FrogPrincesse

It looks like they changed the packaging of the St. Elizabeth allspice dram again! Hopefully it's still the same thing in the bottle, more or less...

I agree with you all. He will be missed. Joy of Mixology was one of my first serious cocktail books, and I learned a lot from it. I remember how excited when I was finally able to buy his orange bitters. I think about him every time I mix a Negroni (and have his Negroni book, of course). I even gifted his finger to close friends because it is such a great conversation piece and puts a huge smile on my face. He was such a character! I still use 101 best new cocktails app every once in a while - it's a great source of interesting cocktails, with a little story for each one. He did so much for the cocktail community!

I bought a block of beeswax not long ago to use in a cocktail recipe. I paid $14 for a pound.

Agreed, I love the Nikka coffey gin. I bought my second bottle a few weeks ago. What is interesting about it as well is the long peppery finish (subtle yet noticeable). I love the fact that it incorporates all these interesting uniquely Japanese flavors, but is very restrained at the same time. It makes delicious sours - I used my first bottle to make Southsides mostly. Luckily it is only about $50 in California! (It doesn't come in the fancy cardboard packaging though... )

I am going to go with a big Gallic shrug here. A couple of good French beers I have had not too long ago: Jenlain Ambree which is an amber biere de garde, complex with spices and a touch of caramel, slightly hoppy. Can be found in most supermarkets in France. Gavroche by Saint Sylvestre which I understand is a micro brewery. Also a biere de garde, spices, notes of chocolates and caramel. That one I've had in the US actually.

You have to try w00tstout from Stone. It's outstanding.

Very happy to see Claudette Zepeda-Wilkins of El Jardin in San diego in the list of semi-finalists!

My local TJ’s is already out of the ruby cacao wafers! Apparently they only received one box and it was gone immediately. 😞

Your best option may be two bottles of Rittenhouse rye at $30/bottle (or Sazerac, which is about the same price I believe)! I am not aware of other ryes in that price range that would be good for sipping.

Agree. It's great for mixing, not so good for sipping.

Thank you! I tried it hot and chilled, and it is nice either way. I’ve read that carrots and cumin are close relatives (so are coriander, cilantro, etc - they all belong to the apiaceae family), which could explain why they go well together.

Deborah Madison’s Chilled Spicy Carrot Soup (with fresh ginger, cumin, coriander, turmeric). Very tasty and good for my slightly upset stomach.

Saint Illtyd cheddar. Super garlicky - like Boursin in cheddar form with a fine, crumbly texture.

Heath ceramics? Love their stuff!

Here we go again. https://la.eater.com/2019/1/9/18174211/california-foie-gras-ban-upheld-supreme-court-lawsuit