Shaken, Stirred, or Smashed???

Not long ago while on travel I stopped in at a fine restaurant for a ‘nite cap’ on my way ‘home’, i.e., the current hotel.  I ordered my usual dry Sapphire martini. The bartender took a stem from the freezer … Continue reading

Bar Review: P.F. Chang’s, Atlanta Airport

As you know, I don’t usually review chain restaurants.  Even those as nice as P.F. Chang’s.  You also might have noticed that I review a lot of bars on the two coasts.  Traveling back and forth I pass through Atlanta’s … Continue reading

Happy Birthday Sir Sean Connery

Happy Birthday to Sir Sean Connery, the original, and in many minds, the best James Bond.  He is 85 today. Connery is also the original voice behind my ‘Shaken, not Stirred’ theme on this blog.  I can’t speak for everyone … Continue reading

Shaken vs. Stirred Revisited: Conclusion.

Over the past several weeks I’ve waxed poetic on the differences between Shaken Martinis and Stirred Martinis.    We’ve talked about Temperature, Dilution, Bruising, and Taste.  So what is the combined consensus conclusion? Lets review the score: Temperature – Draw                                                   Shaken … Continue reading

Shaken vs. Stirred Revisited: Taste

We’ve finally come to the final, and probably most important, contentious, and difficult edition of Shaken vs. Stirred Revisited: Taste.  Does Shaking change the taste of the Martini? I’ve been scratching my head trying to develop an effective and simple … Continue reading

Bar Review: Bonefish Grill, Langhorne, PA

I normally wouldn’t review a chain restaurant but Bonefish Grill doesn’t ‘feel’ like a chain.   Indeed, when I first walked in I thought it was a local establishment and didn’t realize it wasn’t until I looked online for the correct … Continue reading

Thoughts on Stemware, Part Three

Its been a while since I shared some thoughts on stemware, so here are a few Friday Musings…. Crooked stems?  Split?  Or big sweeping curving stems?  Is there some reason for a crooked/curved/split stem that I’m just not seeing?  Or … Continue reading

Bar Review: Mastro’s Steakhouse, Costa Mesa

I did a review of Mastro’s in Thousand Oaks a few months ago and recently had the pleasure of visiting their Costa Mesa facility.  One would hope that the martini in Costa Mesa would be as fine as that in … Continue reading

Bar Review: Barclay Prime, Philadelphia

Barclay Prime may have one of the best selections of steaks in the US.  Certainly in Philadelphia.  And, of course, they are prepared perfectly.  The ambiance is subdued elegance and the staff is magnificent.  It is definitely worth a visit. … Continue reading

Shaker Thoughts

Glass shakers vs. Metal shakers?  Which is better?  I think part of the answer depends on whether you store the shaker in the freezer (or fridge). If you store it in the freezer then the greater thermal mass of the … Continue reading