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Noteworthy Nibbles - Dec. 2-8, 2008

YumSugar — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 14:17:38 -0800

With food festival season winding down for the year, there are certainly fewer events this month. Still, if you look hard enough, you can find a few gems, like the International Tamale Festival in Indio, CA, or Sonoma Valley's Blessing of the Olives. Or, enjoy one of the many holiday wine events, where perhaps you can find that perfect pairing for your holiday dinner.

Notice anything we've left out? If so, please feel free to chime in with your comments below!

Yosemite, CA: Vintners' Holidays 2008 - Dec. 2-3
Portland, OR: Holiday Ale Festival - Dec. 3-7
Mobile, AL: Gulf Coast Antiques Food and Wine Festival - Dec. 5-7
Fredericksburg, TX: Holiday Wine Trail - Dec. 5-7
Indio, CA: Indio International Tamale Festival - Dec. 6-7
Livermore, CA: Holidays in the Vineyards - Dec. 6-7
New Paltz, NY: Wreath Fineries @ 10 Wineries - Dec. 6-7
Sonoma, CA: Sonoma Valley Olive Festival & Tasting - Dec. 6
Carmel, CA: Chateau St. Julien Holiday Spectacular - Dec. 7
Ventura, CA: Holiday Street Festival - Dec. 7
New Orleans, LA: Classic Holiday Tipples With Tony Abou-Ganim - Dec. 8

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Happy Hour: Smithwick's Irish Ale

partysugar — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:15:13 -0700

Recently, my parents returned from a vacation in Ireland.
Being as it was their first time in on the island, they eagerly sampled the local products, pubs, and pints. They picked up a fondness for a chocolate-colored, Irish ale named Smithwick’s (pronounced Smitiks). Their rave reviews made me curious, so when my dad invited me to join him at a local Irish pub, I jumped at the chance to taste the brew. Despite its dark color, the beer was surprisingly light and refreshing. The rich liquid was not bitter, but smooth, full, and stimulating. According to my father, the American Smithwick's lacked the frothy head of the brew he enjoyed in the old country, but I didn't mind, I thought it was delicious.

Have you ever tried Smithwick's? What do you think of the beer?

Happy Hour: Buffalo Bill's Pumpkin Ale

YumSugar — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:15:11 -0700

These days, my street isn't the only thing covered with pumpkins; so is my kitchen. I've been using the gourds in everything from moist pumpkin bread to chicken pumpkin stew, and so I decided it was high time I enjoyed it in ale form, too. Although it's believed early American icons like George Washington and Ben Franklin enjoyed pumpkin ales, one Bay Area craft brewhouse, Buffalo Bill's, brought the beer back into vogue when it became known for its special blend in the 1980s.The whisky-colored amber ale ($7.99 for six), which is brewed with fresh roasted pumpkins and malted barley, possesses only a delicate squash flavor, but has lingering pumpkin pie spices like cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg that become more prominent as the beer warms. Because it doesn't have a malty flavor or the bitter taste of hops, Buffalo Bill's Pumpkin a great find for people who aren't that into traditional beer. What's your favorite Fall ale?

Happy Hour: Widmer Brothers Drifter Pale Ale

partysugar — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 16:15:48 -0800

If you enjoy wheat beers, you're most likely familiar with the Widmer Brothers. Its American brew is an incredibly well-known Hefeweizen. I got my hands on a six pack of Widmer's latest creation, Drifter Pale Ale ($8.99). Typically, pale ales are made with Cascade hops, but Drifter uses a different variety called Summit. These hops provide an intense citrus flavor; seriously, it tastes like there's orange juice in the beer! A touch of caramel malt balances out the tartness of the citrus.

Although I normally prefer light beer, this refreshingly smooth brew is crisp and clean with only a slight bitterness - making it highly drinkable. If you enjoy sipping new, innovative brews, definitely give Drifter Pale Ale a try.

I paired mine with the Schlow burger, but it would be welcome with pizza or fried seafood. Have you tasted Drifter or any of the Widmer Brothers' other beers?

Happy Hour: Harvest and Pumpkin Ales

YumSugar — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 13:03:17 -0800

One of the great things about Fall is the abundance of harvest beers and ales. Sure it's part of the whole limited-edition food trend, but because the hops are harvested and created specifically with Fall in mind, I'm willing to buy into it. These ales are wonderfully festive and make for a great addition to your party bar options or while watching the big game. I've gathered up a few of the ones I've seen in my stores, such as Buffalo Bill's Pumpkin Ale, but I know that there are a lot of regional ones in the US and the rest of the world. Do you have a favorite harvest ale? If so, tell us about it below!

Sierra Nevada Harvest ($3.69)	Hales O'Brien's Harvest Ale ($1.45)
Buffalo Bill's Pumpkin Ale ($7.99)	Abita Pecan Harvest Ale ($8.69)
Night Owl Pumpkin Ale	Blue Moon Pumpkin Ale

Sunday Dinner: Ginger-Aled Ham

partysugar — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 01:28:51 -0700

Nothing says Easter dinner more than a delicious baked ham. There are many liquids that you could glaze an Easter ham with - whiskey, coke, orange juice, etc. - but this recipe uses ginger ale. Isn't it a fun name? I want to make this ham because Ginger-Aled Ham sounds so delicious. Not to mention that brown sugar and mustard enhance the glaze resulting in a ham that is succulent and delicious. To get the recipe, read more.

Ginger-Aled Ham
From Real Simple magazine

Ingredients

1 1 1/2-pound fully cooked boneless ham
1 12-ounce can ginger ale
1/2 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
1/2 cup whole-grain mustard
6 medium red potatoes, peeled (if desired) and quartered
2 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup sour cream
3/4 cup (3 ounces) grated Cheddar
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves (optional)

Directions

Heat oven according to the directions on the ham package.
Place the ham on a rack in a roasting pan and pour the ginger ale over the top. Cover the pan with foil and bake according to the package directions.
Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the brown sugar and mustard. About 20 minutes before the ham is finished, remove the foil and spoon the mustard mixture over the ham. Continue to bake, uncovered.
Meanwhile, place the potatoes in a large pot with enough water to cover them. Add 2 teaspoons of the salt and bring to a boil. Simmer until tender, about 15 minutes.
Drain, then return the potatoes to pot. Add the butter, sour cream, Cheddar, pepper, and the remaining salt to the potatoes and roughly mash. Cover to keep warm until the ham is done.
Slice the ham, spoon the pan juices over it, and serve with the potatoes. Sprinkle with the parsley, if desired.

Serves 4.

NUTRITION PER SERVING: CALORIES 1057.03(45% from fat); FAT 53.33g (sat 25.65g); PROTEIN 54.99mg; CHOLESTEROL 170.46mg; CALCIUM 252mg; SODIUM 3205.37mg; FIBER 4.74g; CARBOHYDRATE 93.3g; IRON 4.23mg

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Yummy Link: DIY Ginger Ale

YumSugar — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 14:30:47 -0700

Looking for a tasty way to fight colds this Winter? Try this recipe for homemade ginger ale made from lime, cinnamon, and ginger syrup. Sounds like a refreshing alternative to hot tea. - Apartment Therapy: The Kitchen

Happy Hour: Red Tail Ale

YumSugar — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 15:00:01 -0700

On my routine shopping trip last weekend, I found myself talking to the beer and wine guys at the local Trader Joe's. Not only did they tip me off to the fact that the store retails individual beer bottles - something I can't believe I'd never known! - but they also raved about one brew in particular: Red Tail Ale.

Red Tail definitely lives up to its superior reviews. The amber ale, which is made by Mendocino Brewing Company just over 100 miles north of San Francisco, has a saturated caramel color, moderate head of foam, and a slightly metallic finish. With bittersweet notes of dark chocolate, this brew's a fitting selection for Fall. Have you ever sampled it?

Happy Hour: Samuel Smith Strawberry Ale

YumSugar — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 14:00:32 -0700

While selecting in-season strawberries at Whole Foods the other day, an unfamiliar brewski, Samuel Smith Strawberry Ale, caught my eye. Since I was surrounded by the delicate aroma of ripe berries, I couldn't resist picking up a bottle.

I was curious about the unfamiliar label, and couldn't wait to give Samuel Smith's signature strawberry beer a taste. Brewed in Stamford, England, this certified organic ale, which is made with fresh strawberry juice, only became available stateside this year. The ale has a floral, jammy bouquet that brought me right back to sniffing strawberries at the market and notes of caramel and malt to finish. It was so refreshing that I drained the hefty-sized bottle, then proceeded to trek out and pick up a fresh one.

At $5.99 for 550 ml, this seasonal sip has become my favorite nightcap so far this Summer. Have you ever tried strawberry beer?

Bennigan's and Steak & Ale: Back From the Dead?

YumSugar — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 03:00:40 -0700

Two months ago, we reported the end of restaurant chains Bennigan's and Steak & Ale. Well, we've just learned that they're coming back to life! Private equity firm Atalaya is buying the two brands and their trademarks. It will partner with the Bennigan's franchises still standing to grow business, as well as try to reopen company-owned Bennigan's locations that closed after the bankruptcy.
The Steak & Ale brand closed in its entirety during bankruptcy, but Atalaya intends to leave the option open in the future for franchisees to open independently-operated Steak & Ale restaurants.

According to Atalaya managing director Joel Holsinger, the key to success this time around will be the new menu that's being developed: it will focus on quick pub fare, such as sandwiches, burgers, onion rings, and booze.

While I haven't been to a Bennigan's or Steak & Ale in years, some of you must be excited to hear about your Bennigan's potentially reopening. Do you think the menu overhaul will make the chain profitable again?

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