A Sparkling Vermouth Cocktail with a Salty-Citrus Twist
If you live for a bubbly aperitif come summertime, Nashville wine bar Pont Neuf has developed a sparkling Vermouth cocktail recipe you'll love. 'A Night in Paros' calls for only a handful of simple ingredients — vermouth blanc, sparkling wine, olive brine, club soda, and an olive-citrus garnish. No cocktail shaker or fussy techniques required.
'The inspiration behind the cocktail is from my favorite small island in Greece, Paros,' says Pont Neuf co-owner Mattie Bush-Martin. 'We chose to add olive and brine as a nod to the olive trees there and with the thought that the drink itself would pair well with any Mediterranean dish.'
Kick off your next Mediterranean-inspired dinner party with a round of these, or make them the main attraction at happy hour, served with a spread of your favorite olives, sharp cheeses, charcuterie, and potato chips.
Pin
Pin
Pin 'A Night in Paros' Cocktail
A refreshingly light, low-alcohol spritz featuring vermouth, olive, and citrus.
5 from
2 votes
Print Recipe
Pin Recipe
Prep Time
5
minutes
mins
Total Time
5
minutes
mins
Course
Cocktail
Cuisine
Italian, Greek
Servings
1
Calories
90
kcal Ingredients
1x 2x 3x 2 oz vermouth blanc
2 oz sparkling wine
.5 oz olive brine
Club soda
Green olive for garnish
Orange slice
for garnish Instructions
Combine the vermouth, olive brine, and sparkling wine in a wine glass. Add ice and then top it off with club soda. Garnish with a green olive and an orange slice.
Nutrition
Calories:
90
kcal
Carbohydrates:
2
g
Protein:
0.04
g
Sodium:
416
mg
Potassium:
50
mg
Sugar:
2
g
Calcium:
5
mg
Iron:
0.2
mg
Keyword
cocktail
Tried this recipe?
Rate it above to let us know how it was!
Cheers!
**********
For more summer entertaining inspiration, follow StyleBlueprint on Pinterest!
About the Author Alissa Harb
Alissa Harb is StyleBlueprint's Managing Editor, based in Nashville. A lifelong Tennessee native, Alissa has over 13 years of experience in digital media and loves writing about food, travel, and entertaining. She is a lover of dogs, true crime, and ordering for the table.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Toronto Sun
3 hours ago
- Toronto Sun
Sentimental style
Robbins Griffith was inspired by her late bubbi's design aesthetic. She had her home professionally photographed to preserve her endearing style. JESS DYBENKO Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. Nostalgic, layered, and full of heart – grandmacore is bringing back the beauty of lived-in spaces with stories to tell This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Some of my fondest memories are at my Sicilian grandparents' house– the scent of tomato sauce simmering all Sunday afternoon, my Nonna seated at their Mahogony dining table schooling the patriarchs of the family at a game of Briscola – Italian card game – and the burn on my legs from sitting too long on their plastic-covered furniture. Their living room perfectly preserved. Handmade dollies on every surface. Cabinets full of fancy teacups (which I happily inherited), glasses and dinnerware, only brought out on the rarest of occasions. A space so layered with texture, narrative, and love, it was like a living scrapbook. That cosy, eclectic look (minus the plastic!) that is synonymous with our grandparents' house is back with a new name and fresh perspective. Grandmacore. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. It's not just a trend, it's a warm pushback against the minimalism look that has persisted for so long. And after years of blank slates, there's something deeply grounding about a space that remembers where it came from. That's the quiet power of grandmacore. It's not just a style but a feeling—a response to years of simple spaces and fast-furniture fatigue. Where minimalism prizes restraint, grandmacore embraces tenderness. It leans into memory, into texture, into story. And clearly, it's striking a chord. According to Pinterest's internal data, searches for grandmacore rose by 48 per cent globally in Q2 of 2025 compared to the same period last year. The surge reflects a growing desire for comfort-forward design with emotional resonance. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Even designers are gravitating towards it, reinterpreting the aesthetic with fresh eyes. 'Grandmacore is rooted in nostalgia, but that doesn't mean it has to feel outdated,' says Toronto-based designer Tiffany Leigh of Tiffany Leigh Design. 'We're seeing a lot of pattern-on-pattern, slipcovered furniture, dainty florals, and colour, but paired with clean architecture and an edited eye.' What distinguishes grandmacore from pure vintage revival is its balance. Done right, it doesn't feel cluttered or costume-y, it feels curated. 'It's about finding harmony—letting a piece with history shine, while ensuring the overall space still feels considered and current,' says Leigh. For Tamara Robbins Griffith, principal designer at Kerr + Field Interiors, the style is deeply personal. 'My grandfather was a home builder, and my late bubbi (Yiddish for grandmother), Pearl Robbins, decorated his show homes. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. She had a great sense of style, believed in the value of quality pieces, and took great pride in her home,' she shares. 'She truly inspired me, and I have a lot of pieces in my home from her house today.' Robbins Griffith recently reupholstered a pair of tub chairs from her bubbi's bedroom in a high-performance off-white woven fabric. 'The new fabric modernizes them a lot, but the shape is classic.' For those just dipping into the style, Robbins Griffith recommends hitting up a flea market on a weekend. 'A side table, a vintage oil painting, even some decorative accessories can instantly bring personality to your space.' Better still, she says, 'If you have a grandma who's downsizing, experiment with her furnishings. There might be a classic piece just waiting for a new fabric or fresh coat of paint.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Leigh takes a similar approach but focuses on incorporating texture and thoughtful curation. 'Adding pattern curtains, vintage needlepoint pillows or a ruffled floral quilt to a bed is a great place to start,' she says. 'Even just styling your bookshelves with a few delicate trinkets or a teacup from your grandmother's collection can bring that layered, story-filled feeling to a room.' Beyond its nostalgic charm, grandmacore embraces sustainability in a tangible way. Heirlooms are restored, thrifted finds are refreshed, and vintage accents are brought back into rotation. It's a way of living that keeps beautiful, well-made pieces in use, allowing us to carry their memories forward. Grandmacore reminds us that the most compelling interiors aren't built overnight; they're collected over time. For me, it echoes the nostalgia of my Sicilian grandparents' home, where every object had a tale and style was instinctive, not overly staged. We can learn a lot from that design philosophy. Because at the end of the day, home should feel like a hug. And grandmacore? That's a hug wrapped in a crocheted blanket. Sunshine Girls Sunshine Girls Toronto & GTA Toronto & GTA Columnists
Vancouver Sun
4 hours ago
- Vancouver Sun
Best soup and stew recipes: A roundup of our favourite comfort dishes
A steaming bowl of soup can be the perfect lunch or dinnertime solution. Whether a quick-and-simple recipe, or something that's best enjoyed after long, slow hours of simmering on the stovetop, a good soup can serve as a starter, side or main mealtime event. Here is a roundup of some of our favourite soups and stew recipes: If you're looking for a soup that's as fancy as it is simple to make, this Creamy Lemongrass Carrot Soup is it. It's got everything you want in a starter: A velvety texture, a delicious flavour from lemon grass and ginger, and just the right amount of heat. It's smooth, rich and downright restaurant-worthy. But here's the best part: It's surprisingly easy to make. Read Karen Gordon's full recipe here. Discover the best of B.C.'s recipes, restaurants and wine. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of West Coast Table will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. This creamy potato and kale soup is the perfect antidote to chilly weather. It is comforting, vibrant, and oh-so-easy to make. Yellow-fleshed potatoes work best for their creamy texture and buttery flavour. The carrots bring a hint of natural sweetness and a pop of colour, making the dish as appealing to the eyes as it is to the tastebuds. A touch of powdered chicken bouillon adds a rich depth of flavour that elevates the simplicity of the ingredients. Read Karen Gordon's full recipe here. Warm up with this comforting Italian chicken meatball soup. Made with tiny, bite-size chicken meatballs that are like soft pillows, they provide a burst of incredible flavour with each bite along with the tender orzo pasta. Read Maria Fazzari Larosa's full recipe here. This recipe, shared by Chef Hidekazu Tojo of Tojo's Restaurant, marries savoury miso with the 'rich, earthy notes' of seafood. Perfect for an appetizer, the dish is simple to make yet impressively flavourful. Read the full recipe here. This refreshing soup combines the sweet, earthy flavour of peas with the cool, aromatic notes of mint. Read Kasey Wilson's full recipe here. This fragrant stew with its crusty toasts comes together in no time. After purchasing mussels, place them in a bowl, cover loosely with a damp towel and store in the coolest part of the fridge. Don't clean them until you're ready to cook. Adapted from Lure: Sustainable Seafood Recipes from the West Coast by Ned Bell with Valerie Howes, Figure 1, 2017. Read Kasey Wilson's full recipe here. This delicious dish, shared by the team at One Degree Organics, features smooth butternut squash soup topped with a sweet-and-savoury, gluten free oat crumble: Read the full recipe here. Created by Chef Angus An of Fat Mao Noodles and Maenam fame, this noodle soup recipe is inspired by a similar dish savoured during visits to Thailand. Read the full recipe here. This old-fashioned beef stew is slowly cooked in the oven. Currants and cinnamon add a Greek accent. (Adapted from Casual Occasions Cookbook by Joyce Goldstein and Chuck Williams). Read Kasey Wilson's full recipe here. Weeknights can be hectic, but that doesn't mean you have to sacrifice flavour or nutrition. This leftover rotisserie chicken stew is the perfect solution — quick, healthy, and packed with hearty goodness. It's a one-pot meal that makes the most of your leftover rotisserie chicken, turning it into a comforting dish that tastes like it's been simmering all day, but comes together in under 45 minutes. Read Karen Gordon's full recipe here. A delicious tomato soup recipe from David Hawksworth's brand new book, Hawksworth: The Cookbook. Read the full recipe here. This recipe, originally published in the cookbook More Six O'Clock Solutions from The Vancouver Sun Test Kitchen by Ruth Phelan and Brenda Thompson is billed as a 'lovely, aromatic soup designed to seduce the seafood lover:' Read the full recipe here. Try this hearty soup with garlic croutons, a sprinkling of sharp cheddar melted on top and of course, a hearty ale to wash it down. Read Kasey Wilson's full recipe here. Use the best-quality carrots you can find. Their cores can add a bitter taste and unpleasant texture to this delicate soup, so they're removed here. It's an optional step, however; you can try the soup both ways and compare. Read Kasey Wilson's full recipe here. • Best dinner recipes: A roundup of our favourite main courses • Best seafood recipes: A roundup of our favourite seafood dishes • Best dessert recipes: A roundup of our favourite sweet treats • Best salad and vegetarian recipes: A roundup of our favourite meatless dishes • Best bread recipes: A roundup of our favourite loaves, muffins and scones • Best pasta recipes: A roundup of our favourite pasta dishes • Best cookie recipes: A roundup of our favourite cookies • Best chicken recipes: A roundup of our favourite poultry dishes • Best cake recipes: A roundup of our favourite cakes • Best soup and stew recipes: A roundup of our favourite comfort dishes • These 18 Vancouver restaurants are Hollywood North favourites • Where to eat pizza in Metro Vancouver? A restaurant review roundup • Where to eat sushi in Metro Vancouver? A restaurant review roundup • Where to eat breakfast in Metro Vancouver? A restaurant review roundup • Where to eat ramen in Metro Vancouver? A restaurant review roundup • Where to eat seafood in Metro Vancouver? A restaurant review roundup • Where to eat Italian in Metro Vancouver? A restaurant review roundup • Where to eat French cuisine in Metro Vancouver? A restaurant review roundup • Where to eat in Metro Vancouver if you deal with allergies • Is it Happy Hour yet? The 10 best places to check out in Metro Vancouver • Cheers: Here are the 10 best restaurants for happy hour in Vancouver
Style Blueprint
2 days ago
- Style Blueprint
This Parisian-Inspired Wedding Had a BIG Twist …
On a sun-drenched afternoon, about an hour outside of Memphis, a vision for a yellow-tinged Parisian wedding came to life at White Raven Manor. Vendors poured in, drenching the outdoor scene in soft, whimsical florals and French-inspired accoutrements. A couple in love donned their black-tie finest. But this wasn't their actual wedding day — that had taken place three years earlier. On this April day, they were the models for the MOST swoon-worthy editorial shoot. And we get to share it! Pin Set against the venue's elegant old-world façade and sweeping Southern views, the shoot captured the refined ease of a Parisian summer day. It was all elegance without the fuss, warmth without the weight. And at its heart was a real couple, Alexis and Cory, whose chemistry and affection for one another infused the entire day with authentic joy. Joanna's vision of early-summer yellow became the creative north star. 'I knew I wanted to design something that felt true to that in-between season where spring melts into summer,' she says. Yellow was her starting point — cheerful, nostalgic, and sunny. Pin Pin 'Elizabeth and I have worked together several times, both as fellow vendors on weddings and on styled shoots. We share a love for Jane Austen and period dramas, and that shows in our work. Recently, I've pursued very English-inspired design, but I felt like I wanted a slight shift. When I spoke to Elizabeth, we both knew we wanted something that felt European, sophisticated, and refined, yet easy and not fussy.' That conversation led to Paris. More specifically, to the 1995 film Sabrina and its iconic line: 'Paris is always a good idea.' And indeed, it was. Joanna stayed up late building a Pinterest board bursting with lemon-hued florals, café tables, umbrella-topped patios, and effortless charm. They just needed the right setting. With its long stone pool, ethereal light, and old-world-inspired architecture, White Raven Manor proved the perfect backdrop. The team was soon joined by Brooke of The Event Edit, a recent Memphis transplant whose energy and eye for detail helped turn the creative vision into a stunning reality. 'Coming from the Metro-Detroit wedding industry, it was exciting to bring a touch of elevated luxury to the South in a way that still felt warm and inviting,' she says. As a planner, Brooke was used to being behind the scenes, but this time, she had a chance to help shape the visual story. 'My favorite design element was definitely the tablescapes. I had the opportunity to hand-select the linens and had full creative freedom when it came to choosing the flatware,' she says. 'Seeing how it all came together in the final photos, I really feel like those choices complemented the beautiful centerpieces and glassware.' For Alexis, slipping into a Monique Lhuillier gown from Maggie Louise was a full-circle moment. 'Reliving notions of our wedding day with our own wedding photographer honestly felt like a dream come true,' she says. 'I felt like a total princess bride. I couldn't stop taking selfies.' Her husband Cory, the picture of relaxed charm in a sharp tuxedo, played his part with a grin that never faded. Elizabeth approached the day with reverence for the real emotions weddings stir up. 'Participating in a wedding editorial is the closest many vendors will come to truly walking in our couples' shoes,' she reflects. 'That pressure to make everything just right mirrors exactly what our clients go through.' There were a few hiccups, as there always are. A last-minute linen change, a bloom that didn't arrive, a hairstyle adjustment to better suit the veil. 'And that's where the magic really lies,' Elizabeth says. 'Letting go of the original plan and finding joy in what's been created instead. Because somehow, despite the pivots, it always turns out exactly the way it was meant to.' The shoot unfolded like a storybook. A lemon-laced cocktail hour led into an al fresco reception by the pool, with café lighting strung overhead and airy florals spilling over the tables. 'We wanted each area of the venue to tell its own story,' says Brooke, noting the fast-paced transitions between scenes. 'Once it's time to start shooting, the energy shifts. It's all hands on deck.' Joanna's florals were painterly and wild, grounded in yellows but laced with texture and movement. Elizabeth curated not one but two looks for Alexis, including a shorter Anne Barge dress that added a modern flair to the classic setting. The invitation suite, designed by Lucky 13 Letters, leaned into delicate calligraphy and layered paper textures. Another star of the show? The food. The food told its own story, thanks to Heirloom Catering and Legacy Bar Service. 'I really believed that the food was an important part of the story, especially in conveying an easy Parisian afternoon vibe,' Joanna says. A baguette cart, citrus cocktails, and trayed hors d'oeuvres brought taste into the sensory feast of the shoot. One unforgettable moment? Alexis and Cory accidentally got locked on the upstairs balcony while taking a quiet break. 'The space was so gorgeous that we were happy to just enjoy the view together for a while, but eventually, the homeowner had to come rescue us,' Alexis laughs. 'It's one of those sweet, silly moments we'll never forget.' More than anything, the shoot reflected what's possible when vision, artistry, and collaboration come together. 'I want to stress what a group effort this shoot was,' Joanna says. 'Elizabeth went way beyond 'photographer.' Brooke brought in plenty of her own personality and expertise. We could not have accomplished the many details and logistics of setup and flipping without her. It was a true team effort.' The result was more than a styled shoot. It was a celebration of love — past, present, and future — and a reminder that the best wedding inspiration doesn't just come from Pinterest boards, but from shared passion, real stories, and human relationships. RESOURCES Venue: White Raven Manor Photography & Design: Elizabeth Hoard Photography Florist & Design: Snapdragon Floral Planner & Design: The Event Edit Video: Tommy Kirkpatrick Films Gown & Jewelry: Maggie Louise Monique Lhuillier Shorter Dress: Anne Barge Bridal Shoes: Something Bleu Tuxedo: American Tuxedo Paper Goods & Invitation Suite: Lucky 13 Letters Chairs & Linens: Elegant Chair Solutions Glassware/Flatware/Dishware: Perfete Tables Catering: Heirloom Catering Cake: The Flour Garden Makeup: Kimberly Yasmine Hair: Tyra Anderson Hair Content Creation: Media by Mama Live Painter: A Chick with a Brush Beverage: Legacy Bar Service & Cocktail Creations Telephone Booth: Ilo Photobooth
