Strawberry 'Martini' with Lemongrass Foam

Ingredients

• 2 pints strawberries, prepped and halved
• 1/2 cup citrus flavored vodka
• 1 tablespoon mint, fine julienne, save 4 small sprigs for garnish
• 2 cups water
• 2 cups sugar
• 6 lemongrass stalks, white part only, sliced
• 2 slices peeled ginger
• 2 lemons, zested
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 sheet gelatin

Directions

Place the strawberries in a bowl and fold in with vodka and mint. Store in the refrigerator until cold about 1 hour.

In a small saucepan over low heat, mix water and sugar until dissolved. Add lemongrass, ginger and lemon zest and bring to a simmer. Cover with a plate or lid and reduce by 1/2, or until a syrupy consistency is achieved, about 45 minutes.

Mix in lemon juice and keep syrup warm on low heat. Bloom the gelatin in 1 cup water and add to warm syrup to dissolve. Strain syrup and keep at room temperature. It will thicken as it cools.

Place syrup in a foaming canister with 2 cartridges and set aside. Strain the strawberries before serving and place the strained vodka in the freezer (optional).

In 4 chilled martini glasses, place a small mound of the strawberries. Foam the lemongrass mixture on top and garnish with mint sprig.

Beverage suggestion: Chilled Fino Sherry, Bandol Rose Domaine Tempier 1998