Not too many people forage anymore. And it is hard to imagine someone on Staten Island being a local forager, but sure enough, Amy Zavatto is just that. Deliciously that.
She has explored all around New York City, finding exciting, if not exotic, components in the Lower East Side and of course the parks. Yes, you can drink Central Park. In her new home on Staten Island, Amy’s backyard proved to be fertile. And, of course, if you just travel a few miles outside the city — up the Hudson Valley, out on Long Island, or, yes, into deep New Jersey — there are dozens if not hundreds of delights awaiting you.
The recipes here are of two kinds: new concoctions out of Amy’s prolific mind and then amendments to classics applying the tones of the garden and forest. Here’s some sample ideas from the book:
Mary Like Carrots where the classic Bloody Mary is boosted with Pickled Carrot
Caped Crusader, bourbon accelerated with Cranberry-Rosemary-Orange Syrup
Valentine, vodka flavored with Rose Petal Syrup
The Concord, rye and vermouth plied Concord Grape Syrup
Elderflower Cooler, vodka and grapefruit juice frosted with elderflower syrup
Welcome Wagon, vodka accented with mint leaves and chamomile syrup
Pickled Wild Onion Gimlet, gin and vermouth given a happy garnish
Some of the beverages here will be familiar to you, like that gimlet, but most are new adventures. And, like any good adventure, some advance preparation is necessary before your journey begins. It may be simple, just pickling some carrots or that onion. Or you may be spending some time making a syrup, like the Cranberry-Rosemary-Orange one. You may be flavoring a liqueur, say strawberry tequila, which means today’s work has to sit on the shelf for a few days before imbibing is possible.
The wait will be worth it. Your patience will be rewarded. And I suspect you will find yourself tempted to just make everything in this short [130 page] book. Then, too, there is nothing sacred about these recipes. They are templates for your imagination. Time to find some good shoes, a basket and scissors, and an acre somewhere to forage and plot your next cocktail bonanza.