Last week, renowned event planner
Tara Guérard hosted a
Bastille Day-themed birthday party at a historic home in Charleston. And while everyone here at the Lonny office oo-ed and ahh-ed over the pretty blue-and-white
tablescape, we couldn't help but notice that some of the details weren't exactly French.
It seems that in party planning—as in fashion, home decor, you name it—anything too matchy-matchy is a no-no. "I didn’t want the connection to Bastille Day to be too literal," said Guérard. So for every mini baguette on the dinner table
place settings, there was a verdant glass of "la rêverie de concombre," an elderflower- and cucumber-infused
gin punch that was topped with serrano pepper ice cubes. None of the guests seemed to mind the Mexican reference—in fact, people appeared to be enjoying their cocktails all the more for the accompanying cognitive dissonance. "As long as you can get to the bar to get a drink, life is good," says Guérard. We second that!
To try the drink for yourself, see the recipe below and raise a glass with us
@lonnymag.
La Rêverie de ConcombreServes about 50-- 1¼-750 mL bottle of Hendrick's Gin
-- 1-750 mL bottle of St. Germaine Elderflower Liquer
-- 1 liter cucumber juice
-- ¾ liter lime juice
-- ¼ liter lemon juice
-- 1 bunch mint
-- ice cubes frozen w/ slices of serrano peppers and cucumber
-- lemon & lime wheels
Combine all ingredients in punch bowl stir. Top with soda water to taste and garnish with ice cubes and slices of lemon and lime.