Young Maid

How to Make the Best Doncellita

Glenn Lindgren: It's made with Creme de Cacao, a liqueur made with cacao (chocolate) beans.

Jorge Castillo: It's served in a liqueur glass with an equal amount of heavy cream floated on the top.

Glenn Lindgren: The end result is the most delicious chocolate milk you've ever had.

Raúl Musibay: Chocolate milk with a kick, that is!

Jorge Castillo: The name of the drink is a "doncellita," or young maid.

Glenn Lindgren: So named because of the cherry served on top, which is a symbol of... well...

Jorge Castillo: I think they get it, Glenn...

Pour 2 ounces of heavy cream slowly down the side of the glass so that the cream floats on top.

Top the drink with a bright red maraschino cherry.

I have close sentimental memories of this drink. My mother's help was off on Sunday after lunch, and we would go out to dinner as a family. Even when we were children, Mother would let us have the "doncellitas." She was a lovely, beautiful, and elegant woman. She was a natural "flirt," but never self-conscious about it. She and my father were absolutely crazy about each other!

After I had my own family, and as aware as we were becoming then of the effects of alcohol, I said to her one day "Mami, how could you have given us an alcoholic drink when we were as young as eight or ten? I'm sure it made us very sleepy." Her answer, with a really mischievous smile: "That was the whole idea! Besides, it was like having chocolate." I never did that with my children, but they might have missed something in not having a "doncellita." What a good story that memory has become in our family!

Lourdes Antiga Price Gee, Charlotte, North Carolina

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