the darkerside to rants » Food

Whiskey & Cigars

Michael — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 07:26:46 +0000

I spent Friday afternoon / evening at the annual Hopscotch Festival in Vancouver. It is essentially a “hangout” for people who like all things liquor.

The great start came with the annual “Great Whiskey Smoke” a precursor event to the actual access to the tasting hall. You get there at around 2:30 in the afternoon then have around three hours to socialise, eat food and drink before you get access to the tasting hall itself which has more liquor and food.

The event isn’t cheap / free of course, the Whiskey Smoke ticket is ~$120 and then you have to pay for the samples that you can get there, but what it does is put a pretty amazing amount of different booze and food into a tiny space that allows you to sample quite a variety for less than it would cost to sample the same amount in a restaurant or bar.

I have a photoset here from the event.

Chemex Brewing Guide

Michael — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 19:01:37 +0000

Intelligentsia Chemex Brewing Guide from Intelligentsia Coffee on Vimeo.

[Scotch] The History of Johnny Walker

Michael — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 22:21:49 +0000

via Scout

[Photo] JJ Bean House of Coffee

Michael — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 13:00:40 +0000

Just what the Doctor ordered in the morning.

Shot on Ilford HP5+, pushed one stop, developed in HC 110 for 20 minutes (solution H) with 5 second agitation every 30 seconds.

Workspace Cafe 2008 Coffee Off

Michael — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 07:48:30 +0000

Workspace Caffee 2008 Coffee Off from Michael Kalus on Vimeo.

HD Version

Espresso with Oscar

Michael — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 04:04:30 +0000

Espresso with Oscar from Michael Kalus on Vimeo.

HD version

New Elysian Room

Michael — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 01:27:15 +0000

Two photos from the new Elysian Room Cafe on West 4th and Cambie (actually a block West of Cambie on the south side).

Click on the image for full size

Naked Truth

Michael — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 00:53:01 +0000

[Hopscotch 2008] Tequila

Michael — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 22:36:45 +0000

[Hopscotch 2008] Tequila from Michael Kalus on Vimeo.

HD Version and downloads

[Hopscotch 2008] What makes a good Cigar?

Michael — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 22:05:26 +0000

Hopscotch Vancouver 2008: What makes a good cigar? from Michael Kalus on Vimeo.

HD Version and downloads

[Hopscotch 2008] Grand Manier

Michael — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 22:03:53 +0000

Hopscotch 2008: Grand Manier introduction from Michael Kalus on Vimeo.

HD Version and download.

[Hopsctoch 2008] An introduction to Johnny Walker Blue

Michael — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 20:56:03 +0000

Hopscotch 2008: Johnny Walker Blue from Michael Kalus on Vimeo.

HD Version and downloads

49th Parallel Latte

Michael — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 22:29:11 +0000

Get a Clover at home for next to nothing!

Michael — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 05:45:06 +0000

I spent a few hours today talking coffee with a guy at Agro Coffee who also uses the Clover (and apparently it breaks all the time and costs close to $13K).

Anyways, there is an easy way to get the “clover experiences” at home for very little money.

Take your French press and remove the “lid” of (you know, the one that covers the carafe).

Now, put the plunger 3/4 down and put the coffee grounds on top of it, then pour the water over it and wait for as long as you usually would keep it in the press, then slowly pull UP to seperate grounds and coffee.

Now also an Instructable

They grow like weeds…..

Michael — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 02:35:39 +0000

Tasty too

Michael — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 22:55:21 +0000

Tasty

Michael — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 07:10:16 +0000

Backwards Hamburger

Michael — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 20:37:43 +0000

Old water

Michael — Fri, 22 Sep 2006 06:48:12 +0000

I remember seeing this on Discovery Channel a few weeks ago, I even made a note in my notebook, but I completly forgot about blogging it.

Anyway, it seems there is a company in Hawaii that sells “Deep Sea” Drinking water. One of their claim to fame is the fact that this water is “million of years old” as they like to say. Which is all nice an fun, but pretty stupid. All water is pretty much that old, it doesn’t really change that much. Sure, the solvents may change but who really cares.

It seems Japan is a large market for it, but they are also now planning on selling it in the US (Los Angeles anyone?).

Besides the fact that bottled water is a waste of money and really bad for the environment (all the plastic bottles anyone?) how much more decadent can one get?

Boylan’s Natural – Black Cherry Soda

Michael — Tue, 15 Aug 2006 18:23:16 +0000

This was my second attempt at a Boylan’s Soda, after the Coke and…. It’s fruity.

This is supposed to be a Cherry Soda, pardon me, Black Cherry Soda, but again there is not much of a fizz and it taste more like Cherry juice. As I have a weakness for Cherries this clearly gets a thumbs up!

In the Bottle we find:

Carbonated Water
Cane Sugar
Extracts of Bourbon Vanilla and wild black cherry bark
Bitter Almond Oil
Other natural flavors
Citric Acid
Caramel Color (from Cane Sugar)
Fruit and Vegetable Juices for color
Sweet Cherry Juice

Try it, you may like it.