Filtering by: SPIRITS
August 16th is National Rum Day !
Aug
16
12:00 AM00:00
SPIRITS

August 16th is National Rum Day !

All of August is Rum Month and Cheers to National Rum Day! As a rum scholar and the researcher and “rum” entry writer for both The Oxford Encyclopedia of Food & Drink in America AND The encyclopedia of Southern Culture‘s Foodways edition (+ many talks and tastings i’ve done on craft rums from throughout the Americas and elsewhere abroad) — i have A LOT of rum content & commentary past and present to share with you throughout this month and always.

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March 16th is maple syrup Saturday …
Mar
16
12:00 AM00:00
SPIRITS, FOOD

March 16th is maple syrup Saturday …

“Maple Syrup Saturday is celebrated every third Saturday of March and this year it will be observed on March 16…” ~ national day today

My fave thing to use maple syrup for is in lieu of the bartender’s basic ‘simple syrup’ when making a high quality cocktail 🍹 at home … [hyperlink to the Langston Hughes “hard daddy” & to the MLK cocktail trio]

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Jan 29th Is Corn Chip Day!
Jan
29
12:00 AM00:00
SPIRITS

Jan 29th Is Corn Chip Day!

ABOVE: that time I had impromptu company coming over and needed simple snacks so I kitchen-scissored & fried up some homemade corn chips from a package of tortillas I found in my fridge. It took about the same amount of time (maybe less) as it would have to run to the nearest store to buy a bag. The tortillas weren’t stale yet but were moving in that direction day by day anyway. Plus, unlike many most modern folks i actually enjoy frying things up erry now & then (at the right temp using healthy oils with high heat thresholds). But that’s a topic for a whole ‘nother post…

BELOW: still life snapshots of “restaurant style” chips served up at establishment on both coasts — and at home (family friend Corina’s in LA….)

Rarely are corn chips eaten on their own, so what better day than today to pick your fave dip (more options than ever!) and crunch away ….

Corn chips with or without salsa are an excellent bar food snack or cocktail accompaniment. Their crunchy oily saltiness combo contains the code to their pair-ability. Oooh i think i’m channeling a CHIPS & SPIRITS PAIRING with the amazing Eléctrico Mezcal]. Reach out via email, comments below or fill out my short Get In Touch form to receive a discount code for your first purchase of this super premium artisan spirit…

Corn is such an important now global crop, a wonderful edible, distillable medium to learn food history. Its such an essential foodstuff (and industrial use item) the world wouldn’t have without the cultivating genius of ancient Mesoamericans…

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THIS LINK takes you back to the whole month calendar aerial view to explore more food & drink ‘holidays’ …

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Hooray For "Apricot Day"!
Jan
9
12:00 AM00:00
SPIRITS

Hooray For "Apricot Day"!

A fascinatingly tart yet slightly sweet fleshy bright fruit with ancient roots in N. Africa, the Middle and Far East, notably China…

The majority of apricots in the US grow in California. a climate quite suitable and similar to where apricots grow in other parts of the world…

TFG DRINKS! Delish drink I came up with by mixing apricot juice with smashed basil, an amazing American whiskey …

A snapshot from that time I was asked to designed an Uncle Nearest cocktail for Harlem Hops in celebration of the launch of their then new nonprofit Harlem Hopes…..Can you read what that last ingredient says ? Yup BASIL! Why basil, you ask? well most folks don’t know it originates in Central Africa — a region where many of our African Americans ancestors also originated… but the important mixology answer is that it tastes AMAZING when smashed into apricot juice, nectar or purée + a really well made American whiskey or bourbon (the latter of which was basically created by enslaved African heritage people…) In this instance Uncle Nearest was the perfect choice. They named this drink “The Masterful” — which might still be on the menu if you ever find yourself up in Harlem (ask them to make one for you if it’s not, the bartenders there are talented!!) but if not, lucky you who can reach out to me on my Patreon platform to show (or at least tell) you how to make one at home :)

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THIS LINK takes you back to the whole month calendar view to explore more food & drink ‘holidays’

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Cheers to National Rum Day !
Aug
16
12:00 AM00:00
SPIRITS

Cheers to National Rum Day !

All of August is Rum Month and Cheers to National Rum Day! As a rum scholar and the researcher and “rum” entry writer for both The Oxford Encyclopedia of Food & Drink in America AND The encyclopedia of Southern Culture‘s Foodways edition (+ many talks and tastings i’ve done on craft rums from throughout the Americas and elsewhere abroad) — i have A LOT of rum content & commentary past and present to share with you throughout this month and always.

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