I know this because I've got hyacinths on my dining table, the trees are in bloom, it was 80 degrees yesterday, I've got my first spring shoe blister, and I've had my first ramps, rosé, and Cadbury Creme Egg of the season. I've been waiting for you . . .
Author: Laren
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Booze You Can Use: Mark Your Calendar
Have you made any plans for next week yet? No? Good. I’ve got you covered, at least for a few nights (you know me, always trying to keep a few nights free, generally failing miserably). Pull out that calendar, and mark down a few key dates for next week and beyond!
Monday, April 11th: Drink for Japan. Drinking’s always better when it’s for a good cause. In addition to unlimited punch, Gardner Dunn of Yamazaki Japanese Whiskey will be serving up neat pours for $10 and selling T-shirts he had designed for the event. 100% of all proceeds will benefit The Japan Society’s Earthquake Relief Fund.Thursday, April 14th: French Spirits Soiree. The Dizzy Fizz has put together an evening at Astor Center to celebrate La Belle Epoque, offering turn-of-the-20th-centrury spirits, cocktails, punches, and absinthe, along with French cheese and charcuterie by Murray’s Cheese, SCRATCHbread rustic bread, live jazz by The Hot Sardines, a burlesque performance by Calamity Chang and more. Tickets are $40 and are available online.July 20-24: Tales of the Cocktail. And for those of you looking to plan in advance, tickets are now on sale for Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans. For professionals and enthusiasts alike, this annual event features seminars, events, competitions, tastings, dinner pairings, workshops and more. -
Food News You Can Use: TONY Food & Drink Awards
I had the pleasure and privilege of attending the Time Out New York Food & Drink Awards last night. While sipping on punch and catching up with food writer friends, I was able to get a small taste of what makes this year's winners so special. I'm eager to bump those I haven't yet visited to the top of my list. Read all about it in their latest issue.
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Weekend Wrapup: The Maine Edition
Took a stupidly early flight this morning back to NYC from Portland, Maine, where I spent the weekend visiting my Dad, stepmom, and sister. When I leave NYC, my body naturally slows down a few notches, and naps become a strong priority on my agenda. This weekend was no exception. I arrived mid-afternoon on Friday (despite the weather) and went out to shop for the evening's dinner — paella. My sister and I made a variation of this recipe (which I've also made at the beach house), adding pieces of chicken thighs, substituting Maine shrimp for the regular shrimp, and adding a lobster (the shells of which we used to fortify the stock). The end result was damn tasty. Gotta make it in NYC.We awoke early Saturday morning for 8 a.m. yoga (no, that is not a typo), and had a relaxing day. Met my sister and her boyfriend for lunch at Pai Men Miyake for some ramen, dumplings and pork buns, and later we took the dogs to the beach, where they can run off-leash, for some hard-core tennis ball fetching. We had dinner at Caiola's, a neighborhood favorite, and enjoyed their crab cakes, fried oyster caesar salad, and strip steak with a lick-the-plate pan sauce.
Sunday was uber-relaxing, capped off with leftover paella. And now, I'm going to try to make it through my day despite waking up at 4:30 a.m. this morning to catch my flight. Wish me luck.
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Booze You Can Use: The Manhattan Cocktail Classic
Tickets officially go on sale tomorrow, but there's a pre-sale going on today. If you sign up for their email list by 5 p.m. today (move fast!), they'll send you all the details. Trust me ladies and gents, you don't want to miss this: seminars, parties, mayhem, and even a pig roast. And, of course, cocktails. Go get 'em!
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Cuteness of the Day
Just a reminder that it's Cadbury Creme Egg season in case you need one for your seder plate.
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Sammy the Snake
I am having way too much fun following @BronxZoosCobra on Twitter: "Leaving Wall Street. These guys make my skin crawl. #snakeonthetown"
And in related news, does anyone remember this?
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Dear Winter,
With all due respect, please fuck off. I'm done with you. I'm over you like a bad boyfriend. Go back to the Southern hemisphere where you belong right now, because I'm ready to run and bike outside without bundling up, my toes are gasping for air and sunshine, and there's outdoor drinking and eating to be done. And don't come back until late November.
Love and kisses,
-L -
Fabulous Folks
In case you've missed it, I'm now doing weekly interviews for Serious Eats: Drinks. I've gotten to interview three wonderful friends in the spirits industry so far, with many more to come. Check 'em out!
Meet & Eat: Blair Reynolds, Trader Tiki
Meet & Eat: Stephanie Moreno, Spirits Buyer, Astor Wines & Spirits
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Booze You Can Use: The Anvil 100 List
I just came across this list from Dirty Kitchen Adventures of Anvil's 100 Classic Cocktails You Must Try, or "The List." Sounds like a good summer project — on top of triathlon training, of course! It's all about balance. Pictured above: a Sazerac in its natural habitat.