June 27, 2008Wine Down the Music Trail
We don't talk much about wine or music on this blog, but I can't see how anyone who enjoys food as much as my blog readers wouldn't enjoy a little vino and some great tunes to go along with it. That's why I want to remind you all of a special event next weekend, July 5 and 6, called Wine Down the Music Trail. Wine Down takes place right off the Blue Ridge Parkway at the FloydFest site, which is located just before you get to Chateau Morissette. Shamefully, I admit that I have never been, but my co-worker, Ralph, says it's the prettiest open ridge, complete with a permanent stage and a lovely view of the mountains. More than 16 different local wineries will be represented there, so you'll have a chance to taste a slew of samples. There are shuttle buses from Roanoke and Blacksburg this year, too, in case you're worried about drinking and driving. For our purpose, I wanted to know what kind of food will be available at the festival. Danica Mingee at Across the Way Productions, which puts on the festival, was kind enough to e-mail me a detailed list of vendors, which I will attach below the jump. It made my mouth water! You're also welcome to bring a picnic of your own; there's no rule that says you have to eat what's offered there. Of course, with offerings like pintos and cornbread, lobster mac 'n' cheese, crabcakes, green curry and fried cheesecake, you might want to bring a picnic AND sample the fare! For all the details about the festival, head to the Across the Way Web site here. June 25, 2008Does this float your boat?
First it was pepper, then pear, then grape, then blueberry. Now we've got root beer vodka. Or, as the Three Olives company suggests, you could fix yourself a spiked root beer float. Okay, that's about all I can think of to do with root beer-flavored vodka, except perhaps drink it straight up. Maybe the possibilities ARE quite limited. Does this sound tasty to anyone? Anyone able to think of another cocktail that could be made with this bizarre flavor? June 13, 2008Summertime sipping
If the hot weather and countertops covered with green beans and tomatoes didn't tell me it was summer, I always had another telltale sign when I was a kid. Mom would take out her tall, slender, frosted glass and mix herself a gin and tonic with a fat wedge of lime. That was her special gin and tonic glass, meant just for her favorite summertime cocktail. Although I've met many people who also find gin and tonics refreshing, I've never been able to stomach them myself. Maybe because I dislike gin and I dislike tonic. I could suck on the lime wedge, but what good would that do me? I've always been fascinated by people's "signature" drinks. I know some folks stick to their Jack and Coke no matter the season, but I do find that some people switch up their drink of choice in the summertime. My personal favorite summertime cocktail is a Cape Cod: vodka mixed with cranberry juice and garnished with lime. I like margaritas, but they can sometimes be overly sweet and heavy, in my opinion. And mojitos are good, but take a little time to throw together. What makes a good summertime cocktail, besides simplicity? I would say light flavors, no dairy ingredients and lots of ice. Citrus flavors are typically very refreshing during hot weather, too. I've got a fantastic book called "Slurp" by Nina Dreyer Hensley, Jim Hensley and Paul Lowe (I guess it took lots of people to test out all those concoctions). I'm going to share a summery recipe or two from this book, and I'd love to know: What's your favorite summertime cocktail? February 22, 2008Is it a drink or a chemistry experiment?
I got a crazy press release today that confirmed a rumor I saw in the blogosphere earlier this week: not only do we have molecular gastronomy, but now we have molecular mixology, too. Continue reading "Is it a drink or a chemistry experiment?" » February 7, 2008What Virginia drinksUPDATE: Today (Friday), Matt tried out a different look at alcohol sales in Virginia. Instead of ranking it by dollars, he ranked it by volume. He had to use the 2006 numbers because he didn't have the 2007 numbers by volume yet. But the results are striking: Apparently, Virginians love their cheap vodka! Hit the first link below to see. Check out Matt Chittum's blog, Datasphere, today for a fascinating look at Virginians' favorite liquors. January 2, 2008What a buzz kill!
September 21, 2007National Bourbon Heritage Month Here's a warning for all you teetotalers out there: This blog entry is going to be devoted entirely to alcohol. Please forgive me now and read no further. |
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