The French National Library acquires Casanova's papers. More here.
To try:
Maple whiskey by Cabin Fever
Rocky Mountain Blackberry Whiskey by Leopold Brother (Denver)
Phnom Penh whisky business is booming.
Profile of (fairly) new Master Distiller at Jack Daniel's, Jeff Arnett.
One of three £10,000 bottles of Glenfiddich 50-year old will be auctioned off at Harrods', one of the lucky recipients of the rare whisky. The proceeds are to benefit the Evelina Children's Hospital.
The Côte d'Ivoire and cocoa remain in unrest.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Friday, February 12, 2010
I miss Abraham Lincoln's Birthday
In honor of President's Day, I'm posting links that have practically nothing to do with each other. If you've seen Holiday Inn (You haven't? Well, check it out!) you know that Abraham Lincoln's birthday used to be a big deal, as well as some other president's. There is something else going on this weekend, but I choose to ignore it.
Valentine's Day is banned in Saudi Arabia. Now, the holiday means something because Valentine's Day merchandise is considered contraband. That's actually kind of a turn on. It's illicit!
Abso-freakin-lutely lovely Valentine's Day ephemera are being exhibited at the University of Oxford's Bodleian Library.
OK, those two are related, but that was an accident.
A story in the Guardian recounts a die-hard feminist's experience at a nyotaimori dinner taking place in London. For those of you not in the know, nyotaimori is body sushi. A group of diners eat sushi off of the body of a naked woman.
Library Journal names Glen Carbon Library the best small library in the nation. YAY!
I love just about everything in this article: the top picture of two cats on a counter, surrounded by books; the fact that a used book store is in a barn; and the fact that they are old books. Did I mention the picture with the cats? Now I have to go to Baldwin's Book Barn!
Thieves net £250,000 whisky haul
Uig to produce first legal dram for 170 years
I would love to have whisky toothpaste available now, but alas, it is not to be.
(512) Brewing created a delicious-sounding beer called Whiskey Barrel Aged Double Pecan Porter, which has officially been added to my list of must-try's.
Valentine's Day is banned in Saudi Arabia. Now, the holiday means something because Valentine's Day merchandise is considered contraband. That's actually kind of a turn on. It's illicit!
Abso-freakin-lutely lovely Valentine's Day ephemera are being exhibited at the University of Oxford's Bodleian Library.
OK, those two are related, but that was an accident.
A story in the Guardian recounts a die-hard feminist's experience at a nyotaimori dinner taking place in London. For those of you not in the know, nyotaimori is body sushi. A group of diners eat sushi off of the body of a naked woman.
Library Journal names Glen Carbon Library the best small library in the nation. YAY!
I love just about everything in this article: the top picture of two cats on a counter, surrounded by books; the fact that a used book store is in a barn; and the fact that they are old books. Did I mention the picture with the cats? Now I have to go to Baldwin's Book Barn!
Thieves net £250,000 whisky haul
Uig to produce first legal dram for 170 years
I would love to have whisky toothpaste available now, but alas, it is not to be.
(512) Brewing created a delicious-sounding beer called Whiskey Barrel Aged Double Pecan Porter, which has officially been added to my list of must-try's.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Beerfly Pie
This hearty and savory pie is so easy to make, you can whip it up even through the tears of a bad breakup. The ingredients can be interchanged and substituted, depending on your cupboard and state of mind. However, it is essential to have the proper frame of mind - that of longing for the hours of your life lost drinking at bars.
Crust
2 cups flour
1 stick butter, or 8 tbs. spread
ice water as needed to bind
Filling
1 cup sugar
1/8 cup cigarette ash (Camel is the preferred hipster choice, but Marlboro Reds should suffice; steer clear of cloves as they are a tad elitist)
1/4 cup water
pinch cinnamon
1/2 cup bourbon (plus one cup for you while preparing)
1 tsp. bitters (yours or store-bought)
1/2 cup finely chopped questionable sausage
1/2 cup finely chopped, cooked barley
1 apple, peeled, cored, and finely chopped
1/2 cup grated stinky cheese (the stinkier, the better, just like those empty promises he made)
Make crust as usual, duh!
In saucepan, stir sugar, ash and water over low heat until sugar is dissolved and you can't breathe.
In separate bowl, mix cinnamon, bourbon, bitters, sausage, barley, and apple. Set aside to get rank, like the feeling you get when you think of THEM reuniting.
Pour the sugar mixture over the sausage mixture and incorporate well - at least until you feel nauseous, if not more - just like that relationship you knew you had to end months ago.
You can now put the sausage mix into the crust, making sure to leave splashes of mess over the side because nothing is neat about a beerfly pie.
Sprinkle with the stinky cheese and bake in a preheated 375 degree oven for about 30-40 minutes, or until the neighbors complain.
Remove from oven and cool completely. Like relationships formed at a bar, it should be lukewarm.
Slice the pie and serve with regret, but preferably with self-loathing. Enjoy!
Crust
2 cups flour
1 stick butter, or 8 tbs. spread
ice water as needed to bind
Filling
1 cup sugar
1/8 cup cigarette ash (Camel is the preferred hipster choice, but Marlboro Reds should suffice; steer clear of cloves as they are a tad elitist)
1/4 cup water
pinch cinnamon
1/2 cup bourbon (plus one cup for you while preparing)
1 tsp. bitters (yours or store-bought)
1/2 cup finely chopped questionable sausage
1/2 cup finely chopped, cooked barley
1 apple, peeled, cored, and finely chopped
1/2 cup grated stinky cheese (the stinkier, the better, just like those empty promises he made)
Make crust as usual, duh!
In saucepan, stir sugar, ash and water over low heat until sugar is dissolved and you can't breathe.
In separate bowl, mix cinnamon, bourbon, bitters, sausage, barley, and apple. Set aside to get rank, like the feeling you get when you think of THEM reuniting.
Pour the sugar mixture over the sausage mixture and incorporate well - at least until you feel nauseous, if not more - just like that relationship you knew you had to end months ago.
You can now put the sausage mix into the crust, making sure to leave splashes of mess over the side because nothing is neat about a beerfly pie.
Sprinkle with the stinky cheese and bake in a preheated 375 degree oven for about 30-40 minutes, or until the neighbors complain.
Remove from oven and cool completely. Like relationships formed at a bar, it should be lukewarm.
Slice the pie and serve with regret, but preferably with self-loathing. Enjoy!
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Do You Haiku? I Haiku.
Assignment #2 was to write some food-related haikus and a simple recipe that is mine, and not something I got from a cookbook.
Lively chocolate
Adorns my plate with goodness
Tongue marks like tire tracks
Summer goes by fast
Macerated strawberries
Are but memories
Honey bees work hard
Sugar water in winter
Is how they get by
Cats are often soft
Nihilists except for food
Egotists we love
Carrots help eye sight
Digestion is eased a bit too
Carrot dust chokes me
What Cannoli?
Perfect for breakfast or dessert, this (somewhat) healthy treat is easier to make than a glass of water. The honey flavor is quite strong, due in part to the purposeful lack of a thorough final mixing, which leaves large streaks of honey in the mix. This mix reminds me of cannoli cream filling and is a true honey-lover's delight. It makes one generous serving.
1/2 cup skim milk ricotta cheese
1/8 cup dried currants or cranberries
1/8 cup raw, sunflower seeds, removed from shell
1 tbs. Honey
1. Blend ricotta cheese, currants or cranberries, and sunflower seeds in a bowl until combined.
2. Add honey and blend until honey is mostly incorporated.
3. Eat and enjoy.
Nutrition Facts
Calories 388 Calories from Fat 162
% Daily Values
Total Fat 19g 29%
Saturated Fat 7g 34%
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 38mg 13%
Sodium 159mg 7%
Total Carbohydrate 41g 14%
Dietary Fiber 3g 11%
Sugars 30g
Protein 19g
Vitamin A 10% Vitamin C 2%
Calcium 37% Iron 12%
Lively chocolate
Adorns my plate with goodness
Tongue marks like tire tracks
Summer goes by fast
Macerated strawberries
Are but memories
Honey bees work hard
Sugar water in winter
Is how they get by
Cats are often soft
Nihilists except for food
Egotists we love
Carrots help eye sight
Digestion is eased a bit too
Carrot dust chokes me
What Cannoli?
Perfect for breakfast or dessert, this (somewhat) healthy treat is easier to make than a glass of water. The honey flavor is quite strong, due in part to the purposeful lack of a thorough final mixing, which leaves large streaks of honey in the mix. This mix reminds me of cannoli cream filling and is a true honey-lover's delight. It makes one generous serving.
1/2 cup skim milk ricotta cheese
1/8 cup dried currants or cranberries
1/8 cup raw, sunflower seeds, removed from shell
1 tbs. Honey
1. Blend ricotta cheese, currants or cranberries, and sunflower seeds in a bowl until combined.
2. Add honey and blend until honey is mostly incorporated.
3. Eat and enjoy.
Nutrition Facts
Calories 388 Calories from Fat 162
% Daily Values
Total Fat 19g 29%
Saturated Fat 7g 34%
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 38mg 13%
Sodium 159mg 7%
Total Carbohydrate 41g 14%
Dietary Fiber 3g 11%
Sugars 30g
Protein 19g
Vitamin A 10% Vitamin C 2%
Calcium 37% Iron 12%
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Food Writing Assignment #1
Here you go people: my already-reviewed assignments for my Food Writing class. Be gentle. My grammar is getting progressively worse the older I get and I care less about that.
My first assignment was to sit in a coffee house. (You heard right.) While observing the goings on at the shop, noting details, and observing, I was to keep notes on what I heard, saw, smelled, tasted, and touched. After getting home, or the next day, I had to write up what I observed to create a 500 word essay. After that was done, I needed to cut that essay down to 350 words, trying to retain the 'flavor' and 'essence' of the coffee shop observation. It is an exercise in editing and word-play. I'll post both, although I'm not sure how interested you would be in reading both versions. There's a lot of them there words and such, so maybe take a coffee break in-between or something.
Cafe Grumpy - 500
In a place that feels like you need an invitation to hang out in, lies a coffee shop that has no more on its sign that a simple, grumpy face. Cafe Grumpy has cuteness going for it, despite its name and the customers and employees live up to the polar opposite of Grumpy consistently. The shop is always crowded and full of hipsters. Again, despite the name Grumpy, this coffee shop sells organic, free-trade coffees and teas. They also appear to do all of their own roasting and grinding on the spot, and sometimes to order.
It is the kind of place where you see things like Bard sweatshirts on laughing, bearded dudes and (whether it is your cup of tea or not) spiritual-awakening-type conversation happening behind you with things being said such as: “I'm beginning to know what I know. Then I forget.” If you are lucky, the customers can be entertaining. For example, the Bard dude looks like the guy in the Cavemen commercial – the Caveman. The customers live up to their hipster image and people wear crochet hats and pashminas and quirky scarves that they either picked up off the street, at a flea market, or in a designer store. In any case, they paid a high price. Not one of the workers has a so-called 'normal' haircut. When people leave they are more layered than a 3 year-old at Christmas in Maine.
As I was observing, some crumbs from my shortbread butter-stained my page and I tried not to bring attention to the fact that I spilled tea all over the shaky little table I scored because spilling tea is the mark of a newbie, or some other such name given to people who perform faux pas at this Chelsea tea house.
The customers ask for a particular grinding method for their latte, which is funny when you think about it because if you aren't the type of person to ask for a particular grind for your coffee, it seems pompous.
There was some interaction, in a sense, between patrons. The small, mini-pug-looking dog leashed to the short iron fence outside snubbed me. I considered that a successful interaction with a fellow customer, which is sometimes rare in these coffee shops where you either come alone and stay alone, or come in a group and discuss the Tao te Ching with your friends, then leave.
The music is coming from an ipod and it sounds like soda shop music because the song “Sugar Pie” just came on “I can't help myself. I love you and nobody else”. “I Want to Know What Love Is” just came on the ipod jukebox as my first cup of tea is out of water.
Books are barely being read and I'm wondering if they are just for appearance's sake. It could be that the customers are just so amazingly mesmerized by the orange walls, mirrored walls, and brick walls. I wonder if anyone has an aneurysm upon exiting.
Towards the end, a guy with blue USA Olympic-looking parka/coat comes into the cafe with a Starbucks coffee, orders a coffee, then leaves five minutes later with his jockey-looking boy toy.
Cafe Grumpy - 350
Here lies a coffee shop whose sign has, simply, a grumpy face. The customers and employees live up to the polar opposite of grumpy. The shop is always full of hipsters. They sell organic, free-trade coffees and teas. They appear to do all of their own roasting and grinding on the spot, and to order.
It's the kind of place where you see Bard sweatshirts on bearded dudes and overhear spiritual-awakening conversations with things being said such as: “I'm beginning to know what I know. Then I forget”. The Bard dude looks like The Caveman. Customers live up to their hipster image by wearing crochet hats, pashminas, and quirky scarves that cost a lot. There are no 'normal' haircuts and when people leave they are more layered than a 3 year-old at Christmas in Maine.
Some crumbs from my shortbread butter-stained my page and I tried not to bring attention to the fact that I spilled tea all over the shaky table I scored because spilling tea is the mark of a newbie.
Customers ask for a particular grinding method for their latte, which is funny if you aren't the type of person to ask for a particular grind for your coffee.
Interaction is limited. The mini-pug dog leashed to the iron fence snubbed me. I considered that a successful interaction with a fellow customer. This is rare in coffee shops where you either come alone and stay alone, or come in a group and discuss the Tao te Ching with your friends, then leave.
The music coming from an ipod sounds like soda shop music. I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch) plays. I Want to Know What Love Is comes on the jukebox as my first cup of tea is out of water.
Books are barely being read. Are just for appearance's sake? People could just be so mesmerized by the orange, mirrored, and brick walls. Does anyone have an aneurysm upon exiting?
A guy with a blue USA Olympic-looking parka/coat comes in, orders a coffee, then leaves five minutes later with his jockey-looking boy toy.
My first assignment was to sit in a coffee house. (You heard right.) While observing the goings on at the shop, noting details, and observing, I was to keep notes on what I heard, saw, smelled, tasted, and touched. After getting home, or the next day, I had to write up what I observed to create a 500 word essay. After that was done, I needed to cut that essay down to 350 words, trying to retain the 'flavor' and 'essence' of the coffee shop observation. It is an exercise in editing and word-play. I'll post both, although I'm not sure how interested you would be in reading both versions. There's a lot of them there words and such, so maybe take a coffee break in-between or something.
Cafe Grumpy - 500
In a place that feels like you need an invitation to hang out in, lies a coffee shop that has no more on its sign that a simple, grumpy face. Cafe Grumpy has cuteness going for it, despite its name and the customers and employees live up to the polar opposite of Grumpy consistently. The shop is always crowded and full of hipsters. Again, despite the name Grumpy, this coffee shop sells organic, free-trade coffees and teas. They also appear to do all of their own roasting and grinding on the spot, and sometimes to order.
It is the kind of place where you see things like Bard sweatshirts on laughing, bearded dudes and (whether it is your cup of tea or not) spiritual-awakening-type conversation happening behind you with things being said such as: “I'm beginning to know what I know. Then I forget.” If you are lucky, the customers can be entertaining. For example, the Bard dude looks like the guy in the Cavemen commercial – the Caveman. The customers live up to their hipster image and people wear crochet hats and pashminas and quirky scarves that they either picked up off the street, at a flea market, or in a designer store. In any case, they paid a high price. Not one of the workers has a so-called 'normal' haircut. When people leave they are more layered than a 3 year-old at Christmas in Maine.
As I was observing, some crumbs from my shortbread butter-stained my page and I tried not to bring attention to the fact that I spilled tea all over the shaky little table I scored because spilling tea is the mark of a newbie, or some other such name given to people who perform faux pas at this Chelsea tea house.
The customers ask for a particular grinding method for their latte, which is funny when you think about it because if you aren't the type of person to ask for a particular grind for your coffee, it seems pompous.
There was some interaction, in a sense, between patrons. The small, mini-pug-looking dog leashed to the short iron fence outside snubbed me. I considered that a successful interaction with a fellow customer, which is sometimes rare in these coffee shops where you either come alone and stay alone, or come in a group and discuss the Tao te Ching with your friends, then leave.
The music is coming from an ipod and it sounds like soda shop music because the song “Sugar Pie” just came on “I can't help myself. I love you and nobody else”. “I Want to Know What Love Is” just came on the ipod jukebox as my first cup of tea is out of water.
Books are barely being read and I'm wondering if they are just for appearance's sake. It could be that the customers are just so amazingly mesmerized by the orange walls, mirrored walls, and brick walls. I wonder if anyone has an aneurysm upon exiting.
Towards the end, a guy with blue USA Olympic-looking parka/coat comes into the cafe with a Starbucks coffee, orders a coffee, then leaves five minutes later with his jockey-looking boy toy.
Cafe Grumpy - 350
Here lies a coffee shop whose sign has, simply, a grumpy face. The customers and employees live up to the polar opposite of grumpy. The shop is always full of hipsters. They sell organic, free-trade coffees and teas. They appear to do all of their own roasting and grinding on the spot, and to order.
It's the kind of place where you see Bard sweatshirts on bearded dudes and overhear spiritual-awakening conversations with things being said such as: “I'm beginning to know what I know. Then I forget”. The Bard dude looks like The Caveman. Customers live up to their hipster image by wearing crochet hats, pashminas, and quirky scarves that cost a lot. There are no 'normal' haircuts and when people leave they are more layered than a 3 year-old at Christmas in Maine.
Some crumbs from my shortbread butter-stained my page and I tried not to bring attention to the fact that I spilled tea all over the shaky table I scored because spilling tea is the mark of a newbie.
Customers ask for a particular grinding method for their latte, which is funny if you aren't the type of person to ask for a particular grind for your coffee.
Interaction is limited. The mini-pug dog leashed to the iron fence snubbed me. I considered that a successful interaction with a fellow customer. This is rare in coffee shops where you either come alone and stay alone, or come in a group and discuss the Tao te Ching with your friends, then leave.
The music coming from an ipod sounds like soda shop music. I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch) plays. I Want to Know What Love Is comes on the jukebox as my first cup of tea is out of water.
Books are barely being read. Are just for appearance's sake? People could just be so mesmerized by the orange, mirrored, and brick walls. Does anyone have an aneurysm upon exiting?
A guy with a blue USA Olympic-looking parka/coat comes in, orders a coffee, then leaves five minutes later with his jockey-looking boy toy.
Monday, February 1, 2010
It's All Good in the 'Hood
I use social media and so should you, or at least that's what they say. Librarians Michael Porter, David Lee King, and Joe Murphy got kudos in School Library Journal for shaking their social media money-makers.
YAY Open Source! The Library of Congress plans to "streamline the process for releasing software as open source". (via DigitalKoans)
This picture of La Bibliothèque infernale was in my Google Reader, but it is via a tumblr account, so I Googled it and the first result was from a collector of 19th century stereoscopes. Check out this print and others. They are fascinating and beautiful. (By the way, why is the word "googled" considered misspelled in Blogger?)
On to food . . .
The Italian Ice Cream University has seen a 90% rise in enrollment due to the recession. I'd like to attend this University, let me tell you.
This slice of Guinness Chocolate Cake with Irish Whisky Ganache and Bailey's Buttercream cake via Food Porn Daily looks very, very good. It's being pushed to the top of my to-bake list.
YAY Open Source! The Library of Congress plans to "streamline the process for releasing software as open source". (via DigitalKoans)
This picture of La Bibliothèque infernale was in my Google Reader, but it is via a tumblr account, so I Googled it and the first result was from a collector of 19th century stereoscopes. Check out this print and others. They are fascinating and beautiful. (By the way, why is the word "googled" considered misspelled in Blogger?)
On to food . . .
The Italian Ice Cream University has seen a 90% rise in enrollment due to the recession. I'd like to attend this University, let me tell you.
This slice of Guinness Chocolate Cake with Irish Whisky Ganache and Bailey's Buttercream cake via Food Porn Daily looks very, very good. It's being pushed to the top of my to-bake list.
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