Demi and Ashton hosted a kickass party here during TIFF – and now you can host your very own special evening.

Looking for something unique, sophisticated, fun and tasty to do? Ame’s Cocktail Cooking School is a real treat for those seeking an original night to remember. Tucked away on Mercer St across from the St. Germain hotel, Ame is, quite simply, breathtaking. Upon entrance, the scene at the bar, decked in fruit, shakers, glittering ice and pretty bottles, is worthy of Sex and the City. You’ll be excited to pull up a bar stool and get cocktail cooking.

Mixologists Moses McIntee and Rob Cvorchik taught us how to handle a muddler, chip from the block, shake it up and serve the ultimate Caipriinha (Grandfather of the Mojito and national drink of Brazil). Oooh – was it ever tasty, especially because it had a blueberry-ginger spin. Delightful.

Following this – we each got to invent our own cocktail. Vodka, whisky, rum, gin – what’s your flavour? (NOT ALL OF THEM AT ONCE, LADY!) I went with rum – squished (muddled) in some mint leaves – grapefruit – oranges – limes – simple syrup and deemed it Playa Zicatela (where I recently got laid in Mexico.)

In the group of eight, not one drink was the same…and, er…some were a lot better than others. I know this because I tasted each one, and that was before I had a dirty martini. Yikes!

Moses and Rob took time to discuss what could have made each drink better, or what went wrong when we started hacking at the ice. The girl next to me was rooting for her Honeymoon Morning but it was a fruity daquiri from three seats down that won.

I now know how to impress for the patio season, but highly doubt I’ll be able to duplicate the sexy and intimate ambience of Ame.

Reserve two seats at the bar for a long overdue catch-up with your best girlfriend or treat your man to an unexpected and inspiring date. A terrific mid-week pick-me-up which we think would make for an excellent birthday bash or sophisticated bridal shower. And those of you in charge of booking team-building events after-hours for your work – take it from us, this will impress your boss. Dishing about accounting protocol is almost fun when you’re swigging a stiff Manhattan.

Of course, voted in Toronto Life as one of the city’s top restaurants – cook up some cocktails and then stay for dinner….sushi to die for.

Tasteful, illuminating and decadent – Cocktail Cooking School at Ame happens every Tuesday and Wednesday at 6PM
For details on pricing and to make a reservation go to:
http://www.amecuisine.com
19 Mercer St.