Strawberry 'Martini' with Lemongrass Foam

Ingredients

• 2 pints strawberries
• prepped and halved
• 1/2 cup citrus flavored vodka
• 1 tablespoon mint
• fine julienne
• save 4 small sprigs for garnish
• 2 cups water
• 2 cups sugar
• 6 lemongrass stalks
• white part only
• sliced
• 2 slices peeled ginger
• 2 lemons
• zested
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 sheet gelatin

Instructions

1. Place the strawberries in a bowl and fold in with vodka and mint.
2. Store in the refrigerator until cold about 1 hour.
3. In a small saucepan over low heat, mix water and sugar until dissolved.
4. Add lemongrass, ginger and lemon zest and bring to a simmer.
5. Cover with a plate or lid and reduce by 1/2, or until a syrupy consistency is achieved, about 45 minutes.
6. Mix in lemon juice and keep syrup warm on low heat.
7. Bloom the gelatin in 1 cup water and add to warm syrup to dissolve.
8. Strain syrup and keep at room temperature.
9. It will thicken as it cools.
10. Place syrup in a foaming canister with 2 cartridges and set aside.
11. Strain the strawberries before serving and place the strained vodka in the freezer (optional).
12. In 4 chilled martini glasses, place a small mound of the strawberries.
13. Foam the lemongrass mixture on top and garnish with mint sprig.
14. Beverage suggestion: Chilled Fino Sherry, Bandol Rose Domaine Tempier 1998