How to Make a Budget-Friendly Charcuterie Board

Posted on August 5, 2019 by englishivys

Charcuterie is a great dish for any occasion, whether you are entertaining a few friends, catering for a large party, or simply treating yourself to a treat. It’s a treat that offers options, which means there is something to meet all tastes and palates. Furthermore, a charcuterie allows you to indulge in small gourmet delicacies that you would otherwise pass up at the grocery store.

Although charcuterie boards can be made into endless combinations, the price tags for the bits and pieces can easily add up. For this reason, many people pass on charcuterie altogether, and opt for a more conventional and predictable fruit and veggie tray instead. But the truth is, charcuterie CAN be affordable, and without having to make any sacrifices on taste or quality. All you have to do is know where to look.

Continue reading to learn some budget-friendly tips for curating a charcuterie board.

Downtown Indianapolis Eatery 317-822-5070

Curating Your Charcuterie

A charcuterie board is simply a diverse spread of gourmet or artisanal meats, cheese, breads, condiments, vegetables, and more. The ways to prepare a charcuterie plate are infinite, and do not have to include all of the above-mentioned food groups. You can choose to be as creative as you like, using any combination of any finger foods imaginable. A good range is 3 to 5 ingredients, at least. You can use a serving tray, wooden cutting board, flat white plate, stone platter, or fancy serving ware. You can better decide on ideas by choosing a theme, seasonal items, non-regional selections, or simply your own favorite things to eat!

Although you are free to be as creative as you like, there are a few helpful guidelines to follow when preparing a charcuterie board. When it comes to meat options, be sure to have 2 ounces of meat per person. If you are feeding a larger group, increase the weight to 5 ounces per person; and be sure to serve a lot of bread for larger crowds, especially if the charcuterie is the main course. Additionally, keep a good ratio of salty, sweet, and sour for a diverse and multi-layered taste and texture experience. This will further ensure you have something for everyone!

Buying Charcuterie Items

You don’t have to visit the local gourmet grocers to make a great charcuterie plate either. Your neighborhood grocery is sure to have a special section that offers a wide range of home-made, artisanal, gourmet foods. Typically, this section is found in the deli or produce areas. Carefully read the price tags on cheeses and meats, taking into consideration the weight of each, in order to find the right items within your budget. There should also be a clearance section for last chance items, which are also great deals.

Cost-Effective Items to Consider for Your Board:

Come to English Ivy’s for Tasty Finger Foods and Handhelds!

Call English Ivy’s at 317-822-5070 to learn about our delicious appetizers, starters, small plates, and handhelds we have to offer. Our downtown Indianapolis pub and eatery is located in the Historic Saint Joseph Neighborhood, with both lot and street parking available, so visiting us is never a hassle! We gladly accept wall-ins, reservations, and even carryout orders. Our neighborhood prices and kind service sets us apart from other bars and restaurants around, so you will surely be pleased with our Downtown bar and restaurant!

Easy Iced Tea Mocktail and Cocktail Recipes for Summer

Posted on July 17, 2019 by englishivys

Try some refreshing twists on the conventional iced tea recipe, or spike it with some extras for a sensational summertime iced tea cocktail!

Downtown Indianapolis Drink Specials 317-822-5070

Ice tea is a summertime staple. When served perfectly chilled on a hot summer day, nothing compares the flavor and refreshment it delivers with every gulp. If you are bored with the classic ice tea recipes you’ve been drinking all your life, try to incorporate some new ingredients to your traditional recipe to switch up the flavor profiles.

The great thing about ice tea is its versatility. Almost any fruit or citrus juice can enhance and complement its flavors, as well as, herbs, spices, rinds, and more! If you are ready to modernize your age-old iced tea recipe, continue reading and look forward to some fantastic tips and tricks you can try at home or at your favorite bar!

Green Lemon Iced Tea 🍋

What You Will Need:

❧ Green Tea Leaves
❧ Tea Ball
❧ Lemons
❧ Juicer (optional)
❧ Pitcher
*You can simply use green tea bags if you do not want or have a tea ball set. If you do not have fresh lemons for lemon juice, use lemonade.

Instructions:

➀ Bring 2 cups of water to a boil.
➁ Insert 3 green tea bags.
➂ Cover with a lid and allow it to steep for 3 to 5 minutes. If you want stronger tea, steep for a few minutes longer. If you do not have a lid or cover, use a large cutting board.
➃ Once the tea has steeped, transfer it to a pitcher and squeeze ¼ cup of fresh lemon juice in it. You can also add 2 teaspoons of honey or sugar to sweeten it up!
➄ Allow the tea to chill overnight in the refrigerator, and serve over ice with a lemon slice garnish!

Ginger Hibiscus Iced Tea 🌺

What You Will Need:

❧ Hibiscus Tea Bags
❧ Fresh Ginger
❧ Lemon
❧ Sweetener of Choice
❧ Strainer
❧ Pitcher
*You can use honey or sugar as a sweetener. You can find Hibiscus tea bags at any local grocery store or fresh foods market. Again, if you do not have fresh lemons, you can use lemonade instead.

Instructions :

➀ Bring 4 cups of water, 1 tablespoon of freshly peeled ginger, and 3 tablespoons of sweetener to a boil in a medium sauce pan.
➁ Stir the boiling water until the sugar is entirely dissolved.
➂ Remove the pan from heat and add 4 bags of Hibiscus tea.
➃ Cover the pan with a lid and allow the tea to steep for 10 to 12 minutes. Steep longer for stronger flavored tea.
➄ Pour the tea over a strainer into your desired pitcher to remove all the ginger solids.
➅ Chill in the refrigerator overnight. Serve over ice with a lemon wedge!
➆ To enhance your refreshment on a hot summer day, add a bit of seltzer water to your iced tea concoction!

Iced Tea Cocktail Ideas 🍹

Summer is also a time for relaxation and recreation; and what better way to enjoy the sunny season than with an iced cold cocktail! Ice tea makes a great base for alcoholic beverages because it contains water, which helps keep you hydrated, as well as citric acid, which serves as an antioxidant to help control hangovers! Below are some ways to enhance the above iced tea concoctions into iced tea cocktails!

Ginger Hibiscus Iced Tea Cocktails:
↳ Add bourbon, cinnamon sticks, honey, and allspice;
↳ Add white rum, Aperol, sparkling wine, and fresh berries;
↳ Add beer and muddled grapefruit.

Iced Green Tea Cocktails:
↳ Add champagne, pomegranate juice, and mint leaves;
↳ Add gin, lime juice, and orange juice;
↳ Add vodka, cranberry juice, lime juice, and orange liqueur.

Order a Refreshing Iced Tea Drink at English Ivy’s!

Contact English Ivy’s at 317-822-5070 to learn all about our weekly drink specials in Downtown Indianapolis, Indiana. We also serve a full lunch, dinner, and late night menu, and even brunch on weekends! From iced tea cocktails and mimosas, to beer, wine, and everything in between, we have the refreshing summertime cocktails you crave on a hot day. With neighborhood prices and the nicest service around, you will enjoy every minute you spend at our Downtown Indianapolis bar and restaurant!

Top Summertime Whiskey Cocktails for Barbecue

Posted on June 24, 2019 by englishivys

Summer is a time for barbecuing, and here at English Ivy’s, our bartenders and culinary specialists know that whiskey happens to be one of the best drinks to pair with the flavors of roasted, seared, and flamed meats. The aromatic herbs and essences of whiskey perfectly complement the rich, char-grilled flavors of authentic BBQ cuisine.

So continue reading to learn which whiskey cocktails we recommend to pair with your summertime BBQ!

Why Whiskey?

Terrific barbecue is not an easy accomplishment. It takes years of trial and error, acute knowledge, and unwavering discipline to truly achieve the skill level necessary to create mouth-watering barbecue. But when it comes to creating delicious cocktails to pair well with your favorite smoked meats and classic comfort foods, there is no real skill required! Anyone can couple the perfect cocktail with the smokiness and spiciness of a genuine barbecue dinner. All you need are the right ingredients, the right supplies, and a group of friends to share them with!

When deciding on cocktails, there are hundreds of liquors and liqueurs to choose from, but whiskey is always a safe choice. There is no other liquor that quite matches the smoke and spice of barbecue. The aromatic herbs of whiskey seem to complement the charred goodness of authentic barbecued foods. Below you will find a few popular whiskey cocktails that are sure to bring out the best flavors and the best times at your next barbecue dinner!

🍋 The Dickelade

This cocktail is made with George Dickel No. 12® , which is a 90 proof whiskey that is inspired by authentic scotch flavors. It is basically an Arnold Palmer, but without the iced tea. In fact, you could even compare it to a whiskey sour, which is bourbon, lemon juice, and sugar (and sometimes an egg white to balance the flavor!). To make a Dickelade, simply mix with lemonade and serve over ice with a lemon slice!

Directions:
⇢ 1.5 ounces George Dickel No. 12®
⇢ 4 ounces Lemonade

Fill a rocks glass with ice. Pour in whiskey first, then top it with the lemonade. Stir the contents until the glass starts to chill and condensate. Finish by garnishing with a lemon slice.

🍯 Jack Daniels Honey® & Grapefruit

The name really says it all here. This cocktail is the perfect refreshing finish to any bite of tasty barbecue, and it only requires a few easy ingredients. All you need is a bottle of Jack Daniels® and some ruby red grapefruits to get started. Simply mix, pour over ice, and garnish with a lime wedge. If you want to avoid the hassle of freshly squeezing grapefruits, you can substitute in your choice of bottled grapefruit juice.

Directions:
⇢ 1 ounces Jack Daniels Honey®
⇢ 3 ounces Fresh-Squeezed Grapefruit Juice

Start with a tall glass of ice. Squeeze grapefruit juice into a separate container. Next, pour the whiskey over ice, then follow with grapefruit juice. Finish by garnishing with a lime wedge.

🍹 The Cobas

If you want something similar to the Jack Daniels Honey® and Grapefruit, but not as sweet, try the exotic cocktail named the Cobas, which loosely translates to the suck up in Spanish. But this drink doesn’t have tequila. Instead, this cocktail requires standard bourbon, grapefruit juice, mint leaves, and cinnamon.

Directions:
⇢ 1 ounces Jim Beam®
⇢ 1.5 ounces Fresh-Squeezed Grapefruit Juice
⇢ 1.5 ounces Fresh-Squeezed Lime Juice

Start with a tall glass of ice. Next, pour the whiskey over ice, then follow with grapefruit juice and lime juice. Finish by garnishing with a lime wedge, fresh mint leaves, and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Where to Get Great Food and Drink Specials in Downtown Indy

Contact English Ivy’s at 317-822-5070 to hear about our delicious dinner and drink specials we’re offering this summer! We gladly accept wall-ins, reservations, and even carryout orders. From classic wings and beer, to prime rib, cocktails, stage entertainment, and more, we have exactly what you are looking for in both flavor and fun! With neighborhood prices and the kindliest service around, you will be fully-satisfied with every moment you spend at our Downtown Indianapolis bar and restaurant! We look forward to being friends!