Adult Beverages in Paradise!

We stopped at a little Mexican restaurant called Frida’s Beach House while visiting Hawaii. I have a serious obsession with Frida Kahlo, a famous Mexican artist that inspired women and artist to think out of the box. The restaurant is located right on the beautiful, blue glistening water of Maui in the town of La’haina. It has a breathtaking view and quite frankly the best place to drink an adult beverage. 

We ordered the Paloma and a Hibiscus Margarita.  Hibiscus is a dried flower known as Jamaica in Mexico and ironically is supposed to assist in keeping your kidneys healthy. I love this recipe because it’s the adult version of the sweet drink that my mama used to make when I was growing up.

The Paloma is a Mexican staple cocktail made with squirt or grapefruit soda and extremely popular in Mexico. Margaritas may be the queen of Mexico, but the Paloma is the King. I have it found it everywhere in my travels to Mexico so it was a pleasant surprise to see it on their menu. There are many versions but this is a simple recipe that you can try at home. Provecho! 

PALOMA MARGARITA

• 1 oz. Reposado Tequila
• 1 part Cointreau
•  lime juice from a whole lime
• 1 part Agave syrup
• 1 bottle of Squirt Soda or Grapefruit soda
• Coarse salt for garnish
• Pour the tequila, Cointreau, lime juice and agave in a shaker. Add a scoop of ice.  Shake vigorously. Strain  to a tall glass with a salted rim, add fresh ice and top with Squirt soda. 

HIBISCUS MARGARITA

• 2 oz. tequila
• .5 oz. Grand Marinier
• 1 oz. fresh squeezed lime juice.
• .5 hibiscus syrup (see recipe below)
• In a cocktail shaker add tequila, Grand Marinier, lime juice and hibiscus syrup. Shake until well chilled. Fill the shaker with ice and shake vigorously for 7-9 seconds until the shaker is well chilled. Strain into a glass filled with fresh ice. Salted or Sugar rim is an option.

HIBISCUS SYRUP

• 1 cup water
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup hibiscus flowers
• Boil the water, sugar and hibiscus and reduce to half. Cool and store. The syrup will hold for a week in the refrigerator.

Chef Rosie opened Provecho Grill in Menifee 2012 and soon to open Xicana Cali Mex & Libations in Temecula. Her menus focus on Regional Mexican dishes with her own unique twists. The result is a dining experience that succeeds not only in providing her guests with an array of craft cocktails but fresh regional Mexican food that highlights the bold flavors and cultures of Mexico.

Chef Rosie has received many awards since Provecho Grill’s debut. These awards include the People’s Choice and the Pinnacle Award at the So-Cal Chef’s Open Competition. You might also find her in a commercial for the So Cal Gas Company, competing on the Cooking Channel’s new series Farmer’s Market Flip.