A Toast to 2009
December 30, 2009
It’s difficult to avoid the cliché of how each of life’s conclusions – be it a graduation, a retirement, or even death – is also a beginning, so we’ll just surrender and reference it right off the bat. Now more than ever, as we stand on the edge of 2009, we are forced to examine the notion of finality and the fact that life is a stream of one era collapsing into the next.
As mortal human beings, there seems to be a fascination with endings hard-wired into each one of us – look no further than the swarm of online lists, articles, and retrospectives commemorating the end of the year and decade for evidence. Ask anyone about his or her most life-changing moments, and it’s guaranteed to involve an ending of some sort, followed by a disorienting period, and a need to rebuild. A common denominator across all cultures is the celebration of endings and their consequent beginnings – be it through rites of passage, like quinceañeras, bar mitvahs marking the end of childhood, or the more recent divorce parties commemorating the end of a marriage.
It seems every one of life’s endings, no matter how minuscule requires recognition. We try to ensure that every death ends with a funeral or memorial, every film with credits, every sentence with a punctuation mark, and every meal with dessert (or, if you’re more cynically inclined, a check). Consider each of these a reference point, a guide post indicating that it’s time to move on to something new.
As you face the termination of 2009, there are many ways you can commemorate. Perhaps after this particularly difficult year you’re in need of cathartic release. You might opt for a late-night celebration with overflowing cocktails, as is expected in many Western countries (For suggestions on where to eat during your early hours merrymaking, see our recent tweets).
Of course, there are healthy alternatives to libation-fueled festivities. You can take the Japanese route and start celebrating on New Year’s Day at a more reasonable hour (after all, it’s a bit literal-minded to start the new year at midnight). In the land of the rising sun, it’s customary to get a full night of sleep, give an optimistic nod to the rising sun itself, and to forget the hardships of the previous twelve months with a big feast and gift exchanging.
We at UBI UBI are inclined to celebrate the year’s end with a sophisticated meal. After a year of culinary breakthroughs, it’s only appropriate to mark your hope for another delicious year with an evening of fine dining. After dinner, you can always reminisce over your favorite memories of the year with a thoughtfully selected bottle of sparkling wine shared with loved ones, or your urban tribe.
Every ending is laced with uncertainty over what’s to follow, but, as this year has demonstrated, even life’s most uncertain times are illuminated by instances of brilliance and creativity, be it through food, art, fashion, or technology. We can’t wait to see what’s in store for the coming decade.
Now, let us end this post with warm wishes for an invigorating New Year’s celebration and with special thanks to our readers and followers, who have been our inspiration for 2009.
Sources:
“The Case Against the New Year,” > wsj.com;
Photo courtesy of:
i.ehow.com.
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Making Your New Year’s Eve Fizz
December 29, 2009
Far be it for us to complain about the tradition of drinking champagne on New Year’s Eve. We’ll cease just about any opportunity to pop open a bottle of bubbly and celebrate life’s good fortune - even if that good fortune is just the chance to drink champagne. Still, with tradition comes the danger of repetitiveness. As you plan your festivities for the approaching holiday, you may find your creative juices corked when it comes to selecting the right sparkling wine to punctuate your 2009.
Though it’s likely your fellow celebrators won’t be picky as they wait expectantly for the countdown with empty glasses in hand, a little attention to detail can make for a more memorable night.
If we’ve learned anything this past year, it’s that creativity flourishes in the face of challenges. We suggest that you use that lesson to plant a motif into your champagne selection this year. Make a statement about 2009 by taking a particular angle with the fizzy wines you serve. 2010-themed eyeglasses can only go so far at keeping your soiree timely. But don’t take our word for it - let the bubbles speak for themselves. Here’s some suggestions to help you pick the perfect sparkling wine to celebrate the decade, the year, or just the current moment:
Choose a green champagne:
Sustainable, environmentally-conscious living is a full-time commitment. Luckily, your green responsibilities needn’t get in the way of your night of carefree carousal. Pommery’s trendy line of POP champagnes just released a green variety called Earth that’s just as eco-friendly as it is party-ready. The champagne’s grapes were raised using reduced amounts of water and pesticides, the glass bottles are lightweight, there’s no external packaging, and the labels use water-soluble ink. And the flavor? “Warm brioche…tropical flavors and a lovely roundness,” according to Pommery’s cellar master, Thierry Gasco. Retailing at $55 a bottle, Earth is priced at an appropriate level for a special occasion, without completely breaking the bank.
Choose an affordable sparkling wine:
If you plan to party on a budget, fear not. There’s no need to make sacrifices this year. A standard rule for wine is that low price doesn’t necessarily equate to low-quality. By doing a bit of research, you can pick the winners from the weaklings when it comes to cheaper labels. Guests who inquire about your selection will be pleasantly surprised at the low prices, and will have a renewed respect for your resourcefulness. Try the crisp, citrus-y non vintage Freixenet “Carta Nevada” cava from Spain, the bubbly, peachy Nonvintage Domaine Ste. Michelle Extra Dry sparkling wine from Washington state, or the frothy, green-apple-flavored Nonvintage Piper Sonoma Blanc de Blancs sparkling wine from Sonoma. Each wine retails for under $15 and comes packed with zesty taste.
Make Champagne cocktails:
If you want to get more out of a limited supply of sparkling wine, take the cocktail route. Champagne is remarkably forgiving, so even inexperienced mixologists will find this to be a viable approach. Sweet dessert wines, brandy, and fruity-flavored liqueurs are some standard mixers, but, really, your imagination is the only limit when it comes to these bubbly concoctions. To rid yourself of all-night bar-tending duties, just provide your guests with champagne and a variety of mixing options and make the cocktails a DIY activity. Creative mixes will serve as perfect conversation starters and will get your party fizzing.
Or, splurge on an expensive label
We call this the “What recession?” approach. Be a rebel and make a statement with a famously top shelf champagne. Cristal, once drunk only by the Russian Tsar Alexander II or the equally luxurious Dom Pérignon will undoubtedly impress (or shock) and leave a sufficiently large hole in your bank account. If your going to use this approach, we recommend you downsize your party to two, to maximize your personal enjoyment. Share one of the above top notch champagnes with one special individual and make it a romantic, low-key evening at home.
No matter what kind of champagne or sparkling wine you decide to pop open, remember that you selection should complement - and not define - your celebration. Wine is only as good as the party at which it’s drunk. The joy of celebrating your relationships - romantic or otherwise, your accomplishments, and your goals is what ultimately makes the champagne delicious. As wine columnists Dorothy J. Gaiter and John Brecher recently posited in the Wall Street Journal, wine is a subjective art and, as they stated: “Your enjoyment of any wine is an extension of yourself, your emotions, your experiences and your circumstances when you drink it.” With that advice, make every bubble count this New Year’s Eve.
Sources:
“For holidays, let bubbly flow” miamiherald.com;
“Champagne Holiday Cocktails” blogs.kqed.org/bayareabites;
“Pop Hit | Pommery Green Champagnes” tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com;
“The Mysterious Heart of Deliciousness”wsj.com.
Photo courtesy of:
freechristmaswallpapers.net.
Posted in Champagne and sparkling wine, Impress, Mixology, New Year, Wine, holiday season | No Comments »
The Airport as Sculptor of a National Identity
December 29, 2009
With all the focus on getting from point A to point B as quickly and efficiently as possible, it’s easy to forget how culturally significant – and not just functional – an airport is. As your eyes dart from departure board to boarding pass to terminal signs, it’s only natural to overlook the symbolism of your surroundings, and the underlying messages that the surrounding architecture is communicating.
The frustrations and inevitable systemic failures we encounter at an airport distract us from the importance of airports as cultural ambassadors. Not only do these massive transportation hubs expose us to travelers from around the world, they often offer us our first impressions of a city or country upon arrival.
In order to help clue us in on these messages that we so blithely miss, writer Alain De Botton did what many of us would find unbearable – he voluntarily spent one week in an airport.
As a writer-in-residence in London’s Heathrow International Airport, De Botton observed the interactions of travelers and workers, the emotions surrounding air travel, and the expressive nature of the airport architecture to put into question just how the communicative power of a constructed space functions. His findings are presented in his book, aptly titled A Week at the Airport.
In his book, one insight that De Botton offers on airport architecture – and on architecture in general - is the way it can project a dream: “[Heathrow Airport] was proposing a new idea of Britain, a country that would be reconciled to technology, that would no longer be in thrall to its past, that would be democratic, tolerant, intelligent, playful and lacking in spite or irony.” As it turns, airports aren’t just places where planes are meant to land and take off, they are spaces where thoughts and ideas are likewise encouraged to take flight. They are, ideally, modern day visions of Utopia.
De Botton continues: “[Heathrow] was applying the prerogative of all ambitious architecture to create rather than merely reflect an identity. It hope [sic] to use the hour or so when passengers were within its space — objectively, to have their passports stamped and to recover their luggage — to define what the United Kingdom might one day become, rather than what it too often is.”
In other words, Heathrow, and by extension many other airports strives to present more technological advancement – with its self check-in computer kiosks and high definition departure boards – more modern aesthetics, more spacious design, and more playfulness than the surrounding city. According to De Botton, the airport possesses many of the qualities that the city aspires to have years from now.
Air travel wasn’t always so inclined toward idealism. The first airports were minimalist - little more than open ground and hangars. But, as air travel surged by mid-century, so did the desire for more inspiring architecture. The TWA Terminal at New York’s John Kennedy Airport is an early example of more fantastical airport design. Built in 1962, the terminal has a whimsical, space-aged aesthetic typical of the Googie architectural movement, with an overall appearance that resembles a grounded alien craft. Ultimately, though, the terminal proved too small to contain a subsequent boom in civilian air travel.
There is a definite resurgence in the trend among airports around the globe and of all sizes for ambitious architecture. The whimsy and vibrant colors of the undulating roof at Madrid Barajas‘ new terminal and the cavernous, sparkling ceiling of Kuala Lumpur’s international airport imply that these places celebrate creativity and imagination (not to mention that they’re prosperous enough to fund such over-the-top projects). On the other hand, the sheer size of Beijing’s nearly two-mile long Terminal 3 (pictured above) seems a reminder of China’s own size and rising power. Whatever messages there are to be found in the architecture, airports these days are striving to outdo each other.
In part, these buildings are also odes to the romanticism that lingers around human flight. No matter how mundane the process of flying has grown, the force of a plane taking off is enough to accelerate even the most jaded traveler’s heartbeat.
Architecture in general, in addition to the many forms of technology infused into it, now more than ever exhibits an affinity for idealism. Modern public spaces are ones that are technologically advanced, efficient, environmentally conscious, and offer egalitarian access and treatment. Consider Google’s unofficial mantra of “Don’t be evil,” or Nintendo’s popular Wii video game console, whose demographic is simply and boldly identified as “everyone.” As technology and architecture hone in on a more customizable, sustainable, and democratic future. Places like airports strive to offer us fleeting glimpses of this future. They can embody the dreams of a nation, a city, or just a single architect. One can only hope that these dreams don’t remain so for long.
Source: “A Week at the Airport: A Heathrow Diary, by Alain de Botton” cityofsound.com;
“Flights of fancy: The world’s best airport architecture” guardian.co.uk.
Photo courtesy of:
Feng Li/Getty Images.
Posted in Architecture, Design, London, Travel | No Comments »
Ending the Year on a Fashionable Note
December 26, 2009
New Year’s Eve is a last chance to make an impression on 2009. It was a challenging year to be sure, but it was also one that exhibited flashes of brilliance within the realms of food, fashion, and technology. Rarely has human love and ingenuity for culture been so apparent. As you look back on the past twelve months, remember it for its many pleasant surprises, and not just its bleak economy.
Use the final night of 2009 to make your own contribution to the celebration. Since this was the year that fashion became a spectacle—with its many over-the-top fashion shows and rising pop fashion icons—it’s only appropriate that you attend your New Year’s Eve with a fashion statement of your own.
New Year’s happens to be a perfect time to take some style risks since the carefree environment tends to be more forgiving (or forgetful) towards adventurous outfits. Plus, any faux pas can be left behind in the passing year as you start fresh in 2010.
Below we’ve gathered a few “statement pieces” that should appeal to various Dining DNA strands. Any one of these will sufficiently spruce up an otherwise typical cocktail dress or blazer and jeans ensemble:
A Bow Tie
Since it’s a time of the year meant for retrospection, Suave Sophisticates can cease the opportunity to make their outfits a throwback to New Years of yesteryear. A bow tie, topped off with a fedora or a blazer is always a sophisticated combination. Agile Improvisers, on the other hand, can combine a bow tie with an otherwise more casual outfit to make for a classic and quirky ensemble. Those who strive for hipsterism can also go the extra step and select a flashy tie like a colorful, velvet bow tie, or a jewel-studded one.
A Feathered Cocktail Hat
If your date happens to be a Suave Sophisticate wearing a bow tie, try being a formidable Protagonista and one-up him with an eye-catching cocktail hat that maintains the throwback theme. This pre-war chic feathered hat from Urban Outfitters is perfect for the occasion. It’s a classic beauty that tops off an outfit without sending it over the top. Consider the white feathers a blank canvas for specks of confetti. Lastly: when else will you be able to get away with sequins on a hat?
A Shiny Belt
Shiny is the general theme of New Year’s Eve. It’s one of the few occasions on which we give into our natural attraction to all things that sparkle, glow, and twinkle. If you’re a comfortable American not prone to fashion experimentation, try the simplest statement piece of the bunch—a metallic-hued belt. It’s the cheapest and most subtle options that will literally hold your outfit together. Try it with dark wash jeans.
Metallic Outerwear
Continuing with the theme of shininess, this gold vest by Pyrenex at Opening Ceremony and shimmering jacket from Phillip Lim are strictly for more adventurous protagonistas and agile improvisers. These items are useful for anyone planning to spend a portion of their night out in the cold, plus you’re bound to garner more attention than any dropping ball or fireworks display. As a side note, metallic fabrics have been cited as an upcoming fashion trend, so you may get a surprising amount of mileage out of this ostentatious outerwear.
Frilly Slippers
Women: If there’s any chance walking a straight line will be a challenge by night’s end, why not leave the heels at home? There are plenty of ways to make a statement without the added inches to your height. These Lanvin ballerina slippers are lightweight and comfortable, and still eye-catching thanks to their cool steel blue hue and ruffled trim. If, however, you’re adamant about wearing heels, you could always bring the slippers as back-up—they come with a dust bag for easy traveling. Your feet will thank you.
A Final Note
When selecting a statement piece, remember, this is New Year’s, not Halloween. You’re not aiming for a complete costume. Settling on one standout clothing item or accessory is more practical, stylish, and affordable. Consider each of the above an extra dash of spice that will bring out the flavor of your entire outfit, whether you’re a Suave Sophisticate, a Protagonista, or an Agile Improviser (or, if you just want to dress like one for the night).
Photo courtesy of:
polyvore.com;
urbanoutfitters.com;
topman.com;
openingceremony.com;
aloharag.com;
aloharag.com;
curiouswines.ie.
Posted in Fashion, Impress, New Year, Trends, holiday season | No Comments »
Rituals in the Era of Instantaneous Reinventions
December 23, 2009
Holidays herald the typical rituals of gift-giving and other burdens associated with traditions. For better or worse, the celebration of Hanukkah, Christmas, Orthodox Christmas or Kwanzaa calls us to look on the past and connect it with the present moment. The most common holiday tradition is the family gathering. Whether or not it’s with relatives we see often isn’t the main point; rather it’s the symbolic weight of the event that lends it its importance. Of course, getting together with family can serve the practical purpose of reconnecting to and updating each other on our lives.
These days, however, such reconnection could just as easily (if not more easily) be done by email.
What matters most is the repeated gesture of joining each other in the same place. Whether or not you need to hear updates or enjoy eating your grandmother’s cooking is merely tangential. It’s the repetition of these actions that gives them meaning. They offer us comfort through their constancy. They humble us.
The rituals of this time of year still retain value, especially in this era of instantaneous reinvention. Reflect on the various symbolic gestures that occur this time of year and enjoy them thoroughly. If that proves to be a challenge, then it may be time to spark a new holiday tradition.
Perhaps you find yourself in an unexpected place or situation this year, be it by duty or desire, that distances you from those you wish to have at your side. There may be no choice but to see a loved one through a Web camera; chat with them on Skype, AIM, or Google Talk; or, email them a letter.
You might be sharing a holiday meal with people who, though not directly related to you, still connect with you by common interest. Or, you might be spending the holiday with only yourself. The reality of our increasingly mobile society is that fewer things feel permanent. Our economy strengthens and weakens. Our physical locations are short-term. And our distance from the ones who know us best can change unexpectedly.
You can use a ritual–whether it’s the lighting of a candle, the decorating of a tree, or just a moment of meditation–to keep yourself grounded in the midst of any changes and transitions that you may be undergoing.
If you feel that traditional modes of celebrating the holidays aren’t relevant to your modern lifestyle - find or design a ritual that speaks to you. This is a technique that we aptly call Ritual 2.0. Consider that there are always anchors in your life that are constant–a relationship with another, a love of wine, or a simple life goal. Channel these constants and celebrate them. Start an annual bottle-opening to taste that vintage wine you’ve been saving all year, splurge at a restaurant that tops your must-try list, or start working on one of your resolutions for the following year. Life may be full of changes, upgrades, downgrades, and surprises, but it’s also full of things that can bring us pleasure and inspiration.
This holiday season, all we ask is that you indulge and be merry.
Photo courtesy of:
candleconnection-eg.com.
Posted in Lifestyle, Mobility, Traditions, Wine, holiday season | No Comments »
En Route and in Style: How To Be Travel Chic
December 21, 2009
In the frenzy of packing for your holiday travels, the last thing on your mind may be the stylishness of the outfit you wear to the airport or train station. When you’re running late, hauling an overpacked suitcase, or managing delays and cancellations, you might consider looking coordinated and chic a lost cause.
We, however, propose that there are still good reasons to look travel chic even during this most stressful time of year. For one, the time you spend in an airport exposes you to a multitude of travelers from around the globe. It’s your chance to be a global ambassador of style – Kate Moss was discovered in an airport, after all. Second, your travel outfit may be the first outfit your loved ones see upon your arrival. The outfit you wear is the first statement you make about how your life has progressed since the last time you saw distant friends and family. Lastly, wearing your most stylish items onto the plane ensures you won’t lose them should your luggage never arrive at baggage claim.
The best part is that looking travel chic needn’t mean compromising comfort or practicality – which tend to be the two priorities when traveling long distances. By looking calm, cool, and coordinated, you encourage your mind to feel the same way. Below are some quick tips and recommendations for either men or women on clothing and accessories that can keep you looking your best, even when you’re stressed.
The Right Eyewear
When you’re jet-lagged and travel-weary, your eyes can be a window to your disgruntled soul. Yet, with the right eyewear, you can be left feeling more refreshed than red-eyed when you awake from your high altitude nap. Those who wear contact lenses should consider eyeglasses for long flights and train rides, to avoid dry eyes. We recommend a pair of Oliver Peoples‘ eyeglasses for their retro flair. Sunglasses are also useful, since they can cover up signs of weariness or double as an eye mask while napping. Try a pair of souped up Ray-Ban Wayfarers from Oak. Their iconic design will be internationally recognized, but these unique designs help to redefine the look.
The Right Jacket
You might feel the urge to play it safe and wear your puffiest, most weather resistant jacket at this time of year, especially when headed towards wintry destinations. Yet, once you’re on the plane feeling like a parade balloon, you may wish you had reconsidered. Be realistic and think about how much time you’ll actually be spending outside. If the majority of that time is comprised of walking between a cab and the airport entrance, a trim pea coat will suffice. A Burberry rain jacket is also a reliable style choice. It will provide you with the necessary protection against the elements, and, since it’s made of thin polyester, it’s easily stowed away once you’re indoors.
The Right Sweater
Since you’re opting for a lighter jacket, you’ll want the added warmth of a sweater. Layering is not only the current stylistic preference, but it also allows you to adjust to a variety of temperatures on the fly. Tri-blend and flecked sweaters are a hit at the moment. Cardigans, on the other hand, can be shed without disturbing your hairstyle or your eyeglasses. A simple, neutral-colored cardigan goes well with most outfits. Customize the look by bunching up the sleeves or buttoning and unbuttoning to your preference. Oversized cardigans can also double as mini-blankets as you get cozy in coach.
The Right Pants
While sweatpants have been documented as an increasingly accepted fashion trend, we would wait until the trend proves its staying power before we recommend wearing them outside your living quarters. Unless you’re truly dedicated to your favorite pair of jeans, it’s best to steer clear of denim as well, especially if its raw or form fitting. Travel space will be tight enough as it is. For a pair of pants that maximizes comfort without disregard for style, try American Apparel’s affordable travel pants. The name says it all. The pants come in subdued blue and gray tones, plus a jazzier red option, and at less than $70, they’re relatively wallet-friendly.
The Right Bag
The first rule with a carry-on bag is not to overstuff it. This requires a good deal of discipline in the packing stage, but it pays off in the end. Remember: a tech chic traveler is one that isn’t bogged down by heavy baggage. Your bag should not be bursting at the seems and, if necessary, you should be capable of carrying it with one hand. Upscale labels like Louis Vuitton and Givenchy make excellent weekend-style bags that provide enough space for just that – a weekend’s-worth of clothes and necessities. J. Crew also makes more affordable men’s and women’s travel bags and mini-suitcases that mimic the sophisticated look of higher end brands. When it comes to laptop bags, we prefer tighter fitting sleeves as opposed to laptop shoulder bags, which tend to be clunky.
The Right Shoes
This is arguably the trickiest category. When it comes to footwear, comfort and style are usually required to duke it out. For women this is especially true. Obviously, high heels can be problematic and could potentially slow you down. We recommend avoiding heels or keeping them reasonably low. Loafers (without socks) are the epitome of comfort and maintain a certain level of class, but might not be appropriate for harsh weather. If needed, go for boots. If you don’t have a broken-in pair, you can buy them vintage at stores like Stock in New York. Otherwise, women, try this guide to winter boots - from high to low and everything in between.
The Right Guides
Being travel chic isn’t all about appearance. It’s also about the kind of know-how that comes with being cultured and experienced. Of course, you can always turn to a little helpful cheating with the right travel guides. Louis Vuitton and Wallpaper* produce travel guides that are fashionable in both content and appearance. The Vuitton guides currently cover over a dozen major cities, while Wallpaper* covers 80. Both sets of guides cater to discerning travelers and offer a more subjective approach to travel guides by listing addresses that best capture the spirit of the destination cities, according to the editors. The guides also prioritize beauty – in both the locations they cover and their own design-conscious packaging.
Source:
“Wallpaper* City Guides” wallpaper.com;
“Louis Vuitton City Guides 2010″ luxuo.com.
Photo courtesy of:
luxuo.com.
Posted in Fashion, Travel, Vacations, holiday season | No Comments »
A Cocktail is Worth a Thousand Words
December 18, 2009
When it comes to the social setting of a bar or restaurant, you are what you drink. Everyone has their signature. Whether its the tangy simplicity of a gin and tonic, the colorful fruitiness of a margarita, or the wholesomeness of an artisinal, organic cocktail, your drink is saying something about you. Sure, a cocktail doesn’t tell your whole story, but it is at least a tagline on your personal movie poster. Considering all the time spent, or not spent, on your personal appearance before a night on the town. Shouldn’t the signature drink that ultimately ends up in your hand add an extra kick of spice to your ensemble?
We’ve uncovered the science behind Dining DNA, but what about Beverage DNA? To make sure your signature drink is sending the right signals about you, we’ve compiled a quick guide to cocktail symbology and its social intricacies. Because a drink choice without thoughtfulness is like a martini without an olive.
A drink of a different color
The easiest way to decipher the meaning behind your beverage selection is to ask yourself: What does its color bring to mind? First, examine the color. The vibrant pink of a protagonista’s cosmopolitan is alluring, feminine and romantic, but it doesn’t suggest seriousness. The clarity of a vodka martini conveys decisiveness and sophistication, but can also intimidate. The deep hues of heavier beers or whiskey manifest heartiness, warmth and earthiness.
Behind every good drink is a good glass
One simple rule to remember is that the shape of the glass is typically meant to match a person’s appearance. A graceful, subtle martini glass goes best with more formal or sensual attire. Beer bottles and shot glasses are direct and to-the-point. In other words: they’re strictly casual - though any formal ensemble can turn casual with the proper adjustments (loosened ties, unbuttoned collars, kicked-off high heels
Context matters
On certain occasions, the appropriateness of a drink is a function of the environment. A martini would seem pretentious at a backyard barbecue, and margarita would receive quizzical looks at a formal cocktail hour. Changes of season also tend to bring changes is optimal drink selection. The rule of thumb: heavier, darker drinks and smokier flavors in the colder months, lighter, fruitier, more acidic drinks when the temperature rises. It’s important to remember that a signature drink is more of a good friend than a spouse. There’s nothing wrong with varying your selection or giving your favorite cognac a summer vacation. It’ll be waiting for you when the winter chill creeps back.
Mood Matters
Your drink can also serve as a personal mood barometer. You might opt for a simple classic drink, like a rum and coke or vodka cranberry, when feeling laid back and unpretentious. Shots or a drink like a tequila fizz might indicate adventurousness. Champagne is celebratory.
Simplicity suggests experience
Some drinks try to say more than others. The larger the garnish, or the more theatrical the presentation (such as a cocktail that involves flames) tend to be geared toward youthful, less experienced drinkers. The fewer the ingredients in a cocktail, the less disguised the base alcohol. These “classic” drinks imply experience and confidence. They are more relaxed, more self-assured.
Novelty often equates to trendiness
Plenty of statement drinks have had their respective moments in the spotlight this past year. These included drinks with ingredients we never considered drinkable (like the bacon martini) and odd, organic additions (like flower cocktails). Trying new and even odd drinks is an important part of developing an informed palate, but it’s also advisable that tastes be kept balanced. If you’re trying all the latest novelty drinks, but you’ve never tried a Manhattan, you might be getting ahead of yourself.
But even “classics” can turn trendy
Classic, creamy drinks, particularly the White Russian, are reportedly churning up under the radar among hipsters. Similar to Pabst Blue Ribbon beer, the case of the White Russian proves how some forgotten classics can be reappropriated by current trends. Pay attention to what others are drinking to get a sense of whether or not the drink in your hand is truly giving off the vibes you expected.
Shaken vs. Stirred
The difference is merely a matter of taste. Shaken drinks tend to be colder and more diluted, since the ice breaks down in the process. Stirred martinis are warmer and stronger. Neither is necessarily right, but asking for one over the other could either make you sound discerning, or like a Bond wannabe. To play it safe, try not to take the words directly from his mouth.
No miniature umbrellas
We think this rule essentially speaks for itself.
Source: “What Does Your Drink Say About You?” justnews.com;
“Shaken vs. Stirred… And What Is ‘Terroir’?” bcliquorstores.com.
Photo courtesy of:
cdn.write.demandstudios.com.
Posted in Dining DNA, Lifestyle, Mixology | No Comments »
Spotlight on Dining DNA:
The Agile Improviser
December 18, 2009
With so many unexpected culinary adventures out there, why not be open to experiencing them all? As long as a restaurant has the basics—like a quality red wine or at least one good cut of meat—it’s worth the trip. That’s the mantra of the Agile Improviser: the diner who can relax and enjoy a meal, whether its an eight-course, haute-cuisine opus, or an eight-ounce, juicy burger.
Jeans and a tee-shirt are the usual staples of an Agile Improviser’s wardrobe (left over from his fraternity days, perhaps). But he likely has at least one good, tailored suit for those special occasions. Consider him a rising professional, or a connoisseur-in-training. On a whim he can go from being a casual hipster to looking like a V.I.P. member of the Euro-couture crowd. He’s a man in transition, on a fast-track away from fast-food. In the wide open, overwhelming post-collegiate world, there is much to be learned about food, style, and worldliness. He knows it, and embraces the learning experience.
Read More »
Posted in Agile Improviser, Dining DNA, Lifestyle, Restaurants | No Comments »
The Top Ten Culinary Trends of 2009
December 16, 2009
With the many culinary breakthroughs that bubbled to the surface of the national restaurant scene in recent months, 2009 is fated to be remembered as a year of culinary renaissance. Perhaps the recession was the muse that sparked everyone’s renewed thinking about food, serving portions, costs, and restaurant business models. It’s the year that gourmet kitchens turned mobile, restaurants discovered the benefits of local meats and produce, and Americans explored “the fifth taste.” Above all, it was the year in which America’s renewed interest in well-crafted, high quality meals reached its defining moment. There’s never been a better time to eat in America. Below are ten reasons why.
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Posted in Culinary Trends, Eating Trends, Gourmet food trucks, Health, Ingredients, Restaurants, Tech Chic, Trends, Wine | 3 Comments »
Modernize Your Holiday Traditions
December 15, 2009
There are few times of the year that are as tradition-heavy as the current holiday season. And it makes perfect sense: What better way to welcome a new year than with a return to our roots? Traditions are a way to remind us of our origins. They often take us back home, return us to the cultures in which we grew up, and help to keep us grounded.
They can also get pretty repetitive if you aren’t careful.
Repetition is, of course, at the heart of tradition, but that doesn’t mean you can’t infuse your rituals with a little creativity. Bringing something new to your holiday celebration can help keep your traditions relevant and it means you won’t confuse the traditional with the blasé.
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