Mocktail: 50 Shades of Grapes

[ 1 ] October 31, 2013 | Johnna

With the 2013 March of Dimes Signature Chef’s Auction coming up (*November 12, 2013), babies are on the dome! Expecting moms can still get their sip on with mocktails that taste amazingly good without the alcohol. This week’s “Drinks on Me” features Jo-Jo Valenzuela’s 50 Shades of Grapes Mocktail. Cheers!

Glassware: Highball

Ingredents:

1.5 oz Housemade grape syrup (equal parts: grape, sugar, water)

.75 oz fresh lemon juice

5 mint leaves

Top with sparkling water

Garnish: 5 frozen grapes and mint sprig

Procedure:

Shake grape syrup, lemon juice, and mint leaves.

Fine strain into highball with fresh ice

Serve with garnish and straw

*Thanks to Jo-Jo Valenzuela for this mocktail recipe! Jo-Jo is this years March of Dimes Signature Cocktail Chair and is the AGM/Head Mixologist of Iron Gate Restaurant. Chef Tony Chittum of Iron Gate is also a participant at this year’s March of Dimes Signature Chefs Gala. Jo-Jo is also the co-head of the charity committee of the DC Craft Bartenders Guild. The guild this year is also donating two tickets to their annual Repeal Day Ball for the auction (Get these!! One of the best parties in town.) Get your tickets to the Signature Chef’s Gala here.

Tags: Live auction, March of Dimes, Ritz Carlton, Signature Chef's Gala, silent auction, washington dc

Category: non-alcoholic beverages, Washington D.C.

About the Author (Author Profile)

Johnna French is a Harlem NY native with deep roots in Panama, Washington, DC and North Carolina. All four places have heavily influenced her life and the foods she loves today. After graduating Howard University School of Law and beginning her life as a young professional in the city she was led to start Johnna Knows Good Food in November 2007 to keep family, friends and colleagues updated on where to go and what to eat while dining in the nation’s capitol. French, who still practices law, leads a team of three writers to cover the ever expanding Washington, DC food scene. French has been featured in print and television, appearing in Washingtonian Magazine and is a regular contributor to various local TV affiliates including WUSA 9, FOX 5 DC and WJLA (ABC Affiliate) News Channel 8. During the 2016-2017 football season, Johnna aired on Comcast Sports Mid-Atlantic (CSN) show, Redskins Life, as the weekly tailgate host. Johnna is currently a regular contributor to the FOX Baltimore Weekend morning show.