Birds, Books and Bourbon

There were a couple events of note taking place this past weekend. Veterans Day in America, or as I remember it when I was younger, Remembrance Day in Canada: “At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month,” we have a moment of silence to remember the end of the First World War and all those who have served and sacrificed for their countries throughout multiple world conflicts. As my husband recently reminded me, a lot of Americans don’t realize Canada’s role in a lot of the same battles that are taught in the US or that are dramatized on the big screen. When we were in France during my high school years, I remember visiting the beaches of Normandy and the memorials there. There is a Second World War Museum and Cultural Centre on Juno Beach, Normandy, which pays homage to the 45,000 Canadians who lost their lives during the War, 5,500 killed during the Battle of Normandy and 381 on D-Day. They are currently making special plans for the 80th Anniversary of D-Day next year. You can book a live virtual tour by visiting https://www.junobeach.org.

In the United States, this weekend also marked the departure of what many considered some of our national treasures, although ironically, they never belonged to us. The Giant Pandas at the National Zoo returned to China amidst political conflict exasperated by recent world events. While in the past we have expected replacements when the loaned animals were sent back to their homeland, there is no “Panda Diplomacy” agreement in place this time in the current tense political climate. With the departures of Mei Xiang and Tian Tian and their 3-year-old cub, Xiao Qi Ji, the only remaining Giant Pandas in the US remain in Atlanta. Unfortunately, they are also slated to return to China next year. We were fortunate to have had the opportunity to appreciate these majestic animals before their for now, indeterminate future in our country.

To celebrate the Giant Panda, I created a black-and-white cocktail with a panda garnish. I tweaked a base recipe from Giada de Laurentiis for an Italian black-and-white cocktail. You can use regular ice or frozen coffee ice cubes if you can tolerate caffeine in the afternoon/ evening (I cannot)- it is definitely a sweet dessert type drink to enjoy after dinner. This is one of the simpler layered drinks I have made so far and while I am tempted to change the ratios to make it a little less sweet, this would risk altering the density and losing the pretty black and white layering which is imperative for the Panda theme. I added edible black glitter to darken the bottom layer which does leave an unattractive residue on the glass when you are finished indulging. You can leave it out for a lighter bottom layer. I also changed the glass to a flute to better separate the layers. Note while this panda garnish would work in a keto diet, the cocktail most definitely does not.

Gather your ingredients: Vodka (Grey Goose), coffee liqueur (Kahlua), amaretto (Disaronno), half-and-half, edible black glitter (optional), regular or espresso ice cubes (optional). For garnish: vanilla cookie, chocolate cereal, mini chocolate chips. Flute, scale or jigger, and bar spoon for stirring and slowly pouring over the second layer.

To enjoy, gently swirl the drink to preserve the layers but get a mixing of flavors, or you can stir completely to blend.

Accompanying the Panda memorial cocktail is one of several works I own exploring animal intelligence and communication, including those of captive zoo animals and wildlife. In The Parrot’s Lament: And Other True Tales of Animal Intrigue, Intelligence, and Ingenuity, by Eugene Linden, the author shares stories of remarkable examples of animals’ problem-solving skills, compassion, and how they navigate a life with humanity to improve their chances of survival. Perhaps if we could better understand what the Giant Pandas were thinking, “Panda Diplomacy” could truly help bridge the gap between our two countries. Enjoy, and remember to drink responsibly 🙂