Archive for the ‘Food and Beverage Reviews’ Category

Expensive drinks

Sunday, February 2nd, 2014

I just got back from a vacation at an all-inclusive resort in which the alcohol choices depended on if you were “privilege” (VIP) or not. Oddly, Absolut was privilege, Stoli was not. Jim Beam was privilege, Jack Daniels was not.

On a tangent, I started thinking about what really privileged people would drink. No, I’m not talking Louis XIII cognac, which can go for $200/pour, depending on which market you’re in. Instead, I’m talking about super, super expensive drinks, like these:

The $1,000 Mint Julep at the Kentucky Derby. Starting in 2006, the race sold them for charity. The special mint juleps were made with Woodford Reserve bourbon, ice from the Arctic, mint from Morocco and sugar from the South Pacific and served in a gold-plated cup with a silver straw.

The $1,500 Mai Tai at the Merchant Hotel in Belfast (Ireland). The bar at this hotel has been named the World’s Best Hotel Bar, and I think it has an impressive cocktail menu. The reason the drink is so pricey is because it contains original rum from 1944, when the mai tai was invented.

The $10,000 martini at Vaucluse in West Hollywood. In addition to your choice of premium vodka, you also get a one-carat diamond from a nearby jewelry store delivered and placed into your drink.

These drinks would probably go well with the $666 Douche Burger I mentioned in a previous post.

Wisconsin Brewing Co.’s first two beers

Saturday, May 25th, 2013

Wisconsin Brewing Company isn’t slated to open until this fall (probably around Nov. 1, according to a company spokesperson), yet it already has released two beers through the Great Dane for the public to try.

On April 3, brewmaster Kirby Nelson unveiled WBC #001 Golden Amber Lager. Then on May 21, his WBC #002 American IPA followed.

“We’re beer guys, and (these beers) represent styles we enjoy sampling with our friends,” Carl Nolen, president of WBC, said.

Both are what I think are “safe beers,” meaning that they will please the masses a la New Glarus Brewing Co.’s Spotted Cow. The golden amber in particular was light, refreshing and easy on the palate.

Meanwhile, the IPA was milder than I thought it would be (not a bad thing). Still, the beer had an excellent aroma and just the right amount of hop flavor (for me, this means not an overwhelming amount).

Wisconsin Brewing Company plans to release at least one more beer before it opens, but the number depends on the amount of time that Kirby gets at the downtown Great Dane, where he currently brews.

Campbell’s Sun-Ripened Yellow Tomato Soup

Sunday, November 18th, 2012

I love tomato soup, so I was excited when Campbell’s invited me to try its new Sun-Ripened Yellow Tomato Soup. It’s interesting that Campbell’s didn’t modify its original tomato soup, created back in 1897, until last year, when the Harvest Orange Tomato Soup came out.

This version is a bit milder than the original–which may lure people who don’t normally like tomato soup–and accented with seasonings such as thyme. Indeed, I was pleasantly surprised by the flavor–it’s a nice ensemble of ingredients.

For those who don’t like to eat soup on its own, try it with a grilled cheese sandwich. Campbell’s recommends using sharp cheddar, pesto and onions. I replaced the onions with sliced jalapenos, and the sandwich was a perfect complement to the soup (yes, I dipped it!).

With theĀ inevitableĀ Thanksgiving leftovers coming up, I’m thinking you could have a nice meal consisting of a turkey sandwich and some tomato soup.

The point is, the Sun-Ripened Yellow Tomato Soup is versatile and definitely worth a try.

    Madison Symphony Orchestra Urban Air

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