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,

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

Did You Give Up All Your Vices When You Got Pregnant?

Lisa Horten — Fri, 18 May 2012 14:05:52 PDT

We all have our guilty pleasures, but when a new life comes into play, it's time to give them up . . . or so we thought. A recently released study from the Center For Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality was intended to evaluate the breakdown of substance use during pregnancy by race. But the outcome that shocks us most is that one in five women smoke while they're pregnant! Of those, Caucasian women are most likely to smoke, followed by black women, and then Hispanics.

When it comes to consuming alcohol, Caucasian and black women are about equally likely (12 percent) to imbibe during pregnancy, while Hispanic women are least likely.

Back in 2009, expectant mom Rebecca Gayheart caused a stir when she was spotted smoking, and in a more recent (and perhaps less extreme) example of pregnant celebs behaving badly, Kourtney Kardashian was seen with highlighted tresses. Now we're wondering . . . did you give up your bad habits when you were pregnant?

In Honor of the Kentucky Derby, 4 Exercises That Celebrate the Horse

Leta Shy — Wed, 02 May 2012 09:45:36 PDT

The Kentucky Derby is this weekend, which means lots of Southern-style celebrations surrounding a horse race that'll be over before you can blink. But donning a wide-brimmed, fully decked out hat and imbibing mint juleps isn't the only way to pay homage to the all-American event. Why not celebrate the Kentucky Derby with a few equine exercises too? Here are four exercises that are inspired by the horse!

Horse stance: This basic martial arts pose is called the horse stance because it mimics the position you get into when you ride a horse. Holding the wide stance while bending your knees works your quads, so it's the perfect simple exercise to strengthen your legs (try this slight variation if you want to incorporate it into a yoga sequence).
Horse-riding pose: Also called a high lunge or equestrian, this straightforward yoga pose is perfect for the beginner. The pose stretches your legs and arms as you move into a lunge and hold, which makes it a great hip-opening and leg-strengthening exercise.
Horse pose: For a more challenging yoga pose, try horse pose, also called Vatayanasana. This intermediate-to-advanced yoga pose involves moving from standing and other positions with one leg in lotus, so it helps open your hips and strengthen your legs.
Horse biting tail: This kneeling twist exercise works your abs and torso. Begin on all fours and twist from one side to the other, like you're going after your own tail.

Source: Flickr User si_si_ay

3 Drinks to Skip and 3 to Enjoy Before Bedtime

Lizzie Fuhr — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 15:55:25 PDT

You may think that your nighttime nightcap routine isn't affecting your sleep patterns, but guess again. To be sure you're imbibing beverages that are going to help you out, instead of hinder you from catching some solid Zs, check out these recommendations that will help curb late-night cravings.

Instead of white tea, drink herbal: White tea may not seem like a real culprit, but guess again; while farther down the stimulant scale, it still contains brain-buzzing caffeine. Just grab some lovely chamomile or caffeine-free green tea to help you calm down before bed. We're also loving Sleepy Time Extra over here these days!
Instead of orange juice, drink tart cherry juice: Lots of juices like orange have a high sugar content that's going to keep you up and moving. The exception to the rule comes in the form of tart cherry juice. Cherry juice actually contains melatonin, which can assist you in getting some much-needed rest.
Instead of booze, go for some warm milk: You may think that drink is going to help you chill out in bed, but instead, it can do just the opposite and keep you up or make for a restless night of sleep. Instead of trying to get comfort in something boozy, a warm glass of milk will calm you down in a nostalgic, G-rated way. This may be a tough switch, but your body will thank you for it later.

5 Ways to Make Your Day a Little Healthier

Leta Shy — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 03:06:14 PDT

You know you need to exercise and eat right to look and feel your best, but those two things are easier said than done. It helps to break things up, like with these simple steps to make your day a little healthier.

Resist the pastry case: You know that you need to eat breakfast to boost your metabolism and keep you revved up for the day, but that doesn't mean you should spring for the baked good staring back at you at the coffee shop. Instead of the Starbucks grab-and-go, make these healthy breakfasts ahead of time so you can get out the door fast.
Have a drink: Water's the best thing you can imbibe, but it's not the only healthy thing you should swig - and no, I'm not just talking about red wine. Try drinking water with lemon or green tea in place of plain water when you need a little boost; you'll get much-needed antioxidants and detoxing properties from both.
Load up on greens: Sneak them in everywhere - those green veggies are an important aspect of a healthy diet. Leafy greens, for example, pack a lot of your required daily nutrients in one serving, and can also help reduce your risk of many diseases. Make sure at least one of your meals has a substantial amount of greens to get the most benefit out of your veggies.

Read on for more tips.

Get to Know the 2012 Finalists For America's Top Food Awards

YumSugar — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 16:40:09 PDT

America is home to more than 100,000 head chefs - and today, a select few of them will be given nods as finalists for the James Beard Awards, the industry's top honors.

Among those who made the cut from the list of last month's semifinalists: David Chang, Tom Douglas, and Ina Garten.

Winners will be announced on May 7 in an award ceremony at New York's Lincoln Center, to be hosted by none other than Food Network's Alton Brown. The event, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, only promises to be more lavish than years past.

To see the list of finalists, keep reading.

Make St. Patrick's Day a Booze-Free Affair For Pets

Sara Yoo — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 04:00:00 PST

While many of us will be imbibing in merriment on St. Patrick's Day, it's important to keep the booze out of reach of your pet. Just as it does in humans, alcohol causes damage to an animal's brain, central nervous system, and liver, but since pets are much smaller than us, the effects can occur faster and more intensely and even lead to death. If your pet gets their paws on your bevvie, watch them closely for coordination problems, the inability to walk or stand up, drowsiness, vomiting, increased urination, and slowed, shallow breathing. If they display any of these symptoms, get them to a vet right away: these are signs of alcohol poisoning! But the best cure is to avoid it altogether: the luck o' the Irish may not be on your pet's side if he ingests that unattended Guinness.

Source: Flickr User celynek

A Primer on Beer

Susannah Chen — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 12:55:04 PST

If you've been known to enjoy a pint or two, then chances are, you'll be raising a glass this month in honor of St. Patrick. But 'fess up: between all that Guinness and red ale, do you know what you're really imbibing? For those who don't, we're here to educate you. It's true that unless you're a science fiend, home brewer, or brewing aficionado, it can be confusing to wrap your head around the different beer varieties - especially since they're all made of water, malted barley, yeast, and hops.

For the most part, beer can be broken down into two major categories. Learn what they are - and their defining characteristics - when you keep reading.