Happy Valentine's Day!

My latest creation for Pinky Vodka is a little bitter, a little sweet... just like love. (And if you're a Campari nut, too, this is a the perfect Valentine for you!)

Rub The One You're With

Remember the old adage: “Give a man a fish and he eats for a day. Teach a man to fish and he eats for a lifetime.”

Well, the artsy and sophisticated Hotel Palomar has put a romantic slant on that philosophy and created a special DIY escape for you and your main squeeze for Valentine’s Day. You not only get a hotel stay package but also a private massage class for two. Their hands-on romance escape lathers up as of February 1 and runs through March 31, 2009. The “Rub the One You’re With” getaway package at Hotel Palomar in Westwood (Los Angeles) includes:

• Deluxe overnight accommodations
• Private one-hour massage instruction class with a personal massage therapist
• Take-home massage kit featuring Kerstin Florian organic lavender massage oil, lavender & lemon aromatherapy candle and aromatherapy bath salts
• Welcome bottle of champagne
• Complimentary overnight parking

While at the Palomar, don’t forget to indulge in a delicious, healthy meal made with herbs from the chef’s personal rooftop garden, and a well crafted cocktail or two at its restaurant, BLVD, which I reviewed on The Liquid Muse Blog in December.

Reserve the "Rub the One You're With" package on the Hotel Palomar website and enter RLS in the rate code box, or call 800.472.8556 and request the “Rub the One You’re With” package. Package rates start at $399 per night. For more information on the Kimpton Hotel Group, visit their site.

Bubbling With Love – With or Without a Guy!

Every Sipster knows that nothing sparkles like champagne. (Well, ok, diamonds, sparkle more but let’s stay on topic here…)

Personally, I could drink champagne, prosecco, cava (basically, any sparkling wine) any day of the week… but today is the day of the year to really indulge. And, just because my husband is on a business trip, don’t think that I won’t enjoy a champagne cocktail! No man is necessary to indulge in a nice hot bubble bath, a few luscious chocolates and a chilled glass of champagne (or two). This post is devoted to the sparklers, and I have a several to share with you!

Let’s start with a couple of sparkling cocktails from MARTINI & ROSSI® Asti to get you in the mood…

Eternal Kiss
1 / 2 oz Strawberry Puree
1 / 2 oz Rose Syrup
4 oz MARTINI & ROSSI Asti
Strawberry Slice
Pour puree and Rose Syrup into champagne flute and mix with a stir
stick, add MARTINI & ROSSI Asti. Garnish with strawberry slice.

Cupid's Arrow
1 oz Pink Lemonade
4 oz MARTINI & ROSSI Asti
Splash of Grenadine
Lemon Slice
Pour Pink Lemonade into champagne flute, add MARTINI & ROSSI Asti
over top of lemonade. Garnish with Lemon Slice.

Want to try something unusual? How about this “manly” twist on a champagne cocktail…

Black Velvet
5 oz chilled Guinness
1 1⁄2 oz chilled Champagne
Pour Guinness into champagne flute. Add champagne carefully, so it does not mix with Guinness, and serve.

Do you like to color coordinate your cocktails with the holiday? If so, you will love this I tasted this Pommery Pink POP Rosé Champagne. I really enjoyed tasting it. It isn’t overly sweet (a danger with pink champagne sometimes) but has lovely fruity tones.

If you are cooking for your sweetie, or friends or spoiling yourself, tonight, this is super with grilled or smoked salmon, proscuitto and melon or poached lobster. Or, transition into dessert and serve this with fruit tarts, crème brulée or berries and cream.