My last blog about pistachio flavored liquor got me hungry. Not only would Dumante taste great in a glass but introduce it to your own cooking and WOW! So this blog is all about 2 of my favorite topics...alcohol and food. Here are a couple of my favorite methods to get some booze into your cooking. Giada DeLaurentiis of HGTV's Everyday Italian, makes a Panetone bread pudding with Amaretto sauce that will have you drooling. Find her recipe on the website and make this dish. Thank me and Giada later...you're welcome. Next is adding virtually anything to your best chili recipe. You can add red or white wine, beer or one of my favorites, whiskey. Try deglazing a pan with some wine next time you cook. CAUTION. Don't blow up you or the kitchen. My all time favorite is pecan pie with bourbon and chocolate chips...amazing. You could try just about anything in the kitchen with your favorite spirit. These are just a couple of ideas to try. Good luck and as always explore and enjoy the journey.
Nutz
Pistachios to be exact. Dumante is a new pistachio nut flavored cordial from Italy. This new liquor is rocking. It's distinctive enough to stand on its own...either on the rocks or in a snifter. The smooth nutty flavor is awesome blended with vanilla vodka and coffee liquor. Mix that up as a martini or as shots. It is fairly new in the market place and may not be available everywhere just yet. Keep looking for it in your area it's sure to be a hit. Check them out on their website: http://www.dumante.com
What's up with Whiskey
Whiskey is by far my favorite liquor to drink and talk about. A quick and easy lesson about whiskey. Whiskey is a HUGE category with a lot of smaller sub categories. Blends, Scotch, Irish and Bourbon are all types of whiskeys. Blends are several whiskeys specifically combined for a desired flavor. V.O., Crown, C.C. and Seagram 7 are a few examples. Scotch is whiskey brewed only in Scotland, hence the name. Irish whiskey, much like scotch, derives most of its flavor from the unique agriculture and geography of its birthplace. For instance, an isolated grain or singe source of water may impart a completely different taste. The rule of thumb for bourbon is that all bourbon is whiskey, but not all whiskey is bourbon. Bourbon must be brewed from at least fifty one percent corn to be considered bourbon. Now that you've graduated from Whiskey 101 go out and travel the world one whiskey at a time.
A Little About Wine
Wine is a wonderful beverage that admittedly I know less about than I should but I think to thoroughly enjoy the beverage one must reflect on what goes into creating wine. The nurturing of a grape producing plant and the process of bringing it together in the form of wine is amazing to me. It would also take a year to write about...so enough about making it. Let’s talk about drinking wine. It would be hard to mention wine without referring to pairing it with food. The hard and fast rule is white wine with seafood, red wines with beef, and blush wines with either. Here is my rule...there aren't any. Drink what you like! If there is one aspect of the beverage that I can impart on you is to experiment. There are no boundaries. Have fun. Once you discover wine you will be glad you ventured out.
Enjoy!
Evolution of the Martini
No other beverage has undergone such drastic changes as the martini. This all hinges on the shift from the martinis classic recipe of gin to vodka. Lets face it, how many different versions of gin can you think of? Vodka on the other hand has seen an explosion of different flavors in recent years. It has been infused with everything from pepper and olives, to herbs and every fruit imaginable. Combine these options with cordials, schnapps, etc, etc. I think you get the idea. There are boundless opportunities to explore and discover so take the journey. Every bartender has a favorite "tini" they like to make...order one and enjoy!
Bartending Success
Here is a little advice for those of you that may be interested in becoming a bartender or already have and are still new to the job. This may even come in handy for some veterans as well.
Give everyone the same great service.
My motto in this biz is to blow each and every guest away. If this one element is in place from the start than everything else falls right in to place.
If you desire a bar that is well rounded and appeals to a large diverse crowd of "regulars" then follow this one goal. If you want to resemble every other bar out there...ignore this advice. I believe that people "bar hop" in search of the ultimate gathering spot. That is where I work. Welcome to Dave's Bar...what will you have?
What to Talk About
In an interview for a bartending position, I was asked what topics were inappropriate for discussion around the bar. It got me thinking about all the different types of conversation that does occur at a bar. I could write volumes pertaining to content, but I think what is amazing is the variety of subject matter. Whomever coined the phrase "now I have heard it all" may have been a bartender. Because truly, " I have heard it all". Very little catches me by surprise.
What was the one conversation you either were involved with or over heard at your favorite watering hole?
Bottoms up!
One shot fits all.
I have narrowed down one shot that may fit for nearly every occasion. It's a no brainer for anyone who has bartended for longer than say....a week. I have made these a zillion times for last call, for large groups and for those who like there shot EZ to drink but still kicks them in the head. I call it Dave's Kool-Aid (well known in Milford CT.) In a large tin full of ice add tiny splashes of every liquor that even implies that it has flavoring in it. Leave out the Jager and Rumple. The flavors have to mingle in the same ball park, so to speak. No need to be redundent. Stoli "O" and Smirnoff "O" are arguably the same taste when mixed with a dozen other liquors. Shake vigorously to chill and strain.
You may add a small amount of cran-oj pine if your making shots for your little sister, but no need for most. Wasn't that a breeze. Give it a shot next time...literally.
Beer and Fruit
Here is my take on combining fruit and beer. Drink what you like. I personally think beer is a wonderous beverage all by itself. There are exceptions... Try a Blueberry beer from Boston Beer Works next time you go to Fenway Park for a Red Sox game. Watching fresh blueberries rise and fall on a cascade of bubbles is better than a lava lamp. Fresh is better. Very few beers that are brewed with fruit actually warrant much praise...add fruit later. Ultimately your taste buds are the only ones that you have to please. Most importantly...enjoy beer.
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