Fruit Maven » champagne http://fruitmaven.com Your guide through the wild world of fruit. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:28:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 en hourly 1 Minty Blowfish – Kiwano Cocktail http://fruitmaven.com/2010/02/minty-blowfish-kiwano-cocktail/ http://fruitmaven.com/2010/02/minty-blowfish-kiwano-cocktail/#comments Fri, 19 Feb 2010 22:00:06 +0000 Fruit Maven http://fruitmaven.com/?p=1962 If you are a regular reader of Fruit Maven (and you memorize all my ratings and reviews so you can recite them to your friends at parties), you may recall that I am not the biggest fan of the Kiwano Melon. It’s a total rockstar fruit to look at but completely dull and annoying to actually eat. So I was determined to figure out how to make this little blowfish fruit a party pleaser. And wa-la! It hit me — cocktail of course! So I started with one of my favorite recipes - the French 75 and doctored it up with kiwano melon and mint. This cocktail has a very grown up flavor, which is the perfect counterpoint to the ridiculousness of the “cup” I put it in.  You host a party with this cocktail and it just screams CONFIDENCE. You’ll be getting promoted and hi-fiving people in your new corner office in no time.

kiwano-cocktail
MINTY BLOWFISH
  • 1/2  kiwano melon
  • 3 mint leaves
  • 2 ounces gin (Hendricks is excellent for this)
  • 1/2 ounce fresh squeezed lemon juice (or about half a lemon)
  • Ice cubes
  • Champagne
  1. Slice Kiwano Melon in half. Take a knife and cut around the edges of the melon between the peel and the flesh. Use a spoon to scoop out the flesh and place in cocktail shaker. Set aside the melon half.
  2. Add the mint leaves and muddle vigorously (muddle way more than you think – those little gelatin pods are not that interested in giving up their juice. MUDDLE!).
  3. Add gin and lemon juice.
  4. Shake with ice and strain in to melon half, or use a martini glass if you are too prissy to hold a prickly cup.
  5. Top with champagne.
  6. Garnish with lemon or kiwano slice.
WHERE TO GET THEM

When in season, you can buy Kiwano Melons at most asian stores, some standard grocery stores and online here. If you get them online, a small amount will go to support the Fruit Maven. So thanks in advance!

]]> http://fruitmaven.com/2010/02/minty-blowfish-kiwano-cocktail/feed/ 4 Zante Currant (aka Champagne Grape) http://fruitmaven.com/2009/09/zante-currant-aka-champagne-grape/ http://fruitmaven.com/2009/09/zante-currant-aka-champagne-grape/#comments Fri, 11 Sep 2009 03:10:06 +0000 Fruit Maven http://fruitmaven.com/?p=297 If you are petite, perky and jump out of life size cardboard cakes on new year’s eve, then this is the fruit for you!
APPEARANCE 4.5 out of 5 stars

Tiny, cutesy little baby red grapes, all bunched up, perfect for display

AROMA 2 out of 5 stars

None

TEXTURE 4.5 out of 5 stars

Mostly peel and juice, extremely and wonderfully juicy

TASTE 4.5 out of 5 stars

Pretty sweet, floral, slightly tart

OVERALL 3.88 out of 5 stars

These are kind of a pain to get off the vine, but once you do they are a ball of fun to eat. Just pop a handful in your mouth and enjoy the sweet, perfumy, juice explosion. These are party grapes for sure.

FRUIT

Grape

VARIETY

Zante Currant

PEAK

July-Aug

ORIGIN

Greece

GROWN

Unknown

PURCHASED

Grocery Store

NOTES

Also known as the Black Corinth Grape. Zante Currants are not related to red currants or black currants. They are a good table grape, but are commonly used to make raisins and wine.
History of the Zante Currant as one of the oldest raisins known.

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