Liquid Laboratory at the InterContinental Hanoi Westlake with the Mood Therapist

September 29, 2016 By moodtherapist Leave a Comment

Liquid Laboratory at the InterContinental Hanoi Westlake

Are you ready for the Liquid Laboratory?! Apologies, gentle readers, for the lack of updates. It’s been a little crazy around here…but I’m back and I’m busy!

I had a great evening on September 9 with the team at the InterContinental Hanoi Westlake. It was the first in a series of Liquid Laboratory evenings at the Sunset Bar. Each is a themed evening featuring a selection of modernist cocktails, paired with a delicious food offering crafted by Executive Chef, Jeremy Lasserre.

For the opening night the theme was Mixing it up: Bar Classics Re-worked… and featured the following menu: [Read more…]

Shake and Repeat – Cocktails at The Republic

April 12, 2016 By moodtherapist Leave a Comment

Following a sold out Group Therapy Session with the Mood Therapist at Cama ATK last month, I’ll be doing another night of cocktails at The Republic on Thursday 21st April 2016 starting at 6.30pm. It’ll be exactly the same menu as at Cama, for all those who missed out on tickets for that and for anyone who just want to do the whole thing all over again! Remember, it’s tickets only and limited places. They go fast so don’t delay if you would like to come. Details below.

As four of the five drinks were new on the menu, there are plenty of people in Hanoi who have yet to try them so who am I to deprive them of their cocktail rights? Right? [Read more…]

Sous Vide in Cocktails.

February 18, 2016 By moodtherapist Leave a Comment

I’ve been using sous vide in cocktails ever since i got my shiny new Nomiku immersion circulator fresh from their successful Kickstarter campaign in 2012. Over the years I have found additional uses for it in addition to what struck me as obvious – the slow cooking of syrups to create a greater depth of flavour. After I created the Marouni in 2015, the good folk at Nomiku saw it on my Instagram account and contacted me to see if I would write a guest blog for them on sous vide in cocktails.

Of course I said yes. [Read more…]

The Grand Bean-to-Bubble: A Marou Chocolate Cocktail

February 3, 2016 By moodtherapist Leave a Comment

The Grand Bean-to-Bubble is a new Marou Chocolate cocktail with a hint of Grand Marnier, topped off with sparkling wine.

It was created for a charity fundraiser in support of The Library Project – an organisation that provides access to books for kids in rural Vietnam. It’s the result of a collaboration between the Mood Therapist, Marou and Moet Hennessy and debuted at an event at the Park Hyatt Saigon organised by Rice Creative.

The Grand Bean-to-Bubble is an elegant chocolate cocktail with a hint of orange that drinks like champagne and has a little surprise at the end… [Read more…]

A Yink (I Think)

January 13, 2016 By moodtherapist Leave a Comment

Many new parents will be familiar with a Yink (I think). But maybe not this Yink (I think). For the rest of you…

This one, I think, is called a Yink.
He likes to wink, he likes to drink.
He likes to drink, and drink, and drink.
The thing he likes to drink is ink.
The ink he likes to drink is pink.
He likes to wink and drink pink ink.
SO…if you have a lot of ink,
then you should get a Yink, I think.

From One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss

OK, so it’s not really ink. But it’s certainly pink. That’s because of the hibiscus flowers used to infuse the vodka – the old fashioned way. [Read more…]

Quinine Sulfate in Cocktails: The Lavender Gin and Tonic

November 19, 2015 By moodtherapist 1 Comment

The lavender gin and tonic came out of my first foray into the world of home made tonic water and was the most successful of the initial four variants I produced. Force carbonated, it is extremely fizzy, in a way a regular G&T never is because the gin gets carbonated as well as the tonic and you can really amp up the pressure if you so wish. Also, as you control the sugar level, it doesn’t have to be cloyingly sweet and the finished drink is crisper and drier than anything made with the commercially ubiquitous Schweppes… [Read more…]

Journey to Undiscovered World: Molecular Mixologist – Vinaboo Magazine November 2015

November 15, 2015 By moodtherapist Leave a Comment

I made the Japanese language press in Vietnam… Above is a snapshot of the original. Following is a translation of the article courtesy of the writer, Ayako Ishikawa.

Art of Drink

Journey to Undiscovered World:
Molecular Mixologist – Mr. Richard McDonough

Recently I heard about a British “Molecular Mixologist” who offers futuristic cocktail in luxury hotel restaurants and private parties for executives.

What is mixologist? Unlike bartender, a mixologist prepares any house-made syrups, tinctures, or other ingredients, therefore he is also called “bar chef”. Molecular Mixologist mix cocktail ingredients on the molecular level using the scientific techniques and tools, such as centrifuge and nitrous oxide, liquid nitrogen etc…

Luckily I had a chance to taste the futuristic cocktail of Mr. Richard McDonough. Here are some “Molecular” cocktails that knocked on the door of my heart! (for more info: www.moodtherapist.com)

Experience of Princess Ann

“Peach Shampagne”

Cachaca based sparkling cocktail, blended with clarified peach juice, Phu Quoc pepper tincture, tartaric acid, lactic acid.

Fusion of fruity peach and tangy pepper gives very “sexy” impression. This refreshing cocktail captures the essence of joyful summer. It is a color of peachy sunset sky. Very romantic one!

Luxury of Caribbean Cruise

“Maroued on a Dessert Island”

Rum-based bittersweet dessert cocktail, blended with Marou chocolate cocoa-nibs and homemade vanilla butter syrup. Combined with fresh lime scent, rich cocoa aroma brings extremely sensual flavor. Touch of the earthy soil, wind and sun of tropical island takes you to the Caribbean beach. Enjoy the crystal clear blue sky and sea.

[Read more…]

The Marouni

November 9, 2015 By moodtherapist Leave a Comment

The Marouni – Because it’s simply too difficult to order a Marou Cacao Negroni after a few of them…

This is a very simple concept, made woefully complex. I wanted to make a chocolate negroni using Marou chocolate – a Marouni, if you will. It wouldn’t be the first one of course, but I reckoned I could make it better. [Read more…]

Second Group Therapy Session with the Mood Therapist at The Republic

November 3, 2015 By moodtherapist Leave a Comment

Join the Mood Therapist at The Republic on Wednesday 11 November 2015

Lassitude? Sluggishness? Extreme torpidity?

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you may well benefit from the recuperative effects of the second Group Therapy Session with the Mood Therapist at The Republic on Wednesday 11 November 2015 at 6.30pm. [Read more…]

Group Therapy Session – The Mood Therapist at Cama ATK

October 27, 2015 By moodtherapist Leave a Comment

Shaking it like he means it – The Mood Therapist at Cama ATK

The first in an upcoming run of Group Therapy Sessions found the Mood Therapist in residence at Cama ATK, the spiritual home of cocktails in Hanoi, on 22 October 2015. Twenty five cocktail fans gathered for a flight of five modernist cocktails and in some cases a few more besides… [Read more…]

Mood Therapist Custom Menu