Photo Courtesy: HaveYouHeard.com

I hit up Covet’s restaurant opening the other night, hosted by Ramona Singer, of Real Housewives of NY fame, and I was definitely impressed. (Though secretly, I love RHONY so much even if the food had been terrible I would have been psyched to see her). The space is two floors, the first of which hosts a large dining room with a gorgeous chandelier and cozy booths.  As for cuisine, think Mediterranean meets Pacific Rim, chef John Keller (formerly Bruno Jamais) will be serving up creative dishes with a twist–featuring signature dishes such as Hamachi Duo, Lobster Brulee, and Wild Boar Tenderloin.

After dinner you can descend to the lower level where creative cocktails are stirred and there are plenty of cubby holes and couches for you to snuggle up in.  The ambiance is cave-like, cave-chic, LOL. It’s spattered with animal skin pillows and cushions.  It’s like a naughty cave, though I think the theme they're going for is secretive, saucy, ski lodge. The lounge is open until 4am. This is going to be a great, late night spot for swanky patrons to get a nightcap before heading up to lavish upper east side abodes.

Photo Courtesy: NY Magazine

Cocktails range from $18-$24, unless you’re a baller looking to impress that special someone–the Icarus is a $160 bevvie that packs in house flambé, premium saffron, Louis XIII Rémy Martin Cognac, and of course hand chiseled ice. I’m available any night of the week if anyone wants to buy this for me, bt-dubs.

The apps were delish, though I have to go back to try the food. Judging by the menu, be prepared to indulge in inventive cuisine—but bring your credit card, it don’t come cheap. 

July Fourth is one of my favoritest holidays. You get to make fun cocktails and chilled summery treats.  But we all know that the second our lips touch liquor our inhibitions go out the window. So this holiday weekend, keep your waistline intact with Rose's Cocktail Infusions LIGHT.

This month, Rose’s Cocktail Infusions is introducing the first ever light martini mixer line, with 1/3 of the calories than leading martini mixers! Just in time for Fourth of July celebrations, I wanted to pass along some of my favorite, lighter, drink recipes.  With the new Cosmopolitan and Tropical Fruit Twist Light Mixes, you just pour, stir and enjoy – easy entertaining that doesn’t have to compromise great taste or a great waist! 

Happy Fourth of July! Do Carrie Bradshaw proud with the light Cosmo mixer! We here at Smartypanties salute you!

Ameri-Cosmo

2 fl oz Rose’s Cocktail Infusions® Cosmopolitan Light Mix

1 fl oz Vodka

Shake with ½ cup of ice. Strain into martini glass.

Independent-ini

2 fl oz Rose’s Cocktail Infusions® Tropical Fruit Twist Light Mix

1 fl oz Vodka

0.5 fl oz Diet 7UP

Shake Rose’s Cocktail Infusions Tropical Fruit Twist Light and vodka with ½ cup of ice. Strain into martini glass. Top with Diet 7UP.

Cosmo-nation 

4 fl oz Rose’s Cocktail Infusions® Cosmopolitan Light Mix

2.5 fl oz Whiskey

0.5 fl oz Brandy

Combine ingredients in a highball glass. Mix well.

Independence Ade

4 fl oz Rose’s Cocktail Infusions® Tropical Fruit Twist Light Mix

4 fl oz Sugar-free Lemonade

2 fl oz Vodka

Combine ingredients in a highball glass. Mix well.

Patriot-ini

2 fl oz Rose’s Cocktail Infusions® Tropical Fruit Twist Light Mix

0.5 fl oz Blue Curacao

1 fl oz Vodka

1 dash Grenadine 

Shake Rose’s Cocktail Infusions Tropical Fruit Twist Light Mix, Blue Curacao and vodka with ½ cup of ice. Strain into martini glass. Top with dash of Grenadine Garnish with Maraschino Cherry.

Yankee Doodle

2 fl oz Rose’s Cocktail Infusions® Tropical Fruit Twist Light Mix

2 fl oz Watermelon Juice (press watermelon through a sieve, juice it in a juicer, or buy bottled watermelon juice)

1 fl oz Vodka

Combine ingredients in a highball glass. Mix well. Garnish with watermelon slice.

Red, White and Blue Martini

2 fl oz Rose’s Cocktail Infusions® Cosmopolitan Light Mix

1 fl oz Coconut Vodka

Shake with ½ cup of ice. Strain into martini glass. Garnish with coconut flakes, blueberry and raspberry.

 Disclosure: Smartypanties received a sample of the above product for purposes of this review.

The Midnight Kiss

1 oz. Proseco

3 oz. NUVO Sparkling Liqueur

Add a spoonful of muddled raspberries and blackberries

*Served in a champagne flute

Totally drinking this bad boy tonight! Yum!!!

The hottest thing of summer? Looking hot in your bikini. It’s so hard  though with all the happy hours, etc. So what every girl needs are Cocktails that won’t make us blow up like a balloon! Cue celeb inspired cocktails made with HINT water (zero calorie flavored waters) Celebs have designed some of their own unique cocktails using hint flavored water. They’re going to be serving them up at NYC bar called, Local. (NOTE–not Death & Co. as I originally mentioned.)

Ever since the roaring 20s we’ve seen fashion change, develop, then resurface AND now, designers are doing the same with cocktails. Summer styles from Marc Jacob’s “Depression Chic”, to Tory Burch’s 60’s “Swag”, to Pucci’s “70’s Flare” all the way to Ralph Lauren’s “Classy 90’s” are coming off the runway and into the bar scene. The designers participated in Local’s “Mixology Cocktail Contest” where the designers were tasked to reinvent cocktails of the past… The winning cocktails are then offered on the summer menu available July 1 – September 15^th. Local is NYC’s trendy “speak-easy”, known for it’s innovative mixologists and throw-back cocktails (located in the Lower East Side).  Designers had the chance to not only have fun experimenting in the dressing rooms but in the bar as well.

Designers like Tory, Ralph and Marc designed vintage inspired cocktails – Tory modeled her drink of choice back to the Tiki Drink years (think the 60’s movie “Beach Blanket Bingo”) and Marc taking a spin off the Flapper’s favorite Mint Julep which hasn’t been in fashion since the 1920’s. The one common ingredient that these designers share isn’t the cocktail color pallet, but the 0 calorie mixer – HINT Essence Water that gave them the no-cal flavor.

If I were y’all I’d opt to taste these drinks at home. Make a tiki-inspired Tory Burch Tiki-Tini. We haven’t tried this HINT yet so let us know what you think in the comments!!