Los Amores

This vibrant, ruby-red cocktail — devised for Valentine’s Day by Bien Trucha, a group of Mexican restaurants in the suburbs of Chicago — is a superb opener for an intimate dinner. But there’s no need to limit the drink to one annual event. Serve it at Mother’s Day; it’s actually mild enough for brunch. It also suits an anniversary party, a summertime celebration and — prepared in a generous quantity to fill a punch bowl — one of December’s festive occasions. It’s easily made. The drink was inspired by the classic Kir Royale (Champagne and cassis) though a variation that suggests a margarita is another option: Replace the strawberries with a couple of blood orange segments and use a triple-sec liqueur instead of the cassis. Garnish it with a blood orange segment. —Florence Fabricant