Cocktail | Kitchen Konfidence

A Special Mother’s Day Brunch Menu + The Spring Garden Cocktail

May 12, 2017 by Brandon Matzek Leave a Comment

Mother’s Day is almost here, so today, I’m sharing a special menu for that special mom in your life.

Jorge and I are in New Jersey this week. One my oldest friends (we met in 2nd grade!) is getting married, and we’re here for the wedding. I’m one of the groomsmen!

My parents still live in New Jersey, so after the wedding, we’ll get to celebrate Mother’s Day with my mom. Something I haven’t done in many years! We’re planning on going to a special brunch out, but if I had the chance to prepare a home cooked meal, I’d definitely serve the menu below. Check it out along with a sweet cocktail recipe infused with fresh, spring flavors.

Piña Para la Niña Cocktail Recipe

May 2, 2017 by Brandon Matzek 4 Comments

Cinco de Mayo is just around the corner, and today I’m sharing a fun cocktail recipe along with menu ideas for a spirited May 5 bash.

First, let’s talk about this Piña Para la Niña. Over the past year, Olmeca Altos has been my preferred tequila of choice, and today’s drink starts with their silver tequila muddled in a cocktail shaker with slices of fiery jalapeño. Pineapple juice, lime juice and a vanilla-infused syrup are added to the mix, bringing a bright and balanced taste of the tropics. Everything gets shaken with ice, then strained into a coupe glass. The citrusy notes of Olmeca Altos Plata blend beautifully with the pineapple and lime juice, while the jalapeño adds a little spark of intrigue. Sipping one of these from a coupe glass looks quite sophisticated, but the flavors are fresh and approachable. Continue reading for the recipe along with menu ideas for a Cinco de Mayo party!

A Spring Cocktail Recipe + Waterford Week [Giveaway]

March 21, 2017 by Brandon Matzek 64 Comments

You guys!! I’ve got a special treat for you all today.

I’m partnering with Waterford Crystal on this article in celebration of the Week of Waterford happening now through March 26th! For a festive salute to Waterford’s Irish heritage, I’ve created this vibrant spring cocktail recipe. Grated purple radish is muddled with sugar, then shaken with Sage, elderflower liqueur, lemon and grapefruit. Crisp and refreshing, the cocktail is citrus-forward with herbaceous and floral undertones. The purple radish dyes the drink bubble gum pink while providing a mild earthy sweetness.

You may have noticed that I haven’t given a name to the drink. Well, I’m giving you guys the opportunity to name this cocktail for a chance to win a gorgeous Waterford product! Seriously, the Lismore Diamond Martini Glass pictured above is so beautiful and has such a luxurious feel to it. Continue reading below for details plus the recipe!!

Instagram Recipes #1

March 17, 2017 by Brandon Matzek Leave a Comment

Each month, I share a number of recipes on Instagram that are not featured here on Kitchen Konfidence. This post is a round up of some of my favorites. Enjoy!

The Curious Carrot

This first recipe, The Curious Carrot, is a fresh spring cocktail made in partnership with Olmeca Altos Tequila.

A Special Menu for Valentine’s Day + A New Video

February 13, 2017 by Brandon Matzek 5 Comments

Valentine’s Day is tomorrow. If you’re planning a meal for your special someone, definitely check out the menu below.

Each year for Valentine’s Day, I cook Jorge a super fancy, multi-course meal as a special gesture of love :)! Usually we start out with cocktails and appetizers. There’s almost always a meat and cheese board involved. Then I’ll serve a smaller 1st course of soup, salad, pizza or pasta followed by an over-the-top main dish (ribeye, lobster, porchetta in past years). Finally, a homemade dessert that’s got some wow factor without being overly rich. I’ve shared some options below that fit this menu style. Don’t feel like you need to make all of them though! Make whatever you feel comfortable cooking, and fill in the gaps with good quality store-bough items. Continue reading for 10 Valentine’s Day recipes below plus a video on how to make the Reverse Seared Steak with Garlic Herb Butter pictured above!

Blood Orange Vodka Sour Recipe

January 30, 2017 by Brandon Matzek 7 Comments

You guys! This cocktail is so fresh and so delicious. You absolutely must give it a try.

The base of this Blood Orange Vodka Sour recipe is a homemade sour mix made with one of my favorite seasonal ingredients, the blood orange. Painted in blushing shades of orange and red, a blood orange has a distinct flavor with sweet notes of red berries. When you slice one open, the fruit inside could be solid orange in color, solid maroon or a speckled mix of both. To make the sour mix, you start by creating a simple syrup (equal parts sugar and water) infused with grated blood orange zest. After the sugar is dissolved and the syrup cools, you stir in freshly squeezed blood orange and lemon juice. Lemon is needed to add some sharpness to the mix.

Once you’ve made the sour mix, the rest of the cocktail is a breeze. Fill a cocktail shaker with blood orange sour mix, Absolut Vodka and an egg white. Shake to froth up the egg, add ice, then shake again to chill the drink. Strain into a coupe glass and finish with a few drops of Angostura bitters.

Deep rouge beneath a pristine cap of white foam, this cocktail is a beauty perfect for Valentine’s Day. The combination of smooth vodka, ethereal texture and fresh blood orange make for one special drink with your loved one. Continue reading for the recipe!

Game Day Tequila Cocktails 3 Ways

January 23, 2017 by Brandon Matzek 2 Comments

The big game is almost here, so today I’m sharing three unique tequila cocktails perfect for any Game Day bash.

Each of these cocktails is made with Olmeca Altos Tequila, one of my favorite partners here on Kitchen Konfidence. I’ve got an option for the casual tequila-drinker (Easy Passion Fruit Margarita), the serious tequila-drinker (Añejo Old Fashioned) and the beer-drinker (Grapefruit Tequila Fizz). You can pair any of these cocktails with Mexican Game Day apps like queso fundido or salsa verde, but they would also work well with American favorites like buffalo chicken dip or pulled pork sliders. Just make sure you’ve got plenty of chilled tequila on hand to keep the party going!! Continue reading for the recipes.

Top 15 Recipes of 2016

December 30, 2016 by Brandon Matzek 3 Comments

Hello friends and Happy Friday!! I’m going to close out this year with a tasty roundup of my top recipes of 2016.

2016 was an interesting year filled with excitement, a little anxiety from time-to-time and plenty of change. With all of the celebrity deaths and political unrest, many are calling 2016 just the worst. But it was also the year that I decided to transition from my career in Marketing (with Westfield) to full-time food blogging, writing and photography! The second half of 2016 was spent navigating the choppy waters of self-employment, and while it has been challenging, I feel like I’m off to a good start!

I launched my first eBook in partnership with The 30 Clean.
I started writing for Modern Luxury San Diego, a gig I really now look forward to each month.
I’ve continued to work with many amazing clients and partners who help support this blog financially. I want to mention too that I am very critical when it comes to the partners I work with, and I will only promote brands or products that I truly love. Hopefully this comes through when I share sponsored recipes or products!
I’ve gotten to explore San Diego even more, sharing my findings and recs on Instagram.
I’ve shared a wider variety of approachable recipes that seem to be working well (based on your feedback!).

In 2017, I hope to turn up the volume on each of the items above while dabbling a bit more in the video realm. I’m actually quite giddy thinking about the possibilities! Before we get to the roundup, I want to say thanks. Thanks to all the partners and sponsors that help support Kitchen Konfidence financially, and thanks for making awesome products/services that I can gladly support. Thanks to my friends and family who always send so much love and support. Thanks to Jorge for just being awesome. We’re both working from home now, and it’s been so fun, and easy, and enjoyable. I get to see his smiling face all the time now 🙂 And finally, thanks to you the readers for all of the likes, loves, comments and feedback. You are the reason why I do what do!

Happy New Year from Brandon, Jorge, TiVo and Boris!! If you need a cocktail for NYE, try this one or this one. And now, on to my top recipes of 2016!!

Guava Passion Fruit Margarita Recipe

September 29, 2016 by Brandon Matzek 1 Comment

You guys, I am SO excited to share this cocktail with you all today.

Why, you might ask? Well, the main flavors here come from fresh guavas and passion fruit, two ingredients that are a pure delight to cook with. The floral aromas present in ripe guavas can instantly whisk you off to the tropics, and the complex tanginess of both fruits is perfect for a margarita.

This Guava Passion Fruit Margarita recipe starts with a sweet-tart purée made with the aforementioned fruit. Hued a sunny shade of yellow-orange, the purée is then mixed with barrel-aged Olmeca Altos Reposado tequila. Notes of citrus and vanilla in the tequila work beautifully with the tropical fruit. Lime juice and simple syrup are mixed in to snap flavors into balance. I decided not to add a liqueur element to this margarita, because the fruit purée is so robust in flavor, nothing else is really needed. With just one sip of this golden marg, a sense of warm, carefree summer will immediately wash over you. Continue reading for the margarita recipe.

Soda & Sage Cocktail Recipe

August 3, 2016 by Brandon Matzek Leave a Comment

Can we talk for a moment about how crazy this heat has been recently?! All I want to do right now is stay at home in the AC while doing any one of the following:

1. drinking an ice cold beverage.
2. eating a frosty bowl of ice cream.
3. slamming a few of these ice cream sandwiches.
4. slurping a spiked ice cream float.
5. taking a bite out of these chocolate-covered pops.

I recently got a bottle of Sage liqueur by Art in the Age, and I’m obsessed. This garden gin is infused with sage, rosemary, thyme, lavender, dandelion and more! It’s fresh, aromatic and exactly what I want to be drinking on a hot day. To let the nuanced flavors of the spirit shine through, I’ve paired Sage with sweet, floral St. Germain, lemon juice and sparkling water. The finished cocktail is fizzy, herbaceous and so, so refreshing. Continue reading for the cocktail recipe.