by Brian | May 10, 2016 | Dedicated Drinker's Diary, Mixology, Recipes
I have an Italian friend who is a lovely man. And forceful. “Drink this,” he put a glass in front of me. “You’ll like it.” I looked at it. Strange color, not bad, just a little strange. “Don’t look. Drink,” he insisted....
by Brian | Sep 16, 2014 | Dedicated Drinker's Diary, Recipes
It’s finally fall and your farmers market is abundant with the summer’s bounty of fruit, particularly apples and pears. I have this love/hate relationship with pears that I don’t think I can win. When good, a pear is the best fruit possible. Of course, a...
by Brian | Aug 24, 2014 | Dessert Digest, Recipes
Frostings by Courtney Dial Whitmore and Courtney Whitmore is a slim treasure of a book dedicated to decadence. Frostings in all forms and flavors appear here. I’m fond of buttercreams and prefer them very lightly flavored. I want my frosting subtle, with hinted...
by Brian | Jul 25, 2013 | Dedicated Drinker's Diary
“I need you to make cocktails on Thursday. Sparkling cocktails,” Suzen told me last week. “How many people?” “32.” “Oh, time for punch.” I gave my natural reaction. I was not making cocktails for 32 people. “No, individual cocktails. I suggest you do research.”...
by Brian | Dec 3, 2012 | Dedicated Drinker's Diary, Recipes
Blue is not Christmas green or red, but the blue of blue curacao is surely a message of celebration. This cocktail, from Holiday Cocktails by Jessica Strand, is a beautiful surprise. You may love tequila. You probably love champagne, or some sparkling wine....