Tomorrow, May 16th, is National Aperitif Day! Maison Lillet declared May 16th as this holiday to raise awareness of a great, yet underrated libation. All around the country aperitif lovers and newbies will celebrate the traditional French aperitif hour with Lillet. For those of you who don’t know, aperitif is a French word meaning ‘to  open,’ and is mainly used to describe refreshments, as well as light food and snacks, such as amuse bouche. This year, Maison Lillet collaborated with celebrity chef Geoffrey Zakarian to create unique amuse bouche recipes, tailor-made for each variant, to highlight how Lillet pairs with food and flavors to whet the appetite. We love the recipe below for oysters paired with Lillet Rosé.

Oyster on the Half Shell with Pickled Husk Cherry and Lillet Rosé Gelée
Pairs with Lillet Rosé
Serves: 4 canapés

½ cup white wine vinegar
¼ cup granulated sugar
¼ teaspoon mustard seeds
¼ teaspoon cardamom
½ teaspoon salt
½ cup Lillet Rosé
1 sheet gelatin, soaked in ice water and drained
4 each husk cherries (goose berries), cut in half
4 each oysters, on the half shell, chilled
salt
fresh ground pepper

In a small sauce pot, combine the vinegar, sugar, mustard seeds, cardamom, and salt. Add 3 turns of fresh cracked pepper. Bring to a boil and pour over the husk cherries and chill completely. Bring the Lillet Rose to a boil and whisk in the gelatin. Strain the liquid and set in a small cup. Chill the mixture until a jelly is formed. To serve, spoon a small amount of the jelly between each oyster and garnish with two halves of the pickled husk cherries.

Additionally, feel free to join in the festivities this Thursday, May 16^th at one of the below locations for Lillet specials from 5PM – 7PM in honor of the holiday.

Beaumarchais
409 W 13th St
(between Washington St & 9th Ave)

Revel
10 Little W 12th St
(between 9th Ave & Washington St)

Cercle Rouge
241 W Broadway
(between White & Walker Sts)

Le Singe Vert
160 7th Ave
(between 19th & 20th Sts)

Jules Bistro
65 St Marks Pl
(between 1st & 2nd Aves)

Bar Tabac
128 Smith St.
(@ Dean St.)

Clarkson
225 Varick St
(@ Clarkson St.)

Pigalle
790 8th Ave
(between 48th & 49th Sts)

Sweetleaf **Serving a special Jean de Lillet Reserve 2009 cocktail!
10-93 Jackson Avenue
Long Island City, NY

Image via Great Wine News

Tomorrow, May 16th, is National Aperitif Day! Maison Lillet declared May 16th as this holiday to raise awareness of a great, yet underrated libation. All around the country aperitif lovers and newbies will celebrate the traditional French aperitif hour with Lillet. For those of you who don’t know, aperitif is a French word meaning ‘to  open,’ and is mainly used to describe refreshments, as well as light food and snacks, such as amuse bouche. This year, Maison Lillet collaborated with celebrity chef Geoffrey Zakarian to create unique amuse bouche recipes, tailor-made for each variant, to highlight how Lillet pairs with food and flavors to whet the appetite. We love the recipe below for oysters paired with Lillet Rosé.

Oyster on the Half Shell with Pickled Husk Cherry and Lillet Rosé Gelée
Pairs with Lillet Rosé
Serves: 4 canapés

½ cup white wine vinegar
¼ cup granulated sugar
¼ teaspoon mustard seeds
¼ teaspoon cardamom
½ teaspoon salt
½ cup Lillet Rosé
1 sheet gelatin, soaked in ice water and drained
4 each husk cherries (goose berries), cut in half
4 each oysters, on the half shell, chilled
salt
fresh ground pepper

In a small sauce pot, combine the vinegar, sugar, mustard seeds, cardamom, and salt. Add 3 turns of fresh cracked pepper. Bring to a boil and pour over the husk cherries and chill completely. Bring the Lillet Rose to a boil and whisk in the gelatin. Strain the liquid and set in a small cup. Chill the mixture until a jelly is formed. To serve, spoon a small amount of the jelly between each oyster and garnish with two halves of the pickled husk cherries.

Additionally, feel free to join in the festivities this Thursday, May 16^th at one of the below locations for Lillet specials from 5PM – 7PM in honor of the holiday.

Beaumarchais
409 W 13th St
(between Washington St & 9th Ave)

Revel
10 Little W 12th St
(between 9th Ave & Washington St)

Cercle Rouge
241 W Broadway
(between White & Walker Sts)

Le Singe Vert
160 7th Ave
(between 19th & 20th Sts)

Jules Bistro
65 St Marks Pl
(between 1st & 2nd Aves)

Bar Tabac
128 Smith St.
(@ Dean St.)

Clarkson
225 Varick St
(@ Clarkson St.)

Pigalle
790 8th Ave
(between 48th & 49th Sts)

Sweetleaf **Serving a special Jean de Lillet Reserve 2009 cocktail!
10-93 Jackson Avenue
Long Island City, NY

Image via Great Wine News