Happy Hour... Celebrating Black History MonthHow you doin’? February is Black History Month and today I want to celebrate Tom Bullock, the first African American author of a cocktail book. Here was a mixologist that captured the mysteries and marvels of an art that borders on magic. In 1913, the former president Theodore Roosevelt was in court trying to save his reputation. It was then that T.R. was accused of being an alcoholic, despite his continual, fervid insistence that he’d never been drunk in his life. Fed up with this libel, he vowed to sue the next publication that claimed it, ultimately taking out his anger on a tiny Michigan newspaper called the Ishpeming Iron Ore. As a witness under cross examination, Roosevelt did acknowledge a fondness for Mint Juleps, and further admitted that he had tasted a Julep once at the St. Louis Country Club, but only drank “a part” of it. As far as the St. Louis Post Dispatch was concerned, this “just a part” business was proof he was lying. It was literally unbelievable. Why? Because the cocktail in question had been prepared by none other than Tom Bullock. “Who was ever known to drink a part of one of Tom’s Juleps?” editorialized the paper on March 28, 1913, “To believe that a red-blooded man and a true Colonel at that, ever stopped with just a part of these refreshments… is to strain credulity too far,” adding of Bullock that “there is no greater mixologist of any race, color, or condition of servitude.” This is most of what we know of Tom Bullock—that he was revered as a bartender for over 25 years serving the best establishments in Louisville and St. Louis. Bullock was the first African American to publish a cocktail book, called The Ideal Bartender, in 1917. His volume is sadly short on personal details. This isn’t much and the mind thirsts for more. Some diligent researchers have been able to unearth the shape of his life, and that of black bartenders more generally from Reconstruction to WWI—particularly Michael Jones the former, and David Wondrich the latter—but this column is about cocktails, and Bullock’s talent, told through his cocktails, was enormous. As noted, he was a wizard with the Mint Julep. He had the good idea of mixing absinthe and Benedictine, the first author I’ve seen do that. He was perhaps the first to publish a Martini-like cocktail with an onion, which would become the Gibson. He also has a flurry of original cocktails, any one of which I’d be proud to serve to you today, but a favorite is the Admiral Schley High Ball, made of Irish Whiskey, lemon juice, pineapple syrup, dessert wine and soda. Schley was a Navy Admiral and a hero of the Spanish-American War. The Admiral Schley’s High Ball is a lovely and disarming drink, the bright fruit of the pineapple teasing out the honeyed brightness of the dessert wine, with the mild oak from the Irish Whiskey providing structure, a kind of a gentle but present backbone. It plays to Irish Whiskey’s core strength, which is that it’s such a soft and approachable spirit that subtle fruit—that which would be bludgeoned by bourbon or even scotch—is allowed to express itself and entice you with its subtleties. It’s an inventive and delicious original from an excellent bartender, the flavors obvious in the way that great ideas always seem obvious in hindsight. We don’t recommend using it as any kind of valid legal defense, but it’s certainly worth your time on its own, or to make as a kind of toast to the noble past, and the mysteries and marvels of an art that borders on magic. Thanks to The Robb Report for today’s history lesson. Ingredients 2 ounces Irish whiskey (I prefer Tullamore D.E.W.) 1/2 ounce Sauternes 3/4 ounce pineapple syrup 3/4 ounce freshly-squeezed lemon juice Directions
ChefSecrets: This drink really shines where the whiskey provides soft supple fruit and a faint malty sweetness but mostly gets out of the way, functioning as the structural framework on which the other ingredients rest. For a quick and easy pineapple syrup, you can mix equal parts pineapple juice (Dole cans are fine) and sugar and stir until the sugar dissolves. Bullock calls for a dessert wine which could be found all over the place in 1917. That said, I’ve had the best luck with Sauternes. Just understand your proportions of pineapple syrup (for sweetness) and Irish Whiskey (for strength) which might need to be adjusted, depending on which bottles you grab. I like to top it off with soda because it gives the drink bubbles and puts some separation between the flavors. Quip of the Day: A neutron walks into a bar. “How much for a beer?” the neutron asks. “For you?” says the bartender. “No charge.” ------------------------------------------ Do you have a question or comment? Send your thoughts to ed@perspectives-la.com. All recipes and cooking tips are posted on our website https://www.perspectives-la.com/covid-19-survival-guide. ------------------------------------------- To you and everyone dear to you, be strong, positive, stay well, stay safe and be kind. Take a breath and count your blessings, and if you have a little extra to share with others, please consider donating to Feeding America, Tunnel to Towers, Union Rescue Mission and/or American Red Cross. #Cocktail #AdmiralSchleyHighBall #TomBullock #BlackHistoryMonth #Cheers #HappyHour #2024 #T2T #URM #FeedingAmerica #RedCross #PerspectivesTheConsultingGroup ©PERSPECTIVES/The Consulting Group, LLC, 2024
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…from the Perspectives’ KitchenHow you doin’? In Cooking Lesson #353: Quick Wok-Fried Slippery Beef I talked about the process of velveting beef. I’m not going into the whole history of that technique, so you will have look it up on the Perspectives’ website. I will go so far to say that this is the secret that makes the meat from your Chinese restaurant tastes so moist and tender. It's all down to a simple cooking technique called velveting. You can use this process with any kind of meat, and it will ensure succulent and tender results every time. It's a technique you can easily master at home and will change the way you make stir-fry recipes in the future. The method works by locking in the juices and keeps the meat moist when you cook it over a high heat. It is a little more work, but the combination of the marinade and the quick blanching in hot water ensures moist and succulent meat. Velveting chicken makes it as moist and tender as what's served at the best Chinese restaurants. Here is my China Rose recipe. Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 10 minutes Marinade time: 30 minutes Yield: 2 servings Ingredients 1 large egg white 1 tablespoon Chinese rice vinegar 1 tablespoon cornstarch 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1 pound skinless, thinly sliced boneless, skinless chicken thighs 8 cups water 1 tablespoon peanut oil Directions
ChefSecret: Don't limit this chicken to just Chinese dishes. The velveted chicken can be stir-fried with any vegetables and sauce, or set atop egg noodles or stored for a few hours in the refrigerator before cooking. Quip of the Day: Q. What does a Chinese restaurant serve for Easter? A. Colored egg rolls! ------------------------------------------- Do you have a question or comment? Send your thoughts to ed@perspectives-la.com. All recipes and cooking tips are posted on our website https://www.perspectives-la.com/covid-19-survival-guide. ------------------------------------------- To you and everyone dear to you, be strong, positive, stay well, stay safe and be kind. Take a breath and count your blessings, and if you have a little extra to share with others, please consider donating to Feeding America, Tunnel to Towers, Union Rescue Mission and/or American Red Cross. #Entree #Chicken #SlipperyChicken #VelvetingChicken #CantonStyleChicken #Dinner #ChinaRose #2024Recipes #URM #T2T #FeedingAmerica #RedCross #PerspectivesTheConsultingGroup ©PERSPECTIVES/The Consulting Group, LLC, 2024 …from the Perspectives’ KitchenHow you doin’? Get ready to wow your Valentine’s taste buds with this delicious Red Velvet Cake Roll! In the 19th century, "velvet" cake, a soft and velvety crumb cake, was introduced and served as a fancy dessert. Up to that point a coarser-crumbly cake was a much more common dessert. Around the turn of the 20th century, Devil's Food Cake was introduced, which some believe is how the Red Velvet Cake came about. The key difference between the two cakes is that Devil's Food Cake uses real chocolate and Red Velvet Cake uses less expensive cocoa. Adams Extract Co. is credited with bringing the Red Velvet Cake to kitchens across America during the Great Depression, by being one of the first to sell red food coloring and other flavor extracts. They advertised by using point-of-sale posters and tear-off recipe cards. When food ingredients were rationed in the US during World War II, bakers used boiled red beet juices to enhance the color of their cakes. Even today, I often use minced red beets in my chocolate cakes for the red hue and to retain moisture. The cake was originally made famous at New York City's famous Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, known as the Waldorf-Astoria Cake, however, it is widely considered a Southern recipe. Red Velvet Cake may also have roots in black culture and is sometimes considered to be a soul food in the South. The cake is often used in Juneteenth celebrations to honor the fight against slavery. Traditionally, Red Velvet Cake is iced with a French-style butter ermine icing which is very light and fluffy, but time-consuming to prepare. Cream cheese or buttercream frostings are variations that have increased in popularity and complement the cake. Similar to Hershey’s Red Velvet Cake, this cake roll recipe also calls for cocoa powder to produce a moist, chocolaty flavored cake tightly rolled into a Swiss log with rich cream cheese filling. Follow my easy step-by-step instructions below on how to make a perfect Red Velvet Cake roll from scratch to impress your friends, family, or maybe even that very special person. Prep time: 30 minutes Bake time: 12 minutes Cool time: 1 hour 30 minutes Chill time: 1 hour Yield: 1 cake (10 to 12 servings Ingredients 1/4 cup powdered sugar 4 large eggs, separated 1/2 cup granulated sugar plus 1/3 cup, divided 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 2 tablespoons red food color (1-ounce bottle) 1/4 cup water 2/3 cup all-purpose flour 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon baking soda 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt 2 teaspoon powdered sugar (for dusting) 1/2 cup chocolate syrup (optional) raspberries or strawberries for garnish (optional) Directions
ChefSecret: To make the Cream Cheese Filling, beat the following ingredients together:
Quip of the Day: My relationship status? In a committed relationship with red velvet cake! ------------------------------------------- Do you have a question or comment? Send your thoughts to ed@perspectives-la.com. All recipes and cooking tips are posted on our website https://www.perspectives-la.com/covid-19-survival-guide. ------------------------------------------- To you and everyone dear to you, be strong, positive, stay well, stay safe and be kind. Take a breath and count your blessings, and if you have a little extra to share with others, please consider donating to Feeding America, Tunnel to Towers, Union Rescue Mission and/or American Red Cross. #Dessert #ValentinesDayDessert #Valentine #RedVelvetCakeRoll #RedVelvetCake #RedVelvet #Hersheys #Cocoa #JellyRollCake #JellyRollPan #2024 #T2T #URM #FeedingAmerica #RedCross #PerspectivesTheConsultingGroup ©PERSPECTIVES/The Consulting Group, LLC, 2024 ...from the Perspectives’ Happy Hour BarHow are you doin’? Valentine’s Day is just 5 days away. Are you tired of waiting patiently for cupid to show up and shoot his love arrow? Maybe you need a little liquid courage? As the lyrics to song Love Potion #9 go: I took my troubles down to Madame Rue You know that gypsy with the gold-capped tooth She’s got a pad down on Thirty-Fourth and Vine Sellin’ little bottles of Love Potion Number Nine I told her that I was a flop with chicks I’ve been this way since 1956 She looked at my palm and she made a magic sign She said “What you need is Love Potion Number Nine” She bent down, turned around and gave me a wink She said “I’m gonna make it up right here in the sink” It smelled like turpentine, it looked like Indian ink I held my nose, I closed my eyes, I took a drink I didn’t know if it was day or night I started kissin’ everything in sight But when I kissed a cop down on Thirty-Fourth and Vine He broke my little bottle of Love Potion Number Nine Love Potion #9 was written in 1959, and made famous by The Clovers in 1964, 60 years ago. I am not guaranteeing that this cocktail is a love potion, because it sure didn’t smell like turpentine or look like Indian ink. I can assure you I did not have to hold my nose while I drank it. Nope this is a sweet-tart little drink, which may work on that certain somebody that needs a little nudge or two or three…. or shove. So mix it and serve it up this Valentine’s Day and give it a shot. Get it? A shot—you know like cupid with his arrows (now that’s funny!). Keep me posted on your winning results. Prep time: 5 minutes Yield: 1 cocktail Ingredients 1-1/2 ounces vodka 1/2 ounce peach schnapps 3 ounces pink grapefruit juice 1 strawberry Directions
ChefSecret: Love Potion No. 9 is a 1992 American romantic comedy film starring Tate Donovan and Sandra Bullock. The film takes its name from the 1959 hit song, "Love Potion No. 9". The story is about a love potion, which enables a person to make people of the opposite sex become completely infatuated with them by simply talking. Quip of the Day: Q. How do chefs show their love? A. They whisk you off your feet! ------------------------------------------- Do you have a question or comment? Send your thoughts to ed@perspectives-la.com. All recipes and cooking tips are posted on our website https://www.perspectives-la.com/covid-19-survival-guide. ------------------------------------------- To you and everyone dear to you, be strong, positive, stay well, stay safe and be kind. Take a breath and count your blessings, and if you have a little extra to share with others, please consider donating to Feeding America, Tunnel to Towers, Union Rescue Mission and/or American Red Cross. #Cocktail #HappyHour #ValentinesDay #LovePotionNo9 #Vodka #PeachSchnapps #GrapefruitJuice #Cupid #Cheers #HappyHour #2024 #T2T #URM #FeedingAmerica #RedCross #PerspectivesTheConsultingGroup ©PERSPECTIVES/The Consulting Group, LLC, 2024 …from the Perspectives’ KitchenThis Valentine’s Surprise Brownie Kiss Truffles recipe is easy to make and easier to love. With fudgy brownie on the outside and Hershey’s Kisses Vanilla Frosting on the inside. The candy hidden on the inside will surprise your guests and even yourself with how delicious they are. Bookmark this recipe because you can customize every batch with your favorite toppings like seasonal sprinkles, coconut flakes or chopped nuts. You can also use another flavored Kiss to make every bite a surprise. Prep time: 25 minutes Bake time: 35 minutes Cool time: 2 hours Yield: 36 truffles Ingredients 1 pan fudgy brownie from mix or your favorite brownies recipe (13 x 9 x 2-inch) 36 Hershey's Kisses Vanilla Frosting Filled Milk Chocolates 1 cup roasted finely chopped nuts of your choice, lightly toasted sweetened coconut flakes, sprinkles or nonpareils for rolling. Directions
ChefSecret: You can mix up your flavor of Kisses and the crumbles coating the outside of your truffle to suit any holiday or celebration or just your own whims. Storage: Store truffles in a closed container in your refrigerator for up to 7 days. Quip of the Day: Let’s seal our love with a Hershey’s Kiss. ------------------------------------------- Do you have a question or comment? Send your thoughts to ed@perspectives-la.com. All recipes and cooking tips are posted on our website https://www.perspectives-la.com/covid-19-survival-guide. ------------------------------------------- To you and everyone dear to you, be strong, positive, stay well, stay safe and be kind. Take a breath and count your blessings, and if you have a little extra to share with others, please consider donating to Feeding America, Tunnel to Towers, Union Rescue Mission and/or American Red Cross. #ValentinesSurprise #BrownieKissTruffles #Hershey #BrownieTruffles #HappyValentinesDay #2024 #T2T #URM #FeedingAmerica #RedCross #PerspectivesTheConsultingGroup ©PERSPECTIVES/The Consulting Group, LLC, 2024 |
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