Just when I thought I had tasted them all, I found a delicious new martini, named cryptini.

The cryptini is the perfect October martini for celebrating Halloween. A few years ago on October 31, somewhere near Belize, Maralyn and I dressed up in black with our tall Harry Potter Wizard hats.

Florida writer and reviewer, John Bancroft found this seasonal cocktail at one of my favorite steak houses, Flemings. I have devoured the excellent food and drink at many Fleming’s. However veteran mixologist, Benny Bowden, at Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar in Sarasota, Florida, is my favorite spot to stop during the magic hour. Benny calls his innovative cocktail the “creepy cocktail,” but I will stick to the name cryptini. I tried it and found it addictive.

Cryptini Martini
Ingredients:
2 oz Kahlua
1 oz. Stoli vanilla vodka
1/2 oz. dark creme de cacao
1/2 demitasse fresh espresso

Mixology:
Shake all ingredients with ice.
Strain into a martini glass with a sugar rim.
Garnish with a lemon twist.


Brenda C. Hill
International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association
Books By Hills Success Log Global Log

Finalist in the Writing and Publishing category of the 2009 Next Generation Indie Book Awards, “$uccess, Your Path to a Successful Book”

Brenda Hill
Author: Brenda Hill

As a longtime food writer for Where Magazine New York City, Brenda Hill, along with her writing partner, Maralyn Hill (no relation), writes and publishes books about chefs, food and international travel. They co-authored "Our Love Affairs with Food & Travel" and joined French Master Chef Herve Laurent in writing "Cooking Secrets: The Why and How" Brenda has been active in the California Writer's Club, IFWTWA, and the Santa Barbara's Writers Conference. Brenda Hill and her partner Maralyn Hill conduct marketing and writing seminars. Maralyn and I will be heading back to Rancho La Puerta in July to give our presentation on writing and marketing your book, as well as bringing back some freshly picked off the farm nutritious and tasty recipes.