YumSugar

Must-Read: Imbibe

YumSugar — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 10:15:49 PDT

Living in a cocktail town like San Francisco, I can't help but want to learn more about the ever-evolving art of mixology. Since I've enjoyed my fair share of old-fashioneds at Alembic and sazeracs at Rye, a friend got me a copy of Imbibe!: From Absinthe Cocktail to Whiskey Smash, a Salute in Stories and Drinks to "Professor" Jerry Thomas, Pioneer of the American Bar by David Wondrich.

Part cocktail-making manual, part biography, and part bartending history, Imbibe is delivered in the same quirky voice as Wondrich's drinks column for Esquire magazine, with a forward by Dale DeGroff. It's a fun book to read front to back, but it's also an extensive recipe collection. For a breakdown of what I liked and what I didn't,

read more. Wondrich's book is a tribute to Jerry Thomas, often considered the godfather of modern bartending thanks to his 1862 cocktail book, which Wondrich uses as a jumping-off point. Pros:

It's a very fun read, full of edgy humor and hilarious histories.
The book provides a comprehensive breakdown of the cocktail's evolution, from potent punches consumed by army regiments to much-later Manhattans and martinis.
The methods and recipes are very authentic, so Wondrich tells you what modern-day ingredients are the closest approximations to the olden days.

Cons:

In his quest for historical accuracy, the recipes are presented in their original form and often annotated so heavily they are hard to follow.
Many of the more outlandish drinks are fun as curiosities but not something I'd like to make at home.

Recipes: The recipes are interwoven with bits of history and broken down by type (i.e. Punches, The Children of Punch, and Toddies, Slings, Juleps, and Such). The last chapter asks modern mixologists to come up with their own twists on old recipes. Some highlights:

Old-Fashioned Cocktail
John Collins
Philadelphia Fish House Punch
Tom and Jerry
Aviation Cocktail
Whiskey Peach Smash
Homemade Bitters and Fruit Syrups

Imagery: No photos, but there are a few historical illustrations of old bar tools and drinks. Overall Rating: If you are into cocktails and want some good trivia to toss out at the bar, Imbibe is filled to the brim.

2007's Best Food Magazine Is...

partysugar — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 05:18:31 PST

For our Best of 2007 coverage we wanted to know what your favorite food magazine is. Cooking Light was your choice for magazine of the year with 23 percent of the votes. Yet, even though I peruse Cooking Light each month, Imbibe was my preferred read of '07. I look forward to this mag every other month and devour its cocktail recipes, details about new liquors, and profiles of innovative mixologists and baristas. A newer publication totally focused on drinks, Imbibe is a wonderful resource to learn about drink trends. It's informative without being pretentious making it a fun read.

What do you guys think? Have you checked out an issue of Imbibe yet?

Know Your Tequila

YumSugar — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 11:53:41 PST

According to Imbibe Magazine (which is one of my new favorites), tequila is gaining popularity and prestige. In fact, for the last two years, high-end tequila has even outsold single-malt scotch in US. Since tequila seems to be on the rise, I figure we might as well learn about the different kinds (all of which must be at least 51% blue agave juice and produced in the Tequila Region of Mexico).

Gold: Value tequilas that get their color from added caramel colorings.
Blanco (aka Silver): Unaged, clear tequila.
100 Percent Blue Agave: Premium tequila made with 100% certified blue agave. It has no added colors, flavors or sugars. May be Blanco, Añejo or Reposado.
Reposado (aka Rested): Aged 60-364 days in wooden barrels (like wine) - the barrel provides the golden color.
Añejo (aka Aged): Aged 1-3 years, also in wooden barrels. The longer aging provides a richer copper color.
Extra-Añejo (aka Reserva/Reserved): Aged 3 years+ in wooden barrels (which are often secondhand bourbon barrels) - copper or amber in color.

Source: Imbibe Magazine

5 Ways to Stay Healthy During a Super Bowl Party

Leta Shy — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:37:18 PST

Super Bowl parties, whether you're a football fan or not, are a great way to socialize with friends over food and drinks, but that doesn't mean you have to disregard any of your healthy eating goals this weekend. If you're going to a Super Bowl party on Sunday, read on for five ways to keep it healthy during all the fun.

Bring a healthy side: You can't control how many of your friends will be bringing a vat of their famous spinach dip, but you can save a few calories by bringing a healthier treat that you can't wait to eat. Bone up on ideas for healthy Super Bowl dips and snacks with this recipe guide and bring something calorie-conscious yet still delicious to the table.
Get up, stand up: Yes, for some, the Super Bowl is all about the commercials, but that doesn't mean that you can't watch while moving. Sitting for all those hours just isn't healthy, so instead of staying still once you've found a seat on the couch, take a few TV breaks by making your rounds at the party or excusing yourself for a stretching session (just make sure you aren't distracting die-hard TV watchers in the process!).

Read on for three more must-dos to keep Super Bowl Sunday healthy.

7 Tips to Wake Up and Get Out of Bed Fast

Emily Co — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 03:05:15 PST

You're late to work, again. No matter how much you reason with yourself, your lateness is probably due to the fact that you couldn't get out of bed. It's always unpleasant to drag yourself out of bed, so here are some tips to help you wake up alert and get you out of bed quickly:

Assess your health. Your drowsiness in the morning might be health-related. Perhaps you need a better diet and exercise plan or maybe you have sleep apnea. If you've been doing everything right, go to a doctor for an expert opinion.
Coffee on your bedside table. This is for extreme cases, but leaving some coffee or another caffeinated drink like Mountain Dew on your bedside table might be a good way to get yourself out of bed.
Place your alarm clock strategically. If you place your alarm clock across the room or outside your door, this might force you walk to the clock to shut it off.

Read on for more tips.

Wasting Away in Mimosaville

Lauren Hendrickson — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 04:08:16 PST

Mimosas are the quintessential brunch beverage, and I've yet to meet one person who doesn't love to waste away a morning imbibing this cocktail. The ingredients are simple, with only sparkling wine and juice. OJ is, of course, the classic - but feel free to try other juices, too (pineapple, tangerine, mango, the list goes on. . .)

You don't have to splurge on the bottle of sparkling, but make sure it's of good enough quality where you'd likely drink by itself. I always use Segura Viudas Brut Reserva since the bottle is under ten dollars, and just as tasty served alone.

Traditionally, the ratio for a mimosa is one part sparkling wine and one part orange juice, but I always pour my orange juice into a glass jug and just let my guests make their own so they can have it to their liking, since really there is no wrong way! Get the recipe for this hair of the dog by reading more.

Ring In the New Year With These Healthy Cocktails

Michele Foley — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 19:03:00 PST

If you're planning a night out (or even in) for New Year's Eve, chances are you might imbibe a little‚ or a lot. If you're watching your weight, keep in mind that cocktails can be filled to the brim with hidden calories. That's not true of all drinks though. If you're looking for a few low-calorie drinks (heavy on the bubbles, of course) to enjoy this New Year's Eve, we've got you covered - cheers!

How to Fix Your Booze-Induced Skin Care Woes

Jaime Richards — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 04:01:24 PST

Does it seem like all you've been doing lately is eating and imbibing in boozed-up beverage after boozed up beverage? While spiked egg nog, hot toddies, champagne cocktails, and mulled wine are all fine and dandy, the problem is that in excess they can wreak havoc on your skin.

The issue: "It doesn't matter what you are drinking, all forms of alcohol are dehydrating," says celebrity dermatologist Dr. Harold Lancer. "It's just a matter of how quickly it dehydrates you, which is usually a matter of how much sugar is in the drink." And if you think that the more expensive the red wine you're enjoying, the lesser the likelihood of it affecting you, think again. "Two-Buck Chuck is equally as dehydrating," Dr. Lancer warns. So to see what you can do to quell the after-effects of getting schnockered, just keep reading.

8 Things You Shouldn't Do at Your Company Holiday Party

Emily Co — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 09:35:09 PST

It's that time of the year again when the people at your company get together for a little holiday shindig. If you go about it the right way, your annual office party can be a great time for you to meet people in your company that you've always wanted to get to know better. In fact, a Forbes article mentioned that the party can raise your visibility in your company and lead to a promotion down the line. Just make sure you don't commit any of these office party faux pas:

Get way too drunk. You're allowed to have some alcohol, but make sure you pace and limit yourself. If you want to know how much you can drink, Grub Street has a neat infographic that cites the right amount of liquor each type of employee should imbibe.
Stick to your tribe. If you already belong to a clique in the office, use the party as an opportunity to stray away from the pack. After all, you see those familiar faces all the time. Who knows? You may develop great new friendships outside of your circle.
Talk about work the whole time. Seriously, don't talk about the broken copy machine or how much work you're going to have to do when you get into the office tomorrow. Try to think of nonwork topics to lighten the mood. Talking about the daily grind may seem second nature to you when you're around colleagues, but it can stress people out because it's reminding them of work.
Gossip or complain. Don't be a debbie downer and moan about work or talk about the latest office gossip. People can easily overhear what you're saying so you might want to save your personal comments for another time.

Read on for more things you shouldn't do at the office party.

Sneak in a Little Diet and Fitness With These Easy Tips

Leta Shy — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 03:29:38 PST

A healthy lifestyle isn't just about how many miles you've logged on the trails or how many cookies you didn't eat this week. It's also all the small choices you make that add up to big results. Want to sneak in a few saved calories or extra exercise? Here are three easy ways to sneak in a little dieting or fitness.

Save a few calories, here and there: Living a healthy lifestyle doesn't mean perpetually being on a diet. Whether you live by your cheat days or give yourself a few treats a day, you can always benefit from shaving a few calories here or there. To save calories with only a little thought, make a few, but still tasty substitutions, like nixing mayo for yogurt, getting the sauce on the side, or grilling instead of sautéing meats. Here are more ways to shave calories at every meal.

Walk a little (it adds up): Vigorous exercise may be the most effective type of workout for weight loss, but don't knock those little things you should be doing to keep yourself active and out of your desk chair. It all helps you burn those calories, stay healthy, and keep the pounds off. Looking for creative ways to keep you up and walking? Save phone calls until you have time to take a walk or park farther than you need to so you're forced to move more.

Slow down: Whether you're wolfing down your lunch or imbibing drink after drink at happy hour, here's a reminder that eating and drinking quickly is never a good idea. Not only does eating slower allow you to focus on what exactly you are eating, it's also better for being able to gauge about how full you actually are - which means less overeating. And if you can't get enough of happy hour, alternate drinks with club soda or a glass of water - not only will you be saving on calories, but you'll also be hydrated (not to mention hangover-free).