Archive for March, 2009
What is absinthe?
Absinthe is an alcoholic drink made from Artemisia absinthium (a plant better known as grand wormwood) and a range of other herbs such as fennel, anise, melissa and hyssop. Actual recipes have always varied by country and manufacturer, as has the quality of each absinthe brand. Traditionally, the drink was quality-classified as either absinthe suisse (the best grade; alcohol content of 68-72%), demi-fine (50-68% alcohol)
or ordinaire (45-50%).
Today, it is thought that there are about fifty brands of the absinthe drink available, produced mainly in France, Switzerland, Spain and the Czech Republic. Absinthe is usually green, although there are a few Swiss varieties that are clear. Best absinthes are made exclusively with all-natural ingredients and have no artificial colourings added. Quality green absinthe always gets its colour from the chlorophyll released from the herbs.
As previously discussed on this blog site an absinthe fountain is used in the process of making an absinthe drink.
There’s nothing more fun than inviting your closest friends over for an intimate dinner. Planning themed dinners is a great way to introduce people to new foods and culture. To plan a Japanese themed dinner, you only need to buy a few ingredients to make chicken teriyaki. Just don’t forget to take out your sake sets and serve some cold beer!
Easy Marinated Chicken
~ 1 3 ½ lb chicken or 6 breast halves
~ 1/3 c. Italian salad dressing
~ 1/3 c. white wine
~ 1 tsp. basil
Skin chicken and place in baking pan. Mix remaining ingredients together. Pour over chicken and marinate in refrigerator for 1-2 hours. Turn once. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until tender. Baste occasionally with marinade.
Absinthe Fountain
What is an absinthe fountain? An absinthe fountain, contrary to what one might think, is not for dispensing absinthe, but rather for dispensing water. Absinthe is rarely drunk neat, and an absinthe fountain is an accessory used to deliver the required amoung of ice-cold water into a glass of the high-proof drink.
A typical absinthe fountain is an ornate vessel with several taps around its central watercontainer, which permits a number of drinkers to louchetheir absinthe at the same time. “To louche?” you might ask. On contact with water, absinthe will louche — or develop a certain subtle clouding that will slowly transform the drink’s colour from deep emerald into a delightful shade of opalescent light green.The absinthe fountain is very much part of the ritual of drinking absinthe, and the venerable and often highly ornate fountain once was a centerpiece of many great absinthe houses, both on the Continent and across the “pond”. Late nineteenth century’s New Orleans, for example, had its famed “Absinthe Room”, whose array of absinthe fountains dripped cool water into the emerald liquor and so intoxicated this intoxicating city. To this day, one celebrated absinthe fountain — bearing the likeness of Napoleon — remains at the original site of the bar.
To the absinthe connoisseur, however, an absinthe fountain is more than just a decorative water dispenser. As all serious absintheurs know, a quality louche cannot be achieved by merely sloshing water into a glass of absinthe; instead, a steady drizzle is required to witness the exquisite transformation of colour and to accomplish the all-important release of essential herbal oils. Although chilled water may be poured (slowly!) from a jug or carafe, absinthe fountains have long served as handy accessories that help to unlock the beauty, power, effects and true taste of great absinthe.
Today, absinthe fountains are appearing again across parts of Europe. Specialised shops sells fountains — as well as glasses, spoons and other absinthe paraphernalia — to both veteran absinthe connoisseurs and to folks who have just discovered the charm of the Green Fairy, as the drink is fondly called.
Absinthe is back, absinthe is fun, and absinthe is for sharing — hence the several taps on the fountain, the celebrated object that is once more finding its way to the tables of parties grand and hip alike.
“It’s always the talk of the party,” said a proud absinthe fountain owner. “Many people have never tried absinthe, much less seen a real absinthe fountain. The whole experience is very novel, and very entertaining, for most guests.”
If absinthe drinking is ritual, then the fountain is the altar: the object to center around, one that conveys the sense of mystery and communion with a past age.
A tumbler is the most generic of the serving glasses for liquids. A tumbler may come in a range of sizes, usually between 12 oz. and 20 oz. There is no ‘right’ shape for a tumbler, but the most common shape features a flat circular base and a conical wall rising up to the rim. Though not specifically intended for alcoholic drinks, many bars use a tumbler as a substitute for both the Collins glass and the highball glass.
These days, a tumbler may come in many different shapes. Because of its wide-spread popularity, most glass makers have at least one, if not many, different varieties of tumbler for sale. The tumbler may be simple, with a flat base and basic outward-arcing body, or may be wavy and artistic, pointed with no flat base, rounded and nested on a stem to a flat base, or any number of other designs. Tumblers come in all sorts of colors and patterns, and may not even be made of glass, some tumblers are constructed of stainless steel or plastics. As glasses go, the tumbler is a must have for any bar and for most kitchens. Larger than an 8 oz. cup, they generally offer a wonderful marriage of simplicity and usefulness, at an affordable price.
Highball glasses are used typically for tall mixed drinks and can hold between eight and twelve ounces of liquid. Of the many types of glassware, highball glasses are distinguished by their straight sides and can have a flat base or a footed stem. Highball glasses are smaller than Collins or Zombie glasses, but larger than the Delmonico glasses. Highball glasses are similar in shape to the Collins glass and hold the same amount of liquid, but the Collins glass is narrower than the highball glass. Highball glasses are versatile and can be interchanged with the Collins glass, and like other stemware, can also be used to serve beer or soda. In different geographical areas, highball glasses are also known as a slim jim or a cooler.
The highball drink is served quickly, hence the name. The day of time the drink is consumed may also explain the highball name. A cocktail is enjoyed during the evening hours before dinner, and a highball consumed in the afternoon when the sun is still high. The highball glass tumbler, like other glassware, comes in a few different styles. Most bars and restaurants will serve drinks in a clear, plain highball glass, but hand-painted and tinted highball glasses are also available for the personal bar collection.