Bodacious Bloody Mary Bar & The Best Mimosas
Image from Foodie Crush
Image from Foodie Crush
Spring holidays are coming and what’s more festive than a cocktail bar at brunch? Easter, Cinco de Mayo, Mother’s Day, baby and bridal showers and Memorial Weekend are right around the corner. I have some ideas for savory or sweet - take your pick!
First - the most bodacious Bloody Mary bar…nothing says “brunch” like a loaded Bloody Mary!
I’ve had these images in my recipe book for several years now, and thought I would share them with all the info.
build your own bloody mary bar
Image from Foodie Crush
How bout that!? Yummy and gorgeous, no? Who needs appys with this before your meal? Everybody has their own favorite garnishes and recipes. This one has all of them!
You have to start with a great Bloody Mary mix! This one has two options - Clamato, which is thinner and a spicier mix. You can make your own special homemade mix or use one of several good ones. McClures is a good overall one (I love their pickles.) We love Zing Zang and Texas Beach. If you want to make your own but don’t have a special recipe, here’s a good mix:
Start with tomato juice, Clamato or V-8.
Add to taste…horseradish, Worcestershire, celery salt, garlic salt, Tabasco, salt and pepper, and vodka - we usually use Titos.
If you want to do a DIY Bar, you can start off with any combination of the mixes you want, as well as letting your guests make their own! The fun stuff is the garnishes - they make the drinks amazing and the bar look like a great time! Keep it away from the food table to avoid a crowded cluster.
Here’s what you’ll want:
The Basics…
Vodka
At least two Bloody Mary Mixes
Horseradish
Worcestershire
Salt and pepper
The veggie GArnishes…
Lemons and limes
Celery Stalks
Kosher or Dill pickle spears
Pickled Beans
Asparagus spears
Pickled Okra
Stuffed green olives
Pickled Beets, Carrots or Cauliflower
Pepperocinis or Peppadews
Pickled jalapeños
Marinated onions
Marinated artichokes
Baby corn
The Protein GArnishes…
Bacon
Cooked shrimp
Beef jerky
Cheese cubes
Additional Seasonings for drinks or rims, mixed with regular salt…
Old Bay
Garlic Salt
Celery Salt
Smoked Paprika
Lemon Pepper
Other seasonings…
Tabasco
Louisiana Hot Sauce
Sriracha
Worcestershire Sauce
Steak Sauce
Pickle Juice
Have at it!
And now a festive Mimosa Bar - nothing says “celebration” like a bubbly drink! It’s a little more refined than a Bloody Mary bar, and maybe these sweeter, bubblier drinks go better with your menu!
build your own mimosa bar
Image from Foodie Crush
Beautiful! Make sure you have plenty of sparkling wine and bubbly, fresh juices and fruit garnishes to get things going. Again, keep it separate from the food to avoid a traffic jam. Make sure you keep the bubbly very cold, as you don’t want to put ice in your mimosas. Best to put it in a large bucket or wine chiller filled with ice. You also want a pitcher for the different juices you plan to serve. Glass is nice, so your guests can see what they’re getting. Keep all your flutes on a tray together nearby the ingredients. And label your juices!
Here’s what you’ll need:
The Bubbly…
Use an Italian prosecco, a Spanish cava or a dry sparkling wine from California or Oregon. Don’t waste the very best champagne on a juice infused concoction! Plan on 6 drinks for every 750 ml bottle.
The Juices…
orange juice (2 x any other juices)
peach nectar
mango juice
cranberry juice
pomegranite juice
blueberry juice
pineapple juice
strawberry or raspberry puree
The fruity Drop ins
pomegranite seeds
raspberries
blueberries
blackberries
strawberries
orange slices
kiwi slices
pineapple slices
mint or basil sprigs
