Hard Apple Cider

I do not like beer ***GASP!!!***

Yea, I said it. I’m not a beer drinker and I have tried plenty trying to find one that would suit my fancy (but that’s another post for another time). That being said, when I go out with friends during Happy Hour, I was tired of sipping my high dollar wine when they had $1 beer specials. I needed to find something that was not as expensive for a social drinker as myself.

Enter hard apple cider. ~~applause, bells, and whistles~~

My first taste with hard cider was Woodchuck. Of this brand my favorite is the Pear. Woodchuck is the least expensive that I have found. I can get it on tap or in a bottle at many bars around $3. The flavor is crisp with a little bite to it. The flavor profile is simple. I can taste the fermented flavor, a hint of apple, and not much else.

The prize for my favorite hard cider is a tie between Windy Hill Rusty Gold and Somersby Hard Cider. Both have extremely different flavor profiles, but are really yummy in their own right.

Windy Hill Rusty Gold is very complex with cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and orange peel. The aroma hits the nose and the cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and orange peel dance on your taste buds. This is definitely a sipping cider because you need time to reflect and savor all the different flavors. Since I am all for local owned breweries, distilleries, and the like, I am always happy to support locally owned businesses like this. They are located in Rock Hill, SC (about 3 hours from where I live). I plan to head up there and take a tour of their farm when I get some free time.

As complex as Windy Hill Rusty Gold, Somersby Hard Cider is supremely simple apple flavor. Somersby Hard Cider is as smooth as they come. I often wonder if Somersby Hard Cider is sparkling apple juice. It has the fizz and the cider flavor is so light, that it is an easy to drink beverage. I have to restrain myself from drinking too fast because of the alcohol content. Have I mentioned how smooth it is? I love it! The negative about Somersby Hard Cider is that it is hard to find in the bars around town. I would prefer Somersby Hard Cider to Woodchuck. The positive about Somersby Hard Cider is that it is a great drink for garden parties. It is light, smooth, and refreshing.

Are there any hard ciders that you suggest I try? I am open to new ones and will let you know my opinion of those as I try them.

Flemings – Austin TX

Feb2

I was in Austin, TX and a group of us wanted to go out for dinner. Since half of the people did not have cars, we decided to go somewhere close to the hotel so that we could walk.

As a side note to this restaurant post: Austin downtown is a great city for walking around.

We asked each other? What do we want? Chinese, Italian, Tex Mex, Steakhouse, Japanese, Thai, Indian? Of all the delicious sounding choices, we finally could agree on going to a steakhouse and the concierge suggested Fleming’s.

When we walked in, the hostess asked if we had a reservation. We did not. We wondered if this would be a problem. Thankfully it was a Wednesday night, so the place was not very crowded. We had to wait about 20 minutes and our group of 10 was seated. I thought that was quick considering the fact that we were a large group.

Once seated, the waiters brought warm bread for us to snack on while looked at the menu. I probably could have filled up on bread (as usual).

As always, when I am hungry I want everything on the menu. I ended up ordering the Caprese salad (Tomatoes, mozzarella, basil with balsamic reduction) and small plate lamb chops (cooked medium rare of course) with fried polenta. Someone ordered a bottle of Canyon Road chardonnay for the table. The caprese salad was so good, I used some bread to sop up all the balsamic vinegar and olive oil. The lamb chops looked small, but were filling. The seasoning was simple- salt and pepper – so the natural flavor of the meat were enhanced. I am not a big fan of polenta in general, but this was tasty.

The Canyon Road chardonnay was a fresh, light tasting wine that, for my taste buds, went well with the Caprese salad. I do not usually drink white wine with red meat, so I did not drink any of the Canyon Road chardonnay with the lamb chops. I think red meat’s stronger flavors overpower white wines.

I was a member of the “Clean plate” club this night. I could not stop until it was all gone. By the time I finished my food, I was too stuffed for dessert. The whole reason I ordered the small plate was to be able to get dessert!

Fleming’s is a great choice if you are looking for a steakhouse in downtown Austin. The food was delicious and perfectly prepared. I could tell that they used high quality ingredients. The chefs prepared everything to our expectations. Nothing was overcooked or under-seasoned. The service was stellar. They had personality and made sure we had everything we needed. Plus, they offered thoughtful recommendations based on our taste preferences. The prices were comparable with Ruth Chris or Sullivan’s.

My love affair with Old Main Catering food

Dec15

It seems that I have a foodie love affair with Old Main Catering. I have at least one blog post each year extolling the great food experiences. I have not had a mediocre experience yet. There is always different gourmet food being offered when OMC caters an event.

Over the summer, I attended several events that Old Main catered and I had to share pictures of my favorites from these events.

In the collage, here are the standouts.

Top left – Teriyaki wings. The flavor was tangy and a little sweet. These were probably the best teriyaki wings I have tasted. Most the time teriyaki can be too sweet and overly salty. With OMC, the balance of savory and sweet left my taste buds wanting more. It was messy to eat, but no one was complaining because it was so delicious.

Bottom left – Fruit water. I liked the presentation and the bright colors of the fruit. Who needs soda when you can have something that is so much more refreshing! Plus, I felt healthy drinking it.

Middle – Banana cream tarts. I have to dissect the dessert for you to fully understand how awesomely good this was. The pie shell was thick, buttery, sweet, flakey, and crumbled in your mouth. It was the perfect pie crust. The banana cream was thick, not too sweet, and had bits of banana in it. The whipped cream on top tasted like REAL whipped heavy cream with a hint of vanilla. And the caramel drizzle was super sweet but there was just enough to compliment all the other flavors without overpowering them. This is what dreams are made of. Sigh….

Top right – Smoked salmon tart. The same pie shell crust for this is as what was used in the banana cream tarts. In this instance, the sweetness of the crust seemed to be intensified in comparison to the savory smoked salmon quiche filling. I was not sure if I would like this because I never had smoked salmon in this way before. Although hesitant, I still tried it because I believe you cannot say you don’t like something if you have not tried it. In this case, I loved it! I ended my dinner by eating two of these tarts. The herbs and smoked salmon came together well.

Bottom right – Tiny apple pie. It was cute and delicious. Wonderful combination! I like bite size confections with hints of spice and fruit and flaky crust.

Bottom right – Key lime pie in chocolate shell. I have mentioned the key lime in chocolate shell before.

The chefs consistently produce creative bite-sized dishes that excite and delight my taste buds. At every event, I was sad that I could not eat more. I know that makes me sound like a little piggy, but OMC food is so good that it is worth a little gluttony.

Excuse me while I look for OMC’s next catered event…

Jazz’d Tapas Bar – Savannah GA

Nov24

I had to go Savannah for a work conference and was looking for something different to eat. I wanted to go downtown because I figured that was the best area for a lot of different options. At the time it was raining, so walking around was out of the question. I searched on my phone for area restaurants and that is how I found Jazz’d Tapas Bar.

Jazz’d Tapas Bar is in Savannah’s Historic District on Barnard St. The bar is below street level lending to the cool, jazzy vibe. Not the best choice since it was raining cats and dogs because there were giant puddles near their entrance. But once inside, the atmosphere put me in the mood to order food and a tasty drink. This was the ultimate jazz bar with jazz/blues music playing in the background.

The thing about tapas menus is that you are usually hungry and want to try everything. Most menu items were between $7 – 10 each. I splurged and ordered 3: pork empanadas with a tangy sour cream dip, crab cakes with a herbed remolade, and roasted chicken over corn relish. I could not eat all that I ordered, so I took what was left of my empanadas for a late night snack. Since I was living in the moment, I felt that I had to order a martini. It seemed like the sophisticated thing to do. I forgot to take of picture of it, but it was a delight for me taste buds as well.

Everything was really delicious. My favorite was the empanadas. The pork filling was flavored with BBQ spices. It was a fusion of Southern BBQ and Latin cooking style.

I read that Jazz’d has received awards for their food and swanky digs from Cosmopolitan Magazine, Southern Living, and Savannah Magazine. I have to agree the food and ambiance were on point. If you are ever in Savannah and want to visit an upscale restaurant for food and drinks, keep this Jazz’d Tapas Bar in mind. They change the menu every so often, so you might not be able to order the empanadas, but whatever you order, I can imagine that it will be delicious.

Dark Corner distillery

Aug29

Looking for something to do if you are in downtown Greenville South Carolina? You need to make a stop by Dark Corner Distillery (241 N Main St Greenville, SC 29615).

I recommend doing a tasting but make sure you have had something to eat first. These liquors are potent. They will have your head swimming if you try to taste with an empty stomach.

Dark Corner is making legal moonshine. Some dress it up and call it “corn whiskey”. It is all the same.

Dark Corner have a cinnamon flavored liquor called Hot Mama. Since it is super spicy ( blend of 111 proof whiskey, cinnamon and chipotle peppers), to me, it is not good to drink by itself. However, it is awesome in mixed drinks. By itself the cinnamon intensifies the high alcohol content so much that it numbed my tongue and burned my throat. At this stage of my life, I like to savor the taste of my liquor. When using the same cinnamon flavored liquor in warm apple cider, it becomes a comfort drink that warms the insides. That is my kind of drink.

My favorite is Carolina Peach Shine. It is 70 proof and tastes really good on the rocks. Sip it if you want to enjoy the sweet peachy flavor. Since Carolina Peach Shine is very sweet on its own, the ice helps to mellow out and dilute it a little bit. Take it like a shot if you want to feel a pleasurable burn. I felt warmth as the liquid travelled down my throat, but it was not as overpowering as the cinnamon one. Nor did it have the numbing effect. Mix it in juice for a kicked up beverage.

What I most like about Dark Corner is the fact that they let you sample their flavors before you buy. When I went, it was not too crowded and so my friend and I were able to sample without waiting. If there is a crowd, you might need to be patient.

Don’t forget to TIP your server! You did just get a free liquor sample. Be appreciative.

Above all else, drink responsibly. Definitely do not drive if you are feeling tipsy.