Some of my friends think of me as the guy who likes fancy-schmancy cocktails. It’s true, I like a lot of fancy-schmancy things. I really like the word fancy-schmancy. It is also true that on occasion I can be a pain in the ass for some unsuspecting and unprepared bartender when I’m lecturing him about […]
Author Archives: Payman Bahmani
February 11, 2009
Happy Hour: I Love Lucy
When I committed to making the Happy Hour column a regular Wednesday thing, I realized that either I’d have it pre-written and ready to be posted at the designated time (ideal scenario) or that I’d write it on the day of and post it immediately. What I didn’t take into account is that I’m sort […]
February 5, 2009
Happy Hour: The Piña Colada
It’s still winter in Brooklyn, and it’s colder than ever. Last I checked weather.com said it was 20 degrees with a windchill that makes it feel like 4 degrees (I wish I had the degree symbol on my keyboard so didn’t have to constantly type out the word “degree”). If you read my previous post, […]
January 30, 2009
Happy Hour: Holiday Eggnog Redux
It’s still cold as hell (or would that be heaven, since it’s the opposite of hell?) here in NY, and spring’s still a distant dream. So I figured while I can’t speed up time, I can at least travel back to when the winter was bearable, and when the possibility of receiving free things was […]
January 28, 2009
Happy Hour: Homemade Strawberry Liqueur
With Valentine’s Day around the corner, I figured I’d have some strawberry liqueur on hand to toss in some cocktails, or if I’m feeling lazy, in some bubbly. And there’s no way better to do it than to make it yourself at home. Although I’m a little late on the planning of this, as I […]
January 16, 2009
Grand Re-Opening of Il Punto (NYC)
This past Tuesday I had the privilege of attending the grand re-opening of Il Punto Ristorante, formerly named Osteria Gelsi. Guests were treated to a generous sampling of the restaurant’s authentic Italian fare, as wine, prosecco, and cocktails flowed free like the Tiber River itself. As is my nature, upon entry I immediately shot to […]
December 16, 2008
Happy Hour: Gingerbread Cocktail
I’m a big fan of eggnog during the holidays (homemade, not store bought), but when the vibe calls for something a bit lighter and more refreshing without losing the flavors essential to the season, make a Gingerbread Cocktail instead. Here’s the recipe:Gingerbread Cocktail1 part vodka1 part Domaine de Canton3 parts apple ciderSplash of fresh lemon […]
November 20, 2008
What Type of Person is Umamimart?
The blogosphere is very big–almost as big as the atmosphere. So I sometimes wonder where Umamimart fits in, in this huge universe o’ blogs. And if blogs had personalities, what would be Umamimart’s? Well, you can stop wondering, as the Typealyzer’s got it all figured out for you. It will analyze your blog and hold […]
November 9, 2008
Happy Hour: Juan McCain & Baroque Obama
Election day has come and gone, but the celebration parties are still going strong. So whether you’re celebrating the history-making inauguration of our first African-American prez, or you just want to drown your sorrows in booze after the electoral thumping of Mr. McCain, I present you with a couple of candidate-inspired cocktails that should be […]
October 13, 2008
How to Season a Wok
I finally made my long delayed trip to Chinatown to buy a wok after the one I bought from Ikea fell apart–literally. I couldn’t wait to get home and season it for use, and figured I’d take some pictures and share the info for anyone interested in doing the same. For those who don’t know, […]