DIFFA'S Dining By Design Launches With Cocktails By Design

Online, March 22, 2012 (Newswire.com) - DIFFA: Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS will launch their 15th annual DINING BY DESIGN tour on On Thursday, March 22nd in New York with COCKTAILS BY DESIGN (CBD), an evening celebrating inventive design, culinary excellence and cocktail innovation. CBD is the first of 5-days of events running concurrently with the Architectural Digest Home Design Show at Pier 94, 12th Ave. at 55th Street in New York City. DIFFA's DINING BY DESIGN brings together some of the most talented and celebrated individuals in the worlds of fashion, interior design, art, and architecture to create spectacular, over-the-top dining environments.

As part of this celebration, designers and guests mingle at Pier 94 during COCKTAILS BY DESIGN, a dazzling preview of the amazing design installations, while sampling treats from NYC's top restaurants and gourmet food purveyors paired with the handcrafted wines of La Crema winery and signature cocktails from EFFEN® Vodka. Restaurants included in this year's event include:

• North Square
• Tribeca Grill
• Murray's Cheese
• Make My Cake
• Buddakan
• Luna Biena
• The Lamb's Club
• Canard Catering

"COCKTAILS BY DESIGN is always one of the most exciting parts of DIFFA's DINING BY DESIGN," said David Sheppard, Executive Director of DIFFA. "Each year the design installations get more impressive, the restaurants present more inventive options and the drinks even get more creative!"

This year, for the first time, DIFFA's DINING BY DESIGN tour will expand beyond dining installations and feature an EFFEN® Vodka inspired custom bar and lounge area created by the brand's designer partner, Richard Chai. Thursday's CBD event, as well as the entire DINING BY DESIGN tour, will also feature exclusive custom EFFEN® cocktails including:

EFFEN® Custom Cucumber
• 2 parts EFFEN® Cucumber Vodka
• 1 part Fresh Lime
• ¾ parts Organic Simple Syrup or Agave Nectar
• Rosemary Leaves (Remove leaves from bottom half of rosemary sprig)
Method: Muddle rosemary and citrus. Add the rest of the ingredients. Shake with ice and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with rosemary sprig with the bottom half of leaves removed.

EFFEN® Black Cherry By Design
• 1½ parts EFFEN® Black Cherry Vodka
• ¾ Lemon Juice
• ½ parts Organic Simple Syrup or Agave Nectar
• 3 Raspberries or Raspberry Puree
• 1 part Club Soda
Method: Muddle berries in citrus. Add all but club soda, shake and strain into a champagne flue and top with club soda.

EFFEN® Designer LOVE
Inspired by EFFEN's Designer Partner, Richard Chai.
• 1½ parts EFFEN® Vodka
• 2 parts Clear Apple Juice (not cloudy or unfiltered)
• 2 Basil Leaves
• 3 Mint Leaves
• Lemon Peel
Method: Build in a tumbler/bucket glass. Stir in leaves and lemon peel.

Sponsors include EFFEN® Vodka, La Crema Winery, Benjamin Moore, MMPI and the New York Design Center. Media sponsors include Architectural Digest, The New York Times, Manhattan Magazine and LX.TV.

Installation hosts include Artistic Tile, Rockwell Group, Ralph Lauren Home, Kravet, Hayneedle, HBA, Ethan Allen, Lenox, Liebherr and Resource Furniture.

The schedule of events for DINING BY DESIGN New York is as follows:

COCKTAILS BY DESIGN
Thursday, March 22nd 7PM-10PM
Designers and guests mingle at Pier 94 during this dazzling preview of the amazing design installations, while sampling treats from NYC's top restaurants and gourmet food purveyors paired with delicious wine and cocktails. Tickets are available for $150 per person.

PUBLIC VIEWING
Friday, March 23rd through Sunday, March 25th; 10AM-7PM Daily
Explore the latest in design trends and view the amazing installations and shop the silent auction.

GALA DINNER
Monday, March 26th; 6:30PM-11:00PM
Cocktails and table hopping are followed by an elegant seated VIP dinner accompanied by dancing and a silent auction loaded with hospitality experiences and luxury items.
For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.diffa.org or call 212-727-3100.

About DIFFA
DIFFA: Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS is one of the largest funders of HIV/AIDS service and education programs in the United States. Since being founded in 1984, DIFFA has mobilized the immense resources of the design communities to provide over $40 million to hundreds of AIDS service organizations nationwide. For more than 27 years, DIFFA has been one of the country's largest supporters of both direct care for people living with AIDS and preventative education for those at risk.
For more information visit www.diffa.org.

EFFEN® Vodka, 100% neutral spirits distilled from wheat grain, 40% alc./vol. (80 proof) and Black Cherry, Dutch Raspberry and Cucumber Flavored Vodkas, 37.5% alc./vol. (75 proof)
All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. © 2012 EFFEN Import Company, Deerfield, IL