Food: November 2009 Archives

Raise your hand if you've ever enjoyed a Mojito, a Mai Tai, a Dacquiri or a warm cup of egg nog (real egg nog, folks). Did you know you have Columbus, in large part, to thank for those rum-spiked libations? In typical Euro-enterprising fashion, Columbus brought sugar cane cuttings to the Caribbean islands on his second major voyage. The tropical climate agreed with the crop, and shortly after, a sugar cane industry was born: hooray, sugar!

If you're considering options on the more upscale end, OpenTable currently shows at least 16 local restaurants with availability for parties of 2 at 7 p.m. [OpenTable Search]

Join us tomorrow night at Jo's Downtown as we class sass up hump day with Drag Queen Bingo, a new biweekly game night. Tomorrow's festivities are emceed by the very lovely Saffire T. Stone , 2007's Best of Austin Best Drag Queen and the diva credited with putting on the "first drag show in Williamson County history"—which, believe us, speaks volumes.

Black Star Co-Op unveiled the new location of the world’s first cooperatively-owned brewpub at a party for members and press this past weekend. The new site is at Midtown Commons, the transit-oriented development at the Crestview station along Cap Metro's Red Line.

The Informed Drinker is Austinist's cocktail column. Each week, the city's bartenders tell us what to drink when. “In the beginning” is a series focusing on spirits, and this week, a visiting scotch expert weighs in. Scotch is a serious person drink. At least, this is what The Informed Drinker had assumed for many years. You see Reader, scotch is for drinking straight. If it is mixed with anything besides a few droplets of water, you have ruined it. Scotch is for bathing in one's mouth, for enjoying very slowly, a sophisticated and high-culture sort of thing that academics and individuals wearing corduroy jackets with elbow patches might enjoy. In other words: “People don't buy single malt scotch to shoot and get drunk,” says Andrew Weir, single malt scotch expert and brand ambassador for The Balvenie Distillery Co. “All whisky provides a very personal sort of experience, and you want to enjoy what scotch whisky does specifically for you.” Well Reader, The Informed Drinker is here to tell you that scotch will get you drunk. That is because all scotch must be no less than 80 proof (40%) alcohol, as mandated by the Scotch Whisky Order of 1990 in the UK. You'll be pleased to know it cannot go above 94.8% alcohol however, so that it maintains the flavors of the oak casks it is aged in (and also so that you don't tip it over and mistakenly clean your ears with it).

The annual Lovexotic fundraiser this Saturday is a celebration of world cultures to benefit Family by Choice, a worthy local nonprofit that provides adoption services for LGBT couples, single adults, and other families throughout Texas.