The Little Prince
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A little kid will read The Little Prince and be impressed by his adventures across the universe. A young adult will read it and be impressed with how deep it feels, the impression that this slim book has many of the life lessons you’ll need going into true adulthood. As an adult I’m fascinated primarily by the parallels between the book and Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s life. The Little Prince is named for its extraterrestrial visitor, but the central character is a pilot who remembers what it was to be a kid but is currently very, very stranded in the middle of a desert with no clear way to get out.
Saint-Exupéry was a lifelong pilot who had a successful civil flying career with a minor blip of getting stranded in the Libyan desert for 3 days after a plane crash. He was seriously injured in a second crash a few years later, and joined the
military to fly in WWII. This book was published only a year before Saint-Exupéry insisted on being given a mission despite not yet being healthy enough to fly. He never returned.
The Little Prince reflects Saint-Exupéry’s life philosophy in that you’ll get out of it as much as you put in. Don’t read it if you aren’t in the right mood, but if you are, you can enjoy it as a thoughtful kid’s book or as a parable for adults. (It felt like what The Alchemist was trying to be.) It would be a great book to read and discuss over a coffee date, as everyone will have different reactions to the various worlds the prince talks about visiting. I paired it with a tall glass of ice cold water because I was just so thankful I had easy access to clean water while reading about the stranded pilot out in the middle of nowhere.
I paired this with a Jalapeno Rosewater Margarita, although I swapped out the jalapenos for serrano. I like drinks with a bit of a kick, and had to find a drink that incorporated rose for the little prince’s beloved flower. This wasn’t one of my favorite drinks, but it had potential - I think if made it with the original ingredients it would likely be better.
Jalapeno Rose Margarita
INGREDIENTS
1.5 oz White Tequila (Blanco) – Spicy, if Desired
.5 oz Grand Marnier (or Other Orange-Flavored Liqueur, I used triple sec)
1 oz Lime Juice
.5 oz Rose Water (I got mine at the local Indian market)
Extra Lime Slices, Pink Himalayan Salt, Rosebuds, Jalapeño Slices for garnish
If you want to spice your tequila, add a slice of jalapeño to a bottle or jar. The tequila will take on the flavor quickly, so you only need to let it marinate for an hour or two (if that), when using a small jar. Rim your glass with lime juice from the extra lime slices, and salt, if desired. Set aside. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, tequila, Grand Marnier, lime juice and rose water. Shake well and strain into glass. Garnish!
I used serrano pepper instead of jalapeño because that’s what I had. It gave the drink a good kick, but I think jalapeño would have been a better flavor. Three cheers to www.sipdrinkgulp.com for the recipe!
