Shift Drink

A little something about ...Sake

In the same way it takes a special kind of grape to produce a good wine, making excellent sake requires a special kind of rice. The secret is to have a variety of rice that boast high starch content in the core of the grain. This way the grain will stay longer during the brewing process, enabling excess oil and protein to be removed. The polishing away of rice grains (milling), removes fat and protein that impede fermentation and cause added flavors.
The five elements involved in sake making are:

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Paula Deen’s Pants Fall Down

Embracing a brisk spring evening laced with Mahi Mahi tacos and mango margaritas has to be the best way to forget about one’s responsibilities and the weight of the world. At about 8 PM, I rounded up some willing partners-in-crime and headed to Mercadito on Avenue B. This cozy cantina feels like a lazy Mexican fiesta, while the Diego Rivera on the wall keeps it New York. Weeding through a crowd of people, we squeezed into our table and before we could even start fantasizing about tequila-based libations, Alfredo Sandoval, the owner, greeted us. He primed our palates with some dangerously smooth Siete Leguas añejo tequila and a towered trio of guacamole and warm tortilla chips. As we tucked into the smoky mango and chipotle mix, he regaled us with tales of the famed tequila company’s many awards and legal battles with the corporate giants of Patrón. Read More . . .

Dell’anima

During these cold and shitty months of winter, I pretty much never want to leave my house. On the rare occasion that I do or I get hungry, I don’t want to walk more than a block or two. The wind on 14th Street is bitter and unforgiving. I’m usually home eating a made-to-order salad from Westside Market across the street, or at my neighbor Liz’s apartment on 16th where she is making dinner for us after a brisk jaunt to Chelsea Market. If we are not feeling quite so lazy, we venture out to a small West Village spot near our apartments. When Shiftdrink invited me to dine at Dell’Anima Restaurant, I was already thrilled with the idea of a late night saunter down the street. I threw on a sweater dress and got ready for dinner at 10. Read More . . .