Cocktails & Wine
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Springsteen and the mango freeze that wasn't
Posted by Kevin Allman on Tue, May 1, 2012 at 2:48 PM
Now, bringing liquor into Jazzfest is illegal and frowned upon by the authorities. Unsmiling people search your bags as you enter to prevent this. And I can’t encourage or condone stupid and juvenile efforts to sneak in liquor. But, somehow, back at base camp, through inexplicable and possibly miraculous circumstances, I found myself in possession of two flasks of Banks Five Island Rum. Also — and these must have been left in my daypack from a previous event — I found a battery-powered swizzle stick, a large plastic mixing cup, and a small bottle of Bitter Truth Orange Bitters.I know. What are the odds?
As Wayne, ever the consummate host when liquor is involved, mixed rum-spiked mango freezes for his party, Springsteen, who was just a few feet away, seemed to take note:
What happened next is a matter of some conjecture among our party. Some believe he spontaneously chose to crowd-surf, or possibly he lost his balance and decided just to go with it. However, others of us are pretty certain he spotted a delicious mango and rum drink being served below, and thought to himself, “That looks pretty damn good! I wouldn’t mind one of those myself.”
What happened next is a tragedy and a lesson in being prepared. Read it at Wayne's Slow Cocktails blog.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Move over, king cake vodka: Here comes KING REX
Posted by Kevin Allman on Thu, Apr 5, 2012 at 1:42 PM
KING REX! Are there two more regally redundant words in the English and Latin languages? Of course not — and all we can say is: Move over, king cake vodka, because Carnival-themed cocktail luxurie is in da house.
The Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America is holding its convention in Las Vegas, and New Orleans cocktail guru and rum-bum-about-town Wayne Curtis is there to report for his Slow Cocktails blog. It was Curtis, a veritable rum-soaked Ponce de Leon, who stumbled across King Rex Vodka, King Rex Bourbon and King Rex Rum, three new New Orleans-themed boozes fit for a king ... or a king rex.
Let's learn more. From the company's website:
The King REX brand has pushed the boundaries even further when it came to creating its bottles. The designs include unique crystal jewels, but also feature an interesting shape face showcasing an intricate colorful painted texture mask seen at Carnival. The exquisite bottle capsulation is as regal as any King's crown with each bottle neck painstaking design for the ultimate ease to speed pour. Each designers bottle identifies the category of spirits by their Carnival color of purple "Justice" King REX Ultra-Premium Vodka, green "Faith" King REX Ultra-Premium Silver Rum, and gold " Power" King REX Ultra-Premium Bourbon. Each bottle has a LED light that can be switched on from the base of the bottle for a more translucent glorious "come and celebrate with Rex" statement. These bottles could easily be mistaken for an avant-garde artwork. The bottle and packaging have been designed with the respect and traditional of its New Orleans and Venetian masquerade culture.
More under the cut, including a unique KING REX recipe that will satisfy your itch for a piece of dried jicama in your Sazerac ...
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Tonight: The Barman's Fund kicks off at Balcony Music Club
Posted by Alex Woodward on Thu, Dec 1, 2011 at 3:51 PM
Note: a previous version of this blog said the event is at Balcony Bar on Magazine Street. The address has been fixed.
Once a month, each bartending member of The Barman's Fund will donate a shift's worth of tips to a local charity. The New Orleans chapter of the group, first organized in New York earlier this year, begins tonight: chapter organizer Holly Williams tends bar at Balcony Music Club (1331 Decatur St.) from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m., and all tips earned will benefit Second Harvest Food Bank and the New Orleans Women's Shelter.
Williams was inspired by her New York friends involved with the Fund and wanted to get New Orleans bartenders involved. Williams assembled a loose group of bartenders with Fund shifts on assigned days through December, and more are planned for January.
"It had done so well there," Williams says, "I thought, 'You know, I know so many bartenders here that would love to give back if they knew how.'"
Since April, the New York group has raised $25,000 for low-income cancer patient care, community health centers, senior centers, the Coalition for the Homeless, special needs students and other organizations.
The December Barman's Fund schedule is below the jump. Cheers.
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Photos: New Orleans On Tap
Posted by Kevin Allman on Sat, Oct 1, 2011 at 8:37 PM
What a great day for New Orleans On Tap, the annual beer sampling that's also a fundraiser for the Louisiana SPCA. Thousands of people turned out in New Orleans City Park (many with their dogs) to try hundreds of beers, listen to Rotary Downs and Flow Tribe, and meet many of the SPCA's adoptable pups. Here's what it looked like.
Monday, September 26, 2011
New Orleans On Tap to benefit the Louisiana SPCA
Posted by Kevin Allman on Mon, Sep 26, 2011 at 4:58 PM
Admission is free, and beer samples will be purchased with tickets (bring cash for the tickets). It's co-sponsored by local bigfoot brewpub The Bulldog, and among the local micros on tap will be Abita, Heiner Brau, Lazy Magnolia, NOLA Brewing, Bayou Teche Biere and Tin Roof Brewing. (A complete list is here.) The event runs from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., with performances by Rotary Downs (2:30-4:30 p.m.) and Flow Tribe (5-7 p.m.). There will also be a cool-off tent (for dogs and owners), doggie games, a raffle, food, non-alcoholic beverages and adoptable pets from the LA-SPCA.
You're also welcome to bring your own well-behaved dog as long as it's on a leash ... or come out empty-leashed and take home a new dog or cat.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Running of the Bulls 2011: red, white and wine all over
Posted by Alex Woodward on Thu, Jul 7, 2011 at 3:35 PM
- Jared Howerton
- The procession for St. Fermin at the 2010 San Fermin de Nueva Orleans.
The main event for this weekend's San Fermin en Nueva Orleans is Saturday, of course — thousands of runners are expected to participate in the fifth annual El Encierro, or Running of the Bulls. The "bulls" are 400 roller derby girls (including the Big Easy Roller Girls) from 27 teams across the U.S. and Canada.
But the festival officially begins tonight. The NOLA Bulls crew hosts a five-course Marques de Caceres wine dinner at Rambla. (Here's the menu and ticket information.) Tomorrow night is El Txupinazo, with a full Spanish buffet from Vega Tapas Cafe, open bar, flamenco dancing and music by Ven Pa Ca. (More info here.) Following the event is a 12-hour pre-party at 12 Bar on Fulton that'll keep going until 8 a.m. Saturday, when El Encierro begins.
Before the run (which you should read the Do's and Don'ts for) is the procession for St. Fermin. El costaleros carry the statue of St. Fermin in a morning procession, followed by a drum procession with el tambores and trumpatistos, performing a Spanish fanfare on trumpet. Following the run, roller girls compete in two contests: Best Dressed Bull and Horniest — to determine who wore the best pair of horns.
On Sunday, after Saturday's all-day events (including the post-run Fiesta de Pantalones), the NOLA Bulls and NOLA Fugees present El Pobre de Mi, with an Ernest Hemingway lookalike competition, skits and costume contest.
This year, ticket and merchandise sales and donations (including those for a by-donation mechanical bull ride) support Animal Rescue New Orleans and the Louisiana Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Also joining the festivities this year are 30 members of Atlanta cocktail enthusiasts The Martini Tour, who will take part in the procession and carry the ashes of Donald Robert Hanemann, one of the Atlanta groups' members who died recently. One of Hanemann's wishes was to run with the bulls in New Orleans.
Click here for a full schedule of events. And again, please read Gambit's Do's and Don'ts — the list comes straight from the NOLA Bulls crew, so heed their advice.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Reds, Whites and the Blues Thursday night
Posted by Kevin Allman on Tue, Oct 19, 2010 at 2:32 PM
Select Brands wine brokers and Gambit host the event to benefit the Big Easy Awards Foundation for Entertainment Development and Education, which supports music, theatre and the classical performing arts through acknowledgements, grants and gifts.
Participating restaurants include 5Fifty5 (Marriott), Byblos, Besh's Domenica in the Roosevelt Hotel, Frenier Landing in Laplace, Mike's On The Avenue, Susan Spicer's new Lakeview restaurant, Mondo, Nonna Mia Cafe & Pizzeria, Ralph's On The Park, Ruth's Chris Steak House, The Red Maple, the new Salu Wine & Tapas bar and Dorignac's Catering.
What to wear? Anything from dressy to jeans. We'll provide the tasting glasses.
More — including ticket info — under the jump.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Meanwhile, In New Orleans...
Posted by Alex Woodward on Mon, Aug 2, 2010 at 11:05 PM
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Veteran bartender Brian Rea talks shop at Tales of the Cocktail
Posted by Will Coviello on Thu, Jul 22, 2010 at 9:38 PM
By Jennifer Kilbourne
Brian Rea is coauthor of The Modern Bartender’s Guide, creator of thebarkeeper.com, and former curator of what he says is the world’s largest collection of books about cocktails. On Saturday, July 24, he’ll host the seminar, “Bartending in the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s (The Dark Ages)” (10:30 a.m., Royal Sonesta Hotel, tickets $40 in advance; $45 at the door) at Tales of the Cocktail 2010. The self-described “Curmudgeon Loungasauraus,” spoke to Gambit about his life in bars past and present.
Gambit: How did you begin bartending?
Rea: I was married to a lady whose father sold bars and grills. The father of my first wife, I should say.
Gambit: How many wives have you had?
Rea: Three. I would’ve had more but I was working nights.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Late Night at Tales of the Cocktail
Posted by Will Coviello on Tue, Jul 20, 2010 at 10:24 PM
By Jennifer Kilbourne
After long days filled with seminars, tastings and events, Tales of the Cocktail attendees and the public can retire to late-night sessions at Irvin Mayfield’s Jazz Playhouse (Royal Sonesta, 300 Bourbon St., 553-2270). Called Tales after Dark, the series unites jazz styles with appropriate drinks each night. Liquor sponsors will set up special bars offering the evening’s featured drinks. The soirees last from midnight until 2 a.m.
Wednesday is “Havana Nights” featuring Nueva Tierra playing Cuban jazz and Bacardi rum cocktails.
Thursday is "Keeping it Rio," with Chegadao playing Brazilian samba-funk with special guests David Pulphus, Paul Thibodeaux and Alexey Marti. Caipirinhas (cachaca sugarcane liquor mixed with sugar and lime) and batidas (frozen drinks of cachaca mixed with sugar and fruit juice) will be served.
Friday brings the “Sounds of Storyville” with Burlesque Ballroom starring Trixie Minx performing to the music of Jayna Morgan and the Sazerac Sunrise Band. Sidecars (cognac, orange liqueur and lemon juice) and French 75’s (cognac, champagne, lemon juice and sugar) are featured.
Saturday is “Shake Your Brass.” Irvin Mayfield leads the Hot 8 Brass Band as they celebrate contemporary local with Benchmark Bourbon and beer.
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