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Archive for the ‘Beverages’ Category

Belgium Black Time Cocktail Recipe from Julien Duvivier of Hotel Amigo Wins Black Russian Challenge

Sunday, April 29th, 2012

Black Russian Cocktail Winner Julien Duvivier

On April 23rd 2012,  the Black Russian cocktail challenge was held at the Atomium. Following the technical and gustative juries’ deliberations, 3 barmen were selected as winners from the 10 candidates representing Brussels’ hotels.

Organised by the BHA in partnership with the Belgian Association of Barmen (UBB), Food 4 Thought (& Drinks for Fun), the Atomium asbl and with the support of VISITBRUSSELS, this challenge invited the barmen from Brussels hotels to reinvent one of the great classic cocktails, the ‘Black Russian’. An impressive feat by the barmen who blew the juries away with their well executed cocktails that mixed various tastes and flavours.

Invented in 1949 by Gustave Tops, a barman from Brussels, the ‘Black Russian’ cocktail mixes vodka and coffee liquor and has become a must-have on cocktail menus around the world. It was first made in Brussels in honor of the United States of America ambassador to Luxemburg, Pearl Masta, and takes its name from the land of vodka, Russia and from the color of coffee liquor, in memory of the dark hours of the Cold War.

The grand winner of this challenge is the Hotel Amigo, represented by Julien Duvivier who made the ‘Belgium Black Time’ cocktail.He won a trophy, a night for two in a hip hotel in Europe and several products from the UBB. The association also gave several prizes to the second (Ricardo Antunes from Hotel Manos) and third winners (Logan Maury from the Hotel Martin’s Château du Lac). The prize giving ceremony took place in presence of the Minister-President of the COCOF, Christos Doulkeridis.

Following the success of this event, the BHA is proud of the attention granted to this Brussels specialty that will no doubt have more time to shine during the year of gastronomy, Brusselicious 2012.

The recipe that won the challenge : Belgium Black Time Cocktail

Ingredients:

2cl of coffee

1 cl of Apple pie syrup

1cl of Marie Brizard peach cream

2cl of vodka, Ketel 1

Method:

Mix all ingredients in a shaker and serve in a Cancun de Durobor glass.

Enjoy and congratulations Julien.

Maralyn D. Hill

Maralyn D. HillThe Epicurean Explorer

President, International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association

Editor-at-Large, CityRoom

Blogs: Where and What in the WorldSuccess with Writing

Muddled Margaritas

Thursday, April 26th, 2012

I am perfecting my Cinco de Mayo recipes for early May. As avocado fans, our team enjoys the recipes we try from the Haas Avocado Board. I have written several margarita recipes for our blogs. My version of this one has a new twist since it contains avocado. It is the ideal pairing with guacamole, chips and salsa, tortilla soup, and California style fish tacos.

Ingredients for one serving:

Margarita salt for rim as needed

1/2 sour mix

1/2 simple syrup

1/4 fresh lime

1/8 of fresh, large, ripe avocado

1 1/2 oz tequila

1/2 oz orange liquor

1/2 oz or a few splashes of orange juice to taste

ice cubes

Method:

Rim margarita glass with salt.

Place avocado and lime wedge in a pint glass and muddle well.

Add sour mix.

Add tequila, orange liquor and orange juice.

Add ice and shake vigorously until frothy.

Pour into salt rimmed glass.

Tips:

Use all fresh ingredients and the best tequila, when possible. You will taste the difference.

Optional garnishes are lime wedge, orange wheel or an avocado slice.

Review: 2009 Gentleman Farmer Red Wine

Saturday, April 21st, 2012

Gentlemen Farmer from Poem Cellars

Norm and I enjoy when we get wine to review and the 2009 Gentleman Farmer Red Wine was a great surprise. It is labeled red wine, which caused me to wonder how much would we enjoy. Enjoy we did.

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This is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. The nose for us came through with the blueberry and blackberry and oak. When sipping, our palettes picked up some spice and black pepper.

I read where from someone with a very developed palette that on the nose you could get red currants, cherry, blueberry, red plum, blackberry, mushroom, coffee, cocoa and black pepper. Then, on the tongue, ripe red cherry, red currant, sour plum, blackberry and baked cherry fruits.

2009 Gentlemen Farmer Red Wine Photo - Maralyn D. Hill

I not sure that my palette will ever be developed enough to distinguish so many flavors. What I do know, is we both thoroughly enjoyed the Gentlemen Farmer’s wine.

This wine was aged in oak barrels and will cellar for approximately eight years. The grapes are from vineyards in St. Helena and Oak Knoll. The blend is 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 46% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc. The production on this wine was 368 cases.

This wine was a great surprise and one enjoyed tremendously. I served it with a beef stroganoff one night and a chicken dish the second night. It worked well with both.

Yes, we try to make a bottle last for two nights. Not that I wouldn’t enjoy a couple of glasses, I just am always conscious of calories and consequently limit my tasting to one glass a night a dinner. Of course, sometimes there are exceptions and a chef’s tasting menu are one of them.

Gentlemen Farmer is from Poem Cellars in the Napa Valley and sells for $40. It is also carried by Dean & DeLuca which speaks to the quality of the product—absolutely great.

Poem Cellars

6633 Yount Street

Yountville, CA 94599

If you try Gentlemen Farmer, please let me know how you enjoy it.















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