Culinary SOS: La Grande Orange Café's white sangria

By Noelle Carter, Los Angeles Times

April 26, 2011 1:18 PM PT

Dear SOS: We love to order the “Famous White Sangria” at the LGO Café in Pasadena at La Grande Orange Café. Perfect on a summer evening — can you please help us get the recipe?

Alex Zucco

Monrovia

Dear Alex: LGO Café was happy to share its recipe for this libation, and now that warm weather is just around the corner, it’s the perfect time.

La Grande Orange Café’s white sangria

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Total time: 15 minutes

Servings: 8 to 10

Note: Adapted from La Grande Orange Café in Pasadena. The restaurant uses Presidente brandy.

2 (750-ml) bottles dry white wine, preferably Pinot Grigio

1 1/3 cup orange juice

1/2 cup triple sec

1/4 cup brandy

1/2 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/2 oranges, sliced

1/2 lemon, sliced

1/2 apple, sliced

Large bunch grapes, stemmed

In a large pitcher, whisk together the wine, orange juice, triple sec and brandy. Add the sugar and vanilla extract and continue to whisk until the sugar is completely dissolved. Add the sliced orange, lemon and apple, along with the grapes. Serve over ice with fruit slices as garnish.

Each of 10 servings: 259 calories; 1 gram protein; 30 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram fiber; 0 fat; 0 cholesterol; 24 grams sugar; 10 mg sodium.

SOS REQUESTS: Send Culinary SOS requests to noelle.carter@latimes.com or Culinary SOS, Food section, Los Angeles Times, 202 W. 1st St., Los Angeles, CA 90012. Please include your name, phone number and city of residence.