Archives for September, 2009

Houston Wine Geeks at Ruggles Cafe Bakery

September 16, 2009

Scared of WineSpeak?

Embarrassed when you have to read and order from a wine list? Want to know more about wine and how to enjoy it?

Houston Wine Geeks is an informal group of wine enthusiasts focused on the ins-and-outs of wine appreciation and wine education.


What’s all this about Malbec?

Where did it come from?

Why are some people addicted to it now who never even heard of it 10 years ago?
We will be talking and tasting Malbec — what’s to like about this wine and where does it fit in the great red wine spectrum.

We will be pouring some tasting “flights” of a few different Malbecs.

To help out the financial obligations of the group we ask that you drop $1 into the meetup jar (plus $4 more if you partake of the flights).

And of course, in the grand tradition of this group, bring any Malbecs (or others) you want to share.

  Interested? Sign up and RSVP for our next meeting. Come every week or come when you can!

FYI: We use www.meetup.com as our RSVP/Membership tracking tool. It’s free for you!

This Meeting

Join us at Ruggles Cafe Bakery for a Mouthful o’ Malbec.

Ruggles Cafe Bakery
2365 Rice Blvd
Houston, TX 77005
Houston TX 77005
(713) 520-6662
www.rugglescafebakery.com

About Ruggles Bakery

Much more than an award winning dessert bakery, Ruggles Cafe Bakery in Rice Village has been serving homemade soups, fresh sandwiches and salads, hearty pastas and fresh baked desserts for over ten years. We pride ourselves in using the highest quality ingredients all prepared daily in our own kitchen. Crowd pleasers include the Warm Baked Goat Cheese Salad, Whole Wheat Salmon Pasta, Flame Grilled Angus Burgers & Daily Specials including the Ruggles Skinny. It’s a healthy low calorie special that changes every day.

Don’t forget to save room for dessert. It’s not unusual to see our guests eyes grow wide and smiles big as they approach the desserts and order counter. We invite you to take a moment and browse our three bakery cases filled with an impressive selection of homemade desserts. Children 12 and under are invited to decorate a cookie for free while your meal is prepared. Our cozy indoor seating is great any time of the year and we encourage our guests to relax and enjoy their meal with family and friends. We now offer a covered patio area to enjoy a leisurely lunch or dinner outdoors.

09/14/2009 | Events, Food, Wine | 1 Comment

The Classic 25 Drinks Every Bartender Should Know

I don’t know how many times I’ve had a bartender ask me, “What’s a Negroni?”

BarSmarts Online

Any bartender who really wants to understand the basics of the craft should pay the $45 and take the four online training modules at www.BarSmarts.com.

Here are the 25 classic drinks that BarSmarts thinks every bartender should know:

  1. Aviation Cocktail. Gin, Maraschino, lemon juice.
  2. Bellini. White peach puree, champagne.
  3. Blood and Sand. Scotch, cherry liquor, sweet vermouth, orange juice.
  4. Bloody Mary. Tomato juice, vodka, spices.
  5. Caipirinha. Cachaça, lime, sugar.
  6. Collins (Tom, John or Vodka). Gin, bourbon or vodka, simple syrup, lemon juice.
  7. Cosmopolitan. Citrus vodka, orange liquor, lime juice, cranberry juice.
  8. Daiquiri. Rum, simple syrup, lime juice.
  9. Gimlet. Gin, Rose’s lime juice.
  10. Gin Fizz. Gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, club soda.
  11. Irish Coffee. Irish whiskey, brown sugar syrup, coffer, whipped cream.
  12. Mai Tai. Rum, lime juice, orange curaçao, orgeat syrup.
  13. Manhattan. Bourbon or rye, sweet vermouth, bitters.
  14. Margarita. Tequila, orange liquor, lime juice, simple syrup.
  15. Dry Martini. Gin, dry vermouth, orange bitters.
  16. Mint Julep. Bourbon, sugar, mint.
  17. Mojito. Rum, lime juice, simple syrup, mint, club soda.
  18. Negroni. Gin, Campari, sweet vermouth.
  19. Old Fashioned. Bourbon or rye, sugar.
  20. Pisco Sour. Pisco, lime juice, simple syrup, bitters, egg white.
  21. Rob Roy. Scotch, sweet vermouth, bitters.
  22. Sazerac. Rye, Peychaud’s bitters, absinthe, simple syrup.
  23. Sidecar. Cognac, orange liquor, lemon juice.
  24. Stinger. Cognac, white crème de Menthe.
  25. Whiskey Sour. Bourbon or rye, simple syrup, lemon juice.

Full recipes are online, plus there’s a video that shows Dale DeGroff, David Wonderlich and others making each of the drinks.

09/04/2009 | Spirits | 4 Comments

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