360 Degrees Below Zero
The Coolest Cocktails in the World

By Madelyn Miller, the TravelLady

New Orleans has given birth to many cocktails—the Sazerac, the Hurricane, and others. But on a recent trip to this cocktail capital, I tasted what I would call a hot new technique—Molecular Gastronomy—if were not so cool.

Chef Alon Shaya at the Besh Steak House in Harrah's Casino loves experimenting. His newest creation is "frozen cocktails" made tableside using liquid nitrogen. This technique makes everything from cosmopolitans to 150-year old Grand Marnier into ultra-smooth frozen drinks.

"The method used is by slowly stirring liquid nitrogen, which has a temperature of 360 degrees below zero, into any type of alcohol until it has the consistency of sorbet.  It is not easy to freeze vodka or brandy due to its high alcohol content, but we have been able to perfect the method, and people have been going crazy for it," explains Chef Shaya.

This is definitely a labor intensive drink. It took a team of three to hold and pour and stir the ingredients together. It was much more exciting than Bananas Foster. As chef Shaya and his team created cocktails for my group of foodie writers, everyone in the restaurant seemed to turn and watch as the smokey steam wafted up. A bonfire in the restaurant led by the chef with the Maitre de assisting?

As Chef Shaya creates each drink, he looks like a mad scientist. Or a young boy who has gone crazy with his new chemistry set. Never have I seen a "bartender" so excited about making a cocktail.

"We have a lot of fun at the Besh Steak House when it comes to experimenting with new techniques," he says.

What do they taste like? A bit like the frozen ice cream Dippin Dots that you can get in many malls. But as they melt on your tongue, you taste the alcohol. Imagine the taste of candy or ice cream combined with the cocktail's more adult ingredients. Sort of innocence meets alcoholic.

How much do these drinks cost, I wondered. Actually, you can't even buy them. The chef makes them up for special customers. I guess that is just another reason to be a high roller at Harrah's. Depending on your winnings or losses, this free drink could be the most expensive cocktail in the world.

Madelyn Miller is a cocktail connoisseur who loved these drinks so much she is considering taking up gambling.   Read her stories on www.travellady.com, www.cocktailatlas.com, www.chocolateatlas.com, www.teaAtlas.com and www.carladynews.com

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