Very Cold, Very Dry

Happy Martini Friday! It’s been a week. I say that every time, but after long shifts at work, I’m ready to kick off my shoes and get my martini ready as soon as I walk in the door.

Fridays have always been my favorite day of the week. We usually do something fun to start the weekend as we look forward to TWO whole days off. Whatever needs to be addressed can be Monday’s problem. Whether it’s cooking together while watching a show at home or going out to our favorite restaurant, it’s our reward for working hard.

Let’s kick things off with weekly roundup: the song to listen to as you take your first sip, our favorite martini drinking icon, the martini we’re mixing up, and a few other fun things to get us in the martini mindset.

On the playlist tonight: “Anticipate” by El Michels Affair and Clairo. We’re stepping away from the classics, and going to one of my favorite new albums of 2025. This song transports me to a hip, modern, quiet martini lounge with low lighting, velvet furniture, and funky art on the walls. You’re enjoying an ice-cold martini, wearing your best Friday outfit as you gossip away with your friends or significant other. Perfect martini vibes.

Tonight’s martini: The Dirty Martini. I LOVE olives. Put them on my pizza, with my charcuterie platter, or warmed with spices in a bowl so I can eat them like popcorn. I love a good dirty martini because the saltiness and brininess of the olive juice compliment a good, clean gin so well. Here’s my own recipe:

Directions:

Put a martini glass in the freezer, ideally at least 30 mins prior to drinking. If you forget, fill it with ice and set it aside until ready.

Stuff your olives with bleu cheese, put them on a pick, and set aside.

While the martini glass is chilling, place the empty cocktail mixing glass (or measuring cup) on the scale. Make sure the scale is set to “Tare” and on the milliliters setting. Tare means it won’t include the weight of the mixing glass, only the contents inside. Pour the Bombay Sapphire Gin into the glass or measuring cup until it reaches 130 ml on the scale. Next, place your thumb over the top of the bottle of vermouth, and carefully let just a splash or two go in. Then, put 1 tbsp of olive brine in the gin and vermouth mixture. Fill it with ice, then stir constantly for at least 2 minutes.

Take out your martini glass from the freezer, and strain the gin mixture into the glass. Put the olives in, and enjoy!

Notes:
– For bleu cheese olives, I like to hand stuff them myself. Any bleu cheese from the grocery store will suffice. You can get pre-made ones, but they don’t taste as good.

– I like a bigger martini, but the typical measurement is 100 ml for a standard martini. Put any amount you like.

– I would start small with the brine, then add more if you like them really dirty. Sometimes I’ll add more at the end if I feel it needs a little more olive juice flavor.

Martini icon(s) of the Week: Lucille Bluth (Arrested Development)

Unapologetic, unaware of how much anything actually costs, openly favors her son Buster above all her children, and has a martini whenever she damn well pleases. One of the best characters on television.

Favorite Quote:

“Get me a vodka rocks”
“Mom, it’s breakfast.”
“And a piece of toast”

Other Musings:

Did you see my blog this week about my favorite ‘tini snacks? Check it out here!

Kind of obsessed with this sticker. Should I put it on my water bottle? Probably not work appropriate!

And you can wear this tee while having your dirty martini. Pair with sweatpants and you’ve got yourself the perfect stay at home uniform!

That’s all for this week! As always, see you next time, and Cheers!