Myth and Moonshine – serious drinks and Louisiana fare

My only run in with grain alcohol was at a frat party at the University of Maryland circa so far back you won’t believe I’m that old. It was grain alcohol mixed with punch and served from a trash can. The after effect, i.e. hangover, was not pretty. I remember working the breakfast shift at my part-time job at the drug store fountain the next day. Someone ordered and egg over easy and I said we were out of them but they could have a scrambled egg…it was that bad.

Moonshine has come a long way since then, first and foremost, Tennessee, Nebraska and Kansas have legalized moonshine production and there are a handful of brands available. Most can be tasted at the Canton pub Myth and Moonshine. There are unflavored moonshines (i.e. Midnight Moon Corn, Shine XXX White Whiskey )or flavored (i. e. Midnight Moon Blueberry, Ole Smoky Peach or Shine XXX Libertea) all and all approximately 70 plus moonshines. The combinations are a mixologist’s dream . My favorite was the straight up shot of the Ole Smoky Peach.

Read the full story, watch the video and slideshow HERE.

Beer, Bourbon and BBQ

Tonight kicks off Beer, Bourbon and BBQ and add an outdoor cigar tent and this event has more testosterone than Sean Connery and Clint Eastwood combined. Don’t let that fool ya ladies, last year I saw a number of women attending, enjoying themselves.

Read the full story: Beer, Bourbon and BBQ

It’s almost summer in Brazil – how about a Caipirinha Cooler

Brrrr, baby it’s cold outside and I can concede to that and make myself a hot toddy or I can trick myself into to thinking warmer climates with a Caipirinha Cooler. After recently trying this traditional drink of Brazil at Flemings I’ve had it on my mind and keep thinking about creating the drink at home – especially with the holidays and company - something different than the mojito.

Get the full story and recipe:
It’s almost summer in Brazil – how about a Caipirinha Cooler

Just in time for the holidays – Gone to Smoke Cards

As a former smoker, a former heavy smoker, I’m not sure what I would do not being able to smoke when I was at a bar. But the law says you can't smoke in bars anymore. This time of year friends are in town for the holidays, everyone meeting at the bars catching up on old times. The bars are packed, at least in my single days they were! If you are a smoker, you crave that cigarette and you go outside to smoke.

Get the full story and learn where to order: Just in time for the holidays – Gone to Smoke Cards

Nationally recognized Brewer's Art First Wednesday five course beer dinner

Nationally acclaimed, locally loved, Brewer’s Art is pairing their great beers with Chef Dave Newman’s specially crafted five course dinner for your delight this Wednesday, August 4th. You have heard of wine dinners where the wine is paired with the food well this is for the beer aficionado with multiple courses paired with Brewer's Art offerings the likes of Zodiac Ale, Green Peppercorn Tripel, Ozzy, Resurrection and La Petroleuse.

Check out the menu for this special beer and food pairing as well as pricing and reservation details:

Nationally recognized Brewer's Art First Wednesday five course beer dinner

Coca Cola with ammonia (ammonia cokes) - makes you stop and go hmmmm

To every post I write there is a trail that brought me to writing. I’m doing this one in reverse, like the high speed films going backwards in time. “Lemon phosphates with ammonia” says the husband, “Dad and I would go to the avenue (Hampden) and get lemon phosphates with ammonia.” “Customers would order cokes with ammonia at my parents' patent drug and luncheonette," The Hopkins Store at 31st and St. Paul streets I stated.

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Coca Cola with ammonia (ammonia cokes) - makes you stop and go hmmmm

Father’s Day – the perfect gift and it is FREE

Whether times are lean or not, here is the perfect gift you and the kids can give dad for Father’s Day. Actually, it is free but for five dollars pop gets to pop the top and enjoy a souvenir pint of beer.

Afternoon out with the family

Gather the family, load them in the car and head over to Hollins Ferry Road for an hour and a half tour of the Heavy Seas Brewery.

Get the tour information and watch the video on "why you shouldn't drink straight from the bottle of beer." Father’s Day – the perfect gift and it is FREE

logo courtesy of Heavy Seas Beer/Brewing - Baltimore MD

Two totally different wine dinners on Thursday, May 20th - which one will you choose?

Love wine – check. Relish a well prepared gourmet meal – check. Enjoy stimulating dinner conversation – check. What do you do when there are two excellent choices for multi-course wine dinner with excellent paired wines? How does one choose? How does one choose?

The decision is yours, and yours alone – I will not skew you either way. The price point is about the same the locations are diametrically apart: downtown Baltimore or Monkton, Maryland. These two events are being listed in alphabetical order to show no preferential treatment.

Check out the menus and see which wine dinner you will choose: Two totally different wine dinners on Thursday, May 20th - which one will you choose?

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Get your ‘Irish’ on

Nothing like a little Jameson Irish Whiskey to kick off your St Patrick’s Day celebrating and wouldn’t it be nice if it had “happy hour” pricing. Well it does, and will tomorrow, March 17th, the anniversary of the day the St Patrick chased the snakes out of Ireland.

Read the full story here: Get your ‘Irish’ on

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Cinghiale hosts Marchesi di Barolo wine dinner with special guest Anna Abbona

On Thursday, February 18th at 7 p.m. Cinghiale Restaurant will host Anna Abbona, proprietor of Marchesi di Barolo vineyards for a very special evening of great food and fine wines from the Piedmont region of Italy. In the Marchesi di Barolo cellars one can find the birthplace of the Barolo tradition. Now in its fifth generation, Ernesto and Anna Abbona are two of the leading voices from the Abbona family and spokespeople for the Langhe.

Review the menu and paired Marchesi di Barolo wines, photo slide show and video:
Cinghale hosts Marchesi di Barolo wine dinner with special guest Anna Abbona

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Have a bloody New Year – Bad Decision style

This whole column is inspired by a tweet from a local bar owner and bartender, John Reusing of Bad Decisions, @bad_decisions, who said “fresh blood oranges! its one of my favorite things to make drinks with- who else is excited?” I was excited and tweeted back under my Twitter moniker @daracooks and that was the seed that germinated into this post. With your New Year’s Eve and Day celebrations at hand we thought you might enjoy making it a bloody celebration. John, a very talented mixologist, has put together three recipes for cocktails containing blood oranges

Read the full story and get the cocktail recipes:
Have a bloody New Year – Bad Decision style


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The Beaujolais Nouveau is coming, the Beaujolais Nouveau is coming

Beaujolais Nouveau is a red wine produced in the Beaujolais region of France using the Gamay grapes. This is a wine that is rushed to market and released on the third Thursday of November every year. It has little time to ferment or to build tannins and offers a fruitier flavor. This is not a wine that you keep in your wine rack for long periods of time; it should be consumed within the year of production.

Check out one very special dinner celebrating the Beaujolais Nouveau:

The Beaujolais Nouveau is coming, the Beaujolais Nouveau is coming

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Tequila 101: Tequila, Mezcal and Morton’s The Steakhouse

Judy DiGioia, sales and marketing manager at Morton’s the Steakhouse/ here in Baltimore is a long time networking gal-pal of mine and she invited me to come to a special tasting of the recent Mexican import, Don Roberto Tequilas on Friday, October 9 at 6 p.m. It looks to be an evening of great drink, fabo food and camaraderie.

Read the complete story and watch the video:
Tequila 101: Tequila, Mezcal and Morton’s The Steakhouse

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Dan Aykroyd is coming – who you gonna to call?

Ghostbuster, Blues Brother, Saturday Night Live’s Dan Aykroyd is coming to Baltimore on Friday, September 11th to Cranbrook Liquors to promote his Crystal Head Vodka. Entrepreneural Aykroyd, whose interest in the spirit world is both literal and figurative, with his Dan Aykroyd Wines, Patron Tequila, and his Crystal Head Vodka as well as his interest in the supernatural, will be meeting the public and signing bottles... Dan Aykroyd is coming – who you gonna to call?

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Juan Valdez is no friend of mine

I have always been a follower, never the leader, and as much as I would like to be one of the pack lined up in a Starbucks or other coffee emporiums ordering a mocha, double latte, it will never happen. Fair trade, organic, hauled on the back of mule in Columbia means nothing to me – I hate coffee, I hate the smell, and I hate the taste. You say everyone loves coffee, but I beg to differ.

Read the complete story:
Juan Valdez is no friend of mine

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Come get a FREE taste

I haven’t had coffee in forty years but last week I tasted an Iced Latte Mocha Swirl from Dunkin Donuts. My first and only cup of coffee up until this past week was back in the college days. It was more a cup of cream and sugar with a hint of coffee.

Check out the complete story for locations for free samples and photo album.
Come get a FREE taste

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Check out what is in the closet

This is just one of those cute commercials

Tuaca Body Art Ball – Recipe and Video

I apologize that sometimes I don't have time to reformat my stories for both blogs and I just give you the link to my Dining Examiner site.

Baltimore Dining Examiner: Tuaca Body Art Ball – Recipe & Video

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Are you wine curious?

We tend to think the Maryland Science Center is for the children but on Thursday, April 30th starting at 6:30 p.m. it is for adults (21 years if age) with their Science Uncorked: Wineology 101. The informal discussion lead by the experts from The Wine Market will delve into scent and taste, even colors and the roles that they play. Participants will sample a selection of wine with food pairings and actually learn about taste zones, clarity and bouquet.


Don't be shy, come with your questions like what does the terminology buttery mean? When someone says the wine has legs-what is that? Do you only drink white wine with fish?


The wine curious and the wine knowledgeable are both invited, to be part of this event. The class/tasting/lecture is from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tickets to Science Uncorked are $35 for Maryland Science Center members and $40 for non-members. Attendees must be 21 or older. RSVP by calling 410.545.5960.

Maryland Science Center
601 Light Street
Baltimore’s Inner Harbor
http://www.marylandsciencecenter.org/

Direct purchase wine bill needs your signature

It is down to the wire for the bill allowing Marylanders to be able to purchase wines directly. There is an on-line petition that NEEDS to be completed by Sunday night – you can make a difference.

The MD House Alcohol Sub-Committee is meeting on Monday at 3PM to deliberate the direct wine shipping bill, YOUR HELP is needed! Please complete the online petition by clicking on the following link: http://www.citizenspeak.org/node/1497

This will send an email to all of the sub-committee members, and they will hopefully will be overwhelmed by Marylanders when they come in on Monday.

Marylanders for Better Beer & Wine Laws http://www.mbbwl.org
Facebook: http://apps.facebook.com/causes/219249/?m=ebaeef2