Steep
You may have to leave your tea in the sun for a few hours, depending on how strong you want it, how much you're making and how warm the sun is that day. Keep an eye on your jug as you may need to move it as the sun moves during the day.
Iced Tea, Chilled Tea & Frozen Tea Recipes
Learn more about the history and culture of coffee in Ethiopia in my new article, Ethiopian coffee culture.
Photo (c) Marko Goodwin
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What an exciting month this is going to be! We kick things off with two celebrations this Saturday and step right up to the Manhattan Cocktail Classic next week. May is starting off right and I will work on keeping the momentum going as I have a lot on the agenda for the month (including a revival of the cocktail contest).
What's up with Saturday? If you have not yet put two and two together, this Saturday just happens to be two wonderful cocktail experiences rolled into one day. It is May 5th and that means it is Cinco de Mayo, which calls for tequila. For that occasion check out the collection of tequila cocktails here as well as this list of great Cinco de Mayo cocktails and 10 Tequila Cocktails You Just Have to Try.
Taking a break from tequila Saturday afternoon, you may be in the mood for a little horse racing and it is a good thing that it is Derby Day as well. For your Kentucky Derby drinking needs, a Mint Julep is the way to go. Within that recipe we also have a video if you need a little visual nudging, and if the mint/bourbon thing isn't up your alley, check out the other Triple Crown worthy drinks in the spring cocktails collection. Just an FYI, I'll be featuring a few more new recipes before Saturday so stay tuned.
Manhattan Cocktail Classic - Next Friday kicks off the Manhattan Cocktail Classic and it sounds like it is once again going to be a grand event. There are tickets available and events are scattered at venues throughout the city, making this a conference that will have something for every cocktail lover throughout the weekend. Go to the title link for ticket info. Also, there are seminar specifically for the bar industry and media, check out that schedule here if you qualify. One not to miss on that list is Camper English and Wayne Curtis talking ice at the Ice Capades. I used some of English's ice techniques this week and it saved the day - more on that later, though.
Read This...
Experimental Cocktail Club: American Drinks by Way of Paris - The NYT's Diner Journal explores the Experimental Cocktail Club that opened last Friday on the Lower East Side.
Day in the Life of a Drink's Ambassador - People are often envious of those of us who work with drinks all day, though it is not all glamorous. One of the titles that catches the most attention is Brand Ambassador. Almost every big brand of distilled spirit has one (or many) and their job is to promote the spirit, often involving travel and creating new drinks, among other things... a dream job of many. On Informed Edinburgh, you can get a glimpse of what Joe McCanta, UK Brand Ambassador for Grey Goose Vodka, does in a typical day.
New Game on the Block: BasketPong! - Move over beer pong, BasketPong is here... These hoops are "lightweight and portable" though not as portable as a stack of Silo cups.
Caorunn Gin Launches Global Cocktail Competition - This is a very interesting challenge because they are looking for a "'modern classic' cocktail that draws inspiration from one or more of Caorunn's five Celtic botanicals: Rowan Berry, Coul Blush Apple, Heather, Dandelion and Bog Myrtle." The other catch is that you need a good story behind the drink. The contest is open through the 20th of this month and the four U.S. finalists go? on to compete at Tales of the Cocktail and from there it is on to the international finals at the iconic Bramble Bar in Edinburgh.
Bourbon Maker Plans Downtown Louisville Attraction - Heaven Hill Distilleries (home of Evan Williams Bourbon)? announced this week that they are going to open a museum in downtown Louisville that "will immerse visitors in the whiskey-making process." Look for it to be open September, 2013.
Soda Maker Puts Bacon, Buffalo Wings in a Bottle - That title is not a typo and if you thought the vodka flavors were getting out of hand, check out what is happening to the world of soda. That said, if you try one of these and come up with a useful (and tasty) mixed drink, let me know. As adventurous as I am in my drinks, I just don't know if I can go this far. Other flavors in the line up are Sweet Corn and (surprise, surprise!) Peanut Butter & Jelly.
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One thing you have to love about bartenders is that throughout the years there has been a drink created that can be used for almost any occasion. Today is May Day and, of course, there's a drink for that!
Actually, the May Day Cocktail came to my attention during the release of the James Bond flick Casino Royale back in November, 2006 from my then editor's trip to Metro Marche in New York City. Now, at a completely different season four years later it is still a wonderful drink and there's no better day than today to bring it back into the spotlight.
The May Day relies on fresh fruit - namely peaches, strawberries, and passion fruit - and even though these are not at their peak at the moment, I did notice all three were in fairly decent shape at my local grocery store. No matter, though, because from here through the summer those will get even better, making this a delightful drink to keep on your blender's radar.
Yes, the drink is blended and beyond those fruits we use apple juice, ginger and rum. It's an amazing mix and is excellent when served without the rum as well. Another two for one drink to quench the thirsts of drinkers and non-drinkers alike.
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New Sips:
James Bond to Ditch Iconic Vodka Martini in Skyfall for a Beer - The latest Bond film is due for release this fall and it should go without surprise that people are already talking about what the spy will be drinking. This time around it is an ice-cold Heineken. How's that for product placement? It certainly is a change of pace from the drinks Bond is known for.
What's in Your Well? - This is a great write up that examines which brands may work well in a 'well' stock for bars. For the budget-conscious bartender, it's a pretty good list.
Passover Cocktails and Spirits - This is an invaluable guide to choosing Passover friendly spirits and cocktails for observant Jews this coming week.
Natalie MacLean's New Wine App - Natalie is one of the people you want to listen to when it comes to wine and she just released a new mobile app, Wine Picks and Pairings. Imagine this: You're at the liquor store searching for something different for dinner tonight. Do you trust the labels? Go with a long shot that may be either nasty or spectacular? Why not just take a picture of the bar code, and get a review right there on your phone. No waiting, no guessing, now that is a useful app.
Staying Dry in America - Prohibition-era laws continue to play a role in many areas of the country and while some are small regulations on the sale of alcohol such as no Sunday sales, some areas remain as dry as the desert. I found this map on the BBC of wet, dry, and damp areas interesting and insightful, the visual reference to the concept is helpful and the story quite good.
Another Over the Top Vodka Ad - It seems that vodka competition is getting so fierce that some of the big names are going to offensive extremes in their attempts to lure customers. There were the Wodka Vodka billboards - the hooker/escort comparison and the? Christmas-Hanukah reference. Animal rights activists recently took issue with Absolut's greyhound TV spot, and now Belvedere's recent ad is under fire. This last one has the implication of rape with the tagline "Unlike Some People Belvedere Always Goes Down Smoothly" and the actress in the video-captured image is suing Belvedere.
News from Mount Vernon - Since the distilleries fired up again in 2006 at Mount Vernon there have been many collective projects there. Most recently, a team of Scotch distillers created a single malt whiskey which will hang out in barrels for the next three years. Also, on April 14th visitors will get a taste of Washington's rye whiskey.
Want to feel sexy and confident? Hold a glass in your hand -- no alcohol required - A new French study confirms what most of us know from experience... a glass in hand equals confidence.
Whiskey Saves Tulips, Maybe - We have all heard about the amazing, non-imbibing uses for vodka, but what about whiskey? It is the hopes of one Iowa town that whiskey will delay their tulips from blooming before it is convenient for their annual tulip festival.
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The Chicory Plant
The chicory plant is Cichorium intybus, is a hardy perennial with purplish-blue flowers that open and close at the exact same time each day. Chicory is common in North American and in Europe. Although chicory leaves are used in food (they are often known as endive, frisee, escarole or radicchio), chicory's roots are the parts used to make 'chicory.'
Each chicory plant has a single, long, thick root (known as a 'tap root'). Chicory root is roasted before it is brewed, but it can also be boiled and eaten like a vegetable.
For more on the chicory plant, see this chicory definition from About.com Herb Gardens.
Chicory's History
Chicory is one of the oldest recorded types of plants. Chicory is native to Northern Africa, Western Asia and Europe, and its cultivation is thought to have originated in Egypt in ancient times. Later, chicory was grown by Medieval monks in Europe (at which time commonly added to coffee by the Dutch). It was brought to North America in the 1700s and has been a popular coffee substitute or an ingredient in coffee in France since around 1800.
More recently, chicory consumption has been associated with embargoes and cost cutting. Across history, there have been many substitutes for coffee when coffee was unavailable, including roasted acorns, yams and a variety of local grains, but chicory tends to be the preferred coffee substitute, and in some circles it is even used when coffee is available and cheap.
One historical and cultural example of chicory's use as a coffee substitute is found in New Orleans. Due in part to its influences from French culture, New Orleans was a major consumer of coffee prior to the Civil War. Then, in 1840, coffee importation to the New Orleans harbor was blocked. Taking a cue from their French roots, locals began to use chicory as a coffee substitute. Today, chicory remains a popular coffee replacement or coffee flavoring in New Orleans, and 'New Orleans Coffee' typically refers to chicory coffee. New Orleans coffee vendors often blend their coffee with up to 30 percent chicory root.
For cost-cutting reasons, and perhaps for safety reasons, chicory is also used as a coffee substitute in many U.S. prisons.
Chicory Preparation
To make chicory root into an edible (or, technically, potable) substance, the root is pulled up from the ground, washed, dried, roasted, finely cut and then steeped or brewed. Chicory's roasting process gives it a roasty flavor roughly akin to that of coffee, and is part of the reason why chicory is a popular coffee substitute, as well as a fairly common ingredient in coffee recipes.
After chicory root is roasted and cut up (or, as some say, 'ground,' though this is not technically correct), it is ready to be steeped or brewed. Chicory is more water soluble than coffee, which means you need to use a lot less of it when brewing it with coffee or instead of coffee -- . (Since chicory is usually much cheaper than coffee, this is great if you're on a tight budget. However, over-brewing chicory will definitely place you in the anti-chicory camp, so be careful not to use too much.)
Chicory Recipes
To brew basic chicory coffee, use about 2/3 ground coffee and 1/3 chicory, and brew as you normally would (such as in a drop coffee maker or a French press). You can also use this New Orleans Cafe Noir Recipe for New Orleans black coffee or this New Orleans Cafe au Lait Recipe if you prefer milk in your coffee.
You can also use chicory for a coffee flavor in various foods, as Vosges did with their New Orleans Coffee Chocolate. I like this Chicory Coffee Creme Brulee Recipes from Emeril, but (personally) if I'm going to have something sweet with chicory coffee, I prefer pairing chicory coffee and beignets to cooking with chicory coffee.
Chicory & Health
Chicory is generally thought to be healthy. It is naturally caffeine free, so if you're having issues with caffeine addition or caffeine overdose, then drinking chicory coffee or plain chicory can be a good way to reduce caffeine intake or eliminate caffeine from your diet. Chicory is also reported to kill intestinal parasites (or act as a vermifuge), cleanse the blood and improve liver health.
