Sweet Endings: Plaza Ruby Red And Plaza Melbatini

If you're tired of drinks that are so strong they knock you out with just the smell than you have to stop by the Plaza Café (71 Hill Street, Southampton, NY, 631-283-9323, fax 631-283-9311, www.plazacafe.us) for an extremely tasty, super balanced cocktail. Stopping by one afternoon I had the pleasure of chatting with bartender George Gulija and sampled a few of their most delicious concoctions - the Plaza Ruby Red and Plaza Melbatini.

Both are a fresh burst of succulent summer flavors but not cloying or overly sweet like most fruit based cocktails tend to lean. These are smooth, refreshing, and perfect alone or after dinner as a dessert cocktail.

It was seasonal ingredients that inspired the Plaza Ruby Red (PRR) and a love of the perfect Peach Melba that conjured the Plaza Melbatini (PM). The PRR is a bright red color with a sweet and tart cherry flavor. The PM is truly a peach rush with a lovely raspberry finish. You've got to try these at home for yourself or better yet, stop by and see George - he'll whip them up for you.

Plaza Ruby Red
2 oz Absolut Citron
1 oz Lime Juice
1 oz Grand Mariner
½ oz Grenadine
• Shaken with ice and strained into a martini glass and garnished with fresh berries.

Plaza Melbatini
2 oz Stoli Peach
¼ oz Peach Nectar or Juice
4 oz Lime Juice
½ oz Peach Schnapps
Float of Chambord
• Shake with ice all but Chambord and strain into martini glass. Pour ½ oz or so of Chambord over a spoon to float. It will settle at the bottom. Garnish with fresh peach and raspberry.

Cheers to a sweet ending!