St. Paddy’s Day Cocktails, by Benjamin Prelvukaj of NYC's Benjamin Steak House.

As St. Patrick’s Day approaches, many are looking forward to a long night of pub crawls and beer. However, for those looking for a more refined celebratory cocktail, I offer these three interesting takes that will tantalize your taste buds:


Shamrock Kir

• Champagne
• Apple Pucker (1/2 oz.)
  

Add ½ oz of Apple pucker to a champagne glass and top of with your champagne of choice.



Irish Mojito

• 1 ½ oz. Bacardi Limon
• ½ oz Crème de meth
• Muddled mint leaves & lime
• 3 packets of Sugar

Muddle Mint leaves and lime. Add ice and Bacardi, shake, and strain into a martini glass. Sink crème de menthe (which floats to the bottom), garnish with a mint and a lime, and enjoy!


Leprechaun Smore
(The ultimate St. Paddy’s after dinner cocktail!)

• 1 ½ oz Bailey's Irish Cream
• ½ oz. Crème de Cocoa (white)
• ½ oz. Crème de menthe

Shake Bailey’s, Crème de Cocoa and Crème de Menthe, and pour into a snifter glass. Garnish with 3 coffee beans, and enjoy!

Editor's Note: About our guest blogger Benjamin Prelvukaj


Benjamin Prelvukaj is the ambitious young entrepreneur who founded Benjamin Steak House. Benjamin, along with fellow Peter Luger alumni, Chef Arturo McLeod, started Benjamin Steak House in 2006. In two short years, Benjamin Steak House has established itself as one of New York’s premiere steak houses, attracting business professionals and celebrities alike.

At the humble age of 18, he moved to New York in pursuit of a better life for him and his family. After working at various New York restaurants, he began working full-time as a waiter at the famous Peter Luger steakhouse in Brooklyn while also attending school. Juggling school and a full-time job was no easy task, but Benjamin was determined to succeed.

While working at Peter Luger, Benjamin paid close attention to what made the restaurant so successful. He also took note of the areas he thought needed improvement. These assessments were the building blocks to the development of Benjamin Steak House. After assembling a group of investors, Benjamin began to search for a location for his dream restaurant. When he stumbled upon the Dylan Hotel, Benjamin knew he had found the right place. The elegant setting of the two-story space, located in the century-old Chemist Club building near Grand Central was exactly what he has envisioned. With its brass chandeliers, soaring ceilings, and 10-foot fireplace, the location felt like a Sinatra-esque throwback to the Big Band Era.

Many restaurants had failed in this location before- including the Chemist Club Grill and Britney Spears’ NYLA- but that did not deter Benjamin. The first 6 months after the opening, business was slow, but Mr. Prelvukaj refused to lose hope. He continued to refine his menu, hire the finest wait and kitchen staff, and promote Benjamin Steak House around the city. In time, his hard work paid off. Today it is rare to find an empty seat in Benjamin’s, even on weekdays, and celebrity clientele include world champion boxers Evander Holyfield and Wladimir Klitschko, movie stars Vin Diesel, Hillary Duff, Ewan McGregor, Christopher Meloni, and Reba McIntyre, and super models Naomi Campbell and Jessica Hart, among others. Benjamin Prelvukaj’s success story is truly inspirational, and a testament to the fact that, no matter where you come from, if you have the ambition and persistence, you too can live the American dream.