March 11, 2009
Back atcha this week to talk about an ingredient that is essential for so many cocktails, yet is usually given a mere cursory glance: simple syrup. I suppose the reason for this is, well, as the name indicates, it’s a simple ingredient; so simple to prepare and it so exponentially simplifies the preparation of many […]
March 10, 2009
Went to Strong Beer Month at Magnolia Pub in San Francisco a few weeks back with a group of UM readers. The first Umamiventure since I moved back to the west coast! No better way to start off my California residency than some delicious beers brewed right in the middle of the city! As CJ […]
March 7, 2009
They say the American lager is similar to having sex in a canoe… It’s damn near water. Last week in Beer 101 we talked about the two major categories of beer, ales and lagers. Many beer enthusiasts would argue that this is an evil beer that lacks flavor, is mass produced, and was unfortunately the […]
March 4, 2009
Another Wednesday is upon us, which means another opportunity for midweek tippling! The subject of today’s Happy Hour is one that’s been rolling–or rather mixing–around in my mind for a couple weeks now, as I’ve been working on something to contribute to the upcoming Mixology Monday session, or MxMo, as it’s called, where each month […]
February 26, 2009
Last night, a bunch of us were hanging out at Magnolia for Umamiventure #14. Over a few good strong beers we somehow got into a conversation about yeast infections (don’t ask). Kayoko asked, “Is there yeast in beer???” Uhhh… After that, I thought it would be a good idea for me to do a post […]
February 25, 2009
From time to time I like to go back to the drawing board with certain cocktails and see if I can work in another twist while still maintaining the integrity of the original. The Bloody Mary is one of my favorite candidates for this, as it is a drink that lends herself to virtually infinite […]
February 20, 2009
For seven years now the brewers of 21st Amendment and Magnolia Brewery in San Francisco brew an amazing range of beers (usually over 8% ABV) for the annual Strong Beer Month.The kegs and casks of vintage and barrel-aged beers will appear throughout the month starting February 1st, but you should get on it as soon […]
February 18, 2009
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 […]
February 13, 2009
My bonus saw a drastic cut for December 2008, and less business men are taking taxis clear across Tokyo on company tab. But yesterday I was reminded that the Japanese aren’t taking the financial crisis that seriously. I knew this was so when I saw Jean-Paul Gaultier Evian water at my local supermarket. I will […]
February 12, 2009
Okay, so I headed out to Toronodo knowing it was going to be the material for my first of many posts. Equipped with my camera I was going to attempt to be sophisticated so that I could write a nice and fancy blog post for you all, but as you will see, that’s just not […]