French Style Cocktail Party for Less

A few weeks ago I saw the new movie out about Coco Channel, called Coco and Igor with my neighbor Suzie. I was taken by the glamour of her streamlined fashion and how she lived, the champagne-filled dinner parties, long nights at her country home, and the stirring concertos she attended where she met Igor Stravinsky. After the movie, Suzie and I went to Balthazar's for drinks and desserts to share in our own bit of glamour. I ordered a kir, a traditional French pre-dinner drink made with currant syrup and chilled white wine. As we sipped, and discussed all the details of the film, we talked about hosting a cocktail party "Coco style, but for less".

Kir Royale

Compared to a kir at $12 a pop at a restaurant or a $60 bottle of French champagne, fine as it might be, you can opt for a fine tasting bottle of cava or prosecco that will mentally transport you to a French café for half the price.

Prep time: 10 mins Total time: 10 mins

Serves 4

1 750ml bottle Cava or Prosecco, chilled ($11)
4 ounces crème de cassis, chilled ($10)

Pour one tablespoon each into 10 champagne or white wine glasses. Top with champagne and serve immediately

Nutritional stats per serving (1 7 ounce glass):
205 calories, 0 g protein, 15 g carbohydrates, 0 g fat (0 g saturated), 0 mg cholesterol, 0 g fiber, 0 mg sodium

Other drink ideas:

Citron Presse
Add the juice for 4 lemons to 2 quarts of water and sweetened to taste with honey

Pernod and Water
Mix 2 jiggers of pernod with 6 ounces of ice water and serve.