by Brian | Aug 14, 2018 | Uncategorized
Mid-August in the Catskills can be confusing. There is deep summer heat: tomorrow in will be in the nineties. But over the weekend, the temperature barely hit the seventies and there was a torrent of rain. Those temperature changes mean you can see early signs of...
by Brian | Aug 13, 2018 | Dedicated Drinker's Diary, Recipes
Often when I post a cocktail recipe, you’ll see a reference to simple syrup. It’s a bartender’s favorite trick: a splash of simple syrup can be as important an ingredient as that lime or lemon juice. I always have simple syrup in my margaritas and someone tasting them...
by Brian | Aug 10, 2018 | Dedicated Drinker's Diary, Recipes
There’s a new drink book, Viva Mezcal, that I’m working my way through. It offers this drink, Sunset in the Sur, that tempted me because of the ingredients: St-Germain elderflower liqueur, grapefruit juice, lime juice, and naturally mezcal. Mezcal is the intense...
by Brian | Aug 10, 2018 | Cookbook Review, Cookbook Reviews
Sometimes a grandmother can change your life. A few years ago, Brittany Bennett wanted to prepare an apple pie for Thanksgiving dessert. With no shortening on hand to make a crust, she was headed for the door and the store. Her grandmother told her to just wait. She...
by Brian | Aug 9, 2018 | Cookbook Review, Cookbook Reviews
Published in 2013 and first reviewed here in 2014, this book is, well, a peachy treasure. It is one of those niche cookbooks that you’ll treasure and that you will use year after year. Since it is high peach season, you might want to sample the treats of The Perfect...
