Beat Frozen Cocktail Boredom at Havana Central in New York City

As Labor Day parties roll around, the thought of one more frozen margarita, daiquiri or pina colada, after months of indulging can often induce psycho-sematic brain freeze. Fortunately, Havana Central – the New York eatery known for its authentic Cuban comfort food and festive atmosphere – offers a frozen cocktail that will beat what’s left of the summer heat and delightfully surprise imbibers looking for something different.

“Batido,” when translated roughly from Spanish, means beaten, whipped or blended. Its namesake, the traditional Cuban treat, is a handmade blended beverage, similar to a smoothie, made with fruit pulp (Havana Central offers exotic fruits such as guava, coconut, mango and passion fruit), ice, water or milk and rum or vodka.

BATIDO DE FRUTAS

Ingredients:

4 ounces fruit pulp (guava, coconut, mango, passion fruit)

3 ounces water or milk

16 ounces ice

1½ ounces of rum or other premium vodka or rum

Instructions:

Add all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth, then pour the mixture into a Poco Grande glass.

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AVAILABILITY

Upper West Side (2911 Broadway)

Times Square (151 West 46th Street)

Yonkers (Ridge Hill Shopping Center, 238 Market Street, Yonkers)

ABOUT HAVANA CENTRAL

The brainchild of entrepreneur Jeremy Merrin, Havana Central evokes the 1950s golden era of Cuba, capturing Havana’s heyday as the world’s most tantalizing playground. Through its festive ambiance, vibrant décor and mouth-watering food, dining at Havana Central is like taking a mini vacation. Executive Chef Stanley Licairac’s traditional dishes like Vaca Frita, Ropa Vieja and Arroz con Pollo are an unmistakable celebration of Cuban cuisine. The cocktail list includes the best Mojitos and Sangrias in New York; the wine list is filled with exceptional finds from Latin America and Spain. The first Havana Central was opened nearly 10 years ago in New York’s Union Square neighborhood. Now, the premier large-format Latin restaurant chain has three high-volume locations in the New York metropolitan area and plans to expand into additional markets in 2012. Hours and menus vary by location. For more information, visit www.HavanaCentral.com