Category Archives: Cocktails
What a Christmas Ale @AnchorBrewing – it’s like Cafe Du Monde in a glass
The folks at Anchor Brewing are taking me back to New Orleans, sitting with powdered sugar all over myself while thoroughly enjoying a hot beignet. This beer is full of coffee, some chocolate and…chicory? It’s that semi-nutty flavor that reminds me of the small Cafe Du Monde tables, barely able to fit the old-school coffee cup and saucer (with coffee running over), the plates of powdery beignets and the chicory coffee. They’ve (probably unintentionally) taken me back with this serious ale that’s as perfect for the holidays as can be.
Gladys’ Cafe St. Thomas, USVI: The Best Dark and Stormy Ever!
On a recent vacation, we stopped in St. Thomas and amidst the multiple jewelry stores is an alleyway which leads to the authentic island food and drink served at Gladys’ Cafe. I read a bunch of reviews before going to St. Thomas, but no one advised on the amazing beverages at Gladys’ or the care that goes into them (everyone talked about the food, which was also pretty solid, but this is all about the beverages).
So, the star of my visit was my Dark & Stormy which is usually prepared with dark rum, ginger be
er, and a squeeze of lime juice. Now, that seems so pedestrian to me. At Gladys’, they make a fresh, homemade lemonade of sorts and include fresh ginger and simple syrup. This gets added to the dark rum, and voila: a refreshing island beverage. The fresh ginger makes a huge difference and provides the tang that’s missing in the ginger beer version. It’s also not carbonated, so it’s very smooth and refreshing. Cheers to Gladys!
Mumm Napa 2006 Blanc de Blanc Sparkling @MummNapaWinery
Last night, before heading to dinner, we enjoyed this crisp Napa Valley bubbly from Mumm’s Napa Winery. If you live in PA, this $36 bottle can be yours for $17, and it’s worth it (it’s worth more). This wine received 93 points from wine enthusiast and it’s drinking nicely right now. I found a nice lemon-creaminess in my glass. My wife and our friend Kate enjoyed it with a splash of St. Germain for an Elderflower Sparkler. However you enjoy your bubbly, this is one to check out.
When I’m not drinking wine, it’s Bourbon…but which one?
I love wine, but sometimes it’s not the perfect beverage…when you just want a little…or a pre-dinner drink. In this case, it’s Bourbon for me. I attended a Bourbon tasting at Park & Orchard in Rutherford, NJ about 2 years ago and I’ve been hooked since then. There are some similarities between Bourbon and wine too: from the maturation process (oak) to some of the characteristics like vanilla and spice. So it’s a bit stronger, but that makes it easy to have just a little. In my cabinet today is Jim Beam Black, an 8 year aged bourbon which is remarkably smooth with a bit of oak and vanilla and a slight spice/nutmeg finish. Great by itself or with sweets as well. I encourage anyone afraid of whiskey to give this a try and remember: all Bourbon is Whiskey, but not all Whiskey is Bourbon.
The “Perfect(?)” Manhattan at BAR2L @R2LPHL
I always find it funny when I see the following terms put out by restaurant and bar owners: “world famous”, “best in the area”,…but a “perfect” Manhattan?
This lives up to the hype and the name too. For the wife’s birthday last week, I sampled a few “perfect Manhattans” at BAR2L with a great view from 37 stories above 16th and Chestnut in Center City Philadelphia. This is a great view with an equally stellar bar. The drink was great with atmosphere to match. Just 2 weeks ago, we sat at the bar and really enjoyed the steak tartare (with filet!) and the rabbit taquitos. One of these days, we’ll actually sit down for a full meal, but until then, I’m happy with hanging at the bar…
The Best Dark & Stormy in Philly at Pub & Kitchen @chefjonnymac
One
of my intellectual friends deemed a drink in Jamaica as “Refreshing Yet Alcoholic” and I think I’ve found one that meets that moniker quite well. Pub & Kitchen (20th & Pine) serves up my favorite version in Philadelphia.
I love the dark & stormy anytime, but I really appreciate it in late spring, summer and early fall. The dark rum (usually Goslings) brings the deep roasted sugar flavor, combined with fresh lime juice and ginger beer, the tart from the lime and sting from the ginger is the perfect mixture to keep you refreshed as the weather warms up. I’ll usually make some at home too, so when appropriate, I might be on the deck enjoying one and absorbing a few rays.
What a Burger! …and Good Drinks Too @NobleCookery
We sat at the bar at Noble for dinner on Wednesday night; one of these days we’ll actually make it upstairs to the dining room, but the bar is just so inviting. Theo was working that night and is quite a mixologist in his own right. He made me a bourbon drink with basil, simple syrup, and lemon which was so refreshing and enjoyable that the mint julep better watch out come next year’s kentucky derby.
We had the Noble burger which isn’t your traditional bar burger, and that’s a good thing for sure (housemade bun, special sauce, beets, cheddar, potato fries). If you’re a vegetarian, they also make a non-meat option. The beets are their tribute to the burgers in Australia and they provide a nice sweetness that you’re not used to, but will appreciate. The special sauce is an egg based aioli and the combination is outstanding. The burger itself is juicy, perfectly cooked and like their other meats, is from local and organic farms, so it’s all good stuff.
Enjoyed the Matador at Amada @GarcesGroup
The Matador is a Bourbon based cocktail with fresh ginger, sugar and a bit of seltzer. The astringency of the ginger goes well with the bourbon/sugar combination. It’s reminiscent of a mojito style drink, just sub the mint for ginger and rum for bourbon. I’m going to recreate this at home and will report the results.
Hamptons #3, the mid-afternoon snack (white port spritzer & coconut vodka coladas)
So what do you do when you’re in the Hamptons? You relax, enjoy the view and have a few drinks with the locals. We did just that. After a not-so-exhausting beach adventure, we’re back at Chaz & Cricket’s pad enjoying the view of the Shinnecock bay. All liquors sourced from Cork & Jug Wine & Spirits and food from Taqueria Mi Pueblito (204 East Montauk Highway, Hampton Bays, NY). We had fresh made corn tortilla chips with homemade guacamole, red and green salsa. If you’ve ever had truly fresh chips, salsa, and guac: this is it, if not, go here and get some!
We washed the food down with a bevy of drink options. The girls enjoyed White Port Spritzers made with Presidential Porto and sparkling water. The boys had Ciroc Coconut vodka mixed with Jumex Coconut/Pineapple nectar over ice. It’s a spring version of the real pina colada. We’re taking the rest of the afternoon to digest and prepare for dinner…
The Hamptons #2 – Buckley’s Innbetween
So we’re on the way back from the Ponquogue beach adventure and stopped at Buckley’s (139 W Montauk Hwy
Hampton Bays, NY 11946) for something to warm us up – Irish Coffee was in order. This was the wife’s first irish coffee experience and they’ve set the bar high. A wine glass starting with Jameson’s and some brown sugar, add fresh coffee and top with fresh whipped cream. If this doesn’t warm you up, nothing will. This is a must stop if you’re in the area and I hear their wings are the best in the Hamptons. If you go, let me know.
