Cranberry Liqueur Martini

Tonight's glass was improvised tinkering around at home with Moms & Pops in the kitchen waiting for dinner to finish cooking. Turned out to be a lovely pink holiday spirit:

Cranberry Liqueur Martini

Makes 1

1 oz. cranberry liqueur
2 oz. vodka

Combine ingredients with ice in cocktail shaker and strain into martini glass. Garnish with frozen (or fresh) cranberry or orange quarter slice.

...we used a very neutral gin instead of vodka, which is a bit less smooth, but not a bad 'plan b' when you're out of vodka.

Ceremony Coffee & Cafe Pronto

Living in the Baltimore-Washington, DC area it's so easy to be dazzled by all the cultural, epicurean, and even sport wonders that Annapolis, MD is often overlooked as a destination point. Sure, people spend leisurely summer days wandering the shops, watching the boats, and tasting the ice cream, but apart from that and the odd dinner outing they  (at least I) by and large don't spend a lot of time there.

Enter Cafe Pronto and Ceremony Coffee.Two-time US Champion Brewer (2011 and 2012) and second place World Champion Brewers Cup, 2012. I had lost faith in the ability to find a superior cup of Joe in the area (plenty good enough but none really exemplar) until I took a recommendation from a colleague to go to Cafe Pronto. Oh. Em. Gee. A little drop of heaven in a cup is all I can say. And like most things, you don't know what good is until you have sampled the truly fabulous. Kinda makes Starbucks taste like Kraft.

Anyway, it's good.

Go.

Get educated at one of their classes. Or order some of the house blends (Thesis and Antithesis) online!

Cocktail R-EVOLUTION by Molecular Gastronomy

Image Source: Molecular Gastronomy

Image Source: Molecular Gastronomy

Ok, so it looks a bit strange but I'm totally fascinated by chemistry so I am adding this Molecular Gastronomy Cocktail R-EVOLUTION set to the Liquid Culture wish list. $58.95 is a bit steep (but they were running a discount to $40 on Fab), and I'm not sure that little float-y thingys (gelatin) in drinks are necessarily a good thing, but curiosity is pretty much the driving force here. Sure looks cool!

Peppermint Martini

Ahhh yes..."its not Christmas time until...." For me its got to be "the peppermint schnapps comes out..." Its rather strong but very refreshing. Try substituting it in cooking for recipes using peppermint extract. Shocker...I prefer it straight:

Peppermint Martini
Makes 1

1 1/2 oz. Vodka
1 oz. Peppermint Schnapps

Mix in shaker with ice, strain into chilled martini glass. Garnish with mini candy cane if so desired.

Disappointed in Baltimore

This past week found me at both Hersh's Pizza & Drinks and The Gin Mill in Baltimore. MAN! What a disappointment!!! Baltimore is such a great gritty city, dark, poetic, and seemingly ripe for good watering holes and delicious restaurant gems in the rough...so why does it seem to be so hit-or-miss? I don't want to like DC better, but it must be conceded that the selection of consistently good finds is just vastly superior.

First things first:  I was really looking forward to The Gin Mill  in Canton as you all know how devoted I am to the juniper juice...not realizing the intended meaning being a cotton gin. Not only were the drinks watery and the service fairly stand-offish, it was shocking not to see a fine selection of gin or even decor (or some such acknowledgement) to the namesake. Sigh. My silly mistake. Regardless...a slight but telling miscommunication: when asked about the drink specials, the response was "Happy Hour is M-F 4-7pm," which was not the intended meaning of the question. Upon clarification for drink specialties of the house the response was "We don't have any...well I guess there is the Moscow Mule, which is our house drink..." rather surprising considering their website claims to be a craft cocktail joint... 

The Baltimore @ Hersh's Pizza
"Tastes like sorrow."

Blame it on my impatience or what have you, but I could not even finish the drink, so there's no telling what the food was like. Sad, as the blue cheese macaroni looked tempting, but not enough to stick around for. We left and went down the street to the Fork & Wrench. Thankfully the barkeep there single-handedly rescued the evening and deserves his own, separate posting here. 

Hersh's Pizza & Drinks in Federal Hill, however, gets notably higher marks.Swanky atmospherics, metropolitan feel. Run by a couple of siblings, it's fairly new having opened earlier this year on Light Street over off of the Hanover St. exit from I-95. Disappointing still though, as a place that bills itself a pizza joint ought to have some killer pie. Perhaps I'm being harsh - it was edible but I have to say the tomato sauce was not terribly flavorful and the middle not entirely cooked through - odd for a wood-fire oven place. Aside from a variety of red wine served chilled (??), the cocktails on the drink menu were fabulous - especially The Baltimore, a martini made with house made fig-infused bourbon. It was delicious and poignant, standing apart from the entire experience. My dining companion aptly noted "it tastes like sorrow." Highly recommend the Old Cuban too, with rum, lime, prosecco, and mint syrup...a sparkly bright citrus flavor to get things started. The bartender was charming, knowledgeable and inventive...pretty much the main reason to go back for.

DIY Cranberry Liqueur

Serious Eats has a recipe for cranberry liqueur that I tried out this week. Had to make some modifications as I do not have an immersion blender, and it seemed as if the cooking was taking way less time than the recipe was calling for. Surfing around the web reveals quite a few recipe variations, some with lime zest instead of orange, some with cinnamon...and totally different techniques. Pawing through them though, the one I tried appears the most appealing to me (and the least amount of sugar), but don't let me stop you from shopping around to find one worth tweaking to your own tastes!

What can you use it for, you might ask? Plenty of things! Add a dram to mimosas. Put it in your vodka tonic. Sip it neat. As for me...after some quality control testing, I believe there will be some spreading the (holiday) spirit ...in gifted form.

1. • DIY Cranberry Liqueur
   • 1 cup sugar
   • 3/4 cup water
   • Zest of half an orange (without pith)
   • 1 cup fresh cranberries
   • 1 1/2 cups vodka

   
   

   Bring the sugar, water, orange zest, and cranberries to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook until cranberries start to burst, 7-10 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.

   Roughly break up the cranberries with the back of a spoon so that the juice is out of the berries but the mixture remains chunky. Pour into an air-tight glass jar along with the vodka and shake. Let steep at room temperature for 2 days, or up to a week depending on your taste.

   Strain through a fine-mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth, pressing to extract as much liquid as possible. Store at room temperature or in the refrigerator for up to 6 months.

   
   

   
   

Homemade Gin Kit

Perusing DCist for holiday shopping ideas from local vendors...I came across this Homemade Gin Kit...which is now on the list of AWESOME things I am inspired to acquire. *Naturally.*

But - is it legal (wine & beer are OK to make at home, but are spirits too)?? Do they get around that because it's really just converting pre-distilled spirits?

Not sure if the novelty yields a product worth $39.95, but with several craft distillery gins out there running about $5 less, it doesn't seem too outlandish. Perhaps after the holidays there will be time to try it out...

Eggnog Pancakes

This morning I had some left over eggnog that I needed to get rid of before spoilage so I decided to put some holiday cheer in breakfast and modify a basic pancake recipe...


Eggnog Pancakes

     1 1/2 C. Flour

     2 Tbsp. Sugar

     2 tsp. Baking Powder

     1/2 tsp. Salt

     2 Lg. Eggs

     1 1/2 C. Eggnog

     3 Tbsp. Melted Butter

     1 Tbsp. Dark Rum (optional)

     In large bowl mix all the dry ingredients and set aside. In medium bowl whisk together the eggs,eggnog, butter and rum (if using). Gradually add the liquid ingredients to the dry and stir until just blended. 

     Heat non-stick pan to med-high and add vegetable oil or butter (optional). Use 1/4 cup measure to add batter to hot skillet. Cook until bubbles form on top, about 2 min. Turn and cook until other side is golden, about 1 min. longer. Serve hot with your choice of topping.

Be warned, these cakes are very rich! (Since there's so many in the eggnog already, I wonder if they would be less egg-y if you just used one egg instead of two?) Not sure that syrup is the best accompaniment, but I really liked them with some (very) tart jam. Picked up some ginger-rhubarb preserves recently, and that seemed to cut the richness quite well. If you find something great, let me know in the comments section please!

Unfortunately they didn't turn out very photogenic, otherwise I would have included a pic here...but I blame that on my crappy spatula-wielding skills...not the batter.

Maker's Mark Coffee

It's logged some time in the freezer since the epic Bourbon Trail 2012 road trip to the distilleries of Kentucky, but the Maker's Mark whole bean coffee finally came out for a taste. Wasn't sure what to expect - totally bought it as a novelty souvenir - was expecting anything from synthetic bourbon flavoring to weak brew or just plain overpowering. Pleasantly surprising! Maker's Mark coffee is a light blend, with unmistakable bourbon flavor - genuine, not too 'manufactured.' The finish is light and pleasant, too; the only thing missing is the alcoholic kick.

My tastes lean stronger than most people, choosing dark roasts over most flavored varieties, on occasion there are one or two I find drinkable (notably, a chocolate raspberry blend that Ghiradelli no longer makes. *sniff*) ...usually when I am drinking from a pot all day long. Personally I wish the bean had a more robust character, but it would likely be a harder sell to the general public. You could blend it with a stronger roast possibly, but probably at risk of losing the bourbon flavor since the coffee is not actually spiked with spirits. Not something I'm going to rush out to stock up on, but it's certainly worthy of having again and gift giving.

The good news is you don't have to go to Kentucky to get it - it retails online for about $12.95 for 10oz. of whole bean or ground. (**Note: If you do wind up shopping for it...I also highly recommend getting some of their 'bourbon ball' chocolate candies...#omgdelish)

Fentiman's Soda

Off-site for training one week I found myself in fairly short supply of decent lunch options apart from a specialty goods grocery store. After a couple of days I realized in the fog of lunch hunger I had picked up a different Fentiman's soda each time I went to the store, and decided to continue the trend the rest of the week.

• Curiosity Cola
• Victorian Lemonade
• Cherrytree Cola
• Dandelion & Burdock 
• Traditional Ginger Beer

Made in the UK, each one is unique and not overly sugary in taste (although there's plenty of sugar in them, averaging 11.6g per 100mL). Fentiman's prides itself on it's historic origins and line of "botanically brewed" products - including cocktail mixers - with potent ginger root and other natural ingredients. Since they're all so different, it's not fair to compare them against each other, but my favorite is probably the lemonade. Not too puckery, it has a natural, mild sweet lemon taste that is very refreshing. Lemonade for grown-ups so to speak. The novelty of Dandelion & Burdock (similar to historic versions of root beer) is hard to ignore, but admittedly it's not something the average palate is used to. If given the choice I'll probably try something else over it...perhaps either their pink lemonade or shandy? Not sure.

You can get Fentiman's at most major grocery stores for about $4.99 for a 4pk of 275mL bottles.

Mayan Hot Chocolate by Moonstruck

Image source: Moonstruck Chocolate

As often mentioned...my hometown, Portland, OR, has a lot of delectable treats and tasty offerings, but none quite so outstanding as Moonstruck Chocolate. Every trip home either sees me at one of their chocolate cafes or picking some truffles at the airport on my way back to DC.

When the air gets brisk like it is now...as autumn slowly fades into winter...nothing could be more perfect than curling up on the sofa with a fuzzy blanket and a cup of their Mayan hot cocoa. The powder mix is based on the spice blend of cinnamon, almond, and some undisclosed magical yum in their exotic best-selling Mayan truffle. When whisked into a cup of steaming milk the taste is downright sinful. Looking forward to indulging in it spiked with some Grand Mariner soon!

Image Source: Plush Puffs

You can order it online for $12.00 for 9.5oz., or $2.00 for a single serving packet...great gift idea for the holidays!

For the first cocoa of the season, I splurged ($5.99 - wth!?) on some Plush Puff marshmallows in caramel swirl (peppermint puffs with plain cocoa for next time). Wasn't sure if it would take away or enhance the cocoa; still not sure. I was sent into a velvety smooth coma of legal addictive stimulants and hardly able to focus on the particulars of anything sensory, let alone what flavors I was experiencing. Sorry about that. Totally recommend it though. Hands down.

Shot Flask OF AWESOME.

Oh. Em. Gee. Saw one of these Shot Flasks while browsing Laughing Squid. 

Must. Acquire.  




**Afterthought: This might also be an appropriate gift item for someone on my list.  Hmm.  

Cider Smash

Another drink I plan to make for Thanksgiving this year is one I encountered randomly perusing What's Up? Annapolis magazine. It is SO fabulous, easy to make and deliciously smooth it will likely make the annual favorites list as a new fall tradition! 

Omit the bourbon and it still tastes like fall bubbly for a non-alcoholic version. 

You can easily substitute ginger ale for the ginger beer (even diet tastes fine), but for the inaugural go I used Barrit's, which is easier to find in grocery stores (runs about $5). Curious to know what it tastes like with applejack instead of bourbon...probably very similar to the Stone Fence. Either way = YUM. 

Cider Smash

Makes 1 cocktail

1 ounce bourbon
2 ounces ginger beer
2 ounces fresh apple cider
Thin red-apple slice (optional)

Combine the bourbon and apple cider in a shaker with ice. Strain the bourbon mixture into an old fashioned glass over ice, and fill with ginger beer. Garnish with an apple slice.

*Note: Curiously enough the online version of the same recipe is very different than the one they printed in hard copy from the same magazine. the one posted here is the hard copy version.

Pomegranate Cider

Apologies for the delay between posts. Needed a break! This year I've been invited to no less than three Thanksgiving feasts, and no joke, they all asked me to bring drinks. Guess there's no getting around my reputation now! (For those that care, I prefer the term luscious over the more tactless lush, thankyouverymuch.)

One of the recipes I plan to bring to the feast is a pomegranate cider...shamelessly mashed together from Imbibe Magazine (they have re-posted it from last year - it must be popular!) and Rachel Ray. Her idea to jab the cloves inside the ginger slices is really quite brilliant, as nobody likes getting whole clove stuck in their teeth!

For the wine, I'm using DeBeaune Beaujolais Nouveau. The season's first release just came out for $9.99/bottle at Total Wine. A little spicier than years past, but fruity and light - great for cooking or blending with other flavors.

There are variations on the cider that include the juice of one orange or store-bought orange juice, but honestly there are so many flavors going on here that it is not necessary. Try it out though and see if you like it! Also, for a non-alcoholic version, just omit the wine. The taste will be less robust and slightly more sweet, but it will still work out just fine. The recipe multiplies easily for larger groups as well.

Pomegranate Cider: 

2 cups fresh apple cider
1 cup red wine
1/2 cup pomegranate juice
2 cinnamon sticks
5-7 thin slices of fresh ginger
10-15 whole cloves

Stick 2 cloves into each slice of ginger. Combine all ingredients in a large saucepan over high heat and bring  to a boil. Reduce to a simmer over low heat and ladle into mugs, removing the ginger before serving. 

Serve with cinnamon sticks, an orange slice, or pomegranate seeds if so desired.

For a fancier version, use rimmed Irish coffee glasses: On a small plate combine 4 barspoons of super fine sugar with 1/4 barspoon ground cinnamon. Run a fresh lime wedge around the rim of the glass to moisten. Roll the damp rim in the sugar mixture, set aside.

Joel Gott Riesling 2010

Image Source: Amazon.com

At a September wine tasting seminar at The Curious Grape in Arlington, VA I had a chance to pick up a bottle of 2010 Joel Gott Riesling from Washington State (Columbia Valley), but hadn't had a chance to open it until this week. Oh. Em. Gee. What on earth was I waiting for, and mark it down I need to buy some more of this stuff.

Retailing for about $13, it's rated at 89 Points on Wine Spectator magazine's scales, for good reason! Hands down, this is one of the best white wines I've ever had. Clean, clear, simple and fruity, it's not very sweet and yet with a low alcohol content, shouldn't be described as dry. Notes of peachy-apple and just a tiny hint of citrus make the riesling great for sipping or substantial enough to pair with a hearty meal (mine was a Parmesan shrimp risotto).

Highly recommend acquiring a bottle for yourself or as an affordable gift!

Election Night with El Presidente

Taking inspiration from one of my favorite publications, I'm drinking the vintage cocktail El Presidente tonight while the states change colors on the map:

El Presidente
1½ oz. rich white rum
1½ oz. vermouth
1 barspoon triple sec
½ barspoon real grenadine
Thinly cut orange peel
Cracked ice
Tools: barspoon, mixing glass, strainer
Glass: cocktail
Garnish: maraschino cherry (optional)

Stir ingredients well with cracked ice and strain into a chilled glass. Twist a thinly cut orange peel over the top and drop in or discard as you prefer. Garnish, if desired, with a cherry.

*Note: I didn't have some of the ingredients, so I substituted with those listed in red.

**Also Note: choosing this drink in particular in no way should be interpreted as an endorsement of either political party. It should be interpreted, however, as an intolerance for an empty glass during the insufferable election coverage.

Autumn Manhattan

Tonight's glass holds an Autumn Manhattan...a recipe I scored from Bar None Drinks whilst searching for new drinks to make with applejack liquor. Fell in love with the site as it lets you search by ingredient, so if you have a particular bottle you'd like to use up, try a new recipe here first!

2 oz. bourbon
1 oz. sweet vermouth
1 oz. applejack
2 dashes bitters

Shake ingredients with ice and strain into martini glass. 

Drink The Vote

This article from a Washington City Paper blog (Young & Hungry) was just too clever and timely, with the election next week, not to share here. Glad to see local barkeeps getting in the spirit! (pun intended) It seems like yet more evidence as to why we should have a third political party though...IMHO.

Elaine's Fab Beer Bread

To gear up for the impending hurricane, I have been in the kitchen making all kinds of yum, the kind that does not require re-heating should the power be out for a couple of days. (Still cursing myself for not investing in the camp stove this summer. But whatevs.) Anyway...one of the recipes I made, and make repeatedly throughout the year was given to me by a former colleague, Elaine. It's so simple you can memorize it after one or two makings:

1 can/bottle (12oz) room temperature beer
3 Cups self-rising flour
1/2 Cup sugar
1/2 stick of butter, melted

Preheat oven to 350F. Mix beer, self-rising flour, and sugar in bowl. Spoon dough into greased bread pan. Let sit 5-10 min. before pouring melted butter on top of dough. Bake for 45-50 min. or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

You can make it with stout, IPA, or any favorite beer you have, but definitely expect variations in the flavor - I just used pumpkin ale.

Crispin Hard Apple Cider

Tonight's bottle is Crispin Hard Honey Crisp Apple Cider from the artisanal reserve series by Crispin. Highly enjoyable, the honey crisp flavor was not overpowering like a granny smith variety, too sweet like the typical 'ambers,' or too dry like some of the European varieties. 6% Alcohol by volume, it will not be knocking you off your feet in just one bottle, but there's enough kick there to not confuse it with fresh cider. The prickly carbonation balanced the apple flavor nicely, making it a palatable companion to a meaty dinner. Acquired the 22oz. bottle from the Perfect Pour in Columbia for $6.99...not sure if you can get it in 6-packs anywhere; there was nothing smaller than the 22oz. size on the shelf.

Blogs I'm Following (at the mo)

Five blogs I'm following with enthusiasm at the moment:


The Cocktail Chronicles

Alcademics

Sugar and Bitters

BourbonBlog.com

Reverse Wine Snob


Absolutely recommend them...there's a couple professionals and a couple amateurs in the mix, but I like them equally. Will share more of my reading list in the weeks to come!

Veggie Cocktails

Can't say that I'm super jazzed to try anything called a "vegetable smoothie" but check out the design on this product advertisement. These "Vegetable Cocktails" created for the Pierre Martinet grocer might make me a bit more enthusiastic about the idea.

Bourbon-scented Candle

Lovely observation:  it's been burning for about 4 hours today, and I have to say, my bourbon-scented barrel candle from Woodford Wicks is magnifico! The place seems so much more cozy with the warm, inviting scent wafting about. Makes me enjoy the fall weather with a good book on the couch that much more.

Probably not a surprise to learn it was recently acquired en route from Bourbon Country...but it is a surprise to see that all the online vendors appear to be selling them for about double what I paid. To be sure, there's a million bourbon-scented candles out there (and FYI the vanilla bourbon flavor is pretty hard to beat), but mine is the wooden-wick kind that lasts about 120 hours and crackles as it burns. Apartment life with no fireplace - you gotta make do the best you can!

Diet Soda Study States the Obvious

So I heard about this study while getting ready this morning on NPR, and couldn't stifle a groan. Basically, drinking diet soda is better for you than 'fat' soda. Seriously? Is anyone surprised by the correlation of the removal of corn syrup with a decrease in caloric intake? Shocker indeed. Then again...there's always the counter-argument for diet soda too.

These studies are amusing. Really. I hope we didn't spend tax dollars on them...oh wait. #fail.

Bourbon DC

One recent Sunday I found myself at Bourbon, a bar in Adam's Morgan (18th & Columbia Streets NW) in the District. Originally discovered this place on return from my Kentucky Bourbon Trail vacation, this was my second time there. Simply had to introduce a bourbon enthusiast friend to this mecca, and of course had to check to see if my favorite waiter was on staff. He was. Bless his heart he actually put the open bottle ON THE TABLE for us to ogle as we sipped our bourbon neat and enjoyed the crisp fall air come in through the patio. (now that, to be sure, is trust.)

The staff are approachable and all highly knowledgeable about their cocktails and bourbons and have made an effort to keep the atmosphere unpretentious and welcoming. The recommendations from my fave waiter were spot on. Willett 18 yr "Cioccolato" retails for about $124/bottle, so the $9 1oz. taste gives you the right "preview" for when you win the lotto and plan to stock your home wet bar. I was blown away by the genuine chocolate taste and smooth finish; it's the kind of drink that stands alone and should never be mixed with anything. EVAR.

To be honest, the food is okay, edible but not anything to write home about. They do, however, have an extensive bourbon menu and some great specials! Like, $4 bourbon pours M-Th during happy hour (!!!), and $8 classic cocktails (limited in choice, but all good) on Friday nights.

10 Great wines under $20

Reverse Wine Snob has some great recommendations to share. I'm putting then on my "inspired to acquire list" ...especially with the holiday party (read: hostess gift) season coming up soon...

Stone Fence Recipe

This vintage cocktail dates from the turn of the 20th century...one of my favorites as it always tastes like fall to me:

Stone Fence

2 oz. of Apple Jack
2 shakes Agnostura Bitters
Fresh Apple Cider

Put a few cubes of ice in an old fashioned glass, add Apple Jack and bitters. Fill rest of glass with apple cider; stir and serve.

I often use Captain Apple Jack, widely available, but there are others on the market; it won't make too much difference.

There are modern variations on this drink and if you order it in bars today, many will come to you as scotch & soda with a dash of bitters...or as brandy/rum/scotch and hard cider. This. Is. Not. Ok. Try it fresh first and see how it compares with the more prevalent versions. Guarantee you like this one better.

Pumpkin ales @ Scion

Beer festivals are not generally things I seek out our look forward to, but I was coerced (lured?) to one at Scion in DuPont Circle tonight (possibly by the mac & cheese on the menu but whatevs we are talking beer here)...and while there was one bitter beer face over the rather smoky Elysian L Ron Hubbard Brew, the Great Pumpkin was drinkable for me. Not too hoppy, light in taste, but not as intense pumpkin as I was hoping for (a la Dogfish Head pumpkin). 'Tis the season!



Who knows? Might even go to the Baltimore Beer Week festival for some more pumpkin ale next week. People's tastes can change, can't they?

Temperance Tour DC

A couple of weeks back I had the chance to take a walking tour of DC with the author of Prohibition in DC: How Dry We Weren't, Mr. Garrett Peck. About twice a year he leads a few history-minded imbibers on a 1.5 mile trek around DC highlighting some of the prohibition-era points of interest still standing, beginning at the Temperance Fountain near the Navy Memorial/Archives Metro Station (across from Indiana Plaza on 7th & Penn. Ave. NW). A natural companion to the book, his in-person narrative really makes the Temperance Tour come alive with drama, thought-provoking sentiments, and some humorous anecdotes and trivia to keep the pace of the tour flowing well.



The Temperance Fountain

Mr. Peck does a great job characterizing the nature of DC during the 1910's - 1920's, especially how the neighborhoods were different (and peppered with speakeasies everywhere!) at the time. More importantly, he spends time looking strategically at how national trends were affecting or occurring simultaneous to the activities in the Capital, such as the change in immigration demographics at the time, and the temperance movement's partnership with the women's suffrage movement.

The Temperance Tour is FREE, mostly flat, easy to walk, and kid-friendly except for the INtemperance hour spent with post-tour drinks at a local pub. You do need a pre-loaded metro card, however, and will finish near Embassy Row at the Woodrow Wilson House, two metro stops away from the start point.

You guys I had SUCH A BLAST! There was so much to learn, it was fascinating. I highly highly (did I say highly?) recommend this tour for history buffs, imbibers of all varieties, and even the abstainers. Because...well...the 'noble experiment' was their 15 minutes of fame...

INVITE: Speakeasy Bash 25 October

Quick plug:  How can you NOT love something called a Speakeasy Bash??? Seriously. Come join me! Thursday 25 October will see one at the Woodrow Wilson House in DC from 7-9 PM. As if that wasn't enough to cement the event into my agenda, there will be a contest for the best dressed in 1920's attire, AND **wait for it** the District's new distillery (the first to open in 100+ years!), New Columbia Distillers, will be launching their first product - Green Hat Gin (why yes...my FAVE spirit) on the very spot before the festivities begin. This will pretty much ensure that the who's-who list of the craft bar tending world in DC will be present, too, hopefully! Just speculation there though.

Tix are $45 and proceeds go towards the Wilson House museum. Get them before they sell out!

Does the awesomeness not just overwhelm you?? It doesn't? Oh. Well. I am over the moon, in case you couldn't tell.

Hope to see you there!

Mash

So new they don't even have a website up:  Mash. Blueberry Pomegranate flavor is light and not chalky. 40 Cal/svg with 2.5 servings in the bottle so you do the math... = not calorie-free.

Found this bottle of flavored water at the Potbelly sandwich chain today for $2.05/bottle. About what you would expect. Water, with flavor. Oh, and color too. Meh. Worked fine to wash the sammie down tho.

Sah'tea Beer from Dogfish Head

Passing on a review from a friend who knows I don't do beer...

"Sah'tea beer: rye ale  carmelized with hot river rocks, fermented with German Weizen yeast, juniper berries & Indian black tea. 9% ABV, spice, fresh and sweetish w/o being fruity."

Not entirely sure where she had it but apparently it's Dogfish Head, which is fairly easy to find...but with a craft brew like this one, you never know, it could be a unicorn chase. I may actually try this as it has one of my favorite ingredients in it... *juniper* (squee!!!)

Flavored Vinegar at Pok Pok

On my recent trip to PDX a friend introduced me to Pok Pok, an amazing Thai restaurant with an authentic, well-researched menu of traditional fare. We were surprised to see drinking vinegar on the menu, offered in about 15 different flavors mixed with soda water. I had the rhubarb, friend had the lychee flavor, served in tall iced-tea glasses with a pineapple leaf garnish. Wish I had taken a photo of it, but trust me it was refreshing, tart, and just the right balance of flavor to soda ratio. It was like a grown-up version of an Italian soda, less sweet. One can only imagine how great it is in cocktails. Happy discovery:  Pok Pok sells it online (under the label 'Som')!

Curious about the whole concept of flavored vinegar, I looked it up only to find it's apparently been around for ages in various forms, herbal and fruit-based popularized in Japan (and other parts of Asia) as relief for minor aches and pains, as well as a dietary aid. Going to try to make some soon!

....and FYI it also serves as a handy rescue when the spicy clay pot soup sets your mouth on fire.

Stumptown Coffee Roasters

This past week found me traipsing around my hometown, Portland, Oregon, for a nice fall break from the craziness at work (and unfortunately blogging!). It was great to show a buddy around the city and get to do some of the touristy things you often ignore when in town to see family. One of the requisite stops when in town for me is none other than Stumptown Coffee Roasters on 3rd & Alder Streets in Southwest...conveniently located near the funky Voodoo Doughnuts shop. It should be self-evident that one stops to get the coffee first, then stands in line for the awesome doughnut creations...but strangely enough...most people standing in line don't seem to have coffee in hand. They are clearly not natives.

My fave is the Hair-Bender blend, which retails at about $14 for a 3/4 Lb. bag (annoying that you can't get it in a full 16oz. bag, but whatever, I frown and buy it anyway) they sell in a few places like New Seasons market or Whole Foods.  Of course some lament the fact that you can get it at these locations is indicative of them becoming a bit more main-stream...but it'll be a long time before people hear the advent of a new "Stumptown" setting up the 43rd establishment in their neighborhood and roll their eyes at the ubiquity.

Anyway, Stumptown is fab for lots of reasons...for their academic atmosphere, sponsorship of local artists, sustainable procurement practices, quality coffee drinks and funky staff, but mostly for their contribution to coffee culture in Portland (and by extension the greater Pacific NW). Coffee has always been germane to the fabric of the city, where people clip travel mugs to their packs as a matter of daily habit...but major chains like Starbucks, Seattle's Best, and even the local Coffee People kiosks have worn down the once esoteric experience of going to a coffee house into more of a pit stop at a re-fueling station. Stumptown has brought philosophy back into the coffee culture, in a great-tasting, fair trade way. The name itself embodies Portland, and I for one am quite pleased with the national press they continue to get...putting my fave city on the map for millions more to learn and experience. Happy mugs!

Maine Root beer

Tonight's bottle is caffeine-free sugar cane based Maine Root beer from the other Portland...in Maine. Not bad. Organic and fair-trade certified for those so inclined. Less carbonation and sarsaparilla flavor than the Appalachian Brewing Co. from last week, but still good. True to the label, notes of wintergreen, clove, and anise are actually easy to identify. Would definitely have it again, and I plan to seek out some of their Pumpkin Pie Soda this month too...'tis the season!



Addendum:  in researching links for this post, I found some fascinating info on sarsaparilla and sassafras...and I'm totally inspired to seek some out (in beverage form, of course)...does anyone have a recommendation that can be acquired here in the US?

Mad City Coffee

Normally when one's stomach feels a bit dodgy you'd think the remedy would include putting milk in your coffee or staying away from acidic beverages altogether. But nooo...not in this addict's world. I tend to just order a weaker brew (i.e. flavored coffee). Sigh. You'd think I'd learn by now... Anyway...locally-owned Mad City Coffee in Columbia, MD has a great house blend and some warm, rich dark roasts that I highly recommend (and you can buy whole beans online!), and the Toasted Pecan flavored coffee I got today was not bad either (for flavored stuff, that is). Made for a nice accompaniment to the pumpkin muffin, too. Don't you just love fall flavors?



Appalachian Root Beer

Tonight's bottle is Appalachian Root Beer from the Appalachian Brewing Co. in Harrisburg, PA. Caffeine free, and made out of cane sugar, this one is refreshing without being overly-sweet. Notes of vanilla are present, but not overpowering, nor is any other flavor particularly strong; the blend is smooth and palatable. Tempted to try their ginger beer soon too. Got this one on sale for $1.29 in the to-go fridge at Wegman's in Columbia. Again, craft soda, cheaper than the regular soda? Granted, it's not when you figure price-per-ounce, but seriously...who needs a 20 oz. soda anyway?

The Kentucky Bourbon Cocktail Book

At the moment am thoroughly enjoying reading The Kentucky Bourbon Cocktail Book, by Joy Perrine and Susan Reigler. Picked it up as a souvenir of my Bourbon Trail vacation earlier this month...attracted to the lush photos more so than the interesting recipe concoctions - at first! It's a small gift-book size collection of cocktail recipes involving, um....*surprise* bourbon, from one of Louisville's premier bartenders, Joy Perrine, at Equus & Jack's Lounge.

Excited to try a couple of the variations on Manhattan cocktails soon! Will keep you posted.

Tortilla Coast

If you live in DC or visit often, you'll know there is an appalling lack of places to eat near The Mall. Apart from museum cafe's, (the best being the American Indian Museum) which are often overpriced and close at 5:30pm, there really aren't a lot of options that are family-friendly or low-to-mid range in price. Enter Tortilla Coast.

While there's no hiding that the Capitol Hill ("Cap South") establishment on 1st and D Streets SE (Be advised, there is also a NE junction by the same name just a few blocks away!) is not much more than a happy hour joint, it is family friendly, and the parking and seating is usually never hard to come by even during peak times. The food is okay, but the margaritas, the fresh guac and house-made chips are fabulous!

What I usually tell people who live in the area and have frequent tourist-friends or family visit them, is to have lunch at Tortilla Coast, get a pitcher of margaritas($20 - $28), and enjoy the Mall and the 27th trip to the museums and monuments in an infinitely more entertaining way! It's great year-round, but especially so in the summertime, as they remove the windows and give the corner restaurant more of a patio feel.

The Library of Congress is right next door, too, which is one of the most underrated attractions in the DC area, in my humble opinion.

It's also right across the street from the Cap South Metro station, which is convenient to take to the Smitshsonian stop just two hops away. Your mother-in-law will thank you for saving her the walking pains.

PX - Alexandria, VA Speakeasy

Two of the best people I know took me out to Alexandria, VA last weekend for my birthday, and where do all cocktail nerds love to go? Of course. Speakeasies. I had never heard of PX before, and as evidenced by the ridiculous amounts of press, obviously I am just out of the loop. It has most assuredly made the repeat list. A 1920's influenced cocktail bar, PX stands for "person extraordinaire" ...the French term for VIP. Entirely appropriate...get your swank on, cuz this place requires cocktail attire! The atmosphere really would be spoiled by anything less.

We tried a few different libations, but were impressed enough with the Peachy Bourbon Rickey to order it twice. Words cannot describe the awesomeness. Try it yourself.

Reservations are not required, but highly recommended. They were accommodating for us, however, as we were given an approximate time to skedaddle in order to make room for the upcoming reservation holders. The waitstaff was superb, and highly knowledgeable about the extensive menu, giving details not only on how the drink flavors were intended to compliment each other, but providing historical anecdotes about how they came into being. There is no food to be had, but it's sister establishment, Eammon's is a fish 'n' chips Irish-style pub downstairs that is perhaps a bit more casual than the swank speakeasy, but does not disappoint the taste buds. (Plus, they also have Bullmers hard cider there. Yum.)

Mojitos at Cubano's

 

 

Fresh sugarcane, sweet leafy mint, all muddled with a delicious rum elixir. For the best mojitos in town, Check out Cubano's in Silver Spring!

 

[Taken from their website 21 Sept. 2012]

 

3:00-6:00pm "Cuban Time" Happy Hour Specials Include:

Half Price House Drinks

(Mojitos, Caipirinha, Margaritas, Sangria,

House Wine and Rail drinks)
 

Tapas menu from $ 3.00 to $5.00:
Chorizo Asado
Gambas al Aillo
Mini-Cuban Sandwiches
Empanaditas
Ham Croquettes
Spanish Omelets



French Apple Bourbon Birthday Cake

Birthday time!!! One of my favorite cakes to make as late is Amanda McClements' (a local DC blogger) French Apple Cake from Metrocurean. So simple to make! Fabulous buttery vanilla mixed with rum gives just the right amount of sweetness and moisture to the batter. The ingredients list is simple, and you're likely to have everything on the shelf already save maybe the fresh apples. Reminds me of some of the 'tea cakes' in Europe.

With my latest focus on bourbon (and recently aquired treats from bourbon country), I decided to experiment some with the recipe (marked with changes below). Happy to report the results were more than just edible...they were om-nomalicious. #omg #joygasm


French Apple Cake
serves 6-8

1 cup all-purpose flour, spooned into measuring cup and leveled off with knife
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
2/3 cup granulated sugar, plus more for sprinkling over cake
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon bourbon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons bourbon
2 sweet baking apples, peeled, cored and cut into 1/2-inch cubes (such as honeycrisp, fuji or golden delicious)
Bourbon (granulated)sugar for sprinkling on top

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9-inch springform or regular cake pan with nonstick cooking spray.

Whisk together flour, baking powder and salt in a small bowl.

Using a handheld mixer with beaters or stand mixer with paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffly, about 3 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well and scraping down sides of bowl after each addition. Beat in vanilla and bourbon. Don’t worry if the batter looks grainy. Add the flour mixture and mix on low speed until just combined. Using a rubber spatula, fold in chopped apples.

Pour batter into prepared pan and sprinkle evenly with 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar. Bake cake for about 40 minutes, or until cake is lightly golden and toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow cake to cool until just warm. Run a blunt knife around the edges of the cake and remove sides of springform pan if using. Dust with sugar if desired. Cake can be served warm or room temperature, with or without lightly sweetened whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

Blueberry Smoothie Recipe

So I'm no GreenSmoothieGirl, but frequently this is breakfast for me when I'm on the go (Yes, there is a noted objection from a concerned friend that smoothies are not breakfast. Whatever. At least I'm not skipping it.):

1 C. Frozen blueberries
1 C. Plain or vanilla yogurt (greek or regular)
1 whole bananna

Technically it doesn't matter what order you put the ingredients in the blender, but it is a little easier/faster to add the yogurt first. Also, recently I started adding 'protein boost' powder to the smoothie - which doesn't seem to affect taste OR consistency at all!

This recipe is super easy to modify, too - put in a cup of frozen mixed berries, raspberries, or blackberries or try them fresh (just turns out less cold) - it's great. Not enough yogurt? You can get by with about as little as 2/3 Cup.

Our Daily Red

Tonight's 'bottle' is Our Daily Red from the Orleans Winery in California. Actually, that is misleading - what I had was boxed wine. *Gasp!* I know. Hard to believe, but it is making a comeback; both as economic times are pinching everyone's pockets, and as science improves, there's more evidence to suggest that screwtops and boxes are better at keeping the oxygen out of the wine in the long run, which is important for organic varietals, as the folks at LovetoKnowWine will tell you (and the vinters at Orleans).

Our Daily Red is a blend of a couple varieties of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, making for a deep ruby-colored table wine with a smooth finish. Pairs well with pasta I would imagine, but it got lost a little when I drank it with a spicy beef stew my dinner host made. There wasn't much boldness to the wine that I could taste, but that is to be expected from blends. Drinkable, but I'm not really a fan. If you're in the market for something similar, try French Rabbit Pinot Noir (available at Corridor Wine for $7.99), or some of the others that are more notable.

If you're still not convinced, MomAdvice lists out some of the positives of boxed wine too...(read: it's not just for 90s theme parties!) they know best, you know.

*Pho Dat!*

Sooo...a friend & I have started a regular habit of going out for "pho and fro-yo" that usually is a progressive meal starting at Pho Dat Thanh in Columbia, MD for Vietnamese beef noodle soup (pho), and ending at the Tutti Fruitti near Target on MD 175 for deliciously addictive frozen yogurt (fro-yo). The combination is perhaps non-traditional but whatever. Suits us well enough that we now know that the expression "dinner tonight?" is assumed to mean "7pm, Pho Dat."

Not a place for typical Liquid Culture source material, I will say that Pho Dat has a full bar (sadly not available on the take-out menu) with about 8-10 "specialty" cocktails they list for $4.95 a piece. (!!!) Long Island Iced Tea and Sapphire Martini actually make the list along with a couple more nebulous ones. Like the "Eastern Star" I had. Pure curiosity got me...there was definitely pineapple juice and something very stiff in it (thanks, barkeep!) but wow it was like mystery punch. Not quite sure if I want to know the secret behind the potion...and not really tempted to order again since 'jungle juice' does not really sit well with spicy pho.

Unfortunately I didn't think to take a happy snap of the super-awesome porcelain tiki glass my drink came in, but trust me, it was tack-a-licious tacky. Chipped even. It made me smile. Especially the bendy-straw they used.