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April 2008
Want a really cheap beer? We’ve found it …
Beer lovers have found the world’s cheapest beer … the only downside is you’ll have to travel to Somalia, the Congo, Ethiopia, Vietnam or maybe the remote Pacific islands of Tuvalu to get it. A new Web site called pintprice.com collects info from drinkers around the world. Monaco’s are some of the most expensive so that would be one to skip. Important to point out besides the incredible cost of the plane ticket is the danger in traveling to some of these places. We don’t need to tell you that you’re better off buying a beer here at home, but it’s still fun to see what it would set you back if you had the resources and interest for world traveling.
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Free Ice Cream Tuesday!
Mmmmmmm …. In honor of its 30 years in business, Ben & Jerry’s is holding a Free Cone Day today, Tuesday, April 29, so plan accordingly. The franchise is marking the days celebrations by giving away free cones at participating stores. Locally we have a shop participating at 1934 Brown St. (937-461-1888). In honor of the big day they’ve put together a scrap book that takes guests from their first scoop shop in “a dilapidated gas stations in Burlington, Vt.” all the way to last year’s introduction of Stephen Colbert’s Americone Dream flavor and the 10th anniversary of Phish Food. And in other news, happy belated National Cubicle Day!
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Local club’s $300,000 renovation pays off
The hottest dance club in Dayton just got hotter. The Lounge Lizards attended the unveiling of Club Masque’s (34 N. Jefferson St., Dayton) first floor after a more than $300,000 renovation that got underway in January. The first major change since the club opened at the end of 2005, it was an impressive evening. The updates are fabulous. The space is now surrounded by walls of light that ebb and flow through a series of colors. The lighting on the stage is spectacular… dome shaped lights that pulse to the beat… too bad they didn’t put those lights everywhere. One guest lamented over the missing dancers while another took advantage of the vacant space to put on a show of her own (see photos). I wish they could have done something to increase the service at the bar. Still, there’s no doubt that Masque has stepped up the night-club game in downtown Dayton. Well done!
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2008 World Beer Cup results are in …
Some may surprise you, while others you may not have heard of. The 2008 Brewers Association World Beer Cup winners have been announced. They have a list of 91 exhaustive categories for your reading pleasure posted on their Web site. Here we give you the list of this years Champion Brewery and Brewer Awards …
Champion Brewery and Brewer Awards
World Beer Cup Champion Brewery and Brewmaster, Large Brewing Company Blue Moon Brewing Company, Warren Quilliam
World Beer Cup Champion Brewery and Brewmaster, Mid-Size Brewing Company Privatbrauerei Hoepfner GmbH, Peter Bucher
World Beer Cup Champion Brewery and Brewmaster, Small Brewing Company Port Brewing Company and The Lost Abbey, Tomme Arthur
World Beer Cup Champion Brewery and Brewmaster, Large Brewpub Pelican Pub & Brewery, Darren R. S. Welch
World Beer Cup Champion Brewery and Brewmaster, Small Brewpub Bend Brewing Company, Tonya Cornett
Go here to download or look at the 2008 Brewers Association World Beer Cup Winners list. There’s also a sortable Excel version of the 2008 winners list if you’re really looking to nerd out. So if you’ve been wondering about the tastiest Belgian-style sour ale (A: Geuze Boon from Boon Brouwerij N.V. located in Lembeek, Belgium) or the best gluten free beer (A: Deschutes Brewery Sorghum Beer from Deschutes Brewery located in Bend, Oregon) you’ll find the answers to your questions here.
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Winetails for summer
Here are a few summer wine cocktails - winetails for short - that can help you cool down this summer. These come courtesy of Mixologist Jamie Boudreau who went with different wines from the Fat Bastard wine label. Enjoy!
Languedoc Bramble: 2 oz Fat Bastard Shiraz; 1 oz Marion berry (blackberry) puree; 1 oz bourbon (Woodford Reserve); 1/2 oz lemon juice. Directions: shake all ingredients with ice and fine strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with three blackberries.
Aude Man Thyme: 2 oz Fat Bastard Chardonnay, 1 oz gin (Plymouth), 2 sprigs thyme, 1 oz peach puree. Directions: Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with sprig of thyme.
Incan Gold: 1 oz Pisco; 2 oz Fat Bastard Sauvignon Blanc or Fat Bastard Chardonnay; 1/2 oz pomegranate liqueur (Pama); 1/4 oz lemon juice; 1/2 oz simple syrup; 2 dashes peach bitters (if available). Directions: Shake all ingredients with ice, strain into rocks glass, garnish with brandied cherries
Witch Doctor: 3 oz Fat Bastard Sauvignon Blanc; 1 1/2 oz white rum (Appleton’s); 1 1/2 oz pineapple juice; 1/2 oz lime juice; 3/4 oz simple syrup; 4 sage leaves Directions: Shake all ingredients with ice and fine strain into an iced Collins glass. Garnish with sage leaf skewered into pineapple wedge.
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Wanted: Drinking buddies for father
Mike Hammond deserves the award for son of the year. Reuters moved a story written by Paul Majendie about a son (Mike Hammond) advertising to find drinking buddies for his 88-year-old dad Jack who lives in a southern England nursing home. Offering seven pounds (roughly $14) an hour plus expenses he decided to hire not one but two … a retired doctor and a former military man. “Dad’s now going to be going down to the pub several times a week- three with his new friends and twice with me,” Mike Hammond told The Times on Thursday. “I want to give him some of his old life back.”
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Ready for your $1,000 mint julep cups and recipes.
Activities for the 134th running of the Kentucky Derby are winding up. One tradition for many Derby attendees is the mint julep. But do you have the right mint julep cup?
If you’re in the market for a new mint julep cup bourbon maker Woodford Reserve might have an offering for you. That is if you are winning to part with $1,000.
In honor of the 35th anniversary of Secretariat’s record-setting victory in Kentucky Derby 99, the bourbon maker is offering 99 cups for purchase or auction this year.
Two versions are available.
The Secretariat Cups. 97 of the 99 cups are available for purchase starting April 14 and even include a sterling silver sipping straw.
The version of the mint julep cups up for auction is the Legendary Silks. this blinged out cup is adoraned with sapphires and diamonds and comes with with a 24-karat gold-plated sipping straw.
Both versions of these mint julep cups are packaged in oak boxes made from the same wood as the bourbon barrels.
Proceeds from the sales of the cups will benefit The Secretariat Foundation.
To get in get in on the mint julep cup action, visit www.woodfordreservemintjulep.com. The Web site opened April 14, 2008, so don’t delay.
Previous Mint Julep Story (2007) (Links have been updated for this years’ event.)
For the many thousands of horse race fans who make the pilgrimage to Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., early each May, the event is all about the race. For others, it’s the pomp and circumstance … the jackets, the hats, the hobnobbing, oh yeah, and the thoroughbreds. Anyone who has attended the event and has watched the race from the infield knows that it’s all about the party.
The Official Mint Julep of the Kentucky Derby for more than 18 years is made with Early Times Kentucky Whiskey, and with more than 120,000 of the powerful concoctions sold over the derby weekend, according to the official derby Web site (www.kentuckyderby.com/2008), the mint julep is a fine way to welcome the month of May.
Since the Lounge Lizards won’t be making the trek for tomorrow’s big race, we thought we’d offer a few twists on this icecold classic.
The Mint Julep has been the traditional drink at the derby for more than 100 years, and during that time about as many variations — some refreshing, some not — of the drink recipe have been imagined. Some of the recipes suggest the aromatic mint should be used as a garnish while others suggest muddling — otherwise known as stirring and gently crushing — the mint.
One aspect of this race-day concoction that doesn’t seem to vary is the ice — almost all agree, crushed is best. What to place the ice and the drink in is another matter. For a more musty mixologist, the only choice is a sterling silver julep cup; for the rest of us, a rocks glass should do the trick. So when you’re ready to celebrate the most exciting two minutes in racing this weekend, the Lounge Lizards have gathered a few refreshing recipes for the popular drink for you to try. A recent Smithsonian article, online at www.smithsonianmag azine.com/issues/2007/may/derby.htm, says the widespread success of the famous race is thanks in part to Southern tradition, big-name movie stars, the rise of mass media, the minty minty drinks and loads of luck. Whatever the case, the Lounge Lizards will be raising a glass tomorrow with a toast to red roses, big hats, fast horses and the much-admired quintessential drink of the 134rd Kentucky Derby.
Early Times Mint Julep recipe 2 oz. Early Times Whiskey 1 tbsp. simple syrup (recipe below) Mint sprigs Crushed ice Crush a few mint leaves in the bottom of an 8-oz. glass and fill with crushed ice. Add one tablespoon of simple syrup and one tablespoon of water. Add 2 oz. Early Times. Stir gently until glass frosts. Garnish with a fresh mint sprig, sip and enjoy.
Mint simple syrup* 1 cup water 1 cup sugar 1 bunch fresh mint sprigs Combine sugar and water. Boil for 5 minutes without stirring. Pour mix over a handful of mint leaves, and gently crush the mint with a spoon. Refrigerate overnight in a closed jar. Remove mint leaves, but continue to refrigerate. Stays fresh for several weeks. * Speaking from experience - don’t overcook the simple syrup or you’ll have a batch of simple crystals instead. — RECIPE FROM EARLY TIMES WHISKEY
Thoroughbred Punch Serves 15-18 1/2 cup sugar 4 oz. lemon juice 6 oz. orange juice 4 oz. Grenadine 1 Liter Woodford Reserve Bourbon 1 Liter club soda Combine sugar with the lemon and orange juice and stir well. Add Grenadine and Woodford Reserve and stir again. Add the club soda, garnish with mint sprig and Ice mold and serve. For an alcohol-free version substitute Woodford Reserve with sweetened ice tea. — RECIPE BY TIM LAIRD, CCO (CHIEF COCKTAIL OFFICER) OF LOUISVILLE-BASED BROWNFORMAN Julep Mintalicious Martini 2 oz. Kentucky Bourbon 2 oz. orange liqueur 1/2 oz. vanilla vodka 1 oz. Mint Julep syrup (stores like Arrow Wine sell this pre-made) 2 oz. tonic water Shake, strain, garnish with an orange slice and mint spring. — A LOUNGE LIZARDS TAKE ON A RECIPE FROM COCKTAILTIMES.COM
Run for the Roses Cocktail Serves 2 3 oz. orange vodka 2 oz. peach brandy 2 oz. Southern sweet iced tea (recipe below) 2 oz. fresh lime juice 2 rose petals for garnish Chambord for floating Add first four ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously until the outside of the shaker is frosted and beaded with sweat. Strain into two rocks glasses filled with crushed ice; pour Chambord so that it floats on the top of the drink. Garnish drink with rose petals. Southern sweet iced tea recipe Use five tea bags for one quart of boiling water. Steep for 10 minutes and add one cup of sugar while tea bags are steeping. Stir to dissolve. Place in refrigerator to cool. — CREATED FOR THIS YEAR’S KENTUCKY DERBY FESTIVITIES BY GREY GOOSE VODKA’S NICK MAUTONE
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Paramore, Jimmy Eat World rock Hara
A mostly packed Hara Arena crowd of 20-somethings — often younger teens or tweens with a parental counterpart in tow — were treated to three solid hours of power pop-punk jams courtesy of headliner Jimmy Eat World, Paramore and opening act Dear and the Headlights.
Paramore may not have been the headliner, but there’s no question they were a big part of the overall appeal with fans responding just as loudly to and for them as for Jimmy Eat World.
Nominated for a 2008 Grammy Award for Best New Artist, named “one to watch” by Rolling Stone and nabbing a gig last year as an MTV artist of the week, there’s no doubt the band is smoking hot right now.
Playing 12 songs, Paramore’s pounding momentum and punchy energy continued to build throughout the hour-long set. The band kicked things off with “Let the Flames Begin” from its latest album “Riot!” Although the sound quality was lacking throughout the set with an unbalanced, somewhat muddy mix - as it was for Dear and the Headlights - the band managed to soldier through it putting on a very memorable, pulse-pounding show all while working the crowd like seasoned vets - lead singer Hayley Williams especially.
By the time the Tennessee band made it to their hugely popular “Crush Crush Crush” the crowd seemed to by enraptured by the avalanche of sound coming over it. Wrapping up with their first single and arguably biggest hit to date, “Misery Business,” off of their gold certified record, “Riot!” the seated crowd surrounding the standing-room-only floor was brought to it’s feet.
A limited repertoire (they’re only on album No. 2) didn’t stop Paramore from bringing a flurry of energy to the stage with Williams and her band mates head-banging and gyrating at every conceivable moment rattling rib cages with a distorted reverb that could work to stop a heart mid-beat and subsequently shock it back to life.
At 9:15 p.m. Jimmy Eat World took the stage in support of its sixth studio album and latest release, 2007’s “Chase the Light.”
The light show accompanying the Arizona foursome was nothing short of spectacular and the sound quality that plagued the first two sets seemed to have vanished.
The band kicked things off at a clip with “Big Casino”, the first track on “Chase This Light.” The earthquake of power-pop continued from there covering tracks from much of the band’s discography.
“The Middle” from the 2001 album “Bleed American” signified the end to both the encore and Jimmy Eat World’s 18-song hour-and-fifteen minutes on stage.
Throughout the evening, the big, intense sound coming from all the acts seemed to result in fleeting moments of listener fatigue, especially at the end of the evening, but the solid musicianship kept fists pumping until the very last note had been played.
Overheard leaving Hara Arena: “That totally rocked!”
That sounds about right …
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More ways to celebrate Earth Day
Depressed about a recent release from the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research in New Zealand saying that Climate change will threaten beer production, I look for hope this Earth Day. One thing I’m happy to hear about comes from a professor by the name of John Bell who is working on research to develop affordable transparent solar cells that act as both windows and generate energy. Is this the future of renewable energy? Read on if you like …
Solar-powered cell phones? Yep and it’s part of 12 green technologies that environnuts.com is hoping can help us all green up our act.
Here’s an interesting Earth Day story on Green Marketing. Nielsen Online has released data showing that the environment is more important than ever to consumers. Jessica Hogue, research director, Nielsen Online, said “…consumers are becoming increasingly vocal online about the issue of sustainability… ” Click here to read what the top 10 sustainability topics were for 2007. The No. 1 sustainability blog in 2007 was treehugger.com.
Want to know the world’s worst gas-guzzling cars? Forbes.com is there. With the cost of gas continuing to go up, now is the time to take a good long look at what you’re driving.
Ready Made magazine has put out a green design issue that will help you live the green dream. Check it out here.
Feeling thirsty? The Discovery Channel has searched high and low for the top 5 glasses of water …
Ever heard of green graffiti? Think of a Chia pet. Don’t believe me? Click here and see for yourself.
Environmental artist Chris Jordan has a photographic series that will leave you reeling. It details the waste Americans produce and really is incredible to look at.
Check out these incredible buildings made completely of ice. They’re more beautiful than you probably think.
What’s your Eco Anxiety Level? Take this quiz and find out how you’re weathering the storm.
There’s no doubt there’s more to do … Amy Winehouse recently played a club in Rotterdam that was powered by urine … Now I don’t think I want to power my house that way, but it certainly is an alternative fuel source, but there are a few quick ways you can make a small difference … Google Earth is letting you purchase a tree for $5.50 and watch it grow … Tunes for Trees is the way to buy your music, for every ten songs you buy through iTunes on their site they’ll plant a tree.
Maxim has their list of the 10 sexiest vegetarians out there … see what you think.
And no collection of Earth Day headlines would be complete without a story to catch up on your Al “Inconvenient Truth” Gore news discussing the role of business technology in environmental matters, most notably climate change.
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Climate change will threaten beer production
Gulp! A story that moved on CNET says that the rise in temperature due to global warming “may threaten beer.” Their source? The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research in New Zealand. They say it will be harder to produce grains needed for beer — specifically barley …
“It will provide a lot of challenges for the brewing industry,” even forcing breweries to look at new varieties of malt barley as a direct result of climate change, Jim Salinger, a climate scientist at New Zealand’s National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research said. New Zealand and Australian brewer Lion Nathan’s corporate affairs director Liz Read said climate change already was forcing up the price of malted barley, sugar, aluminum and sugar.
Click here to read the entire story and don’t just think this is limited to the Australia and New Zealand regions. Salinger goes on to say that “similar effects could be expected” across the globe. “It will mean either there will be pubs without beer or the cost of beer will go up,” the Associated Press article quoted Salinger as saying.
And now for something cheerier … this video is a testament to just a handful of reasons why we love the whole world … besides beer! Keep your eyes peeled for a Stephen Hawking appearance.
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Free Earth Day film
Honor Earth Day at the Little Art in Yellow Springs tomorrow … Garbage! The Revolution Starts at Home
Admission is free, show starts at 7 p.m.
Co-sponsored by Greene Environmental Coalition, Yellow Springs Environmental Commission, Living Green, the Little Art Theatre, Current Cuisine & Emporium.
Always wanted to find out what you can do in your home to make a difference? This documentary shows how the family household has become one of the most ferocious environmental predators of our time.
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Spam! Wonderful Spam!!!!!
“We dine well here in Camelot, we eat ham and jam and Spam a lot!”
The Victoria Theater recently ran a fun promotion to win dinner at Citilites in the Schuster Center and tickets to this week’s Spamalot show (running April 22 through 27 … see end of entry for specific dates and times) featuring danging divas, knights (one legless), killer rabbits, flatulent Frenchmen and of course Spam. The contest was put on to find the best Spam recipe lurking out in the Miami Valey. 129 entries were submitted and it was decided between three judges (Jim Bucher from WDTN, Jason Alexander from Mix 107.7 and myself) that the Pasta Spaminara by Dianna Carlson of Englewood was the most Spam-tastic dish of them all. With our quest completed and a new appreciation of the canned meat product, here is the winning recipe and the runners-up. With the classic Spam retailing for right around $2.75 a can, you won’t go broke making these dishes either.
Grand Prize Winner, Pasta Spaminara by Dianna Carlson of Englewood
Ingredients: 1 can Spam, cut into cubes; 1 medium onion, diced; 1 bell pepper, diced; 1/2 c. sliced mushrooms; 1 jar of your favorite marinara sauce pasta of your choice
Directions: Saute Spam with onions & bell pepper. Add mushrooms. Add Spam mixture to marinara sauce heat. Serve over the pasta of your choice.
Other finalists
Hawaiian Spam Pizza by Amanda Horn of Tipp City
Ingredients: 1 (10-ounce) can refrigerated pizza crust; 1 tsp Red Hawaiian Sea Salt; 1 (6-ounce) package sliced mozzarella cheese; 1 (12-ounce) can SPAM Classic cut in thin squares; 1 (16-ounce) can chunk pineapple, drained; 1/2 cup finely chopped red onion (optional)
Directions: Pre-heat oven to 425 F. Grease 14-inch pizza pan or 13x9-inch baking pan. Unroll dough; press in prepared pan. Sprinkle edge lightly with Red Hawaiian Sea Salt. Top with cheese. Arrange remaining ingredients over cheese. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until crust is deep golden brown.
Breakfast Spamerole by Jeanine Lankford of Dayton
Ingredients: 8-12 eggs; 1 medium onion, chopped 1/2 red pepper, diced; 2-3 peeled and diced cooked potatoes; 1 can Spam, chopped into small squares; 1/4 c. milk; pinch of garlic; salt and pepper to taste; 2 tbsp. butter; 2 c. grated cheddar cheese
Directions: Pre-heat oven to 325 F. Saute onions, peppers, potatoes and Spam in a hot skillet with butter. Drain and set aside. Beat eggs, milk, garlic, salt and pepper in a mixing bowl. Combine egg mixture with Spam mixture and pour into a 9”x13” casserole dish. Bake for 20 minutes; remove and sprinkle with cheese. Bake for another 10 minutes or until fork inserted into the middle comes out clean.
Spam Western Omelet by Teddi Witt of Middletown
Ingredients: 1 can Spam, diced; 4 eggs; 1 green bell pepper, diced; 1/2 c. onion, chopped; 2 cups frozen diced or shredded potatoes; 2 tsp. oil; 1/2 c. shredded cheddar cheese; Salt and pepper to taste; Hot sauce (optional)
Directions: In a large skillet cook potatoes, onion and green pepper in oil over medium-high heat for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Add Spam, cook and stir for 5 minutes. In a bowl, beat eggs with salt and pepper. Pour eggs over Spam mixture in skillet, cover. Cook over medium-low heat for 10 to 12 minutes or until set. Sprinkle with cheese and remove from heat. If you wish, sprinkle on some hot sauce for a spicy finish.
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Da beers, da bears!
The Quick Fire challenge in the most recent episode of Bravo’s “Top Chef” was all about creating a dish that pairs perfectly with beer. The chefs were presented with 16 types of beer and each chef could choose three beers to taste before settling on one. Once one was chosen, it was not available to another chef. They then had 30 minutes to create a dish to pair well with their beer choice.
Nikki, Spike and Dale came in last. Nikki made citrus marinated shrimp with an Asian coleslaw paired with a St. Louis Tiger lager beer. Spike made a Charcuterie plate and tapas of clams paired with Grolsch. Dale made a roasted pork tenderloin with miso caramel sauce and pretzel crust paired with a Red Hook ESB.
Standouts were Richard, Stephanie and Jennifer. Richard paired a grilled tuna sandwich with pickled vegetables with a Michelob Ultra Lime Cactus beer. Stephanie made steamed mussels with a cilantro vinaigrette and grilled bread paired with a Hoegaarden. Jennifer chose Landshark Lager … which seems to be EVERYWHERE when you go out here in town or anywhere else for that matter. But I digress, she created shrimp and scallop beignets with fennel, avocado and pepper purees and won.
Later the group catered for a Chicago Bears tailgate with real Chicago Bears like the Fridge in attendence. Here are a couple recipes from the Bravo show that you might want to try out. Afterall, they won because they pair so well with beer.
Jennifer’s Shrimp & Scallop Beignets with Fennel, Avocado & Pepper Purees Prep Time: one hour, serves: 6
Batter: 1/2 inch piece ginger, microplaned 3-4 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 cup corn starch 1t baking powder 1t salt 2 eggs, separated 2 land shark lager beers
Pimento Sauce: 2 avocados 1T salt 1 lime juice 1 cayenne
Roasted Pepper Puree: 1 roasted pepper (4 oz) 1 clove of garlic, microplaned 1t sherry vinegar 2T extra-virgin olive oil 1 1/2t salt 2 pinches pepper
Seafood: 3 shrimp, cleaned, deveined (halved then cut into fourths) 1 large scallop, cut into quarter-inch pieces Salt to taste 1/4t sriracha 1/2 grapefruit, juiced 1/4 inch piece ginger, microplaned
Garnish: Sparklers of fennel frond
Directions: Batter: Combine all dry ingredients and form a well. Place yolks in center of well and add ginger. Whisk in beer (should be thicker than pancake batter). Beat egg whites to stiff peaks; reserve.
Pimento Sauce: Blend ingredients with bar blender or mixer.
Roasted Pepper Puree: Blend ingredients with mixer.
Seafood: Season seafood with salt, sriracha, grapefruit juice and ginger; add to batter then fold in egg whites.
In 375 degree fryer using a clean spoon, drop ping-pong-sized batter into fryer (make a tester for seasoning) and fry until golden brown. Flip and fry other side. Remove to drain pan.
Assembly: Add roasted pepper puree to platter then add pimento sauce in a circle on platter with 3 beignets piled atop. Quenelle avocados. Garnish with sparklers of fennel frond.
Later at the tailgate, Dale wowed the crowd with Tandori Pork Ribs that also goes well with beer.
Dale’s recipe for Tandori Pork Ribs & Potato Salad with Golden Raisins, Dried Mango & Turmeric Prep Time: one hour and 45 minutes, serves: 6
Tandori Pork ingredients: 4T coriander 4T madras curry 9 pieces cardamom pods 2T mustard seeds 2T white pepper 4T chili powder 4T garam masala 3 quarts yogurt 4T chicken bouillon 1 cup white soy 12 sides pork ribs Water for poaching 1/2 cup vinegar Sugar to taste 2 quarts hot sauce 4T salt 1 piece pineapple skin
Potato Salad with Golden Raisins, Dried Mango & Turmeric: 30 pieces Yukon gold potatoes, peeled 6 pieces white onion, sliced 3 cups white vinegar 3 cups golden raisins 3 cups dried mangoes, chopped 3T toasted coriander, ground Drizzle of olive oil 2T salt and pepper 1 lb fusilli (mixed with fresh coriander) 1/2 bunch scallions, chopped Turmeric to taste
Directions: Tandori Pork Ribs: Toast all spices and combine with yogurt, bouillon and white soy; blend in blender. Poach ribs in water, vinegar, sugar, hot sauce, salt and pineapple skin. After ribs have been poached tender; let cool then mix in yogurt-bouillon marinade. Grill ribs, on medium flame brushed with marinade.
Potato Salad with Golden Raisins, Dried Mango & Turmeric: Slice potatoes into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Cook in water until tender but still firm in middle. In pan, add onions and sweat until translucent. Add vinegar, golden raisins and dried mangoes, then add coriander. Grill potatoes with olive oil, salt and pepper then when cooked through combine with onion, raisins, dried mangoes, fusilli, scallions and turmeric.
Cheers!
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Donate blood and rock out!
This is a fun little twist on doing good works. On Monday, April 21 not only will donating blood at the Community Blood Center (CBC) located at 349 S. Main St., Dayton, get you good karma, it may also get you concert tickets to see Jimmy Eat World and Paramore at Hara Arena.
Register to donate from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at CBC’s Dayton branch location at 349 S. Main St. and you can sign up to win a pair of tickets to the Jimmy Eat World and Paramore concert on Tuesday, April 22 at 7:00 p.m. at Hara Arena.
If you haven’t done this kind of thing before, here are a few things to be aware of courtesy of the blood bank: Donors are required to provide a photo ID that includes their full name. Past CBC donors are also asked to bring their CBC donor ID card. Donors must be at least 17 years of age (16 years old with parental consent: form available at www.givingblood.org or at CBC branch & blood drive locations), weigh a minimum of 110 pounds, and be in good physical health.
The Community Blood Center provides blood products to 25 hospitals in the Miami (Ohio) and Whitewater (Indiana) Valleys. For more information, visit www.givingblood.org.
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Who will die on Sex and the City?!?!!
If this isn’t bar talk for the ladies, I don’t know what is … So apparently Cynthia Nixon who played Miranda on the HBO series has let is slip that one of the characters won’t be around for the next reunion. According to the New York Post’s Page 6, “At the Creation Nation comedy show at the Zipper Theater Tuesday night, Nixon told host Billy Eichner, “a character dies in the movie” - but refused to divulge which one.”
Who will it be? 236.com has a hilarious poll for who should die in the “Sex and the City” movie and how … Here’s what they have jotted down to choose from:
“Carrie. She gets sick of being splashed by that bus, finally jumps in front of it.
Steve. Ashamed that he can’t overcome his pronounced speech impediment, he eats a load of pills …
The moviegoing public. Self-inflicted soda straw stab wound following the fifteenth Sarah Jessica Parker “I couldn’t help but wonder…” voiceover.
Charlotte and husband Harry. Their adopted Chinese baby arrives contaminated with “tree man” disease, infecting Charlotte and Harry, spreading to their throats and closing their breathing passages. They suffocate in their home because they are too ashamed of their appearance to go out and seek medical care.
Samantha. … swing mishap.
Big. Realizes it’s nothing but “Law & Order” after this …
Mario Cantone. His voice is confused for a fire alarm and he is trampled by a panicked crowd.
The votes are going strong right now for the moviegoing public which could win out. I guess I’ll have to order my soda sans straw just to be on the safe side.
A few of New York Magazine’s blogs have some theories of their own … one saying it will be Charlotte in a freak tennis accident because they can’t think of a reason not to kill Charlotte. … Now that’s just mean!
Another blog from NY Magazine says definitely Big writing, “As the movie opens, all four ladies of Sex and the City are approaching relationship bliss, giving them nothing to kvetch about. But not for long! Big’s death will end the first act of the movie, which will be followed by a tasteful period of mourning, and then a montage. Carrie will end the movie sad, but plucky, with a new (or old!) guy on the horizon and the prospect for sequels bright — because finally, once and for all, the Sex and the City series won’t seem like one that can only end one way. With Big out of the picture, Carrie — and the franchise — can finally live a little.”
Who is your favorite character? Who do you think might be saying goodbye and who would you be upset to see go. I just can’t imagine one of the four ladies going away on May 30 but I guess I’ll have to wait and see. And if you haven’t already, watch the trailer here. Does anyone else suddenly feel like a Cosmo?
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What are your favorite Web sites?
A quick rundown of a few random sites that I’ve been entertained by this week. These aren’t my favorites, but a few of them could be if they keep it up. Where do you like to surf to?
THE “BLOG” OF “UNNECESSARY” QUOTATION MARKS. This one is pretty self explanatory. A visual and very entertaining blog.
Graphic charts of your favorite songs. Again, self explanatory. Perfect if you love music and love to chart and diagram.
Cool furniture made from cardboard. It sounds crazy, but it’s true. Check out this gallery of 10 pieces of green furniture made from cardboard. I don’t know about you, but I could see rocking one of these in my house.
The Ministry of Rum: Can’t recommend the entire site, but this link to an interesting tidbit about the U.S.S. Constitution (a combat vessel sailing around 1798) is an entertaining read for Lounge Lizards out there. Seems the crew drank more rum than did anything else. Not surprising, but the numbers it sites in gallons are pretty staggering.
Passive-agressive notes: Hostile writing from shared spaces the world over … there are several times I’ve laughed out loud reading this blog. Worth a visit for sure …
And to round out today’s World Wide Web adventures, a photo collection of airborne cats on Flickr …
So where are your favorite Web sites? Any fun places to visit or fond favorites worth sharing? Share here!
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“Extreme beers,” shorter brewery tours and more
A few quick stories to bring to your attention today …
American brewers in St. Louis are attempting to create what they’re calling “extreme” beer including lemongrass ales and barley wines that contain 10 percent alcohol by volume. Elsewhere in the world they’re called “Belgian” but that doesn’t seem to be mentioned in this article from the Fort Mill Times.
The one beer mentioned in the story that piqued my interest was a “Spicy Blond” Belgian-style ale from Square One Brewing in St. Louis that’s spiced with lemongrass and ginger … any craft beer fanatics out there that have tried this who could tell us whether it’s worth seeking out?
In other beer news, Coors is shortening it’s brewery tours going from 45-minute guided tours to 25-minute self-guided tours. A blog entry by Jonathan Shikes with a comparison and loss analysis of the two was pretty entertaining on his “what will change” list. Here’s what he says will stay the same …
What will stay the same: The shuttle trip from the parking lot at 13th and Ford streets to the factory, complete with the driver’s perfectly-timed tour of downtown Golden. Video screens and display panels explaining brewing process, enemies to beer, quality control and various Coors mottos. The heady smell of malt and barley. Fake aspen trees along the tour route. Crotchety-looking employees making their way through tour groups.
And it goes without saying … The fresh beer tasting room … the reason anyone would take a Coors tour to begin with.
And if you haven’t read these local stories are ready, you can thank us later.
First off a story on an area church which will be holding worship services at a local bar in Sidney. Giving new meaning to finding the “spirit.”
The second story is a joint venture between Talegators (6270 Far Hills Ave.) and Pietro Mauro’s Italian Deli which will join forces with the Deli providing food service to the bar adding several new Italian items to the Talegators menu. For more information, contact Talegators at (937) 424-4858.
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Original Schlitz is back!
At one time the world’s top-selling beer, Schlitz - first introduced at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition held in Chicago - is going back to it’s original formula according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Pabst Brewing Co. has relaunched the brand in long-neck bottles a part of a push many breweries are making to mark the 75th anniversary of Prohibition. Now only selling a paltry 6,000 cases of beer a year, do you think “marketing to that nostalgia,” as one bar owner is quoted as saying in the story, is enough to reinvigorate the brand? Will you go for the gusto?
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Get your taxes done at the bar
OK, so you’d have to go to New York or New Jersey to do it, but the company Tavern Tax which advertises as “Convenient on-site tax preparation in a friendly environment” is still an interesting concept that could trickle to Ohio some day. They do tax returns in local bars for a convenient, less stressful experience. They have a little blurb on the brief history of taxes that seems appropriate reading for today …
The earliest known taxation occurred in Ancient Egypt 2000 BC, as depicted in cave drawings. The earliest tax collectors were known as scribes and they actually imposed a tax on cooking oil during one period. Yikes! In 1404, the English Parliament passed the world’s first income tax. The tax was so unpopular that not only was it later rescinded, but all records of it were ordered burned by Parliament. Too bad the world couldn’t leave well enough alone. Tax collection became ever more important during the 17th century for the English. They were known to employ tax collectors that found themselves going to great lengths to collect taxes. They would frequent the markets, churches and yes taverns to collect taxes due. Hence the establishment of Tavern Tax, just to throw it back a few hundred years and remind you that The Man will find you!
The thing most interesting is in the FAQ section, they say they are doing this as a way to expand their current client base. So the question becomes, would you ever get your taxes done at the bar? I don’t want to be closed minded here, but I think I prefer a small intimate room with my accountant and a glass of water. What say you?
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Ohio Brewery named to top 50 list
The Brewers Association, an industry trade group established to “promote and protect American craft beer and brewers,” has released its annual top 50 craft brewer list for 2007. An Ohio brewery, Great Lakes Brewing Co made this year’s list. Missing is one of our favorites, Christian Moerlein… I guess they didn’t make the list because it is so hard to find! (i.e. can’t find it can’t buy it.)
Top 50 Craft Brewing Companies by 2007 Beer Sales
Rank Business Name City State
- 1 Boston Beer Co. Boston MA
- 2 Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Chico CA
- 3 New Belgium Brewing Co. Inc. Fort Collins CO
- 4 Spoetzl Brewery Shiner TX
- 5 Pyramid Breweries Inc. Seattle WA
- 6 Matt Brewing Co. Utica NY
- 7 Deschutes Brewery, Inc. Bend OR
- 8 Boulevard Brewing Co. Kansas City MO
- 9 Full Sail Brewing Co. Hood River OR
- 10 Harpoon Brewery Boston MA
- 11 Alaskan Brewing and Bottling Co. Juneau AK
- 12 Magic Hat Brewing Co. & Performing Arts Center South Burlington VT
- 13 Anchor Brewing Co. San Francisco CA
- 14 Bell’s Brewery, Inc. Galesburg MI
- 15 Shipyard Brewing Co. Portland ME
- 16 Summit Brewing Co. St. Paul MN
- 17 Abita Brewing Co. Abita Springs LA
- 18 Gordon Biersch Brewing Co. San Jose CA
- 19 Brooklyn Brewery Brooklyn NY
- 20 Stone Brewing Co. Escondido CA
- 21 Rogue Ales / Oregon Brewing Newport OR
- 22 Long Trail Brewing Co. Bridgewater Corners VT
- 27 Great Lakes Brewing Co. Ohio Cleveland OH
Source: Brewers Association
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Where’s the best margarita in town?
With spring coming on strong and summer right around the corner, the Lizards are wondering what restaurant or bar would get your vote for best Margarita? Would it be Elsa’s signature Bad Juan? Something served up at El Meson? A chain restaurant like Longhorn that has a surprising, impressive number of margaritas on the menu? Where would you go? What would you choose? Other questions … Did you know that Margarita is the latin word for pearl and the Spanish word for daisy? And lastly, frozen or on the rocks? Salt or no salt?
While you ponder that, here’s a good recipe for a mango margarita from the Food Network show “Easy Entertaining with Michael Chiarello.”
For the Mango Margarita Mix: 1 1/4 pounds fresh mangoes, 1 cup water, 1/2 cup sugar, pinch gray salt
For the drink: 3 cups ice, 1 1/2 cups Mango Margarita Mix, 4 ounces tequila, 2 ounces triple sec, Lime wedges, Mint Salt, recipe follows
Peel and pit the mangoes and cut them into large chunks. Place the mango in a blender with the water, sugar, and a pinch of salt. Blend until smooth. Taste and add more sugar, if necessary. Fill the blender with ice and add the Mango Margarita Mix, tequila, and triple sec. Blend until smooth. Rub the rim of a margarita glass with a lime wedge and dip into Mint Salt to coat rim. Fill glass and enjoy!
Mint Salt: 1 cup fresh mint leaves, 1 cup gray salt or coarse sea salt, Clean and dry mint and roughly chop. With a mortar and pestle, crush equal parts fresh mint and salt. Yields about 1 cup salt.
Cheers!
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Absolut apologizes for offensive ad
Sweden’s Absolut vodka has apologized for an ad campaign that ran in Mexico showing a map of the border of Mexico and the U.S. as it existed in the 1830s before Mexico lost the territory in the 1848 Mexican-American War.
“In no way was it meant to offend or disparage, nor does it advocate an altering of borders, nor does it lend support to any anti-American sentiment, nor does it reflect immigration issues,” Absolut said in a statement left on its consumer inquiry phone line.
The ad, below, which ran in Mexico showing a map of the border of Mexico and the United States where it stood before the Mexican-American War of 1848 — depicting the Southwest as part of Mexico. The Absolut vodka company later issued an apology.
The Associated Press article went on to say: Absolut said the ad was designed for a Mexican audience and intended to recall “a time which the population of Mexico might feel was more ideal … As a global company, we recognize that people in different parts of the world may lend different perspectives or interpret our ads in a different way than was intended in that market, and for that we apologize.” Vin & Sprit, Absolut’s Sweden-based parent company, will be acquired by French spirit maker Pernod Ricard SA under a deal reached last week.
Read the entire article here. The New York Times recently ran an article on Absolut’s recent advertising woes looking at an ad campaign that started in 1981 and ran strong for 25 years. They have recently changed advertising strategies twice in the last 15 months. Read more here.
Still, Absolut has some of the best ads of any spirits or beer company out there. Go to www.absolutads.com/ and see for yourself.
With the immigration issues being what they are right now, what are your thoughts on this ad campaign? Our take: ABSOLUT-ly bad taste. We’re guessing if enough folks hear about this it could affect sales in the U.S.
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New Beers Eve. A once-in-a-lifetime event.
Happy belated Beerniversary, everybody! Seventy-five years ago on April 7, 1933, beer became legal again. And the first day of sales reaped a whopping $7.5 million in tax receipts for the U.S. Treasury with “New Beers Eve” providing a huge economic boost during the Great Depression with more than 1.5 million barrels of beer gone in the first 24-hours. According to an interview on the CNN Web site, with Julia Herz, the spokeswoman for the Brewers Association that represents smaller “craft” brewers this is still a big deal today. The story’s pretty interesting … read the whole thing here if you like. We’re thinking a toast is definitely in order … Cheers!
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Is that glass in your beer?
The hops, the barley, the tiny shards of glass?
Boston Beer Co. who brews the popular Sam Adams craft beer brand has issued a recall of bottles that may contain glass particles. It was discovered during a quality control inspection at the company’s Cincinnati brewery. An article posted on the Boston Globe Web site states that, “only Samuel Adams beers in 12-ounce brown glass bottles are involved in the recall. Potentially dangerous bottles are embossed around the bottom with the code N35 followed by OI.”
Consumers who purchased beer in potentially defective bottles are urged to discard the beer and bottles. They can register for a refund online at consumerinfo.samadams.com or call 888- 674-5159 for more information.
Scary stuff. Click here to read the full story.
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WSU Arts Gala wows guests
The 9th annual Wright State University ArtsGALA on Saturday, April 5, put the students on center stage. For an event raising funds for future arts scholarships, it was just as it should be.
The luxurious evening showcased the work of groups and individuals enrolled in the theatre, music and visual arts programs. Highlights included a talented group performing select scenes from last year’s production of “West Side Story” in the festival playhouse. Other energized student theatre performances included music from “Jersey Boys” and “Saturday Night Fever.” The “Swing Station” showcased student musicians while the “Bella Voice” room put the spotlight on vocal acrobatics.
Rooms throughout the Creative Arts Center at WSU played host just over 600 guests decked-out in their finest, participating in a variety of activities including a student film festival that included an excerpt of the Emmy Award-winning “A Lion in the House,” a cigar and sports lounge broadcasting NCAA basketball, gourmet dining catered by Benham’s and Kohler’s in five decorated dining halls where the student performances were taking place and a wine tasting sponsored by Heidelberg Distributing Company featuring select French and California wines starting at $5 a taste, including the 2004 Opus One and the 2004 Chateau Mouton Rothschild.
Since it’s start in 2000, the event has raised over $700,000 benefiting more than 100 scholarship recipients.
In addition to the many activities taking place, more than 130 silent auction items were up for grabs including a home theater system valued at $8,000, a Barbara Westwood necklace from James Free Jewelers valued at over $5,000 and a dinner package at Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar valued at over $2,500. According to event organizers just over $24,000 was raised on the silent auction.
“This is the best arts event to be found anywhere in this region,” said Jim Tinney who co-chaired this years event with his wife Karen.
On Saturday night at least 600 people would have probably have agreed with that.
Next year’s ArtsGALA will take place on April 4, 2009. For more information visit www.wright.edu/artsgala.
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Radiohead letting fans remix tunes
Always wanted to remix Radiohead but never had the inclination or know-how? Radiohead, iTunes and Garageband are giving fans the opportunity to remix the band’s newest single “Nude” at http://www.radioheadremix.com.
To make remixing easy, the separate “stems” (bass, voice, guitar, strings/fx and drums) from the song will be available to purchase from iTunes. Fans can mix them in any way they like, either by adding their own beats and instrumentation, or just remixing the original parts.
Those purchasing all five “stems” from iTunes during the first week they’re available, will be sent an access code to a GarageBand file ready to open in GarageBand or Logic. But you don’t need GarageBand to do a remix, all the stems are available in iTunes Plus and compatible with several music software platforms.
Finished mixes can be uploaded to http://www.radioheadremix.com where the public will listen and vote for their favourite remix (voting ends May 1st). Fans can also create a widget allowing votes from their own Web site, Facebook or MySpace page to be counted as ‘mix votes’ back on radioheadremix.com.
Leave it to Radiohead to continue rethinking how a band can interact with it’s fans and make music.
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Film proves rock and roll will never die!
Check out this trailer for the film documentary “Young@Heart” coming to select theaters this spring. Billed as the concert event rock and roll fans have been dreaming of their whole life, after watching I don’t think that’s far off. I never thought senior citizens singing the Ramones’ “I Wanna Be Sedated” could be so cool … I was wrong.
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Is that George Clooney in a Dayton Dragons cap?
Do our eyes deceive us, or is this what it looks like … George Clooney wearing a Dayton Dragons cap as part of an E! Online gallery.
Update … Thanks for the tip Clooney fan (see comments section). It is George in a Dragons cap. Check out the video and see for yourself! Who would get your vote to join George on a celebrity Dragons team? Now this is my idea of fantasy baseball!
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Rollerblade bottle music. Prepare to be amazed.
Are you kidding me with this? A guy on Rollerblades playing bottle music … watch and believe. Michel Lauziere rollerblading along a street lined with strategically placed and filled bottles. Very clever. If you’re curious, the tune is Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Symphony No. 40 in G minor, 1st movement. Any guesses to the amount of time it took for him to come up with this and set it up? I’m going to say this was at least a year in the making …
The video for “Butterfingers” from Bomb the Bass featuring Fujiya and Miyagi is so simple and yet so very entertaining. It just cracks me up. Wait for the very end, it’s worth it.
And if you’re in the mood for a little beat boxing, check this link out.
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Local bar and dance club closes
Celebrity Show and Dance Club appears to have closed. Or are they moving?
A posting on the bar’s Web site says it is on the move to downtown Dayton. Attempts to reach Don Troxel, listed as the owner of the recently closed location, have been unsuccessful and the phone for the club has been disconnected. A transfer of the liquor license from Celebrities to HIMMELBERG REALTY LLC posted in late February.
In it’s heyday, Celebrity was one of Daytons best known dance and show clubs attracting large crowds lined up out the door. Pop icons, Ru Paul and the Village People once performed on the North Main location’s stage. The club celebrated 10 years at its North Main Street location before closing in April of 2006.
The club re-opened late in December 2006 with a grand opening New Year’s eve 2007, in the Washington Township location.
Celebrity’s location was hidden in the same strip-plaza as the Hooters Restaurant that closed in August 2007.