Local Cookbook Author's Unexpected Kitchen Ingredient: Vodka

Local Cookbook Author Promotes Unexpected Kitchen Ingredient: Vodka Darien, CT (June 8, 2025) — Rachel Carlisle, a Darien-based author, recently shared a video showcasing an unconventional use for vodka: as a kitchen ingredient. In a short video posted online, Carlisle, known for her potato and cocktail cookbook, reviews vodka, describing it as "a very common kitchen ingredient." She demonstrates its use in a refreshing salad recipe, which she says can be found on page 50 of her cookbook. "Vodka can be used to make vodka-infused butter, cocktail sauces, and jams," Carlisle states in the video. The video, while short, has gained some traction online, suggesting interest in this unique culinary approach. While some may find the clickbait-style promotion of her cookbook off-putting, the video's novelty has sparked online discussion. Carlisle's video serves as a reminder that even unexpected ingredients can find their place in the kitchen, encouraging culinary creativity and exploration of new flavor profiles.