(Photo: Morini & Montanari)

Oh, God. You can’t remember the last time it was this cold. And the wind! It cuts through every layer you’ve piled on. It’s dark, you should go home, but instead you call an old friend: “Let’s meet at the Perch” (365 Fifth Ave., nr. 5th St., Park Slope; 718-788-2830). You order the house specialty, a hot buttered rum ($8). The bartender puts it together: five-year-old oak-aged Cruzan rum infused for two months with fresh ginger; cider seasoned with cloves, nutmeg, allspice, and orange slices; melted butter; and a cinnamon stick and twist of orange peel to garnish. You take a sip and your cheeks thaw, and you make a mental list: How many other ways can I generate heat this winter?