Inspiration and Information for your Tabletop

Ever heard of a Nick & Nora glass? Who are Nick and Nora anyway, and why are we talking about them in a blog about glassware? What cocktails are best suited for this glass style, and why is it named after two personalities from literary and film history? There's a lot to unpack here, so let's start with a brief history of Nick and Nora, the characters.

Genever: a delightfully herbal concoction made from juniper berries. This name may be unfamiliar to you, but its anglicized cousin you’ll likely recognize: gin.

Ice is food. Yes, we've heard it time and time again in the foodservice industry, and we agree. We should pay more attention to our ice, particularly as it relates to clean, sanitary, and safe ice. But ice is much more than food.

Chefs have used it for years, though its origins with food go way beyond flavoring. In fact, it was first used as a method of preservation. Only in recent times, though, has this one ingredient found its way onto some of the country's best cocktail bar menus.

The ingredient?

We're well beyond the craft cocktail movement. It's become so commonplace, even national, casual bar and restaurant chains are jumping on the craft cocktail bandwagon in order to court younger generations.

The current cocktail revolution has also spawned the rebirth of many classic glassware styles. Gone are the days of always serving Manhattans in a Martini glass. We're witnessing the return of the coupe glass.

The Negroni. It’s a cocktail so beloved around the world that it has its own week. Despite being in the middle of the craft cocktail movement, with more mixologists experimenting with new cocktail flavors and combinations, the classic Negroni still remains a staple in bars across the world.