Square One Cucumber

Wow - been awhile...

Just heard the news that Thomas Keller will be opening a Bouchon Bistro in Beverly Hills.  I couldn't be happier.

Keller is a master at his craft and always proves to be capable of running a business as well as a kitchen.

I can taste it already.

Eat well as well,

HB

Bad Religion. Acoustic.

Just another vice in my life.  Music.

This was not just another night though.  This was Bad Religion.  All early stuff.  With an acoustic set thrown in the mix.

Unbelievable.

Gin.

If any of you read the LA Times this past Wednesday, you may have noticed the nod to gin.  A spirit that has gotten tossed aside to make room for vodka, gin is a reason to drink, a bouquet of flavor, and a cocktail slinger's dream.

My personal favorite of the moment is Hendrick's, which has a slight cucumber flavor blended with its other botanicals.  Another cocktail that I developed recently uses gin as a primary ingredient, and it is selling like crazy - to a crowd that drinks primarily vodka - I guess I tricked them with the name.  We call it the Strawberry Thyme Martini.  Simple, unassuming name that makes you think it will be approachable and interesting (I think).

Ingredients and Preparation:

1 whole Strawberry

3 sprigs of Thyme

Squeeze (1/4-1/2 oz.) of Agave Syrup

*Muddle*

Add ice

2 oz. Hendrick's gin

Splash of Soda Water (or a variation uses Rhubarb DRY Soda)

Shake for 10 full seconds

Strain through fine mesh strainer

Garnish with sprig of thyme.

Although the gin is the primary ingredient, the balance of the other flavors don't allow people to be turned off by the flavor.  Instead, I bumped up the herbal quotient with thyme, which actually brings out more of the gin flavor, but with a different balance.

The drink is a beautiful light pink color, clear of any thyme leaves or chunks of strawberry to cloud its simplicity.

This is my wife's new favorite.

It's a keeper.

Drink well,

HB

Kirkland wine.

It has been my experience so far that every Kirkland label wine I've purchased from Costco has been very tasty.

The most recent I indulged in a 2006 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir.

I expected a watered down, flabby wine.  I ended up with a structured, balanced, fruit forward, juicy, robust Pinot.  What a find.  I think it was around $15-16 for the bottle.

Grab one or six when you get a chance.  Oh - try the Châteauneuf-du-Pape as well.

Drink well (but not "well"),

HB

Chapurrines. Enjoy.

So, we added a drink that comes with a side of edible grasshoppers yesterday.

The response was interesting.  It was rather slow, so we didn't sell any of the actual cocktails, but I did hand out a few samples.  No one refused - which surprised me quite a bit.  The reviews of the grasshoppers themselves... "kind of tastes like bark."

Bummer.  They are actually quite good.  They are air popped and flavored with salt and lemon.  It's just the texture, and then the smoky aftertaste that turns people off.  They remind me of dried chilies.

We'll see how it goes.

Drink well,

HB

Morimoto NYC

I snuck this picture while having lunch at Morimoto. What a gorgeous
bar.

The food was incredible as well.

Yellowtail pastrami.  Enough said.

HB