Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with drink

If I'm going to make mojitos, they better be good mojitos

Juliet Banana — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 05:58:17 -0800

I'm having a tacotastic dinner party for my boyfriend's birthday. What's a tasty cocktail/punch recipe that goes with the fresh, rich, spicy flavors of Mexican food? Simplicity is a plus; I don't mind making flavored simple syrup or finding juices or fresh ingredients but I'd like to avoid buying 6 bottles of liquor for one drink. At least one gluten-free guest is coming (though she always brings sorghum beer or wine), so the food is a buffet-style free-for-all with tortillas in every incarnation, roast veggies (cippolini onions, beet, potato), black beans & rice, chipotle sauce (chipotles in adobo pureed with pumpkin seeds and chocolate), cilantro crema (enough cilantro to terrify the haters pureed with queso fresco, lime juice, and crema). So, greasy & rich with bright & fresh flavors and a lot of heat.

We like gin, rum, and vodka, I LOVE champagne cocktails, and preferably the drink would either be a little on the girly side or easy to dilute with tonic/juice/mixer.

What kinds of beer should by brother serve at his restaurant?

kirkaracha — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 12:10:06 -0800

What kinds of beer should by brother serve at his restaurant? My brother's working on a business plan for a tavern-style restaurant specializing in roasted meats, and is looking for suggestions on types of beer to serve and specific recommendations. I thought a good light beer, a lager or pilsner, and one or two good IPAs. What do you think? Ideally the beers would come from a good American microbrewery that's distributed on the East Coast, but this isn't an absolute requirement.

Is Green Tea Good for You even when it's cold?

lynnie-the-pooh — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:09:17 -0800

I heard Green Tea is extremely good for you. If I drink it cold, will it give me the same benefits as hot green tea? I like the Snapple Green tea drink you can get in a glass bottle and you drink it cold. Thanks, Lynnie-the-pooh

Tab it up

arniec — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 16:57:17 -0800

My wife used to love Tab energy drink both for the burst of energy and for the flavor. We can't find it any more. She needs an energy drink tonight to rev up for Halloween festivities. Are there any commonly found (we live in the midwest) energy drinks that taste similar to the Tab energy drink?

How to make a Flaming Moe cocktail from the Simpsons

willie11 — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 09:27:45 -0800

Help me figure out how to make a Flaming Moe (Flaming Homer) for a Simpsons Costume Party tonight, please! 1) Yes, I'm open to actually using children's cough syrup, though not thrilled about it.
2) It absolutely must catch on fire
3) I've seen the stock recepes online and they look disgusting.

So, have any ideas about how to make a decent Flaming Moe?

Find me a real dive in LA!

swbarrett — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 09:02:53 -0800

Looking for a serious Dive Bar in Los Angeles. In the Venice, Culver, Santa Monica region. Not an "LA" dive, a real dive please. People in LA say "oh XYZ is a total dive" and when you get there it's like an upscale sports bar. I'm looking for a real, well, shithole. Dark, wood paneled, cheap beer, strong drinks, grisley old men who have been on the same stool for 35 years. no velvet ropes, no plasma screens, just drinks and drunks. bartenders who understand that a Martini is made of gin not vodka, that jack daniels is whiskey but not bourbon and wouldn't say "and what?" when you ask for said whiskey or bourbon. If you saw the place in Baltimore you'd say "man this is a shithole." they've gotta be out there, but where?

Vodka + Watermelon = Crazy Delicious

SNWidget — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 14:04:51 -0800

SummerSnackFilter: In an attempt to relive certain college days, I purchased a watermelon and a handle of cheap vodka. Cut hole, insert bottle, and in 24 hours, deliciousness, right? Wrong. Can the tipsy hive mind tell me where I went wrong? And other things that I can make along these lines? I love vodka melons. Love them. Perfect summer snack, especially for the 4th of July. Unfortunately, I borked the one I had sitting around. See if you can't help me see where I went wrong?

The Suspects: One large watermelon, seedless; one handle of vodka, plastic - cheap as possible.

The Story: I cut a hole in the watermelon, and gutted a good bit of the flesh inside. I took the vodka and upended it in the hole. There were a few bubbles, and then nothing. I remember it taking a while to soak, so I let it sit for about 24 hours. I came back to it and... nothing! The bottle still contained vodka and my melon contained none!

The Accomplices: In an attempt to make this work, I cut an extra hole in the melon, near the main hole - seemingly to give it air to breathe, so that the bottle wouldn't form a vacuum. Left it for another few hours. Nothing.

The Verdict: Where did my vodka melon stray? How does the hive mind prepare their melons, and how can I make mine better next time? It's summer, and without a vodka melon, I'm simply lost.

Bail: As an extra bit - anyone know of any similar fruit + alcohol concoctions? I love the simplicity of this recipe (when it works, to seems).

Hard drinking NY cops from the 20s and 30s

Artw — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 09:29:08 -0800

Are there any accounts of cops in prohibition/depression era New York being drinkers? Would drink be widely available to the point where no one would think much of it, or would it be especially difficult for a public employee?

What food or drink should I bring to a dumpling party?

mathlete — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 21:19:33 -0800

What food or drink should I bring to a dumpling party? I'm looking for something that's not filling for the dumplings and not what everyone else will bring. Asian themed would be good.

Give me red wine advice in KY?

sporaticgenius — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 18:54:11 -0800

Need help finding a good red wine. Tricky part - I need to purchase it online and have it shipped in Kentucky. My husband loves red wine, I only know how to drink it.
He is currently deployed overseas and will be coming home for a 2 week R&R in a couple months. I have booked us into a very romantic cabin for the first few days that he is home, and I'd like to get atleast one or two nice bottles of red wine as a suprise for him.
Here's the tricky part. I have a small child I'm raising alone right now, and it's hard for me to get out and go shopping. I also know nothing about wine, and I'm afraid I'll be taken for a sucker if I go into a winery and ask for a recommendation. I do most of my shopping online anyways.
So I need a red wine I can buy and have shipped to me in Kentucky. We don't have money to throw around, but because it's such a special occasion I'm flexible on the cost, nothing outrageous though. Can anyone help?

Something for the 12-week-old to sip?

zardoz — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 04:47:54 -0800

On training a three-month-old on drinking with a straw...firstly, is it even doable? And is (watered down) juice ok for that age? My wife and I have a soon to be three-month-old, and my wife has been breastfeeding exclusively throughout that time--we've used no bottles, no formula, no breast pump.

We've read recently--from a few independent sources, I might add--that it's a good idea to teach an infant to drink from a straw rather from a sippy cup. We have something similar to this. We'd like to leapfrog over both sippy cups and bottles and have the kid drink with a straw, getting him off the wife's nipple. Not rushing things, but if it's possible we'll at least try it. Personally, I'd like it because then I'd be able to feed the kid myself.

What we've done so far, in the past two weeks or so, is tried to train him to suck some barley tea (for babies). It takes him a while, but he does eventually suck up and swallow in a way; half of it just spills on his bib but he does seem to be improving with this.

SO, here are my questions. Are we being naively optimistic about his ability to drink with a straw at this age? Should we just wait? I suspect he'll be more excited about sweeter drinks. Is (watered down?) fruit juice ok for him at three months? Or some other kind of drink? Formula is ok?

MeFi parents, tell me your straw training stories!

Birthday booze.

kldickson — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 10:38:34 -0800

My 21st birthday is coming up in a few months. I would like to celebrate this with one well-crafted cocktail at a bar, but I am at a loss as to which one and where to get it. I will be spending my 21st birthday in DC while visiting my folks. Things I have enjoyed before (admittedly, at various house parties):

-Rum and coke
-Whiskey and coke
-Absinthe
-Peach schnapps and a bit of orange juice

Things I do not like:

-Beer
-Wine
-Screwdrivers

I admit I have not had much in the booze area. I am also not one to get drunk.

I like booze where you can't taste the alcohol part of the drink very much but you get to taste the various flavors of the alcoholic drinks. I prefer something that will not burn or get me drunk after drinking it.

Snacking with the Green Fairy.

1f2frfbf — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 06:39:31 -0800

Suggest me a hors d'oeuvre to take to an absinthe tasting. A friend of mine is having an absinthe tasting this weekend. I'd like to bring along a tasty hors d'oeuvre that can be prepared ahead of time and will allow a small group of people to snack and drink in decadence. I'm reasonably accomplished in the kitchen and have a pretty good selection of ingredients at my disposal, so hit me with your best ideas for the occasion.

I drink 12 beers a week, am I an alcoholic?

Anonymous — Sun, 31 May 2009 08:43:09 -0800

I drink 12 beers a week, am I an alcoholic? Between 18 and approx. 25/26 y.o. I used to drink a lot. I was going through college and as the city where I lived didn't have much to do, we used to go to sports bars, chat and drink. My average consumption at the time was 20 to 24 beers (cans) per weekend. When I finished college and moved out, my consumption was cut by half, and has remained stable ever since.

Sometimes, like everybody, I go a little over the limit in parties or gatherings with friends, but I usually have 6 beers on Friday night and six on Saturday. I don't drink on Sundays, nor mix different kinds of drinks, and avoid drinking that much if I am not at home. Speaking of which, I stay at home quite a lot during weekends, so I basically drink alone while surfing the web, watching videos and listening to music.

I have recently gone back to the city where I went through college and found out my friends still drink like and Oldsmobile, and I could not keep up. Watching them drink raised the question in my head about I was too drinking in excess, so I checked by average consumption and came to 12/week, and very rarely (once a month) drinking on weekdays.

Am I following a dangerous drinking pattern? What are the odds of my becoming an alcoholic? (a friend once joked I had many of the typical characteristics: drinking alone, without eating much, recovering fast, etc.)

Background: I do have family history of alcoholism. My mother drinks about 3 to 4 beers a day, my father 1 Jack-and-coke a day. My uncles on the mother's side are alcoholics

London doesnt have Diet Snapple!!

london302 — Thu, 21 May 2009 04:08:56 -0800

One of the only things I miss in London is diet Snapple ice tea (or Lipton version). I cant seem to find the diet versions of many drinks which are readily available in the US. Does anyone know a source (pref. online where I can order a case or two, not trade where I need to buy a van ful)

Cheers! clink

Bakuun — Fri, 15 May 2009 17:40:35 -0800

My family is very big on toasts, but generally the same ones are repeated throughout the holidays or birthdays - toasts for health, success, and happiness. I'm curious as to what kinds of toasts are your own favorites. Something beautifully worded you really liked? Or a subject you think is really worth drinking for? (Well, that last one is quite the slippery slope - but still!) What do you usually raise your glass for?

water water everywhere!

kidsleepy — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 07:23:52 -0800

Is "old" water safe to drink? I have no problem leaving a cup of water on my bedside table for a straight week and drinking out of it. I'll also drink out of a (previously opened) water bottle that's been rolling around on the floor of the car for days. SO doesn't even like to drink water left out over night, and has a half-dozen half-empty water bottles in his floorboards. I argue that water doesn't "go bad" or "spoil" under normal circumstances. SO claims this is "gross!"

Who's right?

Get coffee out of a Macbook keyboard?

Orb2069 — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 13:56:20 -0800

Just spilled coffee into a 13" macbook. Remediation tips? Splenda and cream, no sugar. Any ideas on stuff that can be done to mitigate the damage while it's still wet?

Strawberry Margarita on the Rocks

strangej — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 14:17:49 -0800

Looking for a restaurant quality Margarita on the rocks recipe. There are many on the Internet and I am curious if anyone has any secret ingredients or process. I have tried the limeade and that is ok, but I am still looking for something great.

Good places to relax, eat, and drink in New Orleans?

little_c — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 09:07:58 -0800

Recommend places to eat, drink, relax, and generally take life slow while on vacation in New Orleans, please! Next week a friend and I will be spending a couple days in New Orleans. We're coming from Chicago, where it is currently 39 degrees Fahrenheit and threats of snow hang over our heads. This isn't a tourist-y type vacation; I just want to spend my time in a constant state of mild inebriation, sitting outside soaking up the sun, drinking and eating good things.

Can you recommend sidewalk or patio cafes where one can sit back and take it easy? Or any other good restaurant/bar with a similar vibe? We're staying in the Garden District, but don't need to stay in that neighborhood necessarily. Also, any recommendations for interesting thrift/antique mall type shops? We are already excited for the abundance of free music at French Quarter Fest.

Thanks in advance!

No Irish Car Bombs Please!

jalexei — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 11:45:28 -0800

What Can I Do With Irish Cream? A kind neighbor has given me a bottle of Bailey's Irish Cream as a thank you for some work around our shared driveway. My Mom loves the stuff, so I'll save some for her, but as a beer, red wine, simple martini (gin, vermouth, olive*, period) and scotch (neat) drinker, I'm at loss as to what to do with it.

Does anyone have semi-serious, non-traditional, non-white russian-ish recipes involving Irish Cream to share?

* I'll tolerate a twist if I'm feeling jaunty, but that's pretty rare...

Please help me make the Grecian Marble cocktail.

Samizdata — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 17:46:36 -0800

The mysterious Grecian Marble cocktail... My lovely and talented girlfriend has had a cocktail in the past that she says was called a Grecian Marble.

What she can remember of it suggests the ingredient list included both creme de menthe and creme de cocoa, ouzo, ice cream and possibly other ingredients.

I have been Googling like a madman to no avail, and none of my mixology guide seem to show anything.

As the ingredients seem a little expensive for experimentation, I was hoping the infinitely refined MeFi's out there might have a recipe.

(Grrrrrrr... Damn girlie drin...OH! HI SWEETHEART!)

Does all fortified wine taste like raisins?

DeucesHigh — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 05:06:50 -0800

Help me find a fortified wine that doesn't taste like raisins! So typically I'm a cocktail guy, but recently I've decided I want to find at least one sort of fortified wine that I'll like. Something to have after dinner, as a dessert beverage. To that end, I've been sampling the bottom-shelf offerings of my local Wine & Spirits store to get an idea of my options.

Marsala was the first stop on the fortified wine adventure, and it was so sickly sweet and raisin-y that half the bottle got thrown away. Next, a cream Sherry (might have been Bristol Cream), with high hopes. Nope, this tasted very similar. Madeira? Pretty much like the Marsala. Finally, a five-dollar bottle of ruby Port. This was... slightly better, but nothing I'd buy again.

So my question is this: am I giving myself a totally wrong idea of these wines by buying only the cheap stuff? I'm sure some aficionados will chime in with "absolutely, yes!", but clearly there's some relationship between the taste of $5 ruby port, and $75 vintage port, in the same way that Ten High and Pappy Van Winkle -- while hugely different in quality -- are both still recognizable as bourbon.

Lastly, should I go down other alleys? White Port, fino Sherry? I like the idea of drier and paler, but these are harder to find, at least in Pennsylvania liquor stores.

Very Special Ontario Purchase

Frasermoo — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 20:17:23 -0800

Can you recommend a decent brandy in Canada at a good price? I'm in the process of polishing off a rather splendid bottle which has stars and VS all over it. Unfortunately I am going to have to replace it. I won't have to replace it with anything amazing, just something that isn't bad or going to rape me. I'm in Toronto, so governed by the LCBO dictatorship. If you can chuck in any advice on savings in the province then go for it.

Naked Nymph?

blue andrea — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 12:43:20 -0800

The Naked Nymph is s'posed to be a cocktail. I went looking for the recipe, and couldn't find it. Anyone ever heard of/had a Naked Nymph? Know what's in it?