To visit restaurant site, click on logo.

It's official: the holidays are here. And while we're supposed to be all jazzed about family, friends, caring and sharing, sometimes it's next to impossible to hold back your deep-seated desire to sock your brother-in-law with a stale fruitcake. There are many ways to survive the holidays: Feigning illness, "car trouble", numerous trips to your shrink. Valerie Peterson, author of Peterson's Holiday Helper, shares her personal favorite holiday coping mechanism. Let's say it starts with a "B" and rhymes with "lose."

For those of you needing a little holiday help of your own, we'll be giving out FREE copies of Peterson's book, to the first two people to send an email to info@andrewzimmern.com with "Help me Valerie Peterson, You're my only hope" in the subject line.

AndrewZimmern.com: Your book, Peterson’s Holiday Helper: Festive Pick-Me-Ups, Calm-Me-Downs and Handy Hints to Keep You in Good Spirits, shares holiday survival tips, paring each with a delicious cocktail recipe. What inspired this book?

Valerie Peterson: My sister Beverly and I were at her house, wrapping gifts to bring to my aunt and uncle, who were hosting dinner for a crowd. On the same holiday the previous year, there had been some friction and loud words over a political candidate (I’m not naming names), so we were anticipating witnessing a re-match. My sister said, “Geez, I don’t even have any wine in the house--and I could use a little ‘holiday helper’ before going over there.” So she gets credit for coining the phrase, but (note to Bev) she doesn’t get any of my royalties.

AZ.com: Are you saying alcohol is the key to surviving the holidays?

VP: Well, I can’t claim it’s the answer to every holiday issue. For example, a “The Green Elf” gin and apple liqueur cocktail cannot do your holiday shopping for you. The idea is just plain silly! But when you get home after eight hours in the mall--three of which you spent looking for a parking space--well, a few sips might be just the “Santa’s assistant” you need. And, come to think of it, a bottle of homemade “Emergi-Gift Coffee Liqueur” does make a great present.

AZ.com: In all seriousness, your book is as much about making it through the office holiday party, Christmas with the in-laws and the dreaded task of wrapping all those presents as it is about drinking. What are your top five tips for getting through the holidays?

VP: #5. When the family is talking politics at the holiday table, keep the carving knife out of easy reach.

#4 If you’re buying designer goods or watches on the street in New York City, know that it’s fake. Period.

#3. Guys, when it comes to giving jewelry the rule is: “Simple but substantial.” And re-read #4, above.

#2. Remember, to paraphrase Dr. Seuss, the holidays don’t come in a store... online shopping can be much more convenient.

#1. No matter what happens, have a sense of humor.

AZ.com: You’ve included a list of basic recipes and techniques within your book. What are some easy ways to add a little pizzazz to holiday cocktails?

VP: Throw away your cocktail mixes, get out your juicer. The world of taste difference that freshly-squeezed citrus makes in a drink is well-worth the little additional effort. Or, why not put the children to good use and have them squeeze the fruit for you? It will be so much fun for them, and you can reward them with a non-alcoholic “Merry Mocktail Fizz,” a great, all-natural choice for the kids’ table or for any other folks who are avoiding the hard stuff.

AZ.com: When it comes to drinks, some people are so picky (while others guzzle anything as long as it’s free). What drinks are the biggest crowd pleasers?

VP: I often make a party punch for large gatherings -- they’re festive, often less potent than other cocktails, and they don’t require constant bartending -- throw in an ice ring to keep it cold, and you’re good to go. Also, because the liquor and/or wine is mixed with a number of ingredients, you don’t need to buy top shelf brands, which is nice when you’re on a budget.

For straight-up wine selections for a big party, I advise relying on a knowledgeable wine merchant. He or she can suggest obscure but good bottles of wine that don’t cost much more than the inexpensive household names, but hold up to anybody’s scrutiny. Bring a couple of different bottles home and taste yourself before you buy--you want to make sure you like what you’re buying in quantity, in case there are any leftovers.

Note: All guests tend to be much less picky after the third drink.

AZ.com: What’s the quintessential holiday drink?

VP: I’m of half-Swedish descent, so it’s “Glögg,” which is made with vodka and port wine and spices with raisins and almonds that signify good luck. It’s very traditional and a must-have at the Peterson’s annual “Tree Day” event, where we gather to cut down our Christmas trees. FYI, we make sure to do the tree cutting first and to put away the chain saws before drinking it.

AZ.com: Favorite hair of the dog beverage?

VP: What, me, hungover? Never! But if the dog has bitten you badly, try the “Hair of the Pitbull,” which is a super-spicy (horseradish, Tabasco) version of a Bloody Mary that also includes a little hot pimenton de la vera a smoked, Spanish paprika. It will definitely wake you up and clear your sinuses. Chase it with lots of water and several aspirin.

AZ.com: Best leftovers-inspired holiday snack to accompany all that booze.

VP: Turkey nachos. They go great with my recipe for “Cornucopia Sangria,” which includes seasonally-appropriate cranberries, and is a great use for the apples and oranges from that fruit basket nobody touches because they’re digging into four kinds of pie.

AZ.com: Best and worst gifts you ever received.

VP: Honestly, I am blessed with the gift of amazing family and friends -- which is why, even with all its stress and effort, the holiday season is so important to me. And I believe there’s no such thing as a bad gift -- just candidates for “creative re-gifting.”

AZ.com: Top five places in New York to grab a cocktail.

VP: This is such a personal question, because everyone has different taste and there are hundreds of good -- constantly changing -- choices in the Manhattan. That said, some of my tried-and-true favorites:

I love Employees Only in the West Village, which manages to be both comfortable and cutting-edge. They serve imaginative and expertly-crafted cocktails in a great atmosphere--sophisticated but, in my experience, warm and welcoming.

There are recipes for infused vodkas in the book, and I got the inspiration to do that from two restaurant bars: the dark, atmospheric Russian Samovar in the Theater District, where there’s a wide selection of infused vodkas (Nastrovia!); and the light, über-Scandinavian bar at Aquavit in Midtown, where you can try a selection of their delicious house-made aquavits in a convenient tasting sampler (Skäl!)

Post-dinner-out, my pick for a “nightcap” is often Balthazar in SoHo, where the motley assortment of locals and foreign tourists seems to always provide for lively conversation with strangers or, at least, interesting conversational fodder for my friends and me. Odeon in TriBeCa is wonderful for late nights, too.

And, for those who consider beer their favorite “cocktail,” d.b.a. in the East Village is my standard bearer for a great, down-and-dirty, hanging-out vibe, especially with a group of friends. It’s dark and dive-y inside, with outdoor tables in the back for warm days, and an amazing, ever-evolving, super-fresh selection of brews.

AZ.com: What’s in your fridge?

VP: A bottle of my favorite prosecco (Italian sparkling wine). It’s less expensive than champagne, so it’s easier to break out for those everyday toasts--like lifting a glass to a friend’s New York City visit. Or for incorporating into an easy, festive cocktail, like the “Lucialini” from Peterson’s Holiday Helper, where I mix it with lingonberry syrup and orange bitters.

Valerie Peterson is a writer descended from a long line of therapeutic concoctionists. A native of Yonkers, New York, she now lives in (and enjoys an occasional) Manhattan. For more information, visit her on the web at www.petersonsbackstory.com.