May Days

The first week of May has two classic holidays competing for your attention: The Kentucky Derby (always the first Saturday in May) and Cinco de Mayo. We'll help you properly prepare for those very festive occasions.

The Kentucky Derby

Before we get to the featured cocktails, two words about Kentucky cuisine: Hot Brown. Being from around here, I'd never heard of the Hot Brown until our visit to the Buffalo Trace distillery last year. There, our lunch was a Hot Brown. It's a now-classic sandwich (with many derivatives) invented at the Brown Hotel in Louisville, home of the Kentucky Derby. So if you're feeling like you need a little something extra Southern for your Derby party, try this recipe from the Brown Hotel:

Ingredients (this makes 2 sandwiches)
-1 1/2 tablespoons salted butter
-1 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
-1 1/2 cups heavy cream 
-1/4 cup Pecorino Romano cheese, plus extra for garnish
-Pinch of ground nutmeg
-Salt and pepper
-14 oz. sliced roasted turkey breast, slice thick
-4 slices of Texas toast (crusts trimmed)
-4 slices of bacon
-2 Roma tomatoes, sliced in half
-Paprika
-Parsley

In a two-quart saucepan, melt butter and slowly whisk in flour until combined to form a thick paste or roux. Continue to cook roux for 2 minutes over medium-low heat, stirring frequently. Whisk heavy cream into the roux and cook over medium heat until the cream begins to simmer, about 2-3 minutes. Remove sauce from heat and slowly whisk in Pecorino-Romano cheese until the Mornay sauce is smooth. Add nutmeg, salt and pepper to taste.

For each Hot Brown, place one slice of toast in an oven safe dish and cover with 7 oz. turkey. Take the two halves of Roma tomato and two toast points and set them alongside the base of turkey and toast. Pour half of the sauce over the dish, completely covering it. Sprinkle with additional cheese. Place entire dish under a broiler until cheese begins to brown and bubble. Remove and cross two pieces of crispy bacon on top. Sprinkle with paprika and parsley and serve immediately.

The cocktail associated with the Kentucky Derby is, of course, the Mint Julep. And since Woodford Reserve is the Official Bourbon of the Derby (fewer than a dozen of the 2014 edition Derby bottles of Woodford Reserve remain, total, for both stores), we'll make our Mint Julep with Woodford.

-2 cups sugar
-2 cups water
-Sprigs of fresh mint
-Crushed ice
-Woodford Reserve Bourbon
-Silver Julep Cups (Collins glass is an alternative)

Make a simple syrup by boiling sugar and water together for five minutes. Cool and place in a covered container with six or eight sprigs of fresh mint, then refrigerate overnight. Make one julep at a time by filling a julep cup with crushed ice, adding one tablespoon mint syrup and two ounces of Woodford Reserve. Stir rapidly with a spoon to frost the outside of the cup. Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint.

Cinco de Mayo

While you can find all of the Corona, Modello and Dos Equis that you might want at Joe Canal's, why not celebrate with a Margarita as well. This recipe is per drink; increase the quantities for a punch bowl.

Ingredients
1 oz. Familia Camarena Reposado Tequila
2 oz. Freshly squeezed lime juice
½ oz. Triple Sec
½ Cup ice (or more)
Salt
Lime wedge

How to Prepare
Rub the rim of a chilled margarita glass with the lime and dip into salt to coat it. In a cocktail shaker, combine Familia Camarena Reposado Tequila and orange liquor lime juice and ice. Shake vigorously and strain drink into the garnished glass filled with ice.

With these two special dates, the first weekend of May is sure to be very busy at Joe canal's in Lawrenceville and Woodbridge. We suggest you shop early for the best service and selection.