Ciao Baby - Barefoot Cocktails and You'll Be Skipping - Contessa or Not

Last night I was in Memphis, planning a party, dining on the patio of the Majestic, listening to classics by the likes of Rosemary Clooney, watching the sunset on the Mississippi River from a penthouse balcony, giggling with dear friends, and enjoying Barefoot Cocktails. Now can you just imagine the fun we had – 5 Southern gals who are unstoppable when they put their mind to any project or cause. Watch out world, we’re inviting 140 of our closest friends to a sunset supper the last Friday in May.

We sampled one of the drinks we’ll be serving that night and I hope you’ll give it a try! Mix some juice from the mango, “the apple of the tropics,” which is rich in vitamins, with my favorite – champagne and voila, it’s a Barefoot Cocktail. Sip three or four of these and you will be skipping barefoot on the beach, down the street, or around the room – CONTESSA or not!

Use whatever bubbly you have on hand. Dry bubbly topping off sweeter cocktails enhances the flavor by adding balance to the drink rather than bringing in more syrupiness. Mango gives this classic great flavor twist, energizing the cocktail.

Barefoot Cocktail

1 part mango juice

2 parts Champagne

Fill a champagne flute one-third full with mango juice. Top with champagne and stir gently. Serve in champagne flutes.