Tag: Ava Gardner

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2023 Holiday Gift Guide

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If you’re on the hunt for the perfect holiday gift for someone who loves movies and cocktails, then you’re in luck because today, I’m sharing five things that have made my life a whole lot better in the last year. I personally own and enjoy all of these items, and I wouldn’t hesitate to buy them for a friend. A very nice friend; not a naughty one. Naughty friends get cheap bottles of wine and ironic napkins they will never use.

Cheers, and Happy Holidays!

Noir Bar by Eddie Muller

This book is great for both classic movie fans and the home bartender! The recipes are easy to make, and Muller’s pairings are always inspired. I find myself returning to it again and again when I’m stumped for what to make/watch that night.

Flower Coupe Glass

Whether you’re watching Barbie or a Doris Day classic, this pretty pink glass is perfect for a sparkling cocktail pairing!

Gin Botanicals

I love making flavored gins in my vintage decanter, and this set makes it easy to up your cocktail game. Favorite botanical: Cinnamon!

Connecticut in the Movies by Illeana Douglas

It might surprise you how many movies were set or filmed in Connecticut, and this book takes the reader on a fantastic road trip through cinema history. Illeana Douglas has long been a favorite actress of mine, but this year she’s become a favorite author as well!

Hollywood Blends coffee from Breakfast at Dominique’s

Breakfast at Dominique’s sells wonderful coffee inspired by classic film stars, and I’m particularly a fan of the Ava Gardner blend (used recently in an Espresso Martini while I watched Mogambo!). If you like espresso cocktails, or if you just want a great cup of coffee, then definitely order a few bags!

Action/Adventure/Heist · Classic Films

Mogambo

LizLocke1 Comment
Image credit: Mogambo, 1953

If you love The Jungle Cruise ride at Disneyland but were disappointed by Disney’s 2021 film adaptation, then put on a classic that gives you all the thrills and animal encounters of a trip through Adventureland. John Ford’s Mogambo (Disc/Download) may be short on puns, but it’s long on danger and melodrama.

Starring Clark Gable as a big game hunter, and Ava Gardner as the cheeky New York socialite who upends his camp and his heart, Mogambo is a stunning Technicolor production shot on location in Africa. It’s wild to me that Ford would subject stars like Gable and Gardner and Grace Kelly to such an intense environment, but the authenticity of the continent shines through. During the course of a safari, Gable finds himself at the center of a love triangle with Gardner and Kelly, who plays the wife of a British anthropologist. Clark may be quite a bit older than both actresses, but he’s still got that twinkle in his eye that makes women of any age susceptible to his charms. Ava Gardner is a breath of fresh air in this movie, and it’s through her eyes that we see the wonder of this amazing place and all its creatures. She acts as the comic relief, to the point where I almost expect her to make a “ginger snaps” joke at the sight of a crocodile. Unfortunately, it’s just me making the lame dad jokes, from my couch.

Speaking of Gardner, I recently had the pleasure of trying the Ava Gardner Goddess Blend coffee from Breakfast at Dominique’s, and I loved it so much that I decided to use it in a cocktail! Strong and complex, this drink is Ava in a nutshell. While watching Mogambo, I recommend drinking an Espresso Martini.

Espresso Martini

2 oz Vodka

1 oz freshly brewed Espresso, cooled

½ oz Kahlua coffee liqueur

½ oz simple syrup

2-3 dashes Fee Foam (optional)

Coffee beans (garnish)

Combine all ingredients except the beans in a shaker with ice, shaking vigorously for a full minute. Strain into a coupe glass, and garnish with coffee beans.

*Note, I tried making this with cold brew, but I couldn’t achieve that signature foam on top. To get it frothy, I instead made it with a freshly brewed shot of espresso and added a few dashes of Fee Foam.

The quality of the coffee you use in this martini has a big impact on the final flavor. One sip of the Ava Gardner Goddess Blend, and I immediately realized I’d never had great coffee until that moment. Now, I’m drinking it every chance I get! Honestly, the caffeine is probably a good thing out on the safari. You never know when you’ll run into a panther, or a trigger-happy Grace Kelly. Cheers!