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?