the bye bye berlusconi {cocktail}

Every year it’s the same thing. Do we do Thanksgiving or don’t we? Living in Italy it’s just not that big a deal (obviously). But sometimes I go all out. Buy a turkey from the farmer next door in Umbria, light up the wood burning fire, invite friends for the weekend and cook a feast.

Other years? Eh. Often it just seems like too much to organize. And it’s not really even a holiday here.

But this year, it looks like there may actually be something to be thankful about. Yes, you read right. Thankful. Even if I live in Italy, where the imminent financial crisis means it’s mostly gloom and doom 24/7.

Yet there is one extremely positive note. It looks as if Berlusconi will finally be leaving. It’s been 18 years folks. Long enough for him to truly mess up the country.

He’s not gone yet. And he’s squirmed his way out of every set back before. But this time, I think it’s for real.

And I’ll be ready.

I was trying to think of a menu I’d make to celebrate this event. One that would sum up both the thanks (he’s finally gone) but also symbolize what we’ve gone through.

But all I could really think of was that we would all need a drink.




The Bye Bye Berlusconi
(Serves 1. But you will probably need several)

1 oz Campari (yes, these were bitter years)
1 oz of Vodka (here’s to future transparency)
1 tablespoon of pomegranate molasses (a symbol of rebirth?)
Chilled prosecco (you always need a bit of fizz to celebrate)

Pour Campari, vodka and molasses into a shaker and add two cubes of ice. Shake just enough to chill and dissolve the molasses.

Pour into champagne flute and top with prosecco.

You can garnish with with a cherry, or a slice of orange.

Or simply with a dash of your own belief that things can only get better.