This summer’s hot period movie is “Cheri,” adapted from Colette’s 1920’s novel of the same name and starring Michelle Pfeiffer, Rupert Friend, and Kathy Bates.

Colette transformed from a convent girl to one hot mama, inciting a near riot by kissing a female lover in a 1907 performance at the Moulin Rouge in Paris.

This inspired Noilly Pratt Vermouth to create a cocktail for the film’s premiere called Le Baiser de Noilly (“Noilly’s Kiss”).

The NYC premiere was Tuesday night, and the stars and other revelers sipped away.

Girly pink in color, it’s perhaps an appropriate tribute to Cheri, the aging prostitute in 1920s Paris (Pfeiffer) who educates a younger man (Friend) in the ways of love. Oh la la!

> The history of gin.

> More gin cocktails.
 
 
RECIPE: LE BAISER DE NOILLY PINK COCKTAIL
 
Ingredients Per Drink

 
Preparation

1. COMBINE the ingredients except for the raspberry in a cocktail shaker. Shake and double strain into a glass.

2. RUB a piece of pink grapefruit peel on the rim of the glass to impart the flavor of the oil from the peel.

3. SPRINKLE the grapefruit zest on top of the drink, letting the oil from the grapefruit’s skin absorb into the foam to make the cocktail even more flavorful.

4. FLOAT the raspberry on the drink and serve.
 
 
 

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[1] Enjoy this pink “kiss” (photo © Noilly Prat).

[2] Bombay Sapphire gin (photo © Bacardi Limited).

[3] Pineapple juice is a great pairing with gin and vermouth (photo © Dole Food Company).

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Imagine yourself in Beaujeu, the historical capital of Beaujolais in the heart of the Beaujolais “crus” region. Traveling on to the village of Vaux-en-Beaujolais (a.k.a. Clochemerle), past the Romanesque cloisters of Salles-Arbuissonas and Villefranche-Sur-Saône—the economic capital of Beaujolais. Visit the “land of golden stones,” le Pays des Pierres Dorées, where you’ll find the village Oingt, which has been called the most beautiful village in France. Your Beaujolais tour ends in the gastronomic capital of Lyon—France’s second-largest metropolitan area, which is older than Paris, has more Roman ruins and a host of 1-, 2- and 3-star Michelin restaurants,including the 3-star Paul Bocuse.

Start at the top of Beaujolais and taste your way down to the restaurant capital of Lyons.

• Read more about wine in THE NIBBLE’s Wine Section.

Lemon-infused olive oil is one of six spectacular flavors.

When we first looked at our task—tasting six different flavors of the Sonoma Farm brand of extra virgin olive oil, plus unflavored EVOO and a dipping oil—it seemed like work. By the end of the tasting, we were drunk with happiness on olive oil, drinking tablespoon after tablespoon. (The FDA recommends two tablespoons a day for heart health; we had a month’s worth.)

What did we experience? Lemon, lime and blood orange wafting out of the EVOO bottle, as if fresh juice were pent-up and waiting to escape. The fresh garlic, hot pepper (cayenne) and rosemary/basil olive oils jockeyed for position as well. Honestly, we couldn’t even pick a champion—they’re all winners. And that’s before we got to the regular EVOO, the dipping oil and the regular and strawberry balsamic vinegars.

• What’s an artisan oil? An estate oil? The difference between virgin, extra virgin and just plain “olive oil?” Should you care if your olive oil is cold pressed? Read our Olive Oil Glossary.
• How can you talk the talk and truly know what you’ve bought? Learn enough that you can start hosting olive oil tasting parties! Read the article and taste like a pro.
• What does it mean when an olive oil is earthy… peppery… fruity… herbal? Each oil is different. If you prefer herbal to earthy, get to know how to ask for olive oil like you ask for wine. Read the scoop.

The individually-wrapped portions, 1-3/4 inches square and 66.6 calories, are ideal anytime you need a small sweet fix; they are a perfect complement to a cup of coffee. While a USDA study concluded that 37 grams of dark chocolate (about 3 of these squares) offer the same amount of flavonol antioxidants as three cups of tea, two glasses of red wine or 1-1/3 cups of blueberries, benefits, dark chocolate is still a calorie dense food, and should be consumed in moderation. Thankfully, Hershey’s Extra Dark individual portions make moderation easy. Certified kosher (dairy) by OU.

It’s easy to enjoy a little bite whenever the mood strikes. Photo by Corey Lugg | THE NIBBLE.

• Find reviews of our favorite chocolates in our Chocolate Section.
• A brief history of chocolate.
• How chocolate is made.