beans

Hmmm. Interesting thoughts! I'm not so sure I agree with them either! Fairlawn is not a rich suburb of Cleveland. It is actually a burb of Akron.

Faves: Bourdain (duh) St. Jacques (given) St. Julia (ditto) Jacques Torres Caprial Pence Bob Blummer (for the silliness) Mario Batali Alton Two Fat Ladies Todd English Ducasse, Malgieri, Desaulniers, Keller, Trotter (they're celebs, no?) Lukewarm: Emeril Ming Bobby Flay Rick Bayless -- respect his passion and knowledge, just couldn't stand his personality on an old Martha Stewart featured segment. Wolfgang Puck Jeff Smith Sara Moulton Neutral: Ina/Barefoot Contessa Giada Tyler Florence Martin Yan Jamie Oliver Dislikes: Paula Dean Rachael Ray Martha Stewart

I trust and believe quite fervently that the meat in me freezer is still good. If the Department of Agriculture is stating it should be fine what is the rationale it is not? I'm going to sniff and inspect better than I would in fear of a moth infestation of my cashmere and believe in those guidelines. In rotten Cleveland most of my freezer stuff remained rock hard. I opened the door at least 3 times in fear and verification. Sorry for attempting to contribute to a helping, safe positive attitude. I mean, I *know* the food in my house. I'm gonna go for it, especially knowing these picture perfect conditions do not always present themselves upon a glorious weather weekend. Use common sense! Understand your conditions (very realistically) and your food too! I've looked to my thermometers frequently. I trust them too. I'll be happy to purchase fresh eggs, butter and milk....

Oh, it was the Department of Agriculture.... Don't know if this helps. Clickety Here for Associated Press story

The local county health department in Cleveland advised as follows: A full freezer, if left closed, will remain safe from thawing for up to 2 days. If it was half full, they stated 1 day. The refrigerator is another story. If the internal temperature rose to 40 degrees F -- be safe and toss out the dairy and meats. (anything in danger of quick spoilage) I'll try to find a link. (BTW, my fav uncle was the Chief of the Fire Department here.... You guys are the best!)

Why would you want to know about this? Yuk. There are plenty of silly named shots using curdled Bailey's Irish Cream. Perhaps the confusion?

Thank you Lan4Dawg, but can Bloody Maria also refer to beer and bloody mary mix? Perhaps it's an imprecise term? ~Tad Beer and Bloody Mary mix is a Red Eye. Bloody Caeser is with a clam or clam juice. Bloody Bull is with the addtion of a beef bullion cube. Bloody Maria is made with tequila. Cheers!

Glad to hear that. I got an email about it being down.

Oh I LOOOVE those. That's how we made them when I worked in Alaska. Had to control myself from chowing down a whole jar of those. The ones that we bought for the bar were a little zippy hot too.

I've looked and I can't find it. Sorry. When I find it I will post!

Yum. Sounds lovely.

Sam: Think about culinary combinations for inspiration and then adapt. Lavender and Ginger Lavender and Lemon Lavender and Berries Lavender and Tea Lavender and Pear I found an odd recipe for a Lavender Margarita, but the measurements were kinda whacky, it needs to be tweeked. It uses lavender flower heads, but why not add the vodka? It's also a bit involved. Ingredients: Tequila (for one drink I'd use about 1 1/4 ounce), Blue Curacao (1/2 ounce and I'd probably opt for a substitution of Cointreau or Grand Marnier), coconut milk (eyeball it), fresh lime juice (ditto), frozen raspberries and frozen blue berries (cuts down on need for ice, although a few cubes may be necessary). Hope this helps. Cheers!

Best resource for liquor laws: TiPS They used to have liquor laws at a quick glance outline form fashion that was most helpful. However that I understand is changing by administration for "Instructor Only access." However some of the basics are still available for: each of the states within the United States, District of Columbia, U.S. Virgin Islands and a few pages on each Canadian Provinces. (I forgot, but even some on Mexico may be on there too). Ohio and Pennsylvania are pretty conservative.

Sam-- Please do report back on that! Busboy thought it was odd I wanted to do the same thing...

My last Alaskan roomie helped himself to the very ingredient that I needed while in the midst of its preparation. This also was the one that always left the dishes for me to clean and dropped my favourite large, cobalt blue ceramic mixing bowl. He always mooched a glass of my favourite Thursday evening ritual of enjoying my preferred Zinfandel. He never shared! Then I had a roomie a couple summers back that helped himself to one of my cold Canadian lagers in the fridge, still in the cardboard 12 pack carton. He stuffed a few bucks in there with a post it "hope you don't mind, but I couldn't resist". Worst: during university nothing was sacred. I lived in a co ed house of 7 other roommates that all drank Gin and tonics. I think the only thing that ever remained within the fridge was a sack of limes and an almost empty bottle of tonic. I *love* not sharing my kitchen!

Uh oh, I smell rising prices... and USEPA agents in full force to determine the impact and long term effects of the large flowing Bourbon and Water river. (Anyone remember when Smucker's had to undergo remedial efforts as they inadvertently caused a huge clog of the sewage system with grape jelly in Orrvile, Ohio?)

This must be flirt and flatter Matthew day --- (or ) I'm sure I could sell that to someone!

It's one of those things that when all combined, it is far from what's expected. ummm, err, I don't drink these... but I have a few customers that will order this

For August 6, 2003 -- I can't seem to find Bols Double Barrel Root Beer Schnapps anymore, nor the DeKuyper Old Tavern Rootbeer. I know Hiram Walker also produced one too. I'd recommend a vanilla vodka and this schnapps for a, chilled, up cocktail presentation. Anywho, here's a little recipe for a fun way to celebrate that rootbeer float, in a different way... In a 12 ounce glass filled with ice "build:" 1/2 ounce vodka 1/2 ounce Kahlua 1/2 ounce Galliano cream (half and half is fine too) near to the top; stir to combine; top with cola. Cheers!

It's on my list of things to do and try Matthew! I entirely trust your recommendations to be delish!

We used to serve a 16 oz Bloody Mary, made with Sacramento Tomato Juice, Demitri's Bloody Mary Seasoning mix; garnished with one each of the following: good shake of black pepper lime squeeze lemon squeeze celery stalk "tree" 21/25 count cooked, tail on shrimp and a 2 ounce domestic draft chaser served alongside in a red wine glass. Horseradish (on the side in a solo souffle cup), hot sauce, A-1, Worchestire, olives or cocktail onions were available at the guest's request. Not sure we had the beef bouillon cubes (might have) but a bottle of Clamato was around somewhere.... Bloody Mary cocktails on late Sunday mornings/early afternoons ruled. Darned if I can remember the brand of bloody mix I purchased while in Alaska.... It was pleasantly horseradish hot while not being too hot and spicy. Anyone else have premade mix favourites? edit: typo fix

Yes, I've prided myself with home-made, carefully chosen ingredients. But when in a pinch or when pleasantly surprised by a bar's house brand, what are your favourites or recommendations? Me -- Demitri's Bloody Mary Seasoning from Seattle, WA. All you do is add tomato juice. The stuff is amazing.

I have an Alaskan Brewing Co. beermat -- that's good beer. Not a lot of Alt style brews out there in the U.S. -- the Alaskan Amber is a fine example. I worked as a lackey one summer at the Homer Brewing Company in Homer, Alaska -- washing and filling growlers, giving tours of our tiny brewhouse, drinkin' beer. Best job I ever had. And some of the best beer, too. The Homer Brewing Company beermat depicts the once-in-a-lifetime comet Hyakutake that shot over the Kenai Range across Kachemak Bay from Homer in 1996, when the brewery was started. It's a nice beermat. And thanks for the welcome. gabe: :wub: :wub: :wub: I've never tried, but often heard about Homer Brewing. For being a true Southeasterner, I am generally bound to loathing Anchorage!!! I have fond memories of Alaska Air being late due to crew scheduing difficulties (one member forgot they were scheduled) and being stuck on standby for NWA (three days, in the December , during Christmas week) heading east because I missed my confirmed space seat on Northworst an hour prior to our landing at lovely Anchorage's worn torn airport! (met a few Russian only speaking folks only to enjoy a few smiles, great gesturing and pointing and choice chilled vodka shots!) Yes, welcome. I get a warm fuzzy feeling with other Alaskan folk on these boards....

Hi gabe! Welcome to eG! Those do make awesome collectibles. I want the one with the pink elephants! I saved a sleeve of them from when I worked in Alaska of my most favourite microbrew: Alaskan Brewing Company. Remember, the best of these are those collected items that were free! Being in the booze biz, the "kickback" promo items are great!

This was inspired by my sipping coffee with the Queen of Domesticity haunting New Orleans antique shops for today's repeat program. She was sitting with a dapper gentleman who was showing off Absinthe glasses, spoons and carafes. Fabulous stuff. Also, recently, I was going through and rearranging my cupboards to optimize storage. I fess up, I'm a pack rat! But I have found things I simply cannot part with! Some of my newest acquired coveted gems: Cocktail glasses -Architect designed yearly Bombay Sapphire offerings like these. Any of these are stunning. -my anonized and lucite 1950's era partyware "disposables" in both red or turquoise/cobalt blue, corkscrew shaped stems Cocktail Shakers Oh, I love these. Bullet, "bubbled" or logoed. Bombay Sapphire have a recent bunch that are complete knock out beauties. I'm a sucker for anything cobalt. My fav at the moment is a 1920's/30's reproduction penguin shapped with an easy pour handle. It's beak unscrews to pour out your drink! Wine Stuff -I'm an avid collector of any Möet champagne buckets. My current prize is the double bottle anniversary commemorative "tub." It weighs a ton. -Wine keys. I've got every shape and size. My fav, the lovely wood cased freebie from the kind folks of Jose Cuervo Añjeo with a teflon coated worm. Other favourite logoed goodies: A Honey Brown nylon folding camping chair; my Absolute mini flashlight (great when locating an obscure beer in a dark club in the farthest corner of the beer bottle cooler); a Sam Adams die cut and rubber coated beer bottle opener; liquor pins (not buttons with that annoying eye blinding red blink -- the ones that are usually bottle shaped. Had a regular offer me $30 for a Jäger pin ) a Maker's Mark cigar cutter; a great Finlandia rubbermaid like garnish storage tray. So what are your treasures? Vintage champagne or liquor advertising posters?