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Name This Drink!

YumSugar — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 07:00:45 -0700

While at the Slow Food Nation Marketplace, some of the Slow on the Go vendors were selling this authentic Mexican refreshment. Do you know what it's called?

Happy Hour: Twilight

partysugar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:13:04 -0800

Well, folks, the moment everyone's been waiting for is here. The second movie in the Twilight series, New Moon, finally comes out today. Whether you're dying to see it or excited that the hype surrounding it will die down, there's only one way to celebrate - with a cocktail! Not just any boring old drink, but an aptly named concoction created by one of San Francisco's illustrious bar owners, Jon Gasparini. A couple of weeks ago when Jon (of one of my favorite bars, Rye) tweeted about a new cocktail called Twilight, I knew I needed the recipe.

Jon describes it as having a beautiful color and balance, and I couldn't agree more. The complex gin and Prosecco drink is easy to put together and elegant enough to serve at a Thanksgiving dinner or holiday soirée. To get his recipe, read more.

Twilight
From Jon Gasparini of Rye

Ingredients

3/4 ounce creme de violette
1 1/2 ounces gin
dash orange bitters
dash simple syrup or agave syrup
1 ounce Prosecco or other sparkling wine

Directions

Combine the violette, gin, bitters, and sweetener in a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
Strain into a chilled Champagne coup and top with the Prosecco.

Makes 1 drink.

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13 Under $20 Wines Perfect For Hostess Gifts

partysugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:15:34 -0800

Do you have an iPhone? Then stop what you're doing right now and download the Nirvino (my preferred online drinking community) wine ratings guide. With over one million wines listed by name, price, grape varietal, flavor profile, region, and producer, the wine application is an amazing resource to always have at your fingertips.

Not only does it provide food pairing suggestions, but there's also lots of fun lists to browse. Food Network's Aida Mollenkamp shares her favorite wines to drink while cooking, Sommelier Mark Bright rounded up his top bottles from Whole Foods, and yours truly has even created a list!

I headed to Safeway to pick out the best wines - all of which are under $20 - for hostess gifts. I've tasted and enjoyed these wines and would bring them to a party. Be it a birthday bash at Hog Island oyster farm, an intimate Thanksgiving dinner, or an upcoming holiday soirée, there's a bottle for every occasion. To check out my list, keep reading.

Coca Cola to Remove the Word "Classic" From Title

partysugar — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 03:00:00 -0800

Coca-Cola is perhaps the most classic of American drinks, however the company has announced their plan to remove the word "classic" from its name. "Classic" was added over twenty years ago, in 1985, to signify that the brand was making a return to using the original recipe. Now with a global approach to advertising, the word is no longer beneficial to the brand. In the current ad campaigns, "Coke side of life" and "open happiness," the word is not employed. According to a spokesman from Coca-Cola, the "classic" is totally unnecessary:

It felt like the right time. When people think Coca-Cola, they think classic. More than two decades after the introduction of that word, its reason for being a descriptor has disappeared.

The beverage company doesn't foresee any customer backlash and has already removed the "classic" from fountain drink cups. I'm not affected by the change; to me Coke is classic. How do you feel about it?

Source

Happy Hour: Desmond's Pleasure

partysugar — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 16:00:36 -0700

If you're a fan of Beefeater, you should definitely get your hands on the brand's latest release, Beefeater 24. The artisan gin, that's made in London, features 12 specially selected botanicals, including a rare Japanese tea and Chinese green tea. The spirit is brewed for 24 hours, hence the name. Unlike classic Beefeater, the 24 is distinctly smoother and more complex with a slightly floral aroma. It makes an excellently drinkable gin and tonic and an elegant rickey.

I recently enjoyed Beefeater 24 in a cocktail named for its creator, master distiller Desmond Payne, at Clock Bar in San Francisco. Crafted by one of my favorite bartenders, Steven Liles, this drink is full of tart citrus flavor. The combination of elderflower liqueur, lemon juice, bitter lemon soda, and Pimm's does not overshadow the Beefeater 24. Instead, it enhances and balances out the gin, resulting in a drink that is intricate and refreshing.

To look at Steven's recipe, read more.

Desmond’s Pleasure
From Steven Liles of Clock Bar

Ingredients

1 1/2 oz. Beefeater 24
1/2 oz. St. Germain elderflower liqueur
1/2 oz. Lemon juice
3 dashes Fees Bros. Grapefruit Bitters
Fever Tree bitter lemon soda
1/2 oz. Pimm's No.1

Directions

Shake first 4 ingredients and strain into ice filled Collins glass.
Add bitter lemon soda and float pimm's over the top. Garnish with a long slice of lemon peel.

Makes 1 drink.

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Happy Hour: 2005 Prinz Von Hessen Riesling

partysugar — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:15:11 -0700

I love trying new wine, but sometimes it's intimidating and expensive to pick out a random bottle at the store. One great way to learn about wine is to order interesting varietals while dining out. If you enjoy the wine, make note of the name and label, then look for it at your local wine shop. That's exactly how I came across this smooth, deliciously-drinkable 2005 Prinz Von Hessen Riesling ($11). My sister enjoyed it with a sandwich at 'wichcraft and later she spotted the same bottle at Bi-Rite market. She thought it was so good, she gave it to me and said, "Drink this. You'll want to write about it."

She was right! It's the perfect Riesling - it's tart and acidic with notes of citrus and melon. It has a nice buttery color and lingering finish. It's not sweet at all, but it's slightly off-dry meaning it would pair wonderfully with sweet or spicy Asian-inspired dishes. Have you ever purchased a bottle of wine that you first sipped at a restaurant?

Happy Hour: Raspberry Shag

partysugar — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 16:00:38 -0700

As much as I love experimenting with new spirits, sometimes I just need a girlie pink vodka cocktail with a fun name. Enter the raspberry shag.

Don't be fooled by the vibrant color. This drink - a mixture of sugared muddled raspberries, vodka, lemon juice, and soda - is not overly sweet. It is smooth, refreshing, and fruity.

The original recipe calls for strawberries, but I decided to try raspberries instead. I think any berry, like blackberries or blueberries, would work well in this concoction, so use what you have on hand. To check out the recipe, read more.

Raspberry Shag
Modified from Sips and Apps by Kathy Casey

Ingredients

1 to 2 large sprigs of fresh basil
1/4 cup sugared raspberries, with juice (recipe below)
1 1/2 ounces vodka
1 ounce fresh lemon juice
2 to 4 ounces chilled soda water
fresh raspberry, optional for garnish

Directions

In a cocktail shaker, press the basil and strawberries together with a muddler to release the basil's flavor.
Fill the shaker with ice. Measure in the vodka and lemon juice. Cap and shake vigorously.
Pour into a large glass, top with soda water, and stir. Garnish, if desired, with a raspberry.

Makes 1 drink.

Sugared Raspberries

1 pint fresh raspberries
1 1/2cups powdered sugar

Mix the ingredients together in a small bowl and let sit for 15 minutes before using.

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Happy Hour: Peach Donkey

partysugar — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 16:00:34 -0700

Although this cocktail recipe has a weird name, the ingredients are pretty ordinary and the flavor is absolutely sublime. It's similar to the classic bellini - because it combines peach puree with effervescence - but, thanks to the addition of vodka and Canton, it's much more potent. When blended together, the sweetness of the peach offsets the subtle heat of the ginger. The final cocktail is refreshing and easy to drink. For a rustic feel, serve in mason jars! If you can't find ginger beer, simply substitute sparkling water. Sound interesting? Get the recipe when you read more.

Peach Donkey
From Food & Wine Cocktails 09

Ingredients

1 ounce vodka
1/2 ounce ginger liqueur
3 ounces peach puree or nectar
Crushed ice
1 ounce chilled ginger beer
Peach slices, for garnish (optional)

Directions

In a highball glass, combine the vodka, ginger liqueur and peach puree; stir.
Add crushed ice and stir again. Top with the ginger beer and swizzle by spinning a swizzle stick or bar spoon between your hands. Garnish with peach slices.

Makes 1 drink.

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Cognac 101: A Very Special Guide

YumSugar — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 14:30:36 -0700

Ever since "Hennessey" was first name-dropped in hip-hop lyrics and Tim Meadows's Ladies Man started sipping Courvosier, I've been curious about cognac. With all the VSOPs and XOs, cognac can be intimidating. So if you're also wondering what all those letters on the labels mean, I've put together a little primer.

Cognac is a brandy, but not all brandies are cognacs. The name refers to brandies produced in the Cognac region of France, made from white wine grapes that are first fermented, and then double distilled.
From this distillation, you get a liquid called eau de vie, which is aged in oak barrels to become cognac.

All those different letters refer to how long a cognac is aged. Find out what they mean.

Yummy Links: From Panini-Offs to Pie Crusts

YumSugar — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 07:00:31 -0700

Jimmy Fallon and Tom Colicchio face off in a panini showdown. -Eat Me Daily
Food'lebrities: Photoshopped celebs whose names sound like snacks. - Lemondrop
Gobbling up the world's best beach food. - Epicurious
Chefs weigh in on the Obamas' date night number two. - Grub Street
Veteran restaurant publicist says it wasn't this bad even after Sept. 11. - The Feedbag
These United Plates prints are almost cute enough to eat. - Serious Eats
Taybarns is the Golden Corral of the UK. - Chow
Taste-testing Vio, Coke's new fruity milk soda drinks. - Eater
Do you prefer butter or shortening in your pie crusts? - Baking Bites