LETS CELEBRATE!!!

WELCOME TO HAPPY HOUR AT THE TURQUOISE TURTLE!!! 

We are delighted to have you here at the first of many gatherings at the Turtle, where natives and guests mingle in the warm night air and the conversation is as spirited as the dance steps.

Listen to the sounds of the Tres Amigos as you choose your drinks and get your feet tapping.  You can adjust the sounds to your personal levels. 

The Margaritas are icy cold and have their own table near the pool.  There is a cash bar under the rear portico where the bartenders can mix anything you want.

Vincent also put pitchers of Sangria on the tables around the pool.  Help yourself.  I don't know if you have ever had Sangria, but here is a recipe I've used for years.  Just remember, its not too sweet, so you can use it as a jumping off point for adding fruit, although the more fruit you add, the more it will taste like punch.  And, the Sangria pitchers are so much fun!

Spanish Sangria
3 1/4 c. (26 oz) dry red wine
1T. superfine sugar
juices of 1 large orange and 1 large lemon, strained
1 large orange and 1 large lemon, thinly sliced
1 c. club soda
Add juices to wine and refrigerate.  When serving, add club soda.  Prepare glasses, or large balloon wines by putting 1 slice each of lemon and orange against the inside glass, add ice, then pour in the Sangria.  Makes four glasses.

This goes really well with Tapas, especially if you can find those wonderful little plates that fit on top.  We buy them buy the case here.  

You are in for a treat.  Rose has made lots of tapas and she is a fanatic about freshness, so they will all be hot and crispy.  Don't even think about the calories.  You don't want to know.   Rosa keeps all her recipes in her head!  So, enjoy them while she makes them, but I can give you a few general clues.  Whatever she makes, she mixes hot and cold temperatures, mild and spicey flavors and sweet and savory mixtures.  Then, she adds little pick ups.  Heres a sample.

Mix cream cheese with smoked oysters.  Make another mixture of egg salad, but use aolli instead of mayo.  Stuff hollowed out small yellow and red tomatos.  Brush pita toasts with a little mixed cream cheese and mayo.  Top with a little red onion and smoked salmon.  Add flavored olives, some sweet gerkins and cinnamon pecans and you done!  I can do this; I can't touch what Rosa does.

Isn't Vincent a hoot!  He is just way too cute for his  own good.  He may have had too much Sangria.  Someone point him upstairs a little later if he starts listing to the left. He will grab all of you and drag you to the dance floor sooner or later.  He thinks he is Fred Astaire (his hero).


Now, I know you are tapping your feet, so GET UP AND DANCE!!!  You can do it, just swing your hips and your feet will get the idea.  Just pretend you know what you are doing and pretty soon, you will.  

Girls, we need to find Baino.  She HAS to tell us the story of big sombreros and large guitars...............


Grab a Margarita!