Liquid Assets: Butterfly Margarita from Totopos Street Food & Tequila

Butterfly Margarita

CONTRIBUTED BY TOTOPOS STREET FOOD & TEQUILA PHOTOGRAPHED BY JONATHAN FREDIN

1 oz. Lonerider Tequila Cask Finish Bourbon 1 oz. butterfly pea-infused tequila 1.5 oz. freshly squeezed lemon juice 1 oz. agave nectar

In a shaker, mix bourbon, lemon juice, and agave nectar with ice cubes and shake for five seconds. Strain and pour onto new rocks in a short glass. Pour in the butterfly pea-infused tequila and watch the color transformation. Stir well for all flavors to come together and cheers!

About Totopos Street Food & Tequila:

Totopos aims to transport you to the majestic streets of Mexico City, offering an impression of daily life where you will savor the flavors and textures the country has to offer. This cocktail represents transformation. The butterfly pea-infused tequila starts blue and becomes purple when reacting to the acid of the lemon juice. Manager Maria Bravo puts it like this: “It’s like a butterfly in its metamorphosis from the common, colorless caterpillar to the exquisite winged creature of delicate beauty.”

CAN YOU BELIEVE SUMMER HAS COME AND GONE AND IN WALKS FALL?

I am a lover of summer, so when fall hits, so does a brief case of the blahs. My mind instantly goes to “summer vacations are over and I have nothing to wear.” Of course, that’s nonsense and simply trickery of the mind. I have a full closet of perfectly good clothes, and the North Carolina mountains couldn’t be more perfect during this time of year. Fall really brings so many fun events, great smells, wonderful memories, and more.

Let’s run through a checklist of my 13 must-do activities for this fall:

Erica’s Fall Checklist

WRITTEN & PHOTOGRAHED BY ERICA DELONG

1First, start with the basics. You must add a few staple pieces to your wardrobe that make you feel good. A chunky sweater, ankle booties, a wide-brim hat, and cute cropped jeans. Leggings! This is what I wear on the regular through spring. Add a nice blazer to dress them up or down. And if anything, make sure you have a jean jacket! We have some incredible boutiques throughout the Triangle, many women-owned, so get out and support local.

Pumpkin spice and everything nice. Go ahead, be basic! Get the latte at least once, to say you did it. For the overachievers, make a homemade latte and tag me on social to share how wonderful it is. Don’t forget pumpkin loaves and pumpkin breads to go with the coffee. There’s even dairy-free pumpkin pie cream cheese nowadays. The list is endless.

3The pumpkin patch is a must! Is it even fall if you don’t visit one? We have so many farms around the Triangle perfect for snapping those family photos and sourcing your porch decor. It fills my cup to pull into my driveway and see those pumpkins and gourds lining the stairs. 4 A nice fall foliage drive. Is there anything better than a drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway? Make it a weekend getaway to one of the faves like Asheville, Boone, Blowing Rock, or Brevard. If a weekend getaway isn’t in the cards, take a nice scenic drive. Highway 64 is a gorgeous drive; go as far as you want! I’m a big fan of waterfalls, so here’s a link to the waterfalls along Highway 64. romanticasheville.com/highway64.htm

5Warm up your home with a fuzzy blanket, some fall-colored throw pillows, and an autumn-scented candle. Binge your favorite show! Just those small touches make a difference.

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Visit a Raleigh rooftop to take in the skyline. Level7, The Willard, Jolie, Tin Roof … we have several great spots to choose from (and the number keeps growing). For those of us who love the beach … day trip! It’s so calming and peaceful. Throw on a sweatshirt and enjoy the salt air. Lodging is so much cheaper, too! Camping in your backyard. How fun for the little ones to throw a tent in the backyard and make s’mores by the fire pit, while sipping hot chocolate. Put the tablets and phones down and just be. Enjoy the calm! Scary movie night. There are a plethora of options you can stream. Break out the popcorn and make sure everyone submits a “ticket” before you start the show. You can also rent a jumbo screen for the backyard and invite friends and neighbors. Where are my wine lovers? Explore a North Carolina winery. It’s easy to forget how many we have right here in our own backyard. Visit ncwine.org to plan a trip. ’Tis the season for tailgating. If you’ve never tailgated in North Carolina, it is serious business. The spreads and setups will wow you. And the love for our North Carolina teams brings so much fun and fellowship. Even if you’re unable to make the game, at least experience a tailgate. Don’t forget to grab your Bojangles. Check out the Raleigh Ghost Walk with Tobacco Road Tours. This tour is offered year round and is, of course, very popular during the fall. Experience local ghost stories, folklore, and history on a 1 ½-mile walking tour. tobaccoroadtours.com

6And last, but certainly not least, the North Carolina State Fair. I smell the fair as I write this. This is an annual tradition. Even when I lived in NYC and other cities, I came home every 7 year for the NC State Fair. If you’re scared off by crowds these days, take the morning off from work and enjoy more room to roam in the early hours. Plus, the food lines are much shorter! This year’s dates are from October 13 to 23. ncstatefair.org t

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If you have any fall traditions, please share! Reach out anytime on social @EricaDeLong.