Finally, another excellent bar in Clarke County! Echo approves.
Donnie’s Vinyl Lounge Debut
August 1, 2025
animals, dogs, mixology donnie, echo, vinyl lounge Leave a comment
French Blonds and Stuffed Blossoms
August 1, 2025
cooking, food, mixology cocktail, french blond, stuffed squash blossoms Leave a comment
Milk Punch
December 20, 2024
mixology clarified milk punch, italicus, milk punch, mixology Leave a comment
Having never made milk punch before (but having had plenty), we opted to make some. This potion takes some things…
We had it all but the Italicus (which donnie provided). While waiting for the curds to set, we had an Italicus martini.
Cheers!
NOS Jazz in Loudoun
November 20, 2024
concert, mixology, music c'est bon, jazz, nick, nick schrenk, NOS, savoir fare Leave a comment
The jazz was fantastic. The company was excellent.
Sadly, the venue was only OK. The food is workaday suburban fare, kind of beige. The bar is terrible. C’est Bon by Savoir Fare needs to work on their non-musical aspects.
But if NOS is playing, go see them. Even in Round Hill.
Clean Out the Bar
August 28, 2024
mixology bar, booze, cleanout, cocktails 1 Comment
I’m pretty sure that gnomes just bring in random bottles of liquor. Every year or so, the big purge must happen. Here is the 2024 edition.
At least 30 bottles purged and many extraneous bottles consigned to the basement.
But just look at the result!
This is all part of the neighborhood living room revitalization project (slated to be done mid September.
The Stick 2024
June 21, 2024
cooking, mixology, music, ocean beach, cocktails, dogs, howitzer, krispy kreme, maybelline, moonshine, ocean, ocean isle beach, the stick, where's aubrey Leave a comment
Some pix from the Stick. OIB, NC.
T.C. Boyle memorial howitzer
Krispy Kreme factory frier
AHHHHHH….
Moonishine loves the beach
Pizza Night
March 19, 2024
cooking, mixology baker bob, catoctin creek, hot honey rye, lava lamp, pizza night, scott and becky Leave a comment
Always a pleasure to have a cocktails, salad, and pizza night with our Catoctin Creek buddies and Baker Bob. This iteration included cake and a special appearance by eddie.
Scott makes cocktails.
A kind of Paper Plane.
Becky made an excellent drink with the hot honey rye. Delicious.
Baker bob.
Pizza (1 of 3)
Cake
Maybe Turns One (and I Turn 1+57)
February 27, 2024
mixology, party, who knows arlington, bakeshop, birthday cake, gem, green pig bistrot, maybe, maybelline, moonie, moonshine, romey Leave a comment
It all started in the morning with the birthday puppy Maybeline.
She was excited about becoming a dog. Boot did not care.
There were presents from Romey and espresso in bed.
We left maybe behind for a birthday brunch at the Green Pig Bistro in Arlington. Brunch was delicious. Presents were fantastic. But it was the company we loved the most.
Maybeline had a howl about it.
And then it was time for cake for the other birthday boy. We picked up the cake while in civilization (ordered ahead from the Bakeshop).
The cake is so good. Nobody ever believes us when we tell them.
We were gathered around the bar for Seelbachs and cake.
Moonie wanted to be part of the scene.
But when offered the chance, he demurred.
Cooking Up a Fancy New Year 2023
January 10, 2023
cooking, mixology, party blini, burgundy mushrooms, caviar, cocktail, cooking, crème fraîche, fight club, mimosa, movie, mr skaggs, mushrooms, nine hour mushrooms, roasted chicken, romey, seelbach, skaggs, veuve clicquot Leave a comment
This year we rang in the New Year with delicious food and an intimate two person party.
Nine hour Burgundy Mushrooms are absolutely delicious! But they do really take nine hours. Six hours of simmering with a lid on and three more with the lid off. The new Mauviel christmas pot (my best present by far) was perfect for the job.
We also roasted a chicken and veggies in the new pink pot using one of Romey’s recipes. Likewise delicious.
This was “first dinner.” The coup de grace was still to come.
Mr Skaggs paid a visit while the cooking proceeded and we had a couple of Seelbach cocktails (take care of the time warp!). We’re pretty sure that’s why we accidentally fell asleep before midnight. LOL.
This was a fancy pants Seelbach iteration with veuve clicquot champagne and blanton’s bourbon. Absolutely fantastic.
And then it was time to cook up blinis for the caviar. We went to the “gold plated groceries” store for the fixins. Crème fraîche for the win. So delicious.
Incidentally, these were fried to perfection in another new pan.
This special meal called for a vintage bottle of pink veuve clicqot.
We attempted to watch Fight Club (which I had never seen) , but we fell asleep just before the end (and just before midnight). We blame the Seelbachs.
The leftover champagne and blinis made a great first breakfast of 2023.
Happy New Year to all.
Lets Make Eggnog
December 20, 2021
cooking, mixology baltimore eggnog, cocktail, cocktail recipe, cocktails, cyn, derek brown, eggnog, fresh eggs 2 Comments
Fresh eggnog is really good come solstice time. I’ve made a number of batches over the years, but this recipe is my favorite. This came from an article by Derek Brown of DC bartending fame. Apparently it is called “Baltimore Eggnog.”
Testing the eggnog before the guests arrive
Ingredients
2 dozen fresh eggs from the girls, separated
1 750-mL bottle VSOP cognac
16 ounces Mt Gay Eclipse
1.5 pounds powdered sugar
3 quarts (96 ounces) whole milk, chilled
1 quart (32 ounces) heavy cream, chilled
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- In a large bowl, beat the egg yolks until light and lemon-colored.While continuing to beat, add the cognac, rum, sugar, milk, heavy cream and salt.
24 fresh yolks from the girls in the palace (absolutely fresh eggs from free range hens make a very big difference)
All ingredients but the whites mixed with an electric mixer
2. In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites and nutmeg until they form stiff peaks.
3. Fold the whites into the yolk mixture.Serve in punch cups.
The final product in cyn’s punch bowl chilling in the fridge
Will keep, tightly sealed and refrigerated, for up to one month.
Take a sunset walk while the eggnog sets
Decorate the tree, and do some dancing.
