David and I were blessed this afternoon when my sister Deborah Kaye Ice tool us grocery shopping since our car isn’t working. While we were out grocery shopping we stopped to have lunch at Blue Mound Cafe in Watauga, Texas. I wish I had remembered July 10th was National Piña Colada Day #NationalPinaColadaDay.
We could have stopped at Applebee’s for a drink and appetizers. Since we didn’t and David is working late tomorrow I think I will ask my sister Debbie if she wants to go our for a #girlsnight and we can celebrate with a Pina Colada. Would you like to come with us? If she is busy I will see if my other friend Debbie Finney Sutton would like to come with us.
A Pina Colada is a creamy concoction of Pineapple, Rum, and Coconut Cream. The Piña Colada, was first created in Puerto Rico in 1954. Although the Pina Colada’s history is contested among Puerto Ricans, and it is rumored that the bartender Ramón “Monchito” Marrero first prepared a Pina Colada at the Caribe Hilton’s Beachcomber Bar in San Juan, Puerto Rico on August 16, 1954.
The hotel had requested that Monchito mix a new signature drink that embodied the flavors of the Island and shortly after Ramón “Monchito” Marrero accepted the challenge, the Piña Colada was born. Regardless of the Pina Colada history, we can all agree that this drink is pretty tasty. On July 10th, we celebrate National Piña Colada Day so kick back with the Cocktail preferably poured into a hurricane glass and do the best thing possible with them drink them!
NATIONAL PIÑA COLADA DAY ACTIVITIES
- Monchito made no secret of his highly-adored, signature Cocktail and the birthplace of it all, Caribe Hilton, features the recipe proudly on their website. Drink the Pina Colada the way that’s it’s been served for over 60 years now. Nothing beats drinking straight from the source.
- Part of preparing an authentic Piña Colada is learning the tricks of the trade straight from Puerto Rico. Ask a friend who’s Puerto Rican or research some online Puerto Rican resources for recommendations on what to use for high quality, authentic ingredients. Your taste buds will thank you for getting the Island flavors just right.
- Plan a get together with friends and blend up Piña Coladas to celebrate this iconic drink.
WHY PEOPLE LOVE NATIONAL PIÑA COLADA DAY
- Drinking the sweet, creamy, Rum-based favorite, the Piña Colada, immediately transports you the Sun drenched, vibrant Beaches of an Island getaway. Oina Colada’s is the perfect Summer quaff and brings the Island vibe to you no matter where you may be.
- Pina Colada is a sweet and creamy treat that is just as good even without the Alcoholic kick. The velvety, sugary ingredients come together in a dessert-like concoction that can satisfy your sweet tooth no matter what age or drink preference you have.
- Pina Colada is so great that people have to sing about it! Ask around and I’m sure you’ll find at least one person who can recite back the world-famous Rupert Holmes song “Escape”. “If you like Piña Coladas and getting caught in the rain…”
Recipe:: Pina Colada
2 cocktails PREP TIME: 10 min: TOTAL TIME: 10 min
Ingredients
The Puerto Rican brand, Coco López, is the traditional cream of Coconut used for Piña Coladas, but any brand will work. For an even fresher flavor, add a little Lime Juice to the slushy blend.
- 4 oz rum
- 3 oz fresh pineapple juice, chilled (or use frozen pineapple chunks for a smoothie-like texture)
- 2 oz cream of coconut (or use a combination of sweetened coconut cream and coconut milk)
- 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice (optional)
- 2 cups ice
- Fresh pineapple, for garnish
- Maraschino cherries, for garnish
- In a blender, combine rum, pineapple juice, cream of coconut, and lime juice (if using) with ice and blend until the drink reaches a milkshake-like consistency.
- 2Pour into a Hurricane glass and garnish with pineapple slices and maraschino cherries.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
