Your Summer Bar

Summer is the time for entertaining. There are barbecues and pool parties, Sunday morning brunches and Saturday night gatherings. A backyard bar is necessary. Guests want a cooling drink and it's up to you to provide some fun and fruity libations.

What should a summer or backyard bar have? A good mix of alcohol and non alcoholic beverages. Champagne should be on hand.It's an exciting twist to a Saturday night get together and is needed for Sunday brunch mimosas and Bellinis,If it's too expensive , then try sparkling wines such as Prosecco and Asti Spumanti. Lighter wines are also a must.Pinot noir is a good choice on a hot night.It's a red that will go with bold steaks and juicy hamburgers.A German Reisling white can be good with grilled chicken along with any kind of fish or seafood. Try it when you serve grilled lobster tails or scallops. If you want to vary it, then choose a Chardonnay to go with barbecued meats and seafood.It's also good with any kind of ham or toasted food such as almonds or baked goods - think mini quiches.Of course there should be beer. Everyone's favorite is Corona - with a slice of lime . What does it go with besides Mexican dishes? Gazpacho shooters which are easy to make along with grilled chicken wraps. As for the usual fare try pale ales with the burgers and dogs.Other kinds  of alcohol to have are vodka and rum, along with bourbon and tequilas for cocktails and shots.

A summer bar should have extras for mixers and non-drinkers. Plain and flavored seltzers are a must.One of the best and most flavorful is Bubly. The brand has a myriad of flavors from an intense cherry to a zingy grapefruit. Buy a number of flavors for your guests' many tastes. Of course there should be soda. Stick with the classics Coke and Pepsi which you can add rum to for a fun rum and Coke.What about fruit juices?Lemon and lime juice should always be on hand. You can buy bottled juices or have the fruit  ready to be cut and squeezed. Include oranges too. A bottle of the pulp free is needed for tequila sunrises, screwdrivers and mimosas. Pineapple juice ,reminiscent of luaus and exotic climes , can add spark to any summer cocktail. Imagine grilled ham steaks served with pina coladas or mojitos. Sub in grapefruit juice for a real change. Just remember these two won't get used as much as other juices. Buy small bottles if you're planning on using them.You can't go wrong with a bottle of cranberry juice.It's good on it's own or mixed with vodka.If you're planning on a brunch , then buy a bottle of tomato juice for Bloody Mary's.

A well stocked summer bar is the key to a good warm weather get together. Have the appropriate wines and hard liquor on hand as well as the extras. Your  thirsty guests will appreciate the variety.

Juiced Up

Fresh pressed juice is part of the modern diet. Let's face it ,it is good for you and devoid of all that sugar badness other drinks haves.What's even better is that more and more juice companies are spraining up , offering wholesome tastiness along with a daily dosage of antioxidants and vitamins. New juice companies were the subject of an article in today's New York Times Dining section.Written by Dining regular,Jeff Gordonier,it delves into the new industry of pure and wholesome juices.There have always been juice companies, such as Dole,DelMonte and Tropicana, however these and others tend to produce a product,laden with sugar and water, not unlike sodas.The newer breeds stick to cold pressing which means every drop of juice is pressed out leaving an almost dry pulp.They even have all their nutrients thanks to the method that there is no heat involved in the making .(however rotor blades used in the process do heat up, tending to also heat up the juice). The new brands are varied and many.There is Blue Print which is coming out of Queens, a borough usually not known for it's health foods.The web site gives you the blueprint for starting your own juice cleanse.Some are strictly vegetables while others are fruit.Blue Print even offers the famed lemon juice and cayenne blend, made tolerable with the addition of agave.For manhattanites .there is the chain Organic Avenue which also offers up kale and spinach enriched drinks along with carrot and a natural Ginger ale mix that includes lemon.La,capital of celebrity juice cleanses has the ever trendy Juice Served Here which offers cleanse and baked items.Most of these juice bars and companies have nothing but good organic veggies and fruits, pressed into good for you concoctions. Juices and juice cleanses are a great way of improving your diet and health.You can make your own if you're lucky to have a juicer.If not ,try the new breed of what's out there.They will be a gift to your palate and body.