Many of us have an insatiable appetite for celebrity gossip. I know I’m one of them, or at least I can be. Have you noticed – frankly you’d have to live in total seclusion to not notice –how spectacularly some of Hollywood’s finest have fallen lately?

What has happened to Charlie Sheen? On Monday, he was fired from his TV show where he was making a record $2 million dollars per episode. He had so much going for him.  He’s been in countless movies, he’s the son of Martin Sheen and he’s been married to 3 beautiful women and has 5 children.

It can feel like you’re watching a car accident in slow motion; wondering how this is all going to end. We can only hope that above all else, his children will be okay and won’t suffer as a result of whatever is going on.

We’ve seen the endless rants on the internet and on television has about his “tiger blood”, ”adonis DNA”,  and how he is a “warlock not of this domain” and has “fire breathing fists” – not to mention his constant reference to “winning”.

No, this doesn’t have much to do with chicken, however it is entertaining. And, frankly, it does lead into a great entertaining recipe though. I’ve renamed this my “Winning Caesar Cocktail”, in honour of Charlie.  This does include alcohol so it should be consumed in moderation and this recipe is for adults only.  Simply omit the alcohol for a non-alcoholic, “virgin” version. Don’t forget to toast Charlie while having this drink since he inspired the recipe and needs all the help he can get right now. 

My other half insists that it would be better with a chicken wing. Guys love chicken wings so I’m not surprised. You be the judge. I think trying to rest chicken wings on top of the glass would look messy and awkward, whereas the chicken is different and very tasty with the basil. I think it looks quite smart.

I don’t know about you but I usually have a Caesar when I’m in the mood for a heavier drink.Actually, I’m usually hungry so I welcome the more hearty garnish.

My “Winning” Caesar (makes 1 cocktail)

3 cubes of poached chicken, cut into cubes

At least 3 large basil leaves

1 tsp of horseradish

1/4 tsp of celery salt

1 lemon segment (lemon should be cut into 6 segments)

1 lemon round for garnish

1 oz of vodka (preferably cold)

3 drops of chipotle hot sauce

3 drops of Worcestershire sauce

Clamato juice

3 Green olives stuffed with pimento

Sea salt

White pepper

Wooden skewers

Ice cubes

1. Wrap each chicken breast cube in a basil leave, one at a time.  Poke skewer through middle of chicken cube with basil leaf and push chicken to top of skewer. Then put olive through skewer. Repeat with remaining 2 chicken cubes and 2 olives. Place skewer on plate or cutting board.
2. Prepare cocktail by adding horseradish, celery salt, squeeze of lemon from one segment, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce to the bottom of a tall glass. Add ice cubes.
3. Add 1 oz of vodka and then top glass with Clamato juice. Stir with a spoon long enough to reach bottom of glass.
4. Sprinkle sea salt and white pepper to taste on top of cocktail mixture. Insert skewer into glass. Cut small slit in lemon round and rest lemon on glass as garnish.