Delicious - Delightful - Cranberry Cordial

You know the saying..."what came first the chicken or the egg?"  A lifelong debate has gone on about this very basic question.  In this vein, I propose, "what makes a meal fabulous, the food or the beverage?".  Come on you foodies out there...can you even really think about sitting down to a sumptuous feast without that perfect glass of .......something?! 

Well, that perfect glass of something has become somewhat of a journey, a passion....a creation in our house.
Just as I seek to find that creation, recipe...complete meal that inspires awe....we are on the same journey to create the "aperitif" that opens the door to the dining experience.    According to the culinary arts dictionary:
" an Aperitif is a cocktail or alcoholic beverage that is specifically served before a meal or with a small appetizer, the purpose of an aperitif is to stimulate or arouse the appetite"...  AND IT WORKS!!
I have written here in the past about our creation of several types of aperitifs,  so now with  Fall's arrival....and the cranberry season... there are delicious bottles of Cranberry Cordial being created in the kitchen.  The color is stunning, the taste is divine, the recipe is private (my husband Pete's creation)....and the gift of sharing with our friends and family is a pleasure.  So this past weekend after a very busy work week in the kitchen....we turned to play.  Cranberry cordial is bottled, racked and ready to share. 
Okay, "so what makes a meal fabulous...the food or the beverage?"
Let's continue to ponder this over a glass of crisp, spiced and smooth...cranberry cordial!