I was recently in Vegas for a whirl wind 30 hours to attend Blogworld with the FM crew. After landing and attending the show, we set out to try some of the bars on the strip (there are a few).
First stop, the Irish Pub at NewYork NewYork for a few pints of Guinness (Duh!). Next we paused at a very tired cocktail lounge off the casino at the Excalibur. Trying to keep it simple, I ordered a round of martini (2 olives, 2 twists) to which the bartender look at me a said “is this going to be whole thing?”. I thought a Vegas bartender could handle making four martinis, but I guess the “busy” Thursday afternoon was a bit overwhelming for her (it was dead). (more…)
As we close the bar on 2007, I felt it appropriate to take a look back. Sure everyone does these lists, but it is fun to look at the year that was. I I figure, hey! why not?
So with out further ado, here are some of my favorites from 2007.
After nearly 100 years, women can once again tend bar in New Delhi. This 1914 British law was overturned by the Indian Supreme Court last week giving women access to one of the more lucrative professions in India.
The cocktail craze has hit India, with trendy bars sprouting up all over the country. A bartender in New Delhi, Mumbai or Hyderabad can earn $1000 (US) per month, nearly 4 times that of the average call center worker.
For those who don’t know the Dale DeGroff, the legendary bartender who grew to fame at New York’s Rainbow Room, this is a great introduction to the man and his no nonsense cocktail philosophy. He is not only responsible for the Cosmopolitan, but for helping to make bartending the creative, respectable profession it is today.
When asked, “Any tips for home mixologists on making drinks at home?”
Says the King of Cocktails, “If you have good recipes, follow them, because you can really screw stuff up, as you can in baking. But having said that, recipes can sometimes be a starting point, and adjusted to your taste - sweet, sour, whatever. But use quality ingredients. Use the best ingredients you can afford - the same thing Julia Child told everybody.”
We can’t take credit for the interview, but at least we can share it with you. Cheers!
A 64 year-old German man nearly died recently while returning from vacation. With 2 pints (1 liter) of Vodka in his carry on, he was informed by security that he would either need to check his Bag or get rid of the Vodka. He did just that, downing both bottles on the spot.
“The incident occurred at the Nuremberg airport on Tuesday, where the 64-year-old man was switching planes on his way home to Dresden from a holiday in Egypt. New airport rules prohibit passengers from carrying larger quantities of liquid onto planes, and he was told at a security check he would have to either throw out the bottle of vodka or pay a fee to have his carry-on bag checked as cargo. Instead, he chugged the bottle down — and was quickly unable to stand or otherwise function, police said.”
“Ireland’s national police force, the Garda Siochana, announced the nationwide manhunt earlier today. A lone man drove into the brewery Wednesday and hitched a fully loaded beer trailer to his truck, driving away with 180 kegs of Guinness stout, 180 kegs of Budweiser and 90 kegs of Danish beer Carlsberg. Guinness brews the latter two under license.
The kegs held the equivalent of 39,600 British pints and they had a value of about $235,000, the police estimated. Diageo, the company that owns Guinness, says it’s the biggest theft in the brewery’s 248-year history.”
Guinness Brewmaster Fergal Murray launched the latest technology from Guinness – The Surger Unit. An event took place at ESPN Zone in Times Square. Fergal was joined by former Dallas Cowboy Daryl “Moose” Johnson to serve pints with proceeds going to RADD, the entertainment industry’s voice for road safety. The Guinness Surger Unit enables you to get a perfect pint every time, everywhere.
At the touch of a button, the new Surger unit uses small sound vibrations to release the nitrogen gas in the beer and cause a cascading effect, also referred to as “the surge and settle.” While the technology behind the Guinness Surger unit seems advanced, it’s quite easy for bartenders to operate. A Guinness Surger can, which contains the same Guinness beer found in kegs and brewed at St. James’s Gate in Ireland, is poured into a glass and placed on a small plate. Similar to the draught tap system, the Surger unit releases the gas in the beer, creating the surge and settle that forms the signature creamy head.
“We recognize the importance of quality and tradition to our loyal Guinness drinkers. Now this innovative new technology allows all bars and restaurants to serve a great quality Irish favorite in the same way that it is most traditionally enjoyed,” said Randy Carlson, Director of Innovation for Guinness.
Guinness Draught Surger unit is appearing in bars and restaurants across the US beginning this week.
I was recently in Vegas for a whirl wind 30 hours to attend Blogworld with the FM crew. After landing and attending the show, we set out to try some of the bars on the strip (there are a few). 
As we close the bar on 2007, I felt it appropriate to take a look back. Sure everyone does these lists, but it is fun to look at the year that was. I I figure, hey! why not? 
For those who don’t know the Dale DeGroff, the legendary bartender who grew to fame at New York’s Rainbow Room, this is a great introduction to the man and his no nonsense cocktail philosophy. He is not only responsible for the 
A 64 year-old German man nearly died recently while returning from vacation. With 2 pints (1 liter) of Vodka in his carry on, he was informed by security that he would either need to check his Bag or get rid of the Vodka. He did just that, downing both bottles on the spot. 
Wow!
