Warm Up & Welcome the New Year

This time of year as temperatures dip well below zero, you have to do everything you can to chase the chill away. This means, of course, taking advantage of the very thing you've come to dread by now, the weather!

How better to warm up and ring in the New Year than with a few nips of the perfect Après-Ski (or shovel or commute) Cocktail?

We've rounded up our Top 10 favorite winter refreshments for your enjoyment!

1. The Après Ski itself: Vodka, Licorice Liqueur, Green Creme de Menthe, and Lemonade, mixed and served in a julep cup with a sprig of fresh mint.
2. Crème Brulee Martini: Vanilla Vodka, Frangelico, and Cointreau, shaken and served in a chilled cocktail glass with a Crushed Graham Cracker rim.
3. Absinthe Suissesse: Absinthe with Crème de Menthe, Orgeat, Orange Flower Water, Egg White, and Half and Half, shaken and strained into a chilled cocktail glass.
4. Brandy Avondale: Baileys, Tuaca, Godiva Chocolate Liqueur and Cream are added to Brandy, shaken, strained into a snifter, and then topped with warm spices.
5. The Hot Toddy: Combines Brandy, Whiskey, or Rum with hot tea. Garnish with any tea accoutrements of your choice, and voila! A gorgeous winter warmer.
6. Pumpkin Pie Martini: Vanilla Vodka, Milk, Heavy Whipping Cream, Simple Syrup, and Hazelnut Liqueur are shaken with Pumpkin Pie Spice and poured into chilled martini glasses with Crushed  Vanilla Wafer rims. Sprinkled with a dash of Cinnamon. 
7. Vin Chaud: Wine, Citrus Fruit, and Spices boiled with Sugar and served Hot. A definite favorite! 
8. Wassail: Along the same lines as Vin Chaud, Wassail is made with Bourbon or Rye Whiskey, Ale, and Cider. Boiled with Berries, Ginger Root, Cinnamon, and Brown Sugar, it is a tasty complement to any winter activity. 
9. Snowball: Advocaat is combined with Lemonade and Lime Juice for the perfectly refreshing post-slopes treat. 
10. Cafè Amore: Hot Black Coffee is much improved with the addition of Cognac, Amaretto, and plenty of Whipped Cream. 

There you have it! Your very own Top 10 delicious Après-Ski cocktails. Now, when you hit the slopes or simply welcome 2014 this weekend, you have even more to look forward to.

À votre santé et bonne année! 

Chez Daniel's Holiday Hours - 2013

Trying to best serve our customers while still accommodating the needs of our employees and managing business needs accordingly, Chez Daniel has decided upon the following holiday hours for the Christmas & New Year's Holidays this year.

Tuesday, December 24 {Christmas Eve}

Chez Daniel: Regular Hours 

Cork's Pub: Regular Hours 

City Blend: Regular Hours 

Wednesday, December 25 {Christmas Day}

Chez Daniel: Christmas Brunch 10am - 2pm

Cork's Pub: Regular Hours 

Tuesday, December 31 {New Year's Eve}

Chez Daniel: Regular Hours 

Cork's Pub: Regular Hours 

City Blend: Regular Hours 

Wednesday, January 1 {New Year's Day}

Chez Daniel: CLOSED 

Cork's Pub: Holiday Menu & Weekend Hours

(Regular Hours resume on Thursday, January 2, 2014). 

We wish everyone a Joyeux Noël et bonne année! 

Ring in 2013 - Chez Daniel Style

In France, New Year's Eve, known as la Saint-Sylvestre, is generally celebrated with a feast. Here at Chez Daniel  we felt that our New Year's Eve celebration should be no different.

Tonight, Monday, December 31st, Chez Daniel will again be offering our famous Prime Rib feast for just $35. We'll also have a King Crab Legs Dinner for $42 as well as a Fresh Lobster Tail Dinner for $45. All of the specials will come with starch and veg du jour along with our house salad and freshly baked bread.

For a broader selection, our full dinner menu will also be available. Accompany your feast with a bottle from our hand-picked selection of choice sparkling and traditional wines, and let Chez Daniel be your New Year's Eve dining destination.

Should you choose to make a night of it, our convenient location within the Embassy Suites Bloomington West hotel means you're in close proximity to one of the best lodging options in the city! Plus, if you stay over, you get to take advantage of the nightly manager's reception, offering free cocktails and snacks to hotel guests as well as our complimentary cooked to order breakfast on New Year's Day!

Dinner service runs from 5:00pm to 10:00pm and dining reservations may be made online at Open Table or by calling Chez Daniel at 952-888-4447.

To make a reservation with the hotel, please CLICK HERE.

Please note, Chez Daniel will be closed on Tuesday, January 1, 2013 to celebrate New Year's Day.