Butcher and the Boar

Dale and I went to Butcher and the Boar for dinner last night. I had wanted to go for New Year's Eve but they were booked. Thankfully they weren't to busy last night. I had steak and he had BBQ'd octopus. Also had a couple martinis.

Brandy Alexander

Dale and I watched Christmas In Connecticut last night. Brandy Alexander as a nightcap as we finished up the movie.

Christmas 2013 - Nightcap

A touch of Bailey's Irish Cream before bed on Christmas night. What a wonderful holiday.

Christmas 2013 - Lunchtime Tanqueray Martini

This accompanied the Hawaiian pizza we had for lunch. The beef bourguignon for dinner went in the oven as soon as the pizza came out.

Christmas 2013 - Wine

A taste of wine Dale used to prepare the beef bourguignon.

Christmas 2013 - Pumpkin Pie Liqueur

A shot of this to start Christmas Day.

Cocktail Hour Music - December 14, 2013

Warren checked in with us in the later afternoon to see what we were up to for the evening. I told him that Dale was making chicken cacciatore and that he was welcome to join us for cocktails and dinner. He got here at the tail end of my putting lights on the Christmas tree. Listened to Christmas Cocktails Parts 3 and 4 from the Ultra Lounge series. Part 3 offers a kickin' version of Baby It's Cold Outside by Sammy Davis Jr. and Carmen McCrae. On Part 4 is an interesting twist on Jingle Bells titled Jungle Bells by Les Paul and Mary Ford. Part 3 dates from 2004 and Part 4 was just released last year in 2012.

The Orange Peel Thing

OK, I tried the orange peel thing last night. We were out of martini olives so I cut some peel off of an orange and rubbed the rind against the inside of my martini glass. I mixed a gin martini and left the peel in the glass. I don't think it worked well with he Hendrick's I used as that gin already has some pretty strong flavors. The oil really does flavor the drink and I think it would all work much better with vodka.

Orange and Lemon Peels

"Orange and lemon peels as garnish is nothing new, but when you stir them into your drink instead, they add enough oil to change the drink's texture." -Erik Adkins, The Slanted Door, San Francisco, as quoted in GQ Magazine Online, December 2013

Cocktail Hour Music December 7, 2013

While making dinner last night Dale and I listened to Christmas Cocktails Parts 1 and 2. Both discs are part of the Ultra Lounge series. We've been listening to these two discs for a number of years and they're usually the first albums of Christmas music we listen just after Thanksgiving. Part 1 is notable for Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Mambo by Billy May, Christmas Kisses by Ray Anthony, and an old Toys for Tots radio spot found at the end of the disc featuring a bunch of back-up vocalist elves (sounding exactly like Alvin and the Chipmunks) singing along with Peggy Lee and Nat 'King' Cole. Dale and I always get a big kick out of that one. Part 2 is notable for Dean Martin's Baby It's Cold Outside, Bob Atcher's Christmas Island, and Les Baxter's Santa Claus' Party. Part 1 dates to 1996 and Part 2 to 1997.

Cocktail Hour Saturday December 7, 2013

Time to bring out the red shaker. Made a Hendrick's martini.

Psycho Suzi's - The Coconaut

Dale and I were at Psycho Suzi's tonight with Cindi and Maggie and their friends Mary and Chris. I drank a couple of Coconauts which the drink menu describes as a "cross between a tropical White Russian and a pina colada." Whatever it is it's very drinkable.

Buca 2

The restaurant from the outside. We went because Gary had a Groupon. The food and drinks were great.

Buca 1

Went to Buca last night with Warren, Gary, and Perry. Had a couple of Tanqueray martinis.