The First Saturday in May

This Saturday is the Kentucky Derby. The most exciting two minutes in sports. Perhaps my favorite sporting event of the year to base a party around. Sure, some, if not most, love a good Super Bowl party- but not this guy. I'm a Derby party man.

Raising the Bar: Martini

This week, readers, we will return to the cocktail.

I would like to address the mother of all cocktails, the Martini.

A simple drink with many complexities, the martini is my go-to at home drink.

Here are my rules:

Cheers!

Happy Wednesday, gentle readers!

Raising The Bar: Bloody Mary

Super special guest post from SF's best bloody maryest Mr Andrew Marks:

Raising The Bar: Don't Sweat the Technique

Shake or stir? Measure? What is all this stuff one needs to know just to enjoy a cocktail at home?

It’s not really that difficult.
Get some liquor and a couple of tools and play around.
Read a book or this blog and learn a couple of tricks of the trade.

Raising the Bar | Episode 3: The Negroni

Today, we continue Boyfriend's cocktail series. As mentioned in an earlier post, the series wil be a combination of recipes, tips, tools and ways to build a killer bar without breaking the bank. Enjoy!

This week I’m bringing you a simple cocktail with only three ingredients, two of which you should always have on hand.

On The Rocks | Part 2

And so continues Boyfriend's cocktail series...


Yesterday I wrote about the wonderful simplicity of whiskey on the rocks. Enough of the lead up! Let’s talk about what to put in the glass.

Here are my Top Five:

On The Rocks

Today, brings part three of Boyfriend's cocktail series. As mentioned in an earlier post, the series will be a combination of recipes, tips, tools and ways to build a killer bar without breaking the bank. Enjoy!

Sometimes you don’t need a fussy application or a bunch ingredients or a lot of tools. I am talking about the closest thing to old timey man drinking you can get. Whiskey on the rocks. Shots are for getting loaded, neat is for sipping and savoring, but, on the rocks is drinking enjoyment.

Raising The Bar | Episode 2: Rum For All Seasons

Today, marks the second part of Boyfriend's cocktail series. As mentioned in an earlier post, the series wil be a combination of recipes, tips, tools and ways to build a killer bar without breaking the bank. Enjoy!


Climate change has things very messed up. Lat year at this time there was still snow on the ground and a hot toddy would have been in order. Tomorrow’s forecast calls for temps of almost 70 degrees.

Raising the Bar | Episode 1: The Aviation

Today, Boyfriend begins his cocktail series. As mentioned in yesterday's post, the series wil be a combination of recipes, tips, tools and ways to build a killer bar without breaking the bank. Enjoy!


Here, dear readers, is the first installment in the series of post on building a home bar and enjoying a more sophisticated approach to cocktail hour. Today I feature a new old drink that has my current attention.

The Aviation was purportedly created by Hugo Ensslin at the Hotel Warwick in our fair city of New York in 1916. Of course, it comes as no surprise to me that a drink created only 3 years before Prohibition was lost for the better part of the last 90 years. Further tossing this drink into the dustbin of history was the cessation of production of it’s defining ingredient, Creme de Violette. While only a ¼ oz it's necessary in providing the drink's signature sky blue color.

Raising The Bar

Greetings gentle readers,

Boyfriend here. I have a new project that I hope interests you. I am calling this Raising the Bar. As you know from previous posts your MatchGirl and I enjoy a cocktail or two most nights (always in moderation, of course). With this in mind I'm embarking on a mission to help you, gentle readers, build a libation library. 

Bloody Mary

Working from home, I'm drinking a lot of coffee in the morning. But this week has been a pretty stressful one, and what I'm really wishing for is one of these... Good thing it's almost the weekend!

Ritual: Cocktails

When Boyfriend comes home from work, one of the things he likes to do - not every night, but from time to time - is to mix himself a classic cocktail.

Over the past several years, your MatchGirl has acquired a fun bunch of bar paraphernalia and we have a small bar set up in a tiny alcove in the corner of our living room. It's kind of old school and charming to mix up a classic drink and sip it as we chat about our days.

Revelations 20:11 - Part 2

Today's guest post from Boyfriend picks up where he left off last week, talking about his discoveries, revelations and favorites of 2011.

2011 saw some travel and exposed me to some wonderful new discoveries.

New England I have visited most regions in the US. However my travels had, up until this summer, never taken me to New England - the birthplace and former stomping grounds of your MatchGirl. Well, let me tell you I was very impressed with this region. I found a lot of similarity to my native Northern California. (your MatchGirl’s note: except where we were in NH is really old)

Bronx Cocktail

For Christmas, I bought Boyfriend Mr Boston's Official Bartender Guide.

One of the drinks he's been perfecting is the Bronx Cocktail...