanne Spiegoski

The Chella Cocktail

Serves 2 - 3
Ingredients:

1/2 cantaloupe, juiced
1/2 cup CALPICO® Original Soft Drink
4 oz Korean Soju
Fresh mint

Directions:
Shake all together with ice and strain into a chilled Martini glass.
Grind the black pepper on top and place a couple pieces of fresh mint to garnish.
Enjoy immediately!

My favorite part about this cocktail? The freshly grounded pepper as a garnish. Last week I also posted a cocktail recipe that included black pepper as a garnish as well. I find it to bring all the flavor together, all the while giving a refreshing, delightful aftertaste. It's one of those drinks where you'll enjoy every last sip, down to the very last drop.

What are some of your favorite artists playing at Chella this year? I would've killed to see Disclosure, Matoma, CHVRCHES, Grimes, and Gun N' Roses (though I read and heard their performance was a doozy.) Can't wait to see what the lineup will be already for next year! Ha ha! But seriously kiddies, if you're hanging out on the West Coast this week, have a Pink's hot dog (or two) for me, some In-N-Outties, and of course, some major fun times. Be safe and stay cool!✌️

LOVE & XX'S

FOLLOW MAQ + SUZ

Spicy Kimchi Bloody Mary

Spicy Kimchi Bloody Mary

Serves 8

Ingredients:

2 cups kimchi
46 oz tomato juice
1/4 cup Sriracha chile sauce
2 tablespoons Worchestershire sauce
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
Salt
Freshly ground pepper
2 cups Soju (Korean vodka)
Ice
Celery stalk, olives, radishes, pearl onions and cornichons for garnish

Directions:
Combine tomato juice, Sriracha sauce, Worchestershire sauce and vinegar. Puree kimchi with mixed juice, working in batches. With a fine-mesh strainer over a bowl, strain the kimchi puree, pressing firmly on the solids to get as much juice as you possibly can. You can save the solids for another use. Chill combined juice thoroughly, then season with salt and pepper. Stir in vodka. Serve over ice garnished with celery stalk, olives, radishes, pearl onions, and cornichons. Enjoy with a staple New York City brunch!

Sunday Funday equals brunch and cocktails. And this spicy kimchi Bloody Mary's will knock your socks off! It's got a kick to it and will definitely have any pre-brunching game going strong. The heat from the kimchi gives the traditional Bloody Mary new, pungent flavors. Combining other varied spices from the sauces,  such as Worcestershire and Sriracha, and counter-balancing it with a splash of vinegar, creates the perfect leisurely yet unique cocktail. Korean soju also has a distinct taste, putting a twist on the usual vodkas used in Bloody Mary's.

What's your go-to brunch cocktail? Are you a Bloody Mary enthusiast? More of a mimosa kind of gal? Or bellini's? Screwdriver's? Why not try this recipe today? It's super easy and a great changeup to your usual brunch hangout. Sometimes it's nice to just chill at home or have a small get-together rather than hustling through the crowds to grab a table at a restaurant. Especially when it's April and it feels like 30° outside! But whatever you plan on doing, I hope your Sunday is nothing but enjoyable. Until next time! Love. Always, love. ❤️

LOVE & XX'S,

FOLLOW MAQ + SUZ