Andersonville Martini Series at La Fonda

La Fonda Latino Grill will host the first Andersonville Martini Series for two consecutive Thursdays during the month of December

CHICAGO, IL December 15, 2011 /Circle Media- PressRelease/ -- Andersonville’s long time neighborhood restaurant, La Fonda Latino Grill, would like to extend an invitation to Andersonville, Uptown and Edgewater residents to two fabulous martini parties at the restaurant on Broadway and Balmoral Ave. Guests will have the opportunity to drink uniquely-designed Latin American Contemporary martinis, and they can also meet mixologist Juan Carlos Correa’s new libations and flip through the variety of his modern Latin American martini creations.

"We really wanted to host two very special nights to bring local residents together," said Beatriz Delgado, co-owner of La Fonda Latino Grill. "With these martini parties, we're bringing event attendees to our restaurant for two unique events, to celebrate Latino culture in mixology. It's going to be a great way to say goodbye to 2011 and kick-off the new-year."

The Andersonville Martini Series are scheduled for 6 p.m. on Thursday, December 15^th, 2011, and Thursday, December 22^nd, 2011. 5350 North Broadway Street  Chicago, IL 60640. These two events are part of the Martini Series that mixologist Juan Carlos Correa will be offering during 2012 in different areas of Chicago.

The Martini Series will take place at La Fonda Latino Grill two consecutive Thursdays of December. Every event will have a different theme, and will explore different flavor categories.

^{THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15th}

SOUTH OF THE BORDER

Many South American countries offer a wide variety of local fruits and regional spirits full of flavors and fragrances. Pisco, Aguardiente, Cachaca, and Sugar Cane Rhums are the stars of the menu. This menu is both daring and intriguing. Savory drinks prepared with regional ingredients and techniques, mild spices to enticed flavors in sweet libations, and spicy hot drinks to tickle your palate.

$10 drinks.

About La Fonda Latino Grill

This South American restaurant is the place where you can find traditional Colombian food and a touch of Latin American flavors. We are located 10 minutes north of downtown, in Andersonville. Chef/Owner Hebert Delgado and his wife Beatriz, offer the perfect combination of passion for natural flavors and friendly service. This local spot had its original location on Clark and Lawrence almost 19 years ago, and moved to the actual location a few years back, bringing with them their well-known South American flavors. La Fonda is open for lunch and dinner every day of the week, except Monday. Reservations are accepted.

5350 North Broadway Street, Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 271-3935

or visit us on the web (http://www.lafondalatinogrill.com)

About Juan Carlos Correa

Mr. Correa graduated as a Graphic Designer from Universidad Nacional of Colombia, and worked for many years in Chicago as Creative Director for HYPA until 2007. His passion for traveling, lead him through 4 different continents, where he fell in love with foreign food and drinks. These experiences inspired his love for mixology as an art and drove him to research traditional cocktail-making techniques, especially those from the 1880’s to the 1930’s. In 2009, Mr. Correa opened successfully Once Onzas, an specialty martini bar, in his native, Bogotá. After receiving many accolades by local media as the best small-martini bar in town, he decided to move back to Chicago to work for Marty’s in Andersonville, and to continue working is his martini blog. (tatocorrea.blogspot.com). The Martini Series is his new project for 2012, where he will be creating themed martini parties in local establishments in different areas of the city, he wants to offer a growing spectrum of martini experiences ranging from traditional to contemporary, sophisticated premium-ingredients to whimsical creations. He offers trend-forward libations that blend effortlessly local or regional brands with quality ingredients for all of today's unique preferences.

To learn more, visit his blog (tatocorrea.blogspot.com),

or like him on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/tatocorrea).

You can email him directly at (tatocorrea@hotmail.com)

Juan Carlos Correa

(773) 312-2483

For additiona information about the event, or to attend as a media correspondant, contact Circle Media (Circledmedia@hotmail.com) or contact directly Mr. Correa at the aforementioned contact info.

Martini Series 1 – Sample Martini

Salty & Spicy Series

Pata Sola

martini

Lime Juice

Home-made South American Styled Ginger beer

Soda

Home-made Spiced Syrup

Lemon peel infused Grand Marnier

Bolivar bitters

Aguardiente (Colombia)

Recipe:

The day before, prepare both the spiced syrup and the ginger beer, for the  spice syrup mix 3/5 parts Demerara sugar and 2/5 water. Add cinammon, cloves, star of anise, coriander, and nut meg to taste, soft boiled and let it cool overnight. For the ginger beer, prepare a ginger syrup two days before, let it cool and and mixed with carbonated water, keep at room temperature in a dark place. Take 3 lemons and cut the peel off, just be careful and remove the white film inside the peel, otherwise the infused liquor will acquire a bitter aftertaste. Put the lemon peels inside the Grand Marnier and let it sip for 3 to 5 days. Remove the peels once you taste the fresh citrus coming through the flavor.

In a shaker mix 2 ounces of Aguardiente, 2/3 ounce of freshly squeezed lime juice, 2/3 ounce of Ginger Beer, 1/3 Lemon peel infused Grand Marnier, add ice and shake vigorously for 15 seconds, pour in a martini glass, add a splash of soda and a dash of Bolivar bitters. Garnish with sugar candied ginger, lemon wedge and an edible flower.

Recipe created by Juan Carlos Correa