From the wildly creative team behind Philadelphia's Art in the Age comes The Cocktail Workshop, a deep-dive into 20 classic drinks that make up the foundation of cocktail creation, and the delicious variations that will make them all your own. Learn to craft a perfect, classic drink, or workshop that creation into a unique, flavor-forward spin with The Cocktail Workshop, an indispensable guide to foundational cocktails and the tools to elevate them into master-level creations. In this richly illustrated book, the team behind Philadelphia's beloved Art in the Age guides aspiring mixologists through the fundamentals of 20 essential cocktails. Then, each foundational drink is spun off into creative and customizable riffs on flavors, techniques, and ingredients, called Apprentice, Journeyman, and Master versions. Each classic drink is concluded by a Workshop: how to take your at-home bar efforts to the next level with aging, infusing, garnishing, and more. Drawing on the building blocks of iconic cocktails like the daiquiri and the old-fashioned, readers will grow their knowledge base as they move through each drink, taking away real skills for their home bar -- like the proper way to dry-shake an egg white cocktail or carve a manicured lime twist -- and an understanding of the fundamentals of cocktailing: how drinks are created, related, and integrated.

Craft cocktails meet the great outdoors in this vibrant celebration of good times and good spirits, from the authors of The Cocktail Workshop. What could possibly enhance the natural beauty of a crystal clear lake, snow-capped mountain, or backyard fire pit? A craft cocktail, of course! So cozy up by the campfire, pack your cooler for a picnic out at the lake, or rent a mountainside cabin with your friends-it's time to head for the woods for some good times and good spirits courtesy of Backcountry Cocktails. Inspired by the singular natural beauty of New Hampshire's White Mountains, this book is a true celebration of entertaining in the outdoors-with dozens of seasonally-inspired and organized recipes to enjoy outside, whether you're on an early spring hike or a mid-winter retreat. Each recipe from authors Steven Grasse and Adam Erace, of The Cocktail Workshop, captures the energy of hitting the trails in an elevated yet approachable ode to craft cocktails and the beauty of the natural world. No matter your cocktailing style, there's something for everyone, from spiked cocoa to frozen fizzes (perfect for packing as a treat after an afternoon of hiking), and even foraged creations that will tie your experience to the land around you. All recipes are designed to use relatively few ingredients (for easy packability), and to be both portable and batachable-so you can enjoy them no matter what kind of adventure you have planned for the day. Each seasonal chapter also includes a handful of recipes for entertaining, like Crispy Cast-Iron Trout with Wild Greens, "field guide" how-tos on local experts covering topics from medicinal plants to preserving fruit, and DIYs (like fermenting your own vegetables or foraging for mushrooms).

A hard-to-get reservation is all the more prized but a reservation limited to members only seems to be the Philadelphia diner's Holy Grail. The Palizzi Social Club has been around for almost 100 years in South Philly but it was after chef Joey Baldino took over from his late uncle that business really started to boom. Palizzi has mastered the balance of old-school Italian kitsch and super-high-quality food and cocktails. Joey is an experienced hand at great Italian dishes, with a fantastic menu at his Collingswood, NJ, restaurant, Zeppoli. The menu at Palizzi has a broader Southern Italian scope, drawing influence from food his Uncle Ernie served at the Club and what his mother, grandmother and aunts cooked at home. These recipes, about 70 in total, will make up the bulk of DINNER AT THE CLUB and include dishes like Sweet Ricotta Pie, Seafood Fritto Misto, Spaghetti with Crabs and Stromboli. Joey's food is humble, homey and delicious and the bulk of the recipes reflect that in their friendly approach, easy processes, adaptability ("Don't have time to soak dry chickpeas overnight? Just use canned, like my mom does.") and accessible pantry. If you can find quality canned tomatoes, some nice Mediterranean anchovies and a cold-pressed olive oil for finishing, you're halfway there. And because Palizzi has a lively bar, the book will include a chapter dedicated to its amaro-centric cocktails, plus a couple grandma-style liqueurs that readers can make from scratch.

Laurel, the first book from Top Chef winner Nick Elmi, promises to be as engrossing and delicious as its restaurant namesake. Elmi is one of many who are devoted to making South Philly, particularly the East Passyunk area, even more of a destination than it has already become. Restaurant Laurel earned four bells from Philadelphia restaurant critic Craig Laban, one of only four restaurants in the city to earn that ranking. Elmi started out working for the highly mercurial George Perrier at Le Bec-Fin and at Brasserie Perrier, honing top-notch skills and familiarizing himself with the very highest quality French-inspired food before later opening Restaurant Laurel (securing the lease with $5000 and a lot of tequila). While many believe that it is essentially French, Laurel is a true American restaurant with a modern feel. Elmi writes in headnotes about his suppliers, whose work colors every dish they serve, and his growing up in New Jersey. The acclaimed nine-course tasting menu that they serve at Laurel are unmatched in Philadelphia. Elmi does seasonality just right: fall brings Apple-Yuzu Consomme, Marinated Trout Roe, and Bitter Greens; winter serves up Bourbon-Glazed Grilled Lobster, Crunchy Grains, and Apple Blossom; spring is evidenced by Black Sea Bass, Peas, and Rhubarb; and summer is distilled in Marigold-Compressed Kohlrabi, Buckwheat, and Cured Egg. Each chapter is a full nine-course tasting menu with accompanying cocktail.