Ah, nothing like topping off a week of work like a hard, HARD, HARD-shaken cocktail.
Back in the day when I was the Creative Director for a publishing company in Los Angeles, I made plenty o’ trips trans-US—to NYC for photo shoots—that were a total perk of the jobbie job because my husband usually tagged along and we’d make a vacation of it after all of the hard work was done.
On one of our first forays to the Big Apple we both knew we had to experience the best sushi in the City. We had our assignment thanks to our well-heeled L.A./NYC friendlies, who advised there was no place better than Nobu—the crown jewel of everything sushi of the moment—as our destination.
But there was a slight problem: No reservation = no service.
If there’s anything about me and my man that you should know right now, it’s that we don’t always play by the rules. The parking lot is for VIP passes only? We tip the guy to let us in. The line to the bathroom is up the wazoo? We enter through the exit door. Those awesome seats right up front that we didn’t pay $250 for? Well, let’s just say we’ll give it the old college try. It’s just the way we roll, and we usually end up in the winner’s circle and nobody gets hurt in the process.
So what? We wanted to experience the number one-rated sushi restaurant in New York City and we didn’t have a reservation? Let’s just see what happens.
What ended up happening was us stepping out of our cab, being whisked right into the restaurant, seated at a primo table and asked what we’d like to drink.
“Well, our kind waiter, we were waiters once a-time too. We know the drill and we know that you know what’s best. Just set us up for the night with whatever you and the Chef recommend.”
And this my friends, was the best meal of the first 15 years of our marriage (we’ve been married nearly 20, so there must be another one in there’s somewhere.)
And it all started off with the martini.
This cocktail has become our go-to drink—summer or winter—hands down. The fact that we have such fond memories of savoring the most delectable hamachi, yellow tail sashimi and the most perfect uni while rubbing elbows and swapping stories with A-list celebs as the line outside grew longer and longer doesn’t hurt much either.
Barbara prompted the re-creation of this drink and our fond memories and it is happily included in celebrating Creative Culinary‘s Friday Cocktail posts with an amazing round-up of 30 blogger recipes made just for this celebration. Clink, clinks!
Matsuhisa Martini Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 ounces quality vodka
- 4 ounces sake
- 4 pieces pickled ginger
- 4-6 thin slices small english cucumber for garnish
- ice
Instructions
- Combine vodka, sake, pickled ginger and ice in a shaker. Shake REALLY well, until your arms give out.
- Divide into two martini glasses and garnish with cucumber slices.
- Drink immediately.
I am all over this festive cocktail and your pics are AMAZING!! The second shot is my fav. I am so fond of this style~
Love your style Heidi!!! We have dined at Nobu in Melbourne, and although Mr is not a big sushi fan he thoroughly enjoyed the grilled wagyu selection there – one of the best he’s tasted. Love this cucumber martini – bring on summer!
Lol…I’m the complete opposite, I’m such a play by the rules girl (probably because I’m an accountant and also quite a lot to do with being English) and so I admire your attitude!
What a martini! Cucumber, ginger, sake, and vodka…wow. And I can also vouch for the L-Lysine treatment for cold sores. I’ve been doing that for probably 15 years and it knocks those pesky things right out. I have found that you must take the first dose *immediately* upon feeling the first tingle for it to be most effective.
Those photos are just gorgeous, Heidi!
Thanks for joining me Heidi; it’s fun to see such a varied group of cocktails from friends and you have brought a gorgeous one to the table. I just attended a local sake tasting and was sent home with a nice bottle…I can’t wait to try this martini!
Thanks so much Heidi for the mention and the wonderful compliments! And this martini looks perfectly refreshing, love it!
Need one of those drinks and love the Friday Faves!
This looks so good! My hubby and I also don’t play by the rules a lot of times :) Life is too boring that way! ha ha
Um, can I please hang out with you and your hubby?
cold sores- seriously? That works???
Love the story in this post. I must start tagging along, as I’m too timid to do anything but follow the rules. Or maybe I can just live vicariously through you.
holy crap. could your photos be ANY more gorgeous?!
Love the photo’s on this one! Also, I made the chicken enchiladas-delish! I tagged you in my instagram post. Bill was a happy man. Thanks
You’d better dish on how you got whisked in, lady. And also? (I know you know this is coming) I’ve never had a martini. Wanna make one for me?
Heidi, You are so the cool kid on the blog. :) Love the story! Love, love this martini and I think it’s going to be my weekend indulgence.
This recipe makes me crave sushi! OMG the photo bombing animals, too funny! FYI I have reluctantly given into my husband and in-laws rule breaking and line cutting ways because they always get away with it! So I understand where you and your husband are coming from. You never know if you don’t try, right?
You are quite the story teller and I’d love to hear how you were just whisked right out of the cab and into the restaurant! What a fun evening! I would have totally felt like an imposter the entire evening but then again, I’ve never had a lot of nerve for things like that.
Great looking martini!
I’m not usually a martini girl but I do love the look of these (and the flavors!) I also agree- it never hurts to ask/try, all you can get is “no” :)
So, are you going to share how you were whisked in? Did y’all just happen to be in the right place at the right time? Do tell.
Totally checking out that iPhone app. Many thanks to Kristen!
(And once again, your photography … just wow.)
I need to get on this! Yum!