Coconut Orange Saketini. A Sake based cocktail made with Coconut Lemongrass Sake and inspired by the #PNWFoodRetreat.
This time last month I was in Oregon for the loveliest of all weekends. Carolyn from All Day I Dream About Food and I planned a PNW Food Bloggers Retreat. Carolyn and I were supposed to attend another retreat together last year but plans changed and it didn’t move forward. We started talking and got the idea to bring together a small group of local food bloggers that are right here in the Pacific Northwest where we both live and celebrate all that the PNW has to offer.
First, we decided on a location. After scouting tens of options in both Washington and Oregon, we decided on a McMenamins. If you haven’t been to one of their dozen or so hotels or many restaurants in WA and OR, you are missing out. Their properties are all unique, individual, pay homage to their previous incarnation and are the most whimsical and fun places around. They are a family run company that cares about details, sustainability, food quality, environmental impact, art and fun.
We were generously hosted by The Grand Lodge, which is in Forest Grove, OR and was an old Masonic Retirement Home. This is one of the things that makes all of the McMenamins properties so special. What was once a retirement home is now a funky hotel with bars, restaurants, a soaking pool, a movie theater, an organic spa and a garden with chickens.
Next, we invited a group of food bloggers from WA and OR. And, what a group we had! We were excited about each person but when we brought the group together, it was all love. Everyone was so supportive, so real and such a treasure. Everyone brought something different to the table and shared it so willingly.
Besides me and Carolyn, there was Taylor from Food Faith Fitness, Dara from Cookin’ Canuck, Fabiola from Not Just Baked, Karista Bennett, Meghan from Fox and Briar, Samantha from Little Ferraro Kitchen, Dani from The Adventure Bite, Deseree from Life’s Ambrosia and Heather of Farmgirl Gourmet and the spice company Spiceologist.
We spent each morning in one of the cozy and funky meeting rooms at The Grand Lodge, learning from each other, sharing information and brainstorming.
I want to give a HUGE thank you to our local sponsors Pacific Foods, New Season’s Market, Mary’s Harvest, Organic Valley and Bob’s Red Mill for providing their delicious products for us to fuel our work sessions and beyond.
Carolyn and I worked with Travel Oregon, Tualatin ValleyValley Travel and Oregon Wine Country Travel to plan adventures, tours and tastings to occupy our afternoons and evenings.
That is where this Coconut Organge Saketini comes in. We spent one of our afternoons at Saké One for a tour and extensive tasting, one of only six Saké breweries in the country and the only one in Oregon. I left with a new appreciation of (good) Saké and bought a bottle of Coconut Lemongrass Saké to bring home. As soon as I tasted it, I knew it would be perfect for a fancy pants Saketini.
I also want to give a huge thanks to Jcoco Chocolates, Spiceologist and the San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau who all generously contributed items for our gift bags.
This retreat wound up being so much better than we even thought it could be. Carolyn and I worked so hard to pull it off and it was so gratifying to see and feel the comradely and generosity of knowledge. Our group was amazing, our location was fantastic and our sponsors really represented the best of the Pacific Northwest!
Now, for that Saketini recipe!
Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating below!
- 3 oz Moonstone Coconut Lemongrass Nigori Sake
- 1 oz Cointreau
- 4 oz orange juice
- Splash tangerine LaCroix or plain sparkling water
- Fresh oranges or clementines for serving
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Fill a large cocktail shaker (or quart sized mason jar) with ice.
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Add all ingredients except garnish and shake vigorously until well mixed.
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Pour into two martini glasses, serve with a slice of fresh orange or clementine and Enjoy!
Did you make this recipe? Tag @EverydayMaven on Instagram with the hashtag #EveryDayMaven and please give a star rating below.
I am SO intrigued by this! Looks amazing!
You have to try it Brandy!
Sounds like a fun event! And terrific drink — looks SO good. Thanks!
Thanks John!
That sounds like a great trip!! What a fun time. And I could REALLY use one or two of these drinks right now!
Hey Ashley! It was so great 🙂
Where to find the Sake?
Hi Pat – I linked to it in my post! I found it at SakeOne during our tour.
What an amazing group of bloggers!! This drink makes me thirsty 🙂 It looks like you had a great time!
Thanks so much Lauren!
That sounds so fun! I’ve always wanted to go on one of those retreats. And this looks delicious. 🙂
It was amazing Erin!
What a perfect group of people to travel with!! ooo and those drinks are perfect!
It was Angie!
I LOVE this post. I mean, this whole trip? It was AMAZING. The ladies were FAB, I learned SO much and all the food? HEAVEN. Thank you SO much for putting this on – I’ll cheers you with a saketini!!
It was amazing and I’m so glad you were a part of it! I can’t wait to cheers you in person soon for your going away! xoxo
This was the most amazing trip! Every experience was fabulous, and even better was getting to know all of these talented and smart ladies! Thank you so much for your hard work!
My pleasure Meghan! It really was even better than my wildest dreams. Thank you being a part of it and contributing so much to the group! <3
Oh how I love this! It was such an incredible trip. You are so amazing and beautiful! I’m so grateful to have gone on this trip. Bar none, the best and most I have ever learned in this space. Love you all! And if I drank, I’d drink this all! It’s gorgeous.
Thank you so much Fabiola! That means so much. You are the best and I am so grateful for all that you contributed that made it such a good trip! xoxo
xoxo thank YOU!!!