Celebrating National Creativity Day: Culinary Adventures and Inventive Cocktails

National Creativity Day (Thursday 30th May) is a perfect occasion to unleash your imagination in the kitchen and behind the bar. 

Whether you’re an experienced chef or a home cook, the possibilities for culinary and cocktail creativity are endless. 

This year, let's celebrate by cooking special dishes and inventing unique, new cocktails and mocktails that will tantalise your taste buds and impress your guests.

Whipping Up Creative Dishes

1. Fusion Cuisine: A Taste of Two Worlds

Why not start with fusion cuisine? Combine elements from different culinary traditions to create something entirely new and exciting. For instance, try a Japanese-Italian fusion by making Sushi Pizza. Use a crispy rice base, top it with thinly sliced avocado, sashimi, and drizzle with wasabi mayonnaise. It’s an unexpected blend that’s sure to delight.

2. Edible Art: Themed Platters

Create an edible masterpiece by arranging a themed platter. A Mediterranean platter with a modern twist could include beetroot hummus, roasted pepper tapenade, tzatziki, and artisan bread crisps. Decorate with edible flowers and fresh herbs for a visually stunning presentation. Not only is it a feast for the eyes, but the variety of flavours will keep everyone coming back for more.

3. Dessert Reinvented: Deconstructed Classics

Take a classic dessert and deconstruct it. How about a Deconstructed Tiramisu? Layer mascarpone mousse, coffee-soaked ladyfingers, and chocolate shavings in individual glasses. Add a twist by incorporating flavoured liqueurs, such as hazelnut or amaretto, to elevate the traditional taste.

Crafting Unique Cocktails and Mocktails

1. Garden-Inspired Cocktails: Fresh and Fragrant

Use fresh herbs and botanicals to create garden-inspired cocktails. A Basil-Ginger Gin Fizz combines the peppery freshness of basil with the spicy warmth of ginger. Muddle fresh basil leaves with a touch of sugar, add gin and ginger beer, then top with soda water. Garnish with a basil sprig for a fragrant and refreshing drink.

2. Colourful Mocktails: Vibrant and Inviting

Mocktails can be just as exciting as their alcoholic counterparts. For a vibrant mocktail, try a Blueberry Mint Spritzer. Blend fresh blueberries with mint leaves and a bit of honey. Strain into a glass filled with ice and top with sparkling water. Garnish with whole blueberries and a mint sprig for a refreshing, alcohol-free beverage.

3. Unexpected Flavours: Experimental Mixology

Challenge your palate with cocktails that feature unexpected flavour combinations. A Chilli Mango Margarita marries the sweetness of ripe mango with the heat of fresh chilli. Blend mango puree with lime juice, tequila, and a dash of chilli powder. Serve in a salt-rimmed glass and garnish with a slice of chilli for an adventurous drink.

Tips for Creative Cooking and Mixing

Experiment with Ingredients: Don’t be afraid to use unusual ingredients or pairings. The best creations often come from the most unexpected combinations.

Presentation Matters: How you present your dish or drink can elevate the experience. Use garnishes, colourful ingredients, and elegant glassware to make your creations stand out.

Get Inspired: Look for inspiration in different cuisines, seasonal produce, and even art or nature. Let your surroundings spark your creativity.

Involve Your Guests: Turn the celebration into a collaborative experience. Have your friends or family suggest ingredients or help with the preparation.

National Creativity Day is a wonderful opportunity to push the boundaries of your culinary and mixology skills. By experimenting with new dishes and drinks, you can create memorable experiences and delight your senses. So, don your chef’s hat and bartender’s apron, and let your creativity flow in the kitchen and at the bar. Cheers to innovation and delicious discoveries!

Whether It’s Shaken or Stirred, Help to Save the Planet With Delicious and Sustainable Celebratory Concoctions

Whether you're in the mood for a boozy beverage or an alcohol-free fruit mocktail, celebrate the up-coming May Bank Holidays with Modern Milkman’s delicious, plastic-free and eco-friendly cocktails.

The sustainable grocery delivery service of fresh produce and household items, Modern Milkman has shared two planet-friendly twists to taste-bud tantalising cocktails ideal for anyone looking to make the most of the long weekends next month.

Both Modern Milkman’s ‘Refreshing Picnic’ or ‘Garden Party’ mocktails are sustainably friendly and are the ideal accompaniment to any celebration. For those wanting to make their’s ‘adult friendly’, the Refreshing Picnic recipe perfectly pairs with a crisp and refreshing British gin – taking celebrations that little bit further.

If you’re spending your Bank Holiday enjoying a traditional British street party in the sunshine or hosting a dinner party with friends – these cocktails are guaranteed to add a touch of glamour and what’s more - they're better for the planet as well!

#1 - Garden Party Mocktail

This recipe is sure to transport you to your favourite British period drama with its fragrant, tart and sweet flavours. The alcohol free Garden Party Mocktail is created by infusing a simple syrup with rosemary and mixing it with orange juice, cranberry juice and cream soda.

For those looking for that little extra kick, a splash of gin can be added to create an adults-only version.

Whether you're hosting a fancy gathering or enjoying a cozy night in this Bank Holiday, this unique and delicious drink is sure to impress your guests.

Recipe:

Ingredients:

128g sugar

250ml water

3 sprigs of rosemary

250ml orange juice

330ml cranberry juice drink

500ml cream soda

25ml gin (for the adults only)

(Why not try Modern Milkman’s freshly squeezed OJ, Cranberry Juice and Cream Soda)

Method:

1. First make your simple syrup. Pour your sugar and water into a saucepan over medium heat and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Add in your sprigs of rosemary and allow the syrup to steep for 1 to 2 hours. 

2. Once the simple syrup is steeped, put it in your refrigerator until it’s ready to use.

3. Take a pitcher and add the orange juice, cranberry juice and cream soda together.

4. Pour your orange, cranberry and cream soda concoction into cocktail glasses and stir in two tablespoons of the rosemary syrup per glass to give it a real British flavour sensation.

5. Enjoy!

#2 – Refreshing Picnic Mocktail

For those looking to avoid the booze, the Refreshing Picnic Mocktail is a cooling, sweet and floral beverage - perfect for all-day consumption.

Featuring plastic-free elderflower cordial available via the Modern Milkman, the delicious fruity mocktail can be shaken or stirred, but either way it will help to prevent plastic waste.

Recipe:

Ingredients:

75ml elderflower cordial

1L apple juice

Handful of mint leaves, roughly chopped

1 pint of sparkling water (Modern Milkman’s sparkling water comes in a return & reuse glass bottles, which they collect, clean and re-use, so you can refresh and re-invigorate - guilt-free.)

(Why not try Modern Milkman’s Apple Juice, Elderflower Cordial and the Sparkling Water)

Method:

1. In a pitcher, pour the elderflower cordial and apple juice together and mix well. 

2. Add in the mint leaves and give it another good mix.

3. Pour the drink into a glass, filling it up to halfway. Top up with sparkling water and enjoy!

For more yummy recipes and tips for living a greener, more sustainable lifestyle, you can visit the Modern Milkman blog and to join the milkround, visit www.themodernmilkman.co.uk.

Wise Bartender Shares List of Muslim-Friendly Mocktails and Alcohol-Free Drinks

With a stunning range of over 450 alcohol-free products in stock, Wise Bartender publishes categories that enable customers to reference specific dietary requirements including gluten-free, vegan, low sugar and has now added Muslim-friendly to its website.

Tom Ward, founder of Wise Bartender said: “We are always responsive to the needs of our customers and noticed that we were starting to get queries asking which of our alcohol-free drinks were Muslim-friendly. 

"Especially, we realised there's a demand for refreshing drinks that are lower in sugar than some of the options traditionally drunk after sunset during Ramadan. We have initially identified 20 suitable products, including a range of mocktails and have set up a separate category to readily identify those drinks that are Muslim-friendly.”

 For anyone who wants to explore alcohol-free drinks but wants to try a variety rather than buying one option in bulk, Wise Bartender differs from most other online retailers by selling individual bottles or cans rather than requiring a multiple unit or case purchase. 

It also offers a Price Promise which matches the price of in-stock products offered on identical terms by other online retailers, reinforcing its competitive pricing and giving customers confidence that if they shop with Wise Bartender they are getting the best deal possible, or they can claim the difference back.

“By classifying drinks as Muslim-friendly, I hope that Wise Bartender can provide a more efficient service for our Muslim customers” added Tom Ward “but if anyone has any questions, we can be contacted by phone (0333 050 1068), email or via our online chat function.”

https://wisebartender.co.uk.