Infused Review: Cruzan Coconut Rum

In INFUSED, Elizabeth J. Musgrave connects spirits, wine, and beer with culinary and creative arts

Sometimes you find something that just tastes so good you start experimenting with it, finding more reasons to use it than for what it was originally created. You might call it a passion. Others might call it an obsession.

Cruzan’s Coconut Rum is my newest obsession. The St. Croix-based rum is mellow with a pleasant scent. First testing it sans ice or mixer, I found it to be tasty as a sipping beverage with a long-lasting finish. Chilling it and pouring over ice gave it a different take ~ refreshing and light.

Coconut Mojito

Since I was sent Cruzan’s Aged Light, 9 Spiced, and Coconut rums to review, my mind kept drifting to ways to use it. Coconut rum-marinated grilled shrimp, coconut rum-infused chocolate fondue, even chocolate cupcakes with coconut rum frosting. Next in line to create will be pineapple cake pops with original rum-infused maraschino cherries and coconut rum-infused icing, all rolled in toasted coconut.

For mixing purposes, the rum drinks bring summer back one last time before winter sets in again. Playing around with Cruzan’s coconut rum has been fun, creating several cocktails, frozen, on the rocks and ice cream concoctions.

Although I can certainly see how this will perk up my winter favorite, Bailey’s with hot chocolate, for now the tropical recipes will satisfy.

Below are two recipes Cruzan shared with me. Feel free to send any recipes of drinks or cuisine you create to elizabeth@gottago.us.

Bottom Line: Cruzan’s coconut rum adds a gentle flavor to mixed drinks while maintaining its right to perform as a solo act.

Coconut Mojito

2 parts Cruzan® Aged Light Rum

 1 part Cruzan® Coconut Rum

8-10 Mint Leaves

2 lime wedges

1 tsp sugar

Coconut water/Coconut Soda

Method

Muddle mint, lime and sugar and top with Rums and ice.

Shake two times to mix. Add Coconut Water/Soda to top.

9 Planter's Punch

1 1/2 parts Cruzan® 9 Spiced Rum

1 part Cruzan® Aged Light Rum

2 parts Mango Juice

1 part Pineapple Juice

1/4 part Grenadine

2 dashes Bitters

Method
Mix all ingredients together. Top with a splash of soda.

Images and product sample furnished by Cruzan Rum

Elizabeth J. Musgrave is a syndicated fine-living, travel columnist, freelance writer, and performing arts and restaurant critic for Gotta Go. Read her new column, Infused, at GottaGo.us and FoodandDrinkDigital.com and catch her as Indy’s Entertainment Adviser on 93 WIBC. Gotta Go is published on Gottago.us, BroadwayWorld.com, in magazines and several Indianapolis area newspapers. Follow her on Twitter @GottaGo, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Restaurant Review: Northside Nights 2011

Dessert fondue dippers                                 Photo: Izzy Evans

Similar to Devour Downtown, Northside Nights provides Indianapolis foodies and occasional diners the opportunity to sample cuisine at restaurants they have been eyeing or introduce them to a new food choice via a special $30-per-person or two-for-$30 offer. I was recently invited to check out a few of the menus for the event, including those at Scotty’s Brewhouse, Sullivan’s Steakhouse and The Melting Pot. I was unable to make Scotty’s but did try the other two.

Oven-roasted chicken breast

Sullivan’s, 3316 E. 86th St., lists three salads and four entrees for its special. The salads were traditional fare done extremely well with the steakhouse mixed greens winning my vote over the classic Caesar and wedge salads. I also tasted each of the entrees: steak and potatoes, broiled Atlantic salmon filet, Bleu cheese meatloaf and oven-roasted chicken breast.

Atlantic salmon filet

Steak options are a 6-ounce filet or 10-ounce New York strip with additional toppings, Gorgonzola butter, bleu cheese gratin, horseradish crust, and Cabernet goat cheese butter, available at an additional cost. The offerings were well presented with the strip and horseradish crust giving just enough bite without overpowering the beef, and the bleu cheese meatloaf giving a modern twist to a classic staple. The eatery has an atmosphere of old school steakhouses and boasts a varied wine cellar.

Yin & Yang dessert fondue

The Melting Pot, 5650 E. 86th St., is already well-known to me as a one of the winners of the Gotta Go choices for “Best 6 Spots to Get Shaken, not Stirred” in Indianapolis with its Yin-yang martini. The food at the fondue eatery is also familiar as I am a fan of all things cooked in cute little pots, especially those containing cheese or chocolate.

The $30-per-person menu includes a choice of Queso or Cheddar Cheese fondue for an appetizer and either Heartland Selection or The Vegetarian for entrée fondues. The dessert section, which I sampled heavily, includes White Chocolate Turtle, Yin & Yang and Chocolate S’Mores. Yin & Yang is perfect for a dark chocolate lover and the S’Mores takes you right back to childhood.

Northside Nights continues through Sept. 18 with all restaurants and menus available at NorthsideNightsIndy.com.

Elizabeth J. Musgrave is a syndicated columnist, travel writer, performing arts and restaurant critic. Catch her as Indy’s Arts & Entertainment Adviser on 93 WIBC, and follow her on Twitter @GottaGo and Facebook. Gotta Go is published in the following newspapers: South Sider Voice, Indiana Weekender, New Palestine Reporter, Pendleton Times Reporter and Fortville-McCordsville Reporter.

Resolutions 2011 a.k.a. The Gotta Go List 2011

Resolutions, goals, bucket lists…whatever term you use, every year we set up our obligatory to-do list annually. Perhaps we do this in hopes of ridding ourselves of bad habits, trying a fresh start in our lives or attempting to reach the next level in our careers.

As is my custom, I take stock of which items I can check off the previous year's Gotta Go list and revise it for the upcoming year. I updated, some with pictures, the ones I crossed off for 2010. I got to many -- including a new sport (skiing), a new state (Georgia) and a new form of transportation (80-foot boat) and a museum (Richmond’s Levi Coffin House).

Since 2011 feels like it is going to be productive, let’s get busy with this year’s Gotta Go list. Remember, don’t worry about the ugly stuff, giving up chocolate, etc; just concentrate on celebrating life by adding in positive experiences and re-enacting favorites. It’s okay to get outlandish; it’s your life, and if you don’t do it now then when? There is no perfect time to do anything so…GO FOR IT!

1. Visit a new state-I am up to 34 of the 50. I plan on adding three or four new ones this year.

2. Throw a party. It can be small, big, outside or in. The point is to gather some friends, encourage them to bring someone new to meet and have fun. I am personally planning on throwing a fondue party and a cheese and wine pairing party. Others may come up impromptu since I do love parties.

3. Apologize to someone-I know this may sound like an non-fun idea, but hear me out. What if, one day you simply said, face-to-face, via a letter, voice mail or text to someone who you know, deep down, that you wronged and simply said, “I am sorry.” That’s it. Nothing else has to come out of it, but the weight lifted from your heart helps you enjoy your own life so much more.

4. Go fly a kite. Literally. Buy, make or borrow one and let it fly.

5. Passport-okay, I have told you this will be on here until I get it done…this year looks promising.

6. Take up, or restart, an art form. Pottery, singing, painting, writing, origami, photography or whatever creative outlet you have always wanted to try or revisit. Take a class at a local studio, library or school, or simply get an instructive DVD or book. Letting the creative juices flow brightens your world. Maybe you prefer to study an art form at a local museum or art gallery; it counts.

7. Build a sand castle or sculpture; or attend a competition and volunteer to help. The point is to dig into the sand and let your inner child back out.

8. Write, a letter, thank you note, something, anything to someone else. The speed of today’s technology is quickly eliminating written messages. Letting someone know you appreciate a gift or telling them the latest news gives them something besides junk mail in their mailbox which creates smiles.

9. Cook a new food dish. Have fun looking through cookbooks, ask family and friends for recipes and just try out one brand new one. Getting out of our comfort zone keeps us out of the dreaded rut.

10. Attend a festival. Blueberry, maple syrup, kite, hot air balloon, popcorn...there is practically a festival dedicated to almost anything you can imagine, even Spam. So get out, go to one and take pictures.

There we have it; our new Gotta Go list. Remember that combining items is allowed and extra marks are given for efficiency and creativity. I am looking forward to hearing how many you check off and I will update my list online as I get mine crossed off.

Elizabeth J. Musgrave is a syndicated columnist, travel writer and theater critic. Catch her as Indy’s Arts & Entertainment Adviser on 93 WIBC and follow her on Twitter @ejmusgrave1 and Facebook.

Gotta Go is published in the following newspapers: South Sider Voice, Indiana Weekender, West Side Community News, New Palestine Reporter, West Indianapolis Community News, Pendleton Times Reporter and Fortville-McCordsville Reporter.