the arugula files

Summer Drinks around DC

Damn, it's hot out.  Drinks are in order, and I've had a few tasty ones this summer.  Here're a few places to head for after work:

It's not exactly outdoor patio weather, but, if you dare to venture to a restaurant with outside seating, Rockland's BBQ has refreshing, fruity mason jar cocktails.  At a recent blogger party, I tried the icy peach tea (vodka, peach schnapps, sprite, and cranberry juice) with some tasty BBQ pork egg rolls. 

If you need air conditioning, I had the best drink of my life (not hyperbole) at Firefly.  It was a martini caprese made from basil infused vodka and tomato water.  It tasted like a giant tomato salad THAT YOU DRINK.  Way better and lighter than a bloody mary.  Shimmy up to the bar, order this cocktail and a plate of mac and cheese.  You can thank me later. 

Looking for a bargain? Try my favorite DC happy hour: Taberna del Alabardero, a spanish tapas restaurant downtown.  You can sit inside at the bar or on the outside patio; either way, Taberna offers 50 percent off tapas (try the artichokes, chorizo, and garlic shrimp) and sangria pitchers.  I like the blond version best.

It's a long haul up the hill, but if you walk up 18th street you'll soon come to my favorite bar: the Black Squirrel.  Try the white ale and order a plate of organic fried chicken.

Had a great summer drink?  Tell us where in the comments.

Blueberry Margaritas

I'm not one for mixed drinks.  Hand me a glass of Pinot Grigio and I'm happy.  But with a freezer full of  blueberries, you have to be creative. And what better way to use blueberries than in a margarita?  

Oat and Honey Vodka

This treat is from my sister, Noel.  She made it for an Iron Chef type gathering; the secret ingredient was honey.  I have to be honest: I didn't try it, but Noel said it was so delicious that it was my blogging duty to run to the top of the self publishing mountain and tell everyone about it.  Okay, maybe she didn't say that.  I made that part up.  My point is: I'm thinking of you.  You need more tasty vodka based drinks in your life.  I know I do.  At some point, when every woman I know isn't pregnant, I'll make it to share with some friends.   Meanwhile, you should make it and let me know how it goes.

Glogg

My friend Jesse recently made Glogg for a small gathering of family and friends.  Glogg is a traditional Swedish mulled wine.  This nonalcoholic version was warm and quite tasty.

Ingredients
10 whole cloves
7 cardamom pods, crushed
2 cinnamon sticks
1/2" piece ginger root
2 cups water
10 whole almonds, cut into halves
1 3/4 cups raisins
1 cup pitted prunes
1 orange, cut into quarters
2 gallons apple juice or apple cider
1/3 cup sugar

Directions
Tie cloves, cardamom, cinnamon and ginger in cheesecloth bag. Heat spice bag, water, almonds, raisins, prunes and orange to boiling in Dutch oven, crock pot or large pot. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 45 minutes. Remove spice bag, prunes and orange. Stir in remaining ingredients. Cover and heat until mixture begins to bubble. Ladle almond half and a few raisins in to each cup before filling with hot Glogg.

Recipe from epicurean.com

P.S. If you NEED an alcoholic version, check out this recipe.

Quickfire Challenge: Mixology

I want to be on Top Chef.  However, until Bravo dedicates an entire episode to delusional fans, I have to run my own Quickfire Challenges using my friends as contestants and me playing the role of Tom Colicchio. Generally speaking, making drinks is easy--unless there are no mixers.  This Quickfire challenge was to make a tasty, original, and good looking drink....in fifteen minutes.  These are the ingredients:

The contenders:

Skittles were the main ingredient in the first drink.  The second drink featured peanut butter cups, the third used cinnamon candies around the rim, and the last drink-- which looked like a bloody mary--was made primarily from ketchup with cayenne pepper and salt around the rim.  It was by far the tastiest and the winner of the challenge.