Caribbean Cocktails | An Evening with Nelson German & Andréa Lawson Gray

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Sip and savor the bold flavors and vibrant culture of the Afro-Latino diaspora with over 40 drink recipes and 20 food recipes from Top Chef alum and acclaimed chef-restaurateur Nelson German, the culinary visionary behind Meski, Sobre Mesa, and alaMar Kitchen and Bar.
For Afro-Dominican chef Nelson German, drinks and food are about connection—whether it's sharing stories over cocktails on a stoop in Washington Heights or gathering with friends under the warm, buzzy lights of his restaurants. In Caribbean Cocktails, he brings the rich culinary history of the Afro-Latino diaspora straight to your home bar and kitchen, blending tradition, personal storytelling, and modern mixology. Inside, you’ll find cocktail recipes easy enough for home bartenders yet inventive enough for seasoned mixologists, along with an ingredient index to help you make the most of every bottle on your bar cart, tips for batching drinks, plus low-ABV and alcohol-free variations for every kind of celebration.
Reflecting the vibrant drinking and food culture of the Afro-Latino diaspora, Caribbean Cocktails presents a rich selection of recipes from celebrated bartenders and chefs, spanning refreshing spritzes and bold island classics to tasty small plates. Each chapter highlights a distinct flavor profile, including concoctions for:

• Warm and sweet flavors like The Heights Mamajuana, Gingerbread Holiday Milk Punch, and Coconut Rum Caramelized Sweet Plantains
• Floral, fruity, and herbal flavors like Coconut Daiquiri, Zombie Revier No. 2, and Dominican Chorizo “Kipe” Bites
• Sour and bitter flavors like Cafecito de la Mesa, La Cultura Old-Fashioned, and Coffee Cake with Guavaberry Caramel Sauce
• Spicy flavors like Spice Me Down, Dominican Date Sour, and Afro-Cuban Mojo Olives with Peanuts
• Salty and smoky flavors like El Premio, Mayaimi Swizzle, and Dungeness Stuffed Piquillo Peppers

With the unique, culturally rooted, flavorful recipes in Caribbean Cocktails, you’ll soon be entertaining impressively at home.

Chef Nelson German is the Executive Chef and Owner of Oakland’s acclaimed Sobre Mesa and alaMar Dominican Kitchen & Bar, and Executive Chef and Partner at Meski — the Afro-Ethiopian-Latin restaurant in San Francisco co-founded by Draymond Green and Guma Fassil. A proud Dominican-American born in Manhattan’s Washington Heights, Chef Nelson tells the story of the African and Caribbean diasporas through soulful, modern cuisine that blends ancestral flavors with global technique.

Trained in some of New York City’s top kitchens, Chef Nelson has become a leading voice in Afro-Latin cooking since relocating to the Bay Area. He competed on Top Chef Season 18 and has been featured in Food & Wine, The Washington Post, Glamour, and more.

His first book, Caribbean Cocktails: Drinks and Bites from the Afro-Latino Diaspora, will be released on June 2, 2026 and is currently available for pre-order. The book features more than 40 Caribbean cocktail recipes and 20 Afro-Latino–inspired bites rooted in Dominican heritage, blending rum drinks, tropical flavors, and modern mixology with rich cultural storytelling. Designed for both home bartenders and entertainers, the collection includes approachable recipes, batching tips, and low-ABV options that bring bold Caribbean spirit to the home bar. A James Beard Foundation–recognized chef and one of Plate Magazine’s “Chefs to Watch,” Chef Nelson is also known for his community-driven approach — using his platform to uplift others, foster connection, and bring people together through food. Whether through a cocktail, a tasting menu, or a neighborhood gathering, his work invites guests to experience culture, story, and belonging in every bite.

Andréa Lawson Gray is a chef, writer, and James Beard Award–winning cookbook author known for bringing the flavors, history, and energy of Latin America and the Caribbean to contemporary audiences. With more than two decades of experience in professional kitchens, she collaborates closely with chefs to translate culinary tradition into bold, accessible food and drink.

She is the co-author of the award-winning Convivir: Modern Mexican Cooking in California’s Wine Country (Abrams, 2025) and Celebraciones Mexicanas: History, Traditions, and Recipes (Rowman & Littlefield, 2013), which is held in more than 350 libraries, including Harvard and Cambridge.

She is currently touring in support of Caribbean Cocktails: Drinks & Bites from the Afro Latino Diaspora (Ten Speed Press, June 2, 2026), featuring 40 vibrant cocktails—including more than 25 zero-proof and low-ABV options—paired with 20 dishes designed for gathering.

She divides her time between San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York City.

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