- 1 hour ago
A fun and simple demo, a few experts in the sobriety scene share the essential ingredients to making a mocktail that will please palates and blow your traditional alcohol-filled concoction out of the water.
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00:05We're about to get our next panel cracking right here at the food and wine stage.
00:11How y'all feeling out there?
00:12Y'all good?
00:12Y'all good?
00:14Y'all getting it in here?
00:15Y'all ready to see T.I. later?
00:17Y'all ready?
00:18She said, yeah, yeah, all of them fingers.
00:20Yep, all of them.
00:21And he's going to have the orchestra with him also on deck tonight.
00:26The mothership is landing.
00:28The peafog is going to be in that thing with George Clinton.
00:31No, I don't have any tickets, but it's going down.
00:35By the way, I'm a while away from iHeartMedia and also I work with the New Orleans Bellicans.
00:40And the voice in New Orleans.
00:41Yes, yes, yes.
00:42Let's get it in.
00:42Let's get it in.
00:43I love the fact that we're able to spread the culture of food here and talk about the origins and
00:50the trends and the things that are happening in the food world.
00:53No better place in the world than to do it right here in New Orleans.
00:56Now, this one is something that is a little different for me because this one is the art of the
01:02mocktail, right?
01:04And I usually drink the cocktails.
01:05I don't drink the mocktails.
01:08But I will tell you this.
01:09Last year, I did a dry January, and it was a good thing.
01:12It was actually a good thing right around Mardi Gras, so it was real tough because everybody had a cup
01:16in their hands somewhere.
01:18But it was definitely a great thing, and it's a trend all around the country right now.
01:22A lot of folks having great tasting drinks that taste like all your favorites, just minus the alcohol.
01:28So today, we have our host, and she's coming up.
01:34Her name is Taylor Payton, a.k.a. The Hungry Home Girl, representing.
01:40And we'll have some mocktail creators coming up that are going to show us a couple of tricks in some
01:45of their products.
01:46So coming up, we have Monica of Madassi Cocktails and also Maria Castillo Franklin giving up for our host and
01:57our guests that are coming up.
01:59Once again, this was called The Art of the Mocktail.
02:05Hey, y'all.
02:07How are y'all doing today?
02:10Yes, my name is Taylor Payton, also known as Hungry Home Girl, and I'm so excited to moderate with you
02:17guys today.
02:18So today's beverage culture is evolving to embrace wellness, creativity, and inclusion.
02:23This demonstration highlights how sophisticated, alcohol-free cocktails can deliver exceptional flavor, beautiful presentation, and a memorable experience for every
02:34guest.
02:35So you guys, can we guys, or can you guys put a warm hand clap, all the things together for
02:42our first guest, Miss Monica, founder female of Madassi Cocktails.
02:52Can we make a little louder, louder noise, more noise?
02:58Y'all, this is very, very, very intimidating.
03:03It's new for all of us.
03:05So please make some noise.
03:06Show us some love.
03:07We're excited to be here today.
03:08And for our next guest, we have Maria, founder and CEO of wellness brand Flawed and Fit.
03:18Hello.
03:20Yes.
03:21So ladies, how are you guys feeling today?
03:23So good.
03:24So excited to be here.
03:26Okay.
03:26So we're going to start with Miss Monica.
03:29Yes.
03:30So tell us a little bit about your brand.
03:32Absolutely.
03:33So I am CEO of Madassi Cocktails, and we use cocktail for a reason, right?
03:39So we've got six different flavors.
03:40Most people think that when you think about, you know, non-alcoholic drinks, they should not have any flavor.
03:46It should just be juice or watered down or sugary drinks.
03:49That is not the case with Madassi, right?
03:51We wanted to create something that's authentic.
03:54We wanted to also create something that was good for you so they're also organic.
03:58I would also say for my brand, I'm excited because we wanted to make sure these drinks are the same
04:03thing that you order every day.
04:05A lemon drop, a Moscow Mule, an Old Fashioned, right?
04:09We did not skip on anything from a flavor standpoint.
04:13And I'm more proud that just this year we actually won the L.A. Spirit Awards.
04:18And we also thank you so much.
04:20And the San Francisco World Spirit Awards.
04:23Those were two awards where we were competing against alcoholic brands.
04:27So your Cot Waters, your Casamigos.
04:30And we actually won medals in those competitions.
04:32Yes, congratulations.
04:34Thank you, thank you.
04:34We love to hear that.
04:35Thank you, yes.
04:36So we are excited to try today, okay?
04:38Yes.
04:38Alrighty, so we're going to go to Miss Maria.
04:40So can you tell us a little bit about your brand?
04:43Absolutely.
04:44So I am the founder of the wellness brand Flawed & Fit, which just encourages women to embrace their flaws
04:49while finding their own unique versions of fit.
04:51Because fit looks different on all of us, okay?
04:55Flawed & Fit is not about, excuse me, perfection.
04:58It's more about becoming.
04:59And wellness should meet you where you're at.
05:01That goes for movement, for nutrition, and especially relationship with alcohol.
05:04I'm personally two years sober.
05:07Not because...
05:07Congratulations.
05:08Thank you so much.
05:09Alcohol is like not inherently evil.
05:11But for me, I really felt like my relationship with it needed to change in order for me to just
05:15continue to become, you know, the woman that the Lord has called me to be.
05:18So I'm so excited to share that wellness, sobriety, fun celebration can all coexist in the same space.
05:25Yay!
05:26Okay.
05:27So we are ready to get started with our cocktails.
05:30So, Miss Monica, what do you have for us today?
05:34So I got...
05:35I'm going to demo three flavors.
05:37We're going to demo something with our Old Fashioned, our Mojito, and our Lemon Drop.
05:41So let me just kind of go down here.
05:44And this is our Old Fashioned.
05:46And I want you to actually taste this straight up, right?
05:49Nothing else.
05:50Just taste it straight.
05:52And I also want Miss Maria to try it as well.
05:55Yes, absolutely.
05:56Cheers.
05:58And we can drink this straight out the can, right?
06:00Straight out the can.
06:00Smell it first and tell me what you smell.
06:02Y'all, straight out the can.
06:04Straight out the can.
06:05Come on, but you're smelling the microphone.
06:05It smells like Hennessy.
06:07It smells like Hennessy.
06:08It smells like Hennessy.
06:09It smells like Merlin.
06:09I know what that smells like.
06:10It smells like whiskey.
06:11It does.
06:11Hold on.
06:12Wait.
06:12You're like, what?
06:13What's going on, right?
06:14How is it possible?
06:15How is it possible?
06:16So one thing I did was we started like creating just like in my kitchen.
06:21And then I moved to say, you know what?
06:23I've got to get this right.
06:24So I actually worked with a chemist.
06:25It was a black chemist out of Los Angeles who helped me create these flavor profiles
06:30that belong.
06:31And I own.
06:32I tell you, any business, make sure you own your stuff, right?
06:35So I own these ingredients and they only belong to me in my can.
06:39So I'm going to, you're like, whoa, what's going on?
06:42Right?
06:42And I get that same thing.
06:43And with the old fashioned, I get men coming up and say, oh, these are non-alcoholic.
06:48I don't want that.
06:49And I say, try it.
06:50And they come back and say, give me another one.
06:52So this is the espresso martini.
06:55So this is a little bit of cold brew coffee, a little bit of vanilla, a little bit of creamer
07:02with our old fashioned also.
07:03So I'm going to let you try it with that.
07:05Oh my gosh.
07:06My mouth is on the floor because even after this, you know, I already told you, I'm going
07:10to be contacting you because baby, the way this tastes, I haven't tasted it.
07:14This is my first time tasting it.
07:16Amazing.
07:16So I'm excited to taste the espresso.
07:18This is my favorite one.
07:19Maria, what do you think?
07:20So good.
07:20It's delicious.
07:21It tastes just like an espresso martini.
07:22Right.
07:23Without sans alcohol.
07:24Without the hangover.
07:25Right.
07:25Absolutely.
07:26Exactly.
07:26So it still has that alcohol flavor and that taste, that same aroma that you want to have,
07:30but it's just without the hangover is what I say.
07:33It's everything but the hangover.
07:35I love it.
07:35Okay.
07:36So zero proof cocktails have become really popular.
07:39So what do you think has fueled this shift in the way people celebrate?
07:43So, you know, for me, it's two things, right?
07:45People are on wellness journeys, right?
07:47They want to do, they don't want, they want to do things differently, right?
07:51They want to focus on their health and wellness and it's at all ages, right?
07:54Yes.
07:54It is the age where you have issues.
07:57It is the age where you just want to kind of get fit.
08:00Even at the younger age where you just want to do something different with your body.
08:03I started this brand with my good friend and my line sister.
08:08And at the time she was battling breast cancer and she couldn't drink.
08:11And so we said, let's create something that we all can celebrate.
08:14All be part of the party.
08:16All, you know, feel that connection.
08:18People don't want to come to parties and all you have to offer is water or juice or soda.
08:24They want something elevated in their hand.
08:26They want something lux in their hand.
08:28And this is what we're giving them.
08:30I love that.
08:31And may I ask what sorority are you a part of?
08:34Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated.
08:37Oh, okay.
08:40I got to give an extra hug there.
08:42Okay.
08:43Okay.
08:43We love it.
08:44So Maria.
08:45Yes ma'am.
08:46I have another question for you.
08:47Tell me.
08:48So you're passionate about healthy living.
08:50Yes.
08:50What do you think beverages or how do you think beverages fit into your overall wellness lifestyle?
08:55Well, as I mentioned, for me, wellness is about meeting every single woman where they are.
09:01So whether you're sober, curious, or just, you know, wanting to change your relationship
09:04with alcohol, it shouldn't be something that we have to completely eliminate fun with at
09:08the same time, right?
09:09And in regards to fitness and wellness, alcohol does contain a lot of sugar.
09:13It does affect you the next day, right?
09:16So your ability to kind of just wake up and be clear is impaired.
09:20However, we're all about balance over here.
09:22Okay.
09:23So finding a nice balance between what works for you and what works for someone else might
09:26be very different.
09:27But I personally, people always think when you think of sobriety, it's like leaving out
09:31the fun.
09:32We have to leave the party early.
09:33The celebration is over.
09:34And for me, it's been the quite opposite.
09:36Like sobriety has been one of the greatest gifts that I've given myself.
09:39And I'm just here, you know, to show you how we can coexist wellness and sobriety at
09:44the very same time.
09:45It's possible.
09:47I love it.
09:48Yeah.
09:49So are you ready to show us your special mocktail for today?
09:51Sure.
09:52Absolutely.
09:52So these are all ingredients that you can find right in the comfort of your own home.
09:56This is going to be a Reishi Bayou Breeze.
09:59Okay.
09:59Reishi Bayou Breeze.
10:00And we're going to start with some pineapple juice.
10:03And we're going to, we're just going to mix this in with this cranberry juice.
10:06It's going to be the base of our drink.
10:07Cranberry juice is really good.
10:08It's tart.
10:09It's delicious.
10:10We're going to add some ginger beer in here just for a little fizz.
10:14Absolutely.
10:15And a little simple syrup for that sweetness.
10:17All right.
10:18I actually started working with a nonprofit organization called Strides in Recovery during
10:22the peak of my addiction while my higher self was really searching for, you know, better
10:27alternatives.
10:28And so what I did is I go around different addiction facilities in Los Angeles.
10:31And I teach those women, you know, powerful tools to prevent relapses, which is through
10:36movement and through alternatives like this, right?
10:39The main part of this drink y'all, which I have discovered on my sobriety journey is Reishi
10:44tea.
10:45So Reishi is an adaptogenic mushroom, meaning it just helps you adapt to overall stress and
10:50it doesn't create the same buzz as alcohol, but that's the whole point.
10:53It's more of a calming ritual that you can just have for yourself.
10:56Take some time to slow down and it does provide a relaxing effect in a way, right?
11:01Where can you purchase that?
11:02The tea?
11:02You can purchase this at any Whole Foods, any local grocery store, I believe.
11:06Okay.
11:08We're going to fake shake this up so we don't make a mess.
11:10I'm going to stir it up.
11:11Sure.
11:12There we go.
11:12That's perfect.
11:14We're going to stir it up.
11:15I'm going to stir it up.
11:16So, you know, wellness for me has been just asking myself, how can I be more grounded,
11:19right?
11:19Versus thinking, okay, I can never enjoy myself at an outing ever again.
11:24And as she mentioned, it's so important that us sober folks do have other options, you
11:28know, other than just lemon and water.
11:31I'm not wrong with some lemon and water, but it's nice to have an option.
11:34So again, Reishi tea has been something that I've been incorporating.
11:36It's awesome.
11:38And I personally love a little garnish.
11:40So ginger, candy ginger inside, a little mint on tap.
11:45A little mint.
11:46You know what I'm saying?
11:47Get you a little lemon garnish, excuse me, a lemon garnish because we also eat and drink
11:52with our eyes first.
11:53So if I'm ordering a mocktail, I want it to be colorful, celebratory and presentation is
11:58everything.
11:58So cheers.
11:59Let's raise a glass of sobriety and embracing our flaws while finding our versions of
12:04it.
12:06It's good.
12:07It's good.
12:07Well, you don't have to sip the same one, but take my word for it.
12:09Look, I'm going to help myself if I do, okay?
12:11We love a good mocktail.
12:13Go for it.
12:13So I'm also going to try it.
12:15And before I try it, y'all, let me ask one more question just to get the conversation
12:19going, okay?
12:20So Monica, I'm going to ask you first and then Maria, you can answer the same question.
12:24Sure.
12:25So what is the biggest misconception that people have about mocktails?
12:29I think most people think that they're going to get juice, right?
12:32That they're going to get that watered down, you know, sugar drink.
12:36And that's not what mocktails are, especially if you make them right, right?
12:39So if you work with, you know, a mixologist or work with somebody who really knows mocktails,
12:43you're going to really get the authentic taste.
12:45But it's hard sometimes, right?
12:47Because people also want that taste, that aroma also.
12:50And I think that's what Modassi gives you is that aroma, that taste in the back of your
12:55throat that says, wait a second, this is so good.
12:58I can't believe I'm not drinking alcohol.
13:00The other thing is people think that there's a stigma of not drinking.
13:04When you go to events and you say, I'm not drinking, the first question out of somebody's
13:09mouth is, why are you not drinking?
13:10What's wrong with you?
13:11What's going on?
13:12And it's like, well, hold up.
13:13I'm just deciding it is my choice, right, to not drink right now.
13:18So it's like, let's strip away all the stigmas.
13:21Let's strip away all of that and just let people enjoy what they want to enjoy.
13:25Let, you know, inclusion of mocktails be part of your bar, right?
13:30Not just the alcohol.
13:32I love this because I actually have some friends, I believe, in the audience who aren't
13:37drinkers and they would love, love, love to have these recipes at home or even try this
13:43at home.
13:44Like it's all about education and just being around people to help celebrate your sobriety
13:49journey.
13:50So Maria, the same question for you.
13:52What is the biggest misconception that people have about mocktails?
13:55I would say that the biggest misconception is that they have to be bland, right?
14:00As you can see, they can have bold flavors.
14:02They can be festive and they can be celebratory, right?
14:06And for me personally, guys, the biggest gift is just waking up clear, waking up grounded,
14:13being able to, you know, just go about my day as I'd like to, without feeling hindered
14:17in a way.
14:18And again, sobriety is not for everyone, but for me, it has been, again, the greatest
14:22gift that I feel like has become a part of my ministry to share.
14:25While I was in active addiction, you know, I just was not aligned with the person that
14:29I feel that I am today.
14:30So it's been awesome to be able to go back into those environments that I once was in,
14:36you know, and just, I get emotional and just be able to be present and be able to still
14:40feel like I, you know, I'm having fun and I'm still celebrating myself and others around
14:44me.
14:45So it don't have to be bland.
14:46It can be fun.
14:47It can taste good.
14:48And yeah, it'll be awesome.
14:50It should.
14:50And all the things.
14:52Yes.
14:53So did you have another cocktail?
14:55I just made another one.
14:56So I just made a mojito.
14:58Who drinks the mojito?
14:59Oh, that's my favorite.
14:59Okay.
15:00So this is a pineapple mojito.
15:02A pineapple mojito.
15:04And then can we also have a sip for Mr. Wayne over here?
15:08He wants to try.
15:09I want to try that.
15:10Oh, and my husband, Mr. Devon Franklin, who's also a sober individual.
15:14Mr. Devon wants to try a little sip.
15:17You want to try mine?
15:17Okay.
15:18Okay.
15:19Here.
15:20I'll give you guys.
15:20Oh yeah.
15:21Yeah.
15:21We got the mojito.
15:22We got the mojito.
15:23The Madassi mojito.
15:24The Flawed and Fit Vayu Reishi Grease.
15:29Give us some feedback.
15:33Okay.
15:34Good.
15:34That's awesome.
15:35And what I love about Madassi, too, is the packaging.
15:38Like, you can still have something to hold that resembles, you know what I mean?
15:42A mocktail.
15:43Excuse me, a cocktail.
15:44Exactly.
15:44Awesome.
15:45So this is the Moscow Mule.
15:47Ooh.
15:49I'm going to let you try it.
15:50Good.
15:51I like some good ginger.
15:52That's right.
15:53There you go.
15:57You okay?
15:58Good?
16:00Yes.
16:01I feel like you slipped a shot in here or something.
16:05I love it.
16:06You sure?
16:07You sure?
16:07Exactly.
16:08That's exactly what people say.
16:09Are you sure?
16:10I mean, and that's the kind of tapestry, the discovery of mocktails, right?
16:15They don't have to be bland like you said.
16:17I mean, they should have bold flavors and bold tastes and they should just allow you to celebrate,
16:22right?
16:22And with Madassian, which is why I've got, you know, six different cocktails when I came out
16:26on the market is I wanted to give people options, right?
16:29So we've got the lemon drop and the margarita and the Jamaican rum punch, you know, and they've
16:34been made just like the authentic taste, which is you've tasted those.
16:38I love it.
16:39That's amazing.
16:39Okay.
16:41So if someone wanted to elevate their next gathering with one signature mocktail, which
16:48one, simple tip, would you recommend?
16:51I'm choosing Madassi.
16:53What's up?
16:54Yeah.
16:56That espresso martini was delicious.
16:59Absolutely.
16:59I was going to say order the Madassi, right?
17:01And then you can kind of create what you want to create.
17:04Like I'm a watermelon person, so I drink my watermelon mojito every day.
17:08That's my drink.
17:09But you can add whatever you want, but you don't need a lot, right?
17:12Because they're already made just to taste like an authentic cocktail, right?
17:16So, and people love it.
17:18And can you tell us your six different flavors that you have up here?
17:21So we've got an old fashioned, a Moscow mule, Jamaican rum punch, margarita, lemon drop,
17:27and a mojito.
17:28Love it.
17:29Love it.
17:30So please, please give it up for Miss Monica and Miss Maria, y'all.
17:35Whoop, whoop, whoop, whoop, whoop.
17:38These cocktails were amazing.
17:40Thank you, thank you.
17:40And please let us know how we can follow your journey and keep up with you on social media,
17:45on your platforms.
17:45We'll start with you, Miss Maria.
17:47Absolutely.
17:47You can follow me on socials at maria.castillo.franklin.
17:51And I have a wellness app for women looking to reach their wellness goals, sober or not.
17:56It's called flawedandfitcoaching.com.
17:58Embrace your flaws, find your fits.
18:00Yes.
18:00I love it.
18:02Thank you so much.
18:02Yes.
18:03Let me give you a hug.
18:04Yes, absolutely.
18:05I love.
18:06Okay.
18:06Miss Monica, you can share as well.
18:08So you can follow us at Madassi Cocktails, or you can find us on our website at madassicocktails.com.
18:15We're sold on Amazon, TikTok shop.
18:18However, we just started our retail journey about a month ago.
18:22Yes.
18:22So you'll see us in some stores.
18:24Yeah.
18:24Give it up for that.
18:27And if, wait, and if we're not in stores and you go into a store, just say, hey, do you
18:31have Madassi?
18:32You need to get Madassi in your store.
18:35Exactly.
18:35Make sure you sell them.
18:37Right.
18:38Thank you so much, Miss Monica.
18:41And then we also have room for questions.
18:43If anybody has any questions that they want to ask Monica or Maria.
18:49No?
18:50Oh, we do.
18:51Okay.
18:55I can't hear you.
18:57Do you want to come a little closer so I can give you the microphone?
18:59Oh, wait.
18:59We've got a mic for you.
19:00There you go.
19:04I was asking if you have any of your product, like, on you now that we can purchase.
19:08What do you drink?
19:09What do you like?
19:10I'd like to try them all.
19:12Come on up.
19:14Here he is.
19:15Look.
19:15Squeak a little bit in the oil.
19:19Oh, yeah.
19:20Yes.
19:20So I was just going to say I'm a mocktail mommy.
19:22Woo!
19:23Yes.
19:23Here we go.
19:24Yes.
19:24And I would love to try something up there, too.
19:29Also, your mixes, where can we, like, see, you know, what your concoctions are?
19:35Because I would love to learn to make them.
19:36What was your Instagram or your social media?
19:39My first name, Maria.
19:40Okay.
19:41Dot Castillo.
19:42C-A-S-T-I-L-L-O.
19:44Dot Franklin.
19:46Okay.
19:46Perfect.
19:46And you don't sell any mixes already.
19:49I do not.
19:49I just have a wellness brand that focuses on women's wellness journeys in entirety.
19:53So, again, I have a lot of sober individuals that are in my community and a lot of them
19:57that are not, but that are curious.
19:58And, you know, I'm here to just share my testimony more so and just encourage y'all, you know,
20:02to, if you are sober curious, that you can still have, you know, a meaningful moment
20:07and a ritualistic moment with yourself without the alcohol.
20:11So.
20:12All right.
20:12Great.
20:12Thank you for the question.
20:13I love it.
20:13Thank you guys so much.
20:15All right.
20:16Which one did you want to try?
20:17Let's do it.
20:19Kill that.
20:19Kill that.
20:20Ate that.
20:20This is my favorite.
20:21Mojita.
20:22I love it.
20:23I love it.
20:24I love it.
20:24I love it.
20:25Thank you so much.
20:30Mojita.
20:30Go get his photos.
20:31Yes.
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