Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with food and 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

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.

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.

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!

I already know about Russian dressing

Bookhouse — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 12:33:44 -0800

What's good to eat at Russian-immigrant grocery stores and bakeries? My neighborhood (in West Hollywood, CA) has a very large number of Russian immigrants, and therefore a large number of Russian delis, grocery stores and bakeries. What should I be buying at them?

I'm not interested in cooking my own Russian food or what to order at sit-down restaurants. I'm more interested in unique snack foods, desserts and drinks, fresh-baked stuff, delicacies and easy-to-serve items. Specific brand names for packaged stuff would be appreciated.

Inexpensive awesome in Copenhagen?

jrb223 — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 10:29:29 -0800

Inexpensive awesome in Copenhagen? I'm headed to Copenhagen for two weeks, and I have heard that the city can be quite expensive. To that end I was looking for recommendations of things to do, see, eat and drink that won't break the bank. Any recommendations of can't-miss spots that are easy on the pocketbook and might not be in the guidebooks?

Eating, drinking and sightseeing suggesttions for Patras, Greece?

handee — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 03:42:37 -0800

I'm off to a conference in Patras, Greece next week. Any suggestions for high-speed tourism (we'll be busy most of the day but might get a bit of free time), decent eateries, and decent drinking places, particularly late night?

In search of coffee on the cape

pretzel — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 11:30:17 -0800

I'm looking for a good cup of coffee on Cape Cod. I'm staying this week in Dennisport, and due to a lack of knowledge of the area (and cape cod in general - this is only my 2nd time here), I havent found a good, independent coffee shop. There are, of course, Dunkin Donuts shops every 1/4 mile along Rt 28, if you're into that sort of thing, but I was hoping for something, well, not Dunkin Donuts!

Oh, btw, I'm in Dennisport, but anything in Harwich / Dennis / Yarmouth would work for me. Thanks!

Is there a word that means edible-or-potable?

painquale — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 16:16:09 -0800

Words for things you eat: edibles, comestibles, food. Words for things you drink: potables, drinks. Is there a generic term for things that you eat or drink? Let's say that I top up my pet's food and water supply. I want to be able to say that I replenished his X, where X is just a single word. It strikes me that there should be such a word, but I'm drawing a blank.

Things to eat and drink in Tennessee

otio — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 09:50:45 -0800

Tennesseeans: Food and spirits suggestions on the TN side of the Great Smokies? Wife and I will be staying in Townsend for 6 days later this month and would like to sample the best food and drink in the area. What are the must-hit spots within an hour's radius or so of Townsend? We have a rental car. We'll be hiking everyday so we'll be hungry - the heartier the fare, the better. We like beer, whiskey and bbq very much but suggestions for less famous local delicacies are welcome. Many thanks.

Where can I find good winter drink specials in DC?

troika — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 09:53:05 -0800

I'm looking for places in the DC area to enjoy a hot winter drink - hot toddies, spiked egg nog, etc. Any ideas?

Where to buy izarra?

gimonca — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 07:57:18 -0800

Where can I buy izarra? Either online or in the Twin Cities area. Thanks.

What is this crazy 'antivegan' diet I saw, and is there any science behind it?

mattholomew — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 12:55:36 -0800

What is this crazy 'antivegan' diet I saw, and is there any science behind it? I saw a family on TV last night that zealously followed the most insane diet I've ever seen. The only way I could describe it is almost the opposite of vegan. They owned a farm and seemed to subsist entirely on their animals and animal products, but nothing could be cooked. They ate tons of raw meat, uncooked eggs, lots of raw milk. They claimed that cooking produces 'toxins' although they never specified what these toxins are. They drank very little water and (my favorite part) claimed that water would dehydrate you 'because it's a solvent'. They were also big on fermentation; they drank fermented milk and what appeared to be rotten meat. Also, they brushed their teeth with clay and butter. When pressed on their strange ways, they claimed that there was all kinds of research that backed it all up. I'm a fairly open-minded person but the whole thing seemed loopy, especially the part about water causing dehydration. Can anybody tell me if this philosophy of diet has a name, and point me to any data that backs up the various tenets (raw food, little water, fermentation/rotting, etc.)?

Are these ingredients harmful?

gd779 — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 06:00:30 -0800

Should I eat this "green drink" (consisting of powdered vegetables, tree bark, etc.) from Robert O. Young (the "Alkaline diet" guy)? Will it harm me? Ingredients are listed inside. Yes, I know that from Innerlight is an MLM. And I know that the Alkaline diet is scientific rubbish. But my parents gave me a bunch of this "green drink" powder and asked me to try it. The ingredients all look natural, but I wanted to make sure there's no harm in consuming, for example, "slippery elm bark."

Here's the complete list of ingredients:

Kamut Grass, Barley Grass, Lemon Grass, Shavegrass, Wheat Grass, Alfalfa Leaf, Dandelion Leaf, Billberry Leaf, Black Walnut Leaf, Blackberry Leaf, Plantain Leaf, Red Raspberry Leaf, Blueberry Leaf, Boldo Leaf, Goldenseal Leaf, Papaya Leaf, Strawberry Leaf, Lecithin, White Willow Leaf, Slippery Elm Bark, Marshmallow Root, Pau d'Arco, Cornsilk, Rosemary, Betatene, Rose Hip, Echinacea Purp Tops, Dog Grass, Meadowsweet, Aloe Whole Leaf Conc., Oat Grass, Soy Sprouts Con., Kale, Spinach, Okra, Cabbage, Celery, Parsley Leaf, Broccoli, Watercress, Alfalfa Juice Conc., Tumuric, Tomato, Peppermint Leaf, Spearmint Leaf, Wintergreen Leaf, Sage, Thyme, Rosemary Leaf.

Is there anything in there that I should be worried about consuming on a regular basis?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Can you recommend a good variety of loose leaf green tea?

gregb1007 — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 20:19:38 -0800

Can someone recommend a good variety of loose leaf green tea? I am looking for a good variety of loose-leaf green tea that is both high in caffeine and tends to be more mild in taste rather than bitter.

The two loose-leaf green teas that I drink now - Sencha and Temple of Heaven Gunpowder - seem to not give me a boost that I expect from caffeinated drinks. Both of them tend to taste rather bitter so much so that it seems that they are a bit acidic.

So, fellow green-tea drinkers, do you know of a variety that's both high in caffeine and low on bitterness? I'd appreciate your suggestions.

Plunging Plutonic Depths

einekleine — Thu, 24 Aug 2006 07:12:01 -0800

Can anyone think of any suitable food, drink and games for a party/wake themed around the loss of Pluto's planetary status?

How do I stay in good health while partying like a rockstar?

boyinmiami — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 10:26:05 -0800

Partying like a rockstar lately! Will my body rot off and die? How do I stay in good health? Coming off a fresh breakup, (this one hurt a lot), I have decided to forget about her by going out with buddies and painting the town red. So for the past few weeks, I have been going out 5-6 nights a week, drinking like crazy, bad eating habbits have been the norm, staying up late (like 6 hours of sleep a day). I know this kind of action is terrible for my health, but I have used this technique to get over girls in the past and it works. So my question is what can I do to make sure my liver and other body parts dont die out? Vitamins? Water? drinks? potions? Voodoo Curse? Help me stay in good health while going balls out (lol).

Party like it's 1974?

unclemonty — Wed, 15 Mar 2006 10:32:40 -0800

Help us party like it's 1974! A friend is throwing a 1974 party (she was born in that year) and my partner and I would like to bring a gift to the party relevant to that year. We've already drawn up an extensive list of '74 references (see inside) but are really missing out on ideas for food and drink. It's quite likely that there will be lots of inaccuracies in this list as we created it by scouring the web. As we're based in the UK it's quite Britain-centric but I'm happy to see ideas from the USA too.

The key thing is for you to suggest some popular but perhaps kitschy 1974 food and drink items. Other fads and trends are also noticeably absent and could do with a bit of filling in. The party is fancy dress so we have to pick a costume connected to the year as well! Song ideas could be good as we might make her a CD. But if you want to make any other recommendations for the list, feel free.

CURRENT AFFAIRS

UK Prime Minister Harold Wilson
Watergate scandal
Mikhail Baryshnikov defects to Canada
Portugese army overthrows Portugese dictator
Patty Hearst kidnapped by the SLA
Yasser Arafat makes his first appearance before the UN
USA responds to energy crisis by commencing daylight savings time four months early
Last Americans evacuated from Saigon (April 28)
India detonates its first nuclear weapon
UPC barcode used for the first time in a supermarket
US President - Richard Nixon, who resigns that year to be replaced by Ford
Ceefax is launched by the BBC
Lord Lucan disappears
IRA bombs in UK - London, Woolwich, Birmingham
Milgram experiment on obedience carried out at Yale
Sears Tower, Chicago is opened
Last crew of Skylab returns to Earth

CULTURAL ICONS

The Streak - and streakers
The Wombles - Eight UK top ten hits
String bikinis
Muhammad Ali (Rumble in the Jungle vs George Foreman)
Evel Knievel
Dungeons & Dragons released
Jon Pertwee is the Third Doctor, replaced by Tom Baker in 1974
Sonny & Cher split up in 1974
Pan's People
Screaming Lord Sutch
Package holidays become popular in the UK - particularly Spain
Chiffon, used on capes, ponchos and wraps
Bead chokers
Magna Doodle invented
Lego named Toy of the Year (invented 1933)
First Knebworth Rock Festival held
Amityville - the Defeo murders are committed

BOOKS

Richard Adams - Watership Down
Peter Benchley - Jaws
Stephen King - Carrie
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
The Joy Of Sex
All The President's Men

TV

Little House On The Prairie
M*A*S*H
The Waltons (1972-1981)
Maude
The Rockford Files
Kojak (1973-1978)
Wish You Were Here...? premieres in the UK
Columbo (1971-78)
Are You Being Served (1972-1985)
John Craven's Newsround (1972-)
Last of the Summer Wine (1973-)
Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969-1974)
The Brady Bunch (1969-1974)
The Partridge Family (1970-1974)
Hawaii 5-0
Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour (1971-1974)
Bagpuss
Porridge
It Ain't Half Hot Mum
Upstairs, Downstairs (1971-1975)

MOVIES

Blazing Saddles
Chinatown
Death Wish
Earthquake
Emmanuelle
Foxy Brown
The Godfather Part II
The Great Gatsby
Herbie Rides Again
Mame
Man with the Golden Gun
Murder on the Orient Express
Night Porter
Odessa File
Parallax View
Sugarland Express
Texas Chainsaw Massacre
The Sting
Towering Inferno
Young Frankenstein
Papillon
Serpico

SONGS

Mud - Tiger Feet
Suzy Quatro - Devil Gate Drive
Alvin Stardust - Jealous Mind
Paper Lace - Billy Don't Be A Hero
Terry Jacks - Seasons In The Sun
Abba - Waterloo
Rubettes - Sugar Baby Love
Ray Stevens - The Streak
Gary Glitter - Always Yours
Charles Aznavour - She
George McCrae - Rock Your Baby
Osmonds - Love Me For A Reason
Carl Douglas - Kung Fu Fighting
Elton John - Bennie & The Jets
Jackson Five - Dancing Machine
Steve Miller Band - The Joker
David Essex - Rock On
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Sweet Home Alabama
Marvin Hamlisch - The Entertainer (Music From The Sting)
Barbra Streisand - The Way We Were
MFSB - The Sound Of Philadelphia
Grand Funk Railroad - The Locomotion
Kool and the Gang - Jungle Boogie
Wings - Band On The Run
Steely Dan - Rikki Don't Lose That Number
Barry White - Never Gonna Give You Up
Johnny Bristol - Hang On In There Baby
Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Eric Clapton - I Shot The Sherrif
David Bowie - Rebel Rebel
Joni Mitchell - Free Man In Paris
Pink Floyd - Money
Sparks - This Town Ain't Big Enough For The Both Of Us
Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing - Stevie Wonder
Bill Haley and His Comets - Rock Around The Clock (re-release)

ALBUMS

Steely Dan - Pretzel Logic
Rolling Stones - It's Only Rock 'n' Roll
Bob Dylan - Before The Flood
Stevie Wonder - Fulfillingness' First Finale
Queen - Sheer Heart Attack
Joni Mitchell - Court and Spark
Roxy Music - Country Life
Jackson Browne - Late For The Sky
Kraftwerk - Autobahn
Dolly Parton - Jolene
Genesis - The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway
Randy Newman - Good Old Boys

RIP

Duke Ellington
Samuel Goldwyn
Mama Cass
Georges Pompidou
Nick Drake
Ed Sullivan

BORN

Kate Moss
Christian Bale
Ian Huntley
D'Angelo
Robbie Williams
Victoria Beckham
Penelope Cruz
Andrea Corr
Jewel
Alanis Morissette
Tim Henman
Joaquin Phoenix
Sara Cox
Denise Van Outen
Nicole Appleton
Ana Matronic, Scissor Sisters

What's in your fridge?

jacobw — Tue, 21 Feb 2006 11:10:26 -0800

What sorts of long-lasting food do you stock in your refridgerator? My fridge is completely empty. I used to have mustard, relish, and mayo, which generally last a long time, but there was never anything that I could truly eat right out of the fridge.

I'm looking for food that I can leave in there for a long time. Food that can be quickly heated for guests is always good too.

How long can I keep an opened bottle of sake?

kdern — Tue, 07 Feb 2006 09:08:08 -0800

How long can I keep an opened bottle of sake? I was given a giant bottle of sake as a gift. It's about 2 feet tall and has gold flakes in it... looks pretty expensive. I think it would take me many months to drink the whole bottle. How long can I keep it after opening? And how do I store it? It's too large to keep upright in my refrigerator.

Who's lost a salivary gland? Or knows a half-spit?

verytres — Fri, 21 Oct 2005 21:07:42 -0800

My SO is getting a salivary gland removed...Feeding and care? My Gf is having her left salivary gland removed, due to recurring stones within the gland,and swelling, pain, associated with the stones. It's an outpatient surgery, procedure cut externally, lasting about an hour, but she will be under for the procedure. By day two she might be getting hungry, and I gather the tongue may/may not be impaired for a bit. And there will be an exterior drain, just to add the joy. I've no idea how she'll be chewing, or not...even the ENT guy doesn't seem to know. (Not incompetetent, he just says "people react different ways.")
FYI, my GF works for a dentist, and even he seems at a loss as to what to expect.
OK, if not the first couple days...what then?
The stones, in the salivary,were never triggered by a specific food group, spice' or beverage. Actually, these little bastards are the same as apparently cause her kidney stones.
Sorry'bout the extras...how do I feed her?

What hot beverage can I drink apart from tea, coffee, hot chocolate and milk?

angryjellybean — Mon, 12 Sep 2005 04:46:36 -0800

What can I have as a hot, sweet drink that isn't tea or coffee, herbal tea, milk or hot chocolate? I know this sounds like a fussy question, it's just that I've given up caffeine (hence no coffee/tea/chocolate) and I DO NOT want to drink de-caf either. However, I don't want hot milk or herbal teas either, but in the evenings especially when it's cold, I want something hot and comforting to drink. Can anybody think of any drink available to buy or something I can make myself that is relatively healthy and definitely low fat, not too expensive and most importantly, available in Britain!! Please don't suggest American beverages unless you know they are easily available in the UK - I don't feel like going to all the trouble of flying overseas for this =P

A decent, inexpensive red wine?

verytres — Thu, 01 Sep 2005 11:44:41 -0800

A decent, inexpensive red wine? Tomorrow is my boss's birthday, and she's a red wine fan. She normally drinks Black Opal, but I'd like to expand her horizons a bit. Any suggestions, that won't kill my wallet?