As Father’s Day approaches, I find myself reminiscing about my Dad and all of our fun memories together. I am so fortunate that he is healthy and living his best life just down the road in Frankfort. I love our visits. I love talking about “the good old days” when I was a little girl and he was my entire world. Is anyone really shocked to learn that one of my favorite and most vivid memories of my Dad involve him preparing to entertain? I grew up in a suburban, split-level house in a lovely neighborhood near my elementary school and all of my friends. The upper two floors were pretty typical...the kitchen and dining room, living room, and all the bedrooms and baths for our family of six. But the basement, now that was something special altogether. At some point, there was a remodel and our dusty basement was transformed into a bomb shelter, a huge storage closet for all of our Christmas decorations, and a large room that contained a bar and a pool table. A real 70s-something version of a “man cave.” |
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The basement bar room was where my parents gathered for parties and where our large extended family spent the holidays. The kids were allowed only on the most special of occasions.But as the baby of the family, I think I spent the most time there as my Dad’s shadow. I carefully watched him prepare for their special events. The bar was always stocked for holiday parties and the annual kick-off soiree for the local golf tournament that paid homage to the man who discovered Kentucky. It was known to many assimply “The Daniel Boone.” It happened once a year, probably in July, and my Dad invited my uncles from North Carolina and a variety of his friends over for drinks and a nibble or two. |
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As he prepared for the event, I watched with eyes wide open as he lined up the bottlesand all of the accoutrements. Naturally, at that age, I did not know the names of the liquor so I identified them by color: brown, white, green, and yellow. Yes, yellow. I was quite fascinated by a bottle of yellow liquor because there was a ballerina inside the bottle. Yes, a ballerina. A tiny ballerina encapsulated inside that bottle! I haven’t seen anything quite like it ever again. I was mesmerized. I used to wonder how that tiny ballerina got inside the bottle and, most importantly, why? I have since discovered that the “drunken” ballerina was inside a bottle of an Italian liqueur called Galliono. It was quite a potent liqueur and used primarily for Harvey Wallbangers—which was quite a popular drink at the time! |
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All of the accessories fascinated me. The shiny mixing vessels, the variety of colorful stirs, the variety of the glassware, the cute little square cocktail napkins with a clever saying or bright, flashy flowers that were popular back then. Those little details were a huge part of the party—then and now. Of course, it’s no secret that I love the classics: an old-fashioned, a Manhattan, a good martini. And so does my Dad. He was famous for his potent concoctions. Back in the day, daiquiris, grasshoppers, and Tom Collins also rounded out the drink menu. Dad was quite the mixologist—although he now prefers to be served rather than to serve! I guess this is where I get my propensity for signature cocktails and my seemingly endless supply of bar accompaniments. I am still as fascinated by those little swizzle sticks and square napkins and a classic old-fashioned. So in honor of Father’s Day, raise a glass (of a tasty old-fashionedor your favorite cocktail) to celebrate your father whether you are blessed to still have him in your life or not, or to your husband if he isa father, or to the “father figure” in your life! There is a bunch of great fathers out there and this Sunday is there big day! Salut! |
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