Hazelnuts are one of the only nuts that does not have its own dedicated holiday and Frangelico’s goal is to elevate the hazelnut flavor among consumers and celebrate the taste by partnering with nationally acclaimed Chefs, Bakeries, Mixologists and the like, in celebration of National Hazelnut Month.
To kick off the month, Geoffrey Zakarian’s restaurant, The National, created a hazelnut themed menu for the month of September. The menu includes: Hazelnut, Lobster, house-made Cannelloni with Salisify Puree, Cider Vinaigrette and a Hazelnut Glaze, and Roasted Duck, Frangelico and Sweet Potato Puree, Hazelnut and Fregola Risotto. Dessert will include Devil’s Food Cake with Chocolate and Frangelico Granache and house-made Hazelnut Ice Cream.
The National has also created a hazelnut cocktails menu for the month including: the Fall Basket, made with Apple infused Vodka, Frangelico, Splash of Cranberry, Splash of Simple Syrup, and a Brown Sugar Rim, the Fran Shandy, equal parts pale lager and citrus soda, and an ounce Frangelico or the Hazel and Basil, with flor de cana rum, Frangelico, lime juice, simple syrup and basil.
Also teamed up with Frangelico is Isabelle’s Curly Cakes in Boston (Todd English’s daughter’s bakery), Butter Lane in NYC and Georgetown Cupcakes in SoHo, Georgetown, LA, DC, and Bethesda, MD, who will create Frangelico’s hazelnut flavored cupcakes throughout the month. In addition, Nuts.com has also created a Hazelnut basket to be sold in September at a special rate including many goodies.
FALL BASKET
1 1/2 oz apple infused vodka
1 oz frangelico hazelnut liqueur
splash of simple syrup
splash of cranberry juice
brown sugar rim (optional)
serve up in a martini glass with a thin slice of apple garnish
FRAN SHANDY
Equal parts pale lager and citrus soda (i.e. sprite)
1 oz Frangelico
Twist of lemon
Served in a tumbler glass
LIGHTER SHADE OF HAZEL
1 1/2 oz pumpkin infused vodka of liqueur
1 oz of vanilla infused vodka
1/2 oz frangelico
brown sugar, nutmeg,cinnamon rim (mix three spices in equal parts to create rim mixture)
serve up in a martini glass
HAZEL AND BASIL
(you guys tried this at The National. We all agreed that it was a little springy, but basil is very much a fall herb.
I’d consider this one cause it’s delish.)
2 oz of light rum
1 oz of frangelico
1/2 oz of fresh lime juice
1/4 oz of simple syrup
fresh basil
muddle basil with the frangelico, add other ingredients, shake vigorously and serve in a highball glass with a lime wheel
A great addition this cocktail would be to infuse the rum lightly with jalapeno for just a hint of heat. Amazing.
