It’s Never Too Early to Plan

Social networking – I’ll admit it’s a term I don’t completely understand. By definition it implies that there is such a thing as non-social networking, which of course is an impossibility. I suppose it was only a matter of time before the growing food crazy public (known as “foodies”) began to come together in ways previously only explored by internet geeks and college IT students. So what is a “foodie”? Basically, it’s like a Trekkie but with social skills and exotic tastes in cuisine. Ergo, the evolution of foodie social networking was inevitable. Welcome to the world of foodbuzz.com.

Making a Mark on the Holidays

Maker's Mark takes good care of its Ambassadors around the holidays (click for larger image)

A sure sign the holidays are approaching is the annual delivery of the Maker’s Mark Christmas gift to its ambassadors. In the past I’ve received such goodies as coasters, drink stirrers, cocktail napkins, a DVD on the distillery and a nice little cocktail shaker. This year, however, I’ll admit to being a little perplexed when I opened the package and saw a roll of wrapping paper inside decorated with little bitty bottles of Maker’s Mark bourbon. Also included were gift tags in the shape of Maker’s Mark bottles and a bundle of ribbon (in Maker’s wax red color of course). Let’s face it, nothing screams “alcoholic” more than giving gifts to loved ones at Christmas wrapped in bourbon decorated paper with all the trimmings.

I wonder if I’d lose my title if I used it to wrap up a bottle of Woodford Reserve?

Fall Afternoon at the Track

One advantage of working in Kentucky is during the various thoroughbred racing meets at Keeneland and Churchill Downs, nearly every company holds at least one event at the track. It’s an expected and accepted part of commerce in this part of the state. As the home of the Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs is held in a kind of reverence by out-of-towners, and being there even in November is for them like completing a pilgrimage. The track itself is vast, a fact more than evident when visiting at any time of the year besides the Derby. Able to hold over 100,000 people for the Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Oaks and Breeder’s Cup, the rest of the year there is simply no way to bring in the number of people on a daily basis to make Churchill feel like it’s anything other than empty. Trackside the crowd is thin at best, mainly consisting of smoker’s exiled from the interior of the building by the city’s recently enacted tobacco ban. However, the dining room on the 4th floor, called Millionaire’s Row even when it’s not Derby Day, is always busy. Friday was no exception.

Bourbon Tasting at the Palace

Last night was the annual Evan Williams Single Barrel Bourbon Preview Party put on by Heaven Hill Distillers. Officially an event of “The Bardstown Bourbon Society”, this year’s program was held at the gorgeous Louisville Palace, an 80 year old venue featuring a Spanish Baroque interior designed by famous architect John Eberson. The beauty of the Palace always threatens to compete with the shows and events held there, but last night the focus was definitely on the bourbon.

Bond-ing for Dinner: When the World (and a Meal) Are Not Enough

I’m probably one of the few members of my generation who got to know the world’s most widely known secret agent through literature rather than the movies. I still read Casino Royale every year, so I was thrilled when a decent adaption of the book was finally filmed and released in 2006. It was while watching the news one evening that I heard the anchor talking about the rush to book wedding dates for the “luckiest date of the century”, July 7th, 2007. Seven is lucky number in Chinese culture, and the three sevens in the date were attracting couples the world over to tie the knot the first week of July. It was as the date 07/07/2007 scrolled across the screen that it hit me, with every bit as much force as a lethal toe kit from Rosa Klebb’s KGB issued shoe. Oh seven, oh seven, double oh seven. It was, I thought, the perfect set-up for a dinner party. I knew then that I would be planning a dinner for that date and all of the food would be from or inspired by James Bond. It would be an evening, to put it frankly, of Martini’s, Girls and Guns.

Jim Beam for President

Jim Beam Whiskey Decanters, circa 1968 (internet photo, although I do own a set of these)

Up until a few years ago the county I live in was dry, meaning no alcohol sales of any kind were allowed. Kentucky may be the center of the bourbon universe, but we are also the buckle of the Bible Belt and there are antiquated laws like this in effect throughout the state. It has only been in the last year that the city of Lexington began allowing liquor stores to open on Sunday (sales in restaurants having been ok’d years ago).

Thus it has always been for those of us living in Georgetown – if we wanted to buy alcohol we had to drive across the county line. Conveniently, a couple of enterprising entrepreneurs had long ago realized that in spite of Georgetown being the home to a well known Baptist College, there was still demand for accessible liquor sales to its inhabitants.

Blogging for Peppers at Fiery-Foods.com

If you love spicy foods, chile peppers and the chile-head culture that goes with them, then you’ve probably heard of Dave DeWitt. Dubbed “The Pope of Peppers”, Dave has been featured on numerous TV programs over the years and is responsible for the annual Fiery Foods and Barbecue Show. Now in its 21st year, next year’s show will be held at the Sandia Resort and Casino in Albuquerque, New Mexico on February 27th through March 1st, 2009. Dave is also a prolific author on all things chile related (one of my favorite’s is The Whole Chile Pepper Book). Dave put out a call a few weeks ago for assistant editors for his website www.fiery-foods.com, and to my delight I was one of those selected. The site is part chile bible, part cookbook, part science text and much more. The depth of information is really astounding, especially if you have a deep interest in gardening and chile pepper cultivation. Of course, there are recipes galore. My first blog post for fiery-foods.com appeared this morning, entitled “The Last Pepper In The Patch”. And yes, the photo above is in fact the last pepper from the patch this year. Check out the post and accompanying recipe for Voodoo Jerk Chicken Wings at www.fiery-foods.com, just look for the picture of the wings on the top right of the site.  This is same recipe that helped us win the 2003 High Hope Steeplechase “Best Food” award for our “Wasting Away Again In Margaritaville” menu. You can see more menu items from this and other events on my “Tailgating Steepelchase Style” and “Recipes & Menus” pages.

Enjoy the post, the recipe and most importantly continue to check out www.fiery-foods.com.