Dax Shepard and Kristen Bell have never been shy about their parenting strategies. The couple caused a stir last year when Bell said she’ll wait up to five or six days before bathing her girls depending on whether they smell or not.
“I’m a big fan of waiting for the stink,” she said jokingly, according to E.T. Online. “Once you catch a whiff, that’s biology’s way of letting you know you need to clean it up.”
Bell also admitted the sex talk she attempted with her daughters fell on deaf ears because it was so boring. Bell and Shepard have two daughters, Lincoln, 8, and Delta, 7.
On Monday’s episode of Shepard’s “Armchair Expert” podcast, the couple admitted they let their daughters sleep in their room. “You know the girls sleep on the floor of our bedroom,” she said, according to Yahoo.
The admission came before the couple shared a story of a mysterious smell that took over their bedroom. “A few nights ago, I smell a really raunchy smell, and I’m like, ‘Who’s farting?’” she said. “All three of them are like, ‘Sorry, it’s me.’ So, I’m like, OK, my family has gas.
“In the morning, I’m like, wow, nobody’s gas has dissipated. But it also smells like it’s burning,” she continued.
Bell washed the sheets of the bed and opened some windows in the room, but the smell persisted. The next day, Bell finally realized that it was the Ooler mattress pad. Oolers need water to work and Shepard accidentally poured a protein shake inside instead.
As a parent, I gotta say that the idea of sharing my wife and I’s bedroom with two kids every night sounds like a bad idea. First, it’s hard enough to get a good night’s sleep with another person and a dog in the bed, but a pair of kids adds another dimension of disruptions.
That’s two more people waking up to go to the bathroom, tossing and turning, and passing gas.
Bell and Shepard’s story raises an important question: Is co-sleeping good for kids?
According to the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), as many as 24% of parents have their children sleep in their beds for at least part of the night.
“There are two reasons for co-sleeping,” NSF spokeswoman Jodi Mindell, author of “Sleeping Through the Night,” says. “One is a family lifestyle decision; it’s important to the parents. Reason two is reactive co-sleeping. You don’t really want them there, but it’s easier than having to solve a problem at 2 a.m. No matter which you do, at some point, you’ll want to make a change.”
Lynelle Schneeberg, Psy.D., director of the behavioral sleep program at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, told Parents.com that even though there are some benefits to co-sleeping, it’s much more important to raise children who are confident, independent sleepers.
Dr. Schneeberg says that children who go to bed in their parents’ room can develop a sleep crutch that makes it difficult for them to fall asleep when they’re alone.
“They may be misdiagnosed as anxious because, since they have a hard time falling asleep without a parent nearby, they sometimes display anxious behaviors to convince a parent to stay nearby at bedtime,” Dr. Schneeberg explained.
It can be tough for the parents’ relationship as well.
“I’ve seen many families in which one parent—most often, the father—ends up sleeping in a different room entirely,” she said. “The parent with the children often becomes exhausted by either the restless sleep of the kids or the needs of each kid after an awakening.”
Obviously, Bell and Shepard know what’s right for their family so we’re not judging them as parents. But their story is a great excuse to discuss the issue of sleep because it plays such a big role in our physical and mental health.
And as a parent, I know that there’s nothing better for your mental health than having a child who sleeps through the night. In their own room.
Halftime at this Sunday’s Super Bowl LVI promises to be a total smash when Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, and Kendrick Lamar take the stage for the Pepsi Halftime Show at Inglewood’s SoFi Stadium on February 13. But even though they’ve had months to plan their performances, Snoop Dogg’s setlist might not be finalized yet.
In an interview with the Associated Press, the West Coast rap legend spoke about the nerves he’s feeling right now. “I’m not going to understand it until it happens,” he told the AP. “While it’s happening, I’m in the zone. I’m stuck to the script, laser focused, being on point, sounding good, looking good and feeling good. I want to give off a great presentation. After the fact, it’s when I’ll be nervous about watching it to see what the reaction is. But while I’m going through it, it’s nothing.”
More notably, though, Snoop indicated that he wasn’t sure yet if he would perform his iconic 1994 track “Gin & Juice.” The song was produced by Dr. Dre and it would really cement the feel of being in Los Angeles (Inglewood, to be exact) for the Super Bowl. He said the most important thing is being there with the rest of the performers and purveying a message of unity: “We’re all one. We’re all united together. If you really look at it, that’s what the world needs to understand that we need to come together as opposed to division or separation.”
The Cincinnati Bengals arrive at Super Bowl LVI as one of the NFL’s biggest surprises, a team well ahead of schedule, with a young roster that doesn’t have enough scar tissue to be concerned about much of anything.
Joe Burrow is the focal point, and for good reason. The second-year star quarterback has embodied the confidence that exudes throughout the Bengals locker room, leading an offense that is one of the most explosive in the league despite some shaky play up front. He’s surrounded by some terrific skill position talent, headlined by Ja’Marr Chase, who some believe to be the heir apparent to the crown of best receiver in the game.
However, this Bengals team hasn’t gotten to the Super Bowl simply by bludgeoning other teams in shootouts, instead finding some well-timed balance this postseason with a defense that has been stingy when it matters most. It isn’t a defense full of household names like the one on the other sideline, but they have been rock solid through three playoff games and are brimming with confidence after shutting down the vaunted Chiefs attack for the entirety of the second half of the AFC title game.
Still, Cincinnati comes into L.A. as 4.5-point underdogs against the Rams. If they are going to pull the upset, there are a few areas they’ll have to excel in.
Quick Passing Game
It’d be disingenuous to make a key “protect Joe Burrow,” because let’s face it, this Bengals offensive line isn’t going to suddenly become an impenetrable wall that gives Burrow time all game. They also probably aren’t going to be able to run the ball particularly effectively between the tackles, which means the best way to alleviate pressure on their young quarterback is for the quick passing game to find success. Screens will certainly be a part of that, and we saw how their screen game can be a big boost in the AFC title game when Samaje Perine broke a 41-yard touchdown to get the Bengals into the end zone for the first time.
However, this goes beyond screens, as the Bengals receivers are going to have to get quick separation and Burrow is going to have to be sharp with his reads to hit the open man early in the play. Getting Chase involved in that, even as he’s expected to see plenty of attention from Jalen Ramsey and the Rams secondary, will be important. Tee Higgins also figures to play a crucial role in that short passing game given the attention Chase demands, and if he can work the short-to-intermediate routes to help move the sticks and keep the Bengals offense on the field, Cincinnati can find some spots for the shot plays with the occasional max protect call or moving the pocket to buy Burrow a little time. Forcing the Rams line to be thinking about getting hands up for those underneath routes rather than pinning their ears back to get to Burrow is going to be important for Cincinnati to find consistent offense.
Getting Pressure With Four
This is an area where the Bengals have been terrific all season. They blitz only 20.5 percent of the time (the seventh fewest in the NFL) but are 14th in the league in hurry rate (10.8 percent), which is a testament to Trey Hendrickson, Sam Hubbard, and the rest of their defensive front. Losing Larry Ogunjobi hurts their ability to create pressure from the interior of the line, but Hendrickson and Hubbard showed in the second half of the AFC title game how they can wreak havoc without needing additional help.
That is particularly important against a team like the Rams, which is among the best in the NFL at creating big plays in the passing game. L.A. was third in 20-plus yard pass plays (65) and first in 40-plus yard pass plays (18) during the regular season, and when given time to work downfield routes, Cooper Kupp, Odell Beckham Jr., and Van Jefferson are very difficult to keep up with. Being able to keep safety help over the top and still getting pressure on Stafford is the best way to not only keep a lid on the Rams’ big play abilities, but also to create turnovers by Stafford, who is still prone to the occasional poor decision under pressure. If the Bengals defense can give their offense a short field a time or two, that’s the type of thing that can swing this Super Bowl in their favor.
Second Half Adjustments
The constant thread of this postseason has been the incredible job done by this Bengals team and coaching staff — particularly on the defensive side of the ball — to make halftime adjustments to take away the focal point of the other team’s game plan. The Rams are as good as there is in the NFL at coming out hot when on script, as they did against Arizona and Tampa, but they also have an unfortunate tendency to turtle up a bit once they take a lead. The Bengals have been as resilient a team as we’ve seen this postseason, and while they surely would like to not find themselves behind early on, there has to be a lot of confidence in that locker room that they can take an early punch and come back with the necessary counters to get them across the finish line.
Against a Rams team that can get tight, the Bengals will want to simply stay in touch early and then lean on their ability to adjust as a team, because few teams have been better at stringing together stops in key spots late in games and pouncing as the other team starts to pucker up.
The second adaptation of the author’s 1980 novel doesn’t star Drew Barrymore, but it does have Zac Efron, Sydney Lemmon (Jennifer from Succession; also seen here sharing a photo of Larry David in front of a Helstrom poster), and Ryan Kiera Armstrong as a creepy little girl with pyrokinetic abilities. The score was composed by John Carpenter — yes, that John Carpenter — who was the original choice to direct the 1984 movie until The Thing bombed at the box office, and Universal went with Mark L. Lester instead.
Here’s the official plot summary:
For more than a decade, parents Andy (Zac Efron) and Vicky (Sydney Lemmon) have been on the run, desperate to hide their daughter Charlie (Ryan Kiera Armstrong) from a shadowy federal agency that wants to harness her unprecedented gift for creating fire into a weapon of mass destruction. Andy has taught Charlie how to defuse her power, which is triggered by anger or pain. But as Charlie turns 11, the fire becomes harder and harder to control. After an incident reveals the family’s location, a mysterious operative (Michael Greyeyes) is deployed to hunt down the family and seize Charlie once and for all. Charlie has other plans.
Firestarter will be released in theaters and on Peacock on May 13.
California punk outfit Mom Jeans have been making waves in the pop-punk/emo scene since their 2016 album Best Buds. Now, the band is prepping a new quasi-conceptual record called Sweet Tooth. This record marks the first time that the band has had a full studio experience, and it shows in the final product. More polished and focused than ever, Sweet Tooth is primed to be the record that launches Mom Jeans into the stratosphere.
What are four words you would use to describe your music?
Loud, fun, simple, and bittersweet!
It’s 2050 and the world hasn’t ended and people are still listening to your music. How would you like it to be remembered?
Hopefully, we’re just remembered as a band that really loved being a band and making music and playing shows together. I also hope that we’re remembered as a band that contributed something to the overall scene or to the success of our peers, and as a band that cared enough about their fans to prioritize their safety and their experience. If people ARE still listening to MJ in 50 years, I hope we still have the ability to inspire others to start making music or art of their own, and I hope that being a listener of this band will continue to provide a positive and supportive community that allows one to connect with other cool and like-minded people.
What’s your favorite city in the world to perform?
Personally, it’s impossible for me to pick a standalone favorite. I will say though that my favorite place in the world to perform so far has been Australia. We had an amazing experience there and we can’t wait to go back. Anywhere in Florida is a close second too because Florida always goes crazy.
Who’s the person who has most inspired your work, and why?
I def can’t speak for the rest of the band, and I’m not sure if there even is a unifying musical or artistic influence that really inspired us as a collective. I would say that our own individual middle school and high school band directors/music educators have probably had the biggest influence on us as a whole. We were all really lucky to be a part of excellent music programs as teenagers and those directors and instructors really gave us an insane foundation of musical knowledge to build upon. I’m genuinely not sure if we would have ever gotten to the point as individuals where we were even ready/able to be in a band if it wasn’t for the guidance and mentorship that we received from those folx.
Where did you eat the best meal of your life?
Cookout. Any location, doesn’t matter.
What album do you know every word to?
Either Psychic Reader or Lightning Round by Bad Bad Hats. I was in the top 0.005% of their Spotify listeners in 2021 and I’ve probably listened to both records hundreds of times in the last year alone.
What was the best concert you’ve ever attended?
Our bass player Sam has his own band called Just Friends. My last summer before leaving to go to college (circa 2013, long before MJ), Just Friends played a free show with my hs ska band in the rec room of the city library in our hometown. There were probably 50 people total at the show but at the time it felt like thousands. Witnessing the power of local music and local community that day was one of the most influential moments of my musical life, and a large part of what MJ does and aspires to be is based off of replicating that experience at the library.
What is the best outfit for performing and why?
People (my parents included) make fun of us a lot for wearing athletic shorts and sneakers and stuff when we play, but I think it’s really all about what makes you the most comfortable when you’re onstage. For some folks that can mean having an awesome, eye-catching outfit that you know makes you look good/accentuates your features, but for us it means being physically comfortable and essentially like we’re going to the gym to work out haha. We jump and dance and thrash about a LOT when we play so having loose-fitting, breathable clothing is always going to be my go-to outfit choice when we perform. Perfect gig outfit imo is an oversized cropped t-shirt, short-inseam athletic shorts (Adidas and Champion are a band favorite), and a pair of Vans or Crocs LOL.
Who’s your favorite person to follow on Twitter and/or Instagram?
Anything dog related. We’re all either dog owners or big fans of dogs in this crew so most of us follow dog and cat-related meme and photo pages. Big fan of Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary myself, and I know for a fact that about 85% of Sam’s Instagram discover page is comprised of English bulldog puppy videos.
What’s your most frequently played song in the van on tour?
I’m not sure if there’s one solitary song that I can think of. Statistically speaking, Bart (guitar/vocals) does the most and has done the most driving of the van. Bart mostly listens to Say Anything when driving the van, therefore my best bet is that the song that has actually been played the largest number of times inside our van is probably one of the songs off of the self-titled or Is a Real Boy.
What’s the last thing you Googled?
”Why do dogs eat grass?”
What album makes for the perfect gift?
Any album is a great gift. Sharing the art and music you love with the people that you care about is one of the most awesome and special things in this world. Unless the person you’re gifting to HATES music. In that case, an album is a terrible gift idea.
Where’s the weirdest place you’ve ever crashed while on tour?
One time we stayed in an AirBNB and the hosts either got confused or managed to give us the wrong information because when we arrived and entered the unit (with the correct code/information I might add) it was clearly not only occupied, but occupied by someone who had not cleaned the premises in what seemed like weeks. After frantically contacting the owner we realized they had accidentally us into the OTHER property that they manage while their tenants (luckily) weren’t home. It was super weird to roll into the spot after the show and find a sleep-mode xbox with half-eaten chipotle and blunt guts in front of it when you’re expecting an empty house. I can’t remember if we ended up staying in the actual Airbnb or if we left because we were so put off by the whole experience. Lesson learned kis, AirBNB can be super hit-or-miss.
What’s the story behind your first or favorite tattoo?
Our drummer Austin and I have matching MJ stick and poke tattoos on our butts that we got done at our friends’ kitchen table in Portland. We were about to embark on our “year-off-after-college” to try and make the whole being in a band thing work, and we were playing a short run of shows with some friends from out east. Our evening after the show in Portland, paired with a friend’s birthday party just turned it into one of those nights. Once the drinks were flowing it was only a matter of time until somebody got a stick n poke tattoo so this time it ended up being Austin and myself. It’s a great memory and I’ll always cherish and embrace the “fuck it” energy that the tattoo reminds me of. If you look closely you can actually see the actual tattoos on the cover of our new album.
What artists keep you from flipping the channel on the radio?
I do not own a radio nor do I listen to the radio.
What’s the nicest thing anyone has ever done for you?
The continued support that I receive from my immediate and extended family as well as my partner will always be the nicest and most important thing that anyone can ever do for me. I’ve put a lot of myself and a lot of my time into this project, and it would crush me if the people I love didn’t see it as a worthwhile or healthy endeavor. The fact that I have an awesome support structure behind me and that they see the value in the decisions and choices I’ve made about how I’m going to navigate my life is the best. Acceptance is the nicest thing.
What’s one piece of advice you’d go back in time to give to your 18-year-old self?
I would probably tell myself to slow down a little bit, and to take more time to discover who I really am and what I’m about before becoming so eager to share myself and my experience with the rest of the world. I think for the longest time I was very wrapped up in the identity and self-worth aspect of being in a touring band and being “cool”. I’m super grateful to have had that tool and that vehicle to start navigating the world and my adult life but I don’t think it needed to be the entire focus of my whole personality. The last few years have allowed me to reach a place where being in a band is just a part of my life rather than the entire guiding principle, and doing so allows me to make artistic and logistical decisions that are way healthier and better support the sustainability of the band and my own mental health. I would definitely remind myself that it’s okay to not have your “career” be your #1 priority all the time, and that it’s always good to be evaluating your own feelings and asking yourself if you’re getting what you need out of any one situation.
What’s the last show you went to?
The Story So Far holiday show at the UC Theater in Berkeley. It was awesome
What movie can you not resist watching when it’s on TV?
The Wrong Missy, best movie ever.
What would you cook if Obama were coming to your house for dinner?
Hell, if I’m eating dinner with Obama there’s no way I’m cooking. He’s rich as hell, and I’m me, he’s picking up the tab and we’re going somewhere nice.
Sweet Tooth is out February 25. Pre-order it here.
After finding initial success on SoundCloud, Omar Apollo dropped a pair of EPs before releasing his first full-length project, Apolonio, in 2020, which earned the young artist much acclaim. Now, a new album, Ivory, is on the way. Alongside this news, Apollo dropped a new single, the Daniel Caesar collaboration “Invincible,” a lush tune that puts the vocal chops of both artists front and center.
Apollo is also embarking on the “Desvelado” tour this spring, which has a run of North American shows from April to May before a handful of overseas appearances in June. Deb Never supports on a majority of those shows.
Watch the “Invincible” video above and find Apollo’s upcoming tour dates below.
04/05 — Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom *
04/06 — Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom *
04/07 — Seattle, WA @ The Showbox *
04/09 — Eugene, OR @ McDonald Theatre *
04/10 — Chico, CA @ Senator Theatre *
04/12 — Sacramento, CA @ Ace of Spades *
04/13 — San Francisco, CA @ Warfield Theatre *
04/15 — Indio, CA @ Coachella
04/19 — Las Vegas, NV @ Brooklyn Bowl *
04/20 — Santa Cruz, CA @ The Catalyst *
04/22 — Indio, CA @ Coachella
04/29 — Los Angeles, CA @ The Shrine *
04/30 — Phoenix, AZ @ The Van Buren *
05/01 — Santa Fe, NM @ Meow Wolf *
05/03 — Denver, CO @ The Ogden *
05/05 — Chicago, IL @ Riviera Theatre *
05/07 — Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall *
05/08 — Detroit, MI @ The Majestic *
05/10 — Philadelphia, PA @ Theatre of Living Arts *
05/11 — Boston, MA @ Big Night Live *
05/12 — New York, NY @ Terminal 5 *
05/14 — Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club *
05/17 — Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse *
05/19 — Austin, TX @ Emo’s *
05/20 — Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall *
05/21 — Oklahoma City, OK @ Tower Theatre
05/22 — Dallas, TX @ House of Blues *
05/24 — New Orleans, LA @ Republic *
05/26 — Miami, FL @ Space Park *
05/27 — Orlando, FL @ House of Blues *
05/31 — Mexico City, MX @ Auditorio BB
06/14 — Madrid, ES @ BUT
06/15 — Barcelona, ES @ Sala Apolo
06/16 — London, UK @ KOKO
* with Deb Never
Ivory is out 4/8 via Warner Records. Pre-order it here.
Omar Apollo is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
The NBA trade deadline provides teams the opportunity to alter their rosters before the stretch run of the season. They are not, however, the only people who get something out of this, as reporters are afforded the opportunity to flex a little bit and let people know that the time they have spent cultivating sources over the years has paid off in a big way.
As a result, it’s very, very, very rare for a trade to happen without word of it getting out into the Twitterverse before the teams announce it. But that happened on Wednesday afternoon, when the Miami Heat announced a trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder that involves KZ Okpala, a pick from the Thunder’s hilarious stash of draft capital, and a fun caveat that helps Miami in its quest to make other moves.
OFFICIAL: The Miami HEAT have acquired a 2026 second round pick from the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for KZ Okpala.
“The 2026 second round pick will be the lessor from either Oklahoma City, Dallas or Philadelphia, which are owed to the Thunder,” Miami announced in a release. “Additionally, the HEAT and Thunder have agreed to amend the protections of the first round pick already owed to Oklahoma City via the Clippers originally from Miami to a 2025 first round protected pick, and if not conveyed, to a 2026 unprotected pick.”
Not bad! Anyway, they managed to announce this trade without Adrian Wojnarowski or Shams Charania or any of the other big names in the basketball reporting-sphere getting hold of it first, so congrats to the Heat and Thunder on that.
WARNING: Spoilers for The Book of Boba Fett below.
With The Book of Boba Fett finale now streaming on Disney+, it’s understandable to be curious about the iconic bounty hunter‘s fate given the ominous title of the show. Is it closing the book on his life? Telling his final adventure? Quite the opposite. Not only does Boba Fett (Temuera Morrison) not die, but the series kicks off a new chapter in his tale as he fully transitions from bounty hunter to (slightly) peaceful crime lord. You might even say, The Book of Boba Fett is all about rebirth.
After Boba Fett made a surprise appearance in The Mandalorian Season 2, significant questions were raised about how he’s still alive following the events of Return of the Jedi. Thanks to The Book of Boba Fett, we now know the answer. After being swallowed by the Sarlacc monster during Luke Skywalker’s rescue of Han Solo from Jabba the Hutt’s palace, Boba Fett finds himself being digested by the creature, which he’s not about to let happen without a fight. Thanks to the flamethrower in his gauntlet, he’s able to fight his way out of the Sarlacc’s stomach and dig his way out into the desert sand.
Barely alive and severely scarred from the ordeal, Boba’s armor is stolen off of his body by a pack of Jawas who leave him for dead. Despite their savage reputation, Tusken Raiders stumble upon Boba’s unconscious body and nurse him back to health while initially keeping him as a prisoner. However, he soon wins over the tribe’s respect with his fighting skills and compassion for the younger Tuskens. Unfortunately, his time with the Tuskens is short-lived as they’re ruthlessly slaughtered while Boba attempts to broker a deal with the Pyke Syndicate to keep their spice runs out of Tusken territory.
Now on a path for revenge, Boba Fett enlists Fennec Shand (Ming-Na Wen) to help him retrieve his ship from Jabba’s palace, which explains how he’s able to appear in The Mandalorian Season 2 and retrieve his armor from Mando (Pedro Pascal). With his armor intact, Boba Fett begins his takeover of Jabba’s criminal empire, which he fully secures after an all-out war with the Pyke Syndicate in the streets of Mos Espa. As The Book of Boba Fett ends, not only is the bounty hunter turned crime lord alive and well, our man is thriving.
The Book of Boba Fett is currently streaming on Disney+.
Not only is Eminem performing part of the upcoming Super Bowl halftime show but he’s also bringing his popular pop-up restaurant to hungry football fans. The pop-up, Mom’s Spaghetti — so named for a line from Em’s 2002 hit “Lose Yourself” — was so successful at previous events that he eventually opened a brick-and-mortar restaurant in his hometown Detroit last year to the delight of fans.
This week, Mom’s Spaghetti will return to its roots with a pop-up shop in Downtown LA opening today through Super Bowl Sunday, when the big game will be played at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium between the hometown LA Rams and the Cincinnati Bengals. For those unwilling to risk Super Bowl week traffic themselves (seriously, don’t do it, people) the restaurant will also be available for delivery via Postmates.
Fans actually at the game will get to watch Eminem perform at the halftime show along with Dr. Dre, Kendrick Lamar, Mary J. Blige, and Snoop Dogg. The group will also have a pair of deaf rappers signing during the show, translating the classic songs for a wider audience. In other food-related Super Bowl news, Domino’s is offering customers $3 for picking up their pizzas instead of having them delivered.
The Ramos Gin Fizz is the hardest cocktail to make in the game. If you’re ever in a job interview at a high-end cocktail bar, you better have this one on lock because there’s a pretty high probability you’re going to be asked to make one. While all of that sounds pretty intimidating, this New Orleans classic is worth learning to make at home to truly refine your dry shake and foam skills. There is a true “wow factor” here.
This brunch cocktail dates back to the 1880s in New Orleans and originally was a bit of a “show” cocktail that took 12 minutes of shaking to make. Bartenders would line up and pass off the shaker like a relay because 12 minutes is an incredibly long shake. There was a purpose though. You’re basically creating a foamy meringue in the shaker that’ll rise up from the top of the glass.
Today, you shake the cocktail until the ice is gone, which is usually closer to five minutes instead of 12. And that’s still a long, long time to shake a cocktail. It’s a workout and you might well break a sweat. All of that aside, this is a visually stunning cocktail that is truly delicious. And that makes it worth it.
All of the ingredients on this list are pretty straightforward and obtainable at any grocery or liquor store except for one. The orange blossom water is a little harder to find. You can usually find it in a European or Middle Eastern grocery store. Some high-end liquor stores will carry it too.
Beyond that, I’m using Gordon’s gin because that’s what’s open on my shelf (and I like it for cocktails). When it comes to the heavy cream, look for 30 plus percent cream. You need a lot of fat to help give this cocktail the correct texture.
Zach Johnston
What You’ll Need:
Collins glass
Cocktail shaker
Cocktail strainer
Pairing knife
Hand juicer
Jigger
Straw
Zach Johnston
Method:
Prechill the Collins glass in the freezer.
Add the gin, lemon, lime, simple, orange blossom water (you really only need a drop), vanilla, egg white, and cream to a shaker. Fix the lid and dry shake (while holding tightly) for at least one minute. Be careful as dry shakes are prone to popping since the cold of the ice isn’t there to create a vacuum.
Remove the lid and add three or four pieces of deeply frozen ice. Reaffix the lid and shake until you can’t hear the ice anymore (three to five minutes). It’s fine to take short breaks and switch arms when doing this.
Get your glass out of the freezer. Strain the cocktail into the waiting glass, making sure to get all the frothy egg mixture out.
Place the glass in the fridge for three minutes to let the foam set.
Use the straw to poke a small hole through the foam on top of the drink. Gently pour a small stream of cold soda water through the hole in the foam so that the foam rises just above the rim of the glass.
Put the straw into the hole and serve.
Bottom Line:
Zach Johnston
Yeah, my arms still hurt a little from that long shake. But, it’s worth it. This drink is a lush masterpiece.
The combination of egg, citrus, and gin with those hints of subtly floral orange blossom and vanilla is delicious. It just works wonders as both a refresher and as a pick-me-up (this is a “breakfast” cocktail after all). Thanks to that small pour of soda water and aeration of the egg white, it’s very light while still being, well, lush. It’s creamy in the same sense a Yoo-Hoo is creamy when it comes to the texture (the taste is nothing like that of course).
I can tell you though that even when you’re in the weeds behind a bar and you see that perfect stiff foam head rise, you feel a real sense of accomplishment. If you don’t take the time to let this set up properly, that foam head will melt all over the glass when it rises over the rim. That’s a deep disappointment. It’s still very drinkable, don’t get me wrong.
So, if you’re ready to work out those triceps, give this one a shot!
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