It’s that time of the year! Graduation and Father’s day! Well of course we have the tech and drink that will make it all come together very nicely, thanks to lighter maker Zippo and the famous Boston Lager Samuel Adams.

For the Stylish, Yet Practical Dad or Grad

NEW! ZIPPO METAL WALLET – Protects Against RF Theft

Add Zippo’s sleek, lightweight stainless steel wallet to dad’s look! The Zippo stainless steel wallet features a high quality stainless steel outer shell that protects against RF theft, a flexible polymer body, six credit card holder slots, an ID window, and a money pocket. The wallet is 4 ½” long, 3″ wide, and 1 cm thick. Zippo’s stainless steel wallet is a great gift that offers practical protection against stolen credit card numbers. $49.99

For the Beer-Loving Dad or Grad

Samuel Adams “Love of Beer” Chocolate Box

This Father’s Day, skip the ugly tie and thoughtless gift card and introduce dad to exquisite pairing of craft beer and artisan chocolate. The brewers of Samuel Adams and chocolate makers of TCHO have teamed up to create the Love of Beer Chocolate Box featuring simple, delicious pairing of two classics – Samuel Adams Boston Lager and THCO PureNotes Dark “Chocolatey” (70%).

Integrating authentic Chinese cuisine with high energy and sophistication, Chi Lin combines the spirit of ancient China with the style of 21st-century Los Angeles, melding a variety of regional cuisines in a refined approach that utilizes fresh ingredients in preparations with unexpected flavors and presentations. Located on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood, Chi Lin, with culinary consultant Cecile Tang, offers sophisticated, Hong Kong cuisine in a seductively designed, intimate setting.

You were just craving some Chinese, some chopsticks and your couch. But now Chi-Lin exists, and suddenly you find yourself in the grandest hall of dumplings, Peking duck and butterflies that the Sunset Strip has ever seen. It’s from the empire behind BOA and Sushi Roku, and it soft-opens tonight. You’re going.

It starts small. Ish. There’s a sexy little bar, all crimson walls and pony-hair couches. Perfectly nice spot to begin your date with a couple Formosa Manhattans, with black-tea-infused bourbon. Then you’ll see the regal tea room, with silk-covered benches under a large skylight. Make note of this for your next pitch meeting. (It’s a road movie. Some open sky will help sell it.)

But you’re here for 300 lanterns and infinite butterflies. You’re here for the pretty staggering main room. The one where dangling lanterns are reflected back at themselves—the ceilings are mirrored, as are the tables—and endless columns of glass-encased butterflies seem to go on forever. Right. So that’s all happening.

And then come the crab and uni soup dumplings. Scorched-pepper tangerine beef. And, oh, sure, you’ll have a couple of helpings of Peking duck from the cart rolling through every 30 minutes or so.

You don’t surround yourself with all this and then not have the Peking duck.

9201 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069310.278.2068

VOGA Italia hails from of course Italy, the country that’s best known for producing some of the world’s best wine, in addition to its sense of style.VOGA Italia encompasses all aspects offering a collection of crisp delicious wine thoughtfully packaged in a revolutionary re-designed wine bottle that even features a unique resealable cap.

VOGA is also one of the only wines we’ve experienced that doesn’t leave your stomach feeling like you’d drank battery acid. In fact the wine is as smooth as water. Though we must say don’t attempt to use any fancy bottle opener with this as it will break the neck of the bottle.

You will want to use a good old fashioned cork screw type wine bottle opener! We made the mistake of using our fancy wine bottle opener and lets just say it didn’t work out too good for us!

Some believe a wine spritzer is past its prime and a cocktail that shouldn’t deserve much consideration. VOGA Italia is trying to change that trend.

VOGA Italia is reviving the spritzer with a grown-up twist, mixing up fizzing cocktails with sparkling wine, champagne, fresh fruits and exotic elixirs.

VOGA Italia’s Sparkling Pinot Grigio has a light golden color and fine perlage, which gives way to aromas of white blossoms and ripe citrus, lending itself perfectly to the grown-up spritzer.

Perfect for the warm, summer months – try a few modern spritzer recipes from VOGA Italia:

Oranginger Spritzer
2 oz. VOGA Italia Sparkling Pinot Grigio
1 oz. club soda
.5 oz. ginger vodka
Juice from ½ orange
Combine ginger vodka, club soda, fresh orange juice and stir. Top with VOGA Sparkling and garnish with a ginger candy chew.

Honey, You’re a Peach
2.5 oz VOGA Italia Sparkling Pinot Grigio
1 oz. club soda
1 fresh peach, quartered and peeled
1 tsp honey
Muddle or puree honey and one quarter peach. Add VOGA Sparkling and club soda and gently stir. Garnish with a slice of peach and serve immediately.

Strawberry Kiwi Fizz
2.5 oz. VOGA Italia Sparkling Pinot Grigio
1 oz. club soda
.5 oz. Kiwi Liqueur
2-3 Strawberries
1 kiwi, quartered
Muddle strawberries and one quarter kiwi with a small amount of sugar, and spoon into a champagne flute. Top with liqueur, club soda and VOGA Sparkling. Garnish with a strawberry and serve immediately.

The VOGA Italia wine collection retails from $10.99 to $15.99 and includes Pinot Grigio, Merlot, Moscato, Quattro, Sparkling Pinot Grigio and Sparkling Pinot Grigio Chardonnay.

For additional information, please visit: www.VogaItalia.com

On warm spring weekends, it’s nice to stick to the simple pleasures: Rocking your new sunglasses. Picking up some coffee. Buying a bike. Grabbing some lunch. Having a bunch of beer.

All in the same place.

Bask in the soft, warm light of Pedalers Fork, a towering testament to the genius of putting a café, beer hall, restaurant and bike shop all in one sun-drenched cabin, soft-opening this weekend. (Ish.)

Before now, Calabasas might not have been on your shortlist of neighborhoods for a quick coffee run. But this is the kind of worth-a-day-trip café that’s just honestly really beautiful. Feels like you’re in a bleached-out cabin in the woods, doing a shoot for a J.Crew catalog.

And yes, it’ll start with a hot cup of 10-Speed coffee. (It’s from Oregon, naturally.) But then you’ll be sitting out on the deck, marveling at trees and stuff, and soon you’ll want some Belgian waffles. Then maybe another coffee…

Before you know it, it’s 8pm, and you’ve bought a bike from the in-house shop, had a wild-boar-sausage flatbread, tossed back a couple Rye Hummingbird Downs (there’s rye, honey and green Chartreuse) and probably befriended a merry band of bicycle bandits on the run from the Malibu police.

You’ll know them when you see them.

Pedalers Fork
23504 Calabasas Rd
Calabasas, CA 91302
818-225-8231
official website

SOURCE: URBAN DADDY 

SideDoor is presenting several highly anticipated Tap Takeovers throughout the upcoming summer season. Each takeover will occur from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., the first just before the summer solstice (June 21) and the final right after the autumn equinox (September 21). SideDoor’s Tap Takeovers will feature tastings for a variety of award-winning craft beers, as well as brewers and other representatives from the breweries to mingle with guests and discuss their history and craft.

“Our Tap Takeovers are wonderful opportunities to taste amazing beers and meet the people behind them,” said Jim Colombo, SideDoor’s General Manager. “Each event will be a unique and memorable way to spend a summer evening.”

The currently scheduled Tap Takeovers include the following:

May 29, 2013, Noble Ale Works Tap Takeover

Conveniently located between the Angels Stadium and the Honda Center, Noble Ale Works is a microbrewery that creates and maintains high quality full flavored craft brews that earn acclaim from the quality and freshness of their ingredients.

June 26, 2013, Ballast Point Tap Takeover

Founded in 1996 by Jack White and Yuseff Cherney in San Diego, Ballast Point Brewing Company started in the back of Home Brew Mart, a homebrew supply store. In 2010, Ballast Point won three gold medals for their beers, as well as the “Small Brewery Champion” award at the World Beer Cup.

July 31, 2013, Firestone Walker Tap Takeover

Firestone Walker Brewing Company began as a small brewery with roots in wine country on California’s Central Coast. The company was named World Beer Cup Champion Brewery for mid-sized breweries in 2004, 2006 and 2010

August 28, 2013, Ritual Brewing Tap Takeover

Ritual Brewing Co. in Redlands, California was founded by Steve Dunkerken and Owen Williams, two guys with a true passion for great beer. Ritual Brewing draws its name from the age-old rituals and craft techniques of the brewing process itself and from the enjoyable ritual of drinking beer and celebrating life.

September 25, 2013, New Belgium Tap Takeover

A regional brewery located in Fort Collins, Colorado, New Belgium was created by Jeff Lebesch, who took his home brewing passion commercial. As of 2010, New Belgium was the third-largest craft brewery and seventh-largest overall brewery in the United States. Fat Tire, an amber ale, is the company’s flagship beer.

About SideDoor

SideDoor is a member of the Lawry’s family of restaurants, which includes its sister restaurant Five Crowns, Lawry’s The Prime Rib, with locations in Beverly Hills, Chicago, Dallas, Las Vegas, Osaka, Tokyo, Singapore, Taipei, and Hong Kong, as well as Tam O’Shanter in Los Angeles. The company’s quick-service concept, Lawry’s Carvery, opened at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa in 2003, and was followed by an additional location at L.A. LIVE. SideDoor is located at 3801 East Coast Highway, Corona del Mar.

For more information, please call (949) 760-0331 or visit www.sidedoorcdm.com.

With Mother’s Day right around the corner on Sunday, May 12, our friends at Crown Royal sent over a couple recipes to help you guys to celebrate Mom’s special day the right way!  While the Maple Collins and Royal Peach are excellent additions to any Mother’s Day brunch or family celebration, also keep in mind that these tasty cocktails below can be enjoyed all summer long, so feel free to share your thoughts on these great tasting cocktails with us as you start enjoying more of the warmer weather!

Maple Collins

Having brunch out or at home with the fam? Order or mix up the Maple Collins – a perfect drink that goes well with any Mother’s Day brunch celebration.Ingredients:

1.5 oz. Crown Royal Maple

.5 oz. Lemon Juice

1.5 oz. Pineapple Juice

2 dash Angostura Bitters

.5 Simple Syrup

Preparation: Mix ingredients in a shaker, top with club soda and strain into a Collins glass. Garnish with half an orange slice and a cheery.

Royal Peach

Mother’s Day can be just “peachy” with this great cocktail including many delicious juices.
Ingredients:

1 oz. Crown Royal Black

.75 oz. Ciroc Peach

.5 oz. Cranberry, orange, pineapple and Sprite

2 dash Angostura Bitters

.25 Grenadine

Preparation: Mix ingredients, pour into a rocks glass and top off with lemon-lime soda.

Champion

The Champion makes a great “after-brunch shot” to get pool time started off the right way!

Ingredients:

1 oz. Crown Royal Maple

.75 oz. Orange Juice

.25 oz. Simple Syrup

Preparation: Shake over ice, strain into a shot glass and garnish with a small orange slice.

Gold Rush

It’s not 14  carats but the Gold Rush keeps the color with honey, lemon and the amber color of Crown Royal Deluxe.

Ingredients:

1.25 oz. Crown Royal Deluxe

.75 oz. Lemon Juice

.5 oz. Honey Syrup

1 dash Bitters

Preparation: Mix ingredients in a shaker and strain into a child rocks glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.

Growing up I remember watching movies and TV shows where they were having a meeting in the office and somehow there was always someone pouring a Scotch or Bourbon. As a kid I thought that was the coolest thing! You know what’s changed? Nothing! It’s still pretty damn cool. Even now that we’ve become an ultra conservative society that has all but criminalized everything fun, including drinking on the job!

Here at the Fastlane office we have a pretty decent bar, stocked with some pretty great booze. Of course most it, ok so all of it was sent to us by distillers and brewers but it is impressive still. While we here do certainly advocate in favor of the responsible consumption of alcohol we do advocate the consumption of good booze!  Below are the ten best things about booze as seen by some of history’s most famous and notorious drunkards!

1. It shines a light in the darkness.

“When I need a light inside me, I walk into a pub and drink 15 pints of beer.”

—Shane MacGowan 

It happens to everyone.  You wake up submerged in a pitch black mood where the whole shebang seems an immense waste of time. When any and every move you could possibly make not only seems ill-advised, but a sure path to utter ruin.

Then you have a drink. You may have to force yourself to do it, because even drinking seems a big hassle. Suddenly the weight of the world shifts a little off your neck, not much, but enough to notice. Then you have another and, you know, things still suck, but it isn’t the end of the world, for crissakes. Then you have a third and a sliver of light pierces the gloom and you can actually make out the dim shapes of some of the good things around you. Six or seven more down the pipe and—Shazam!—you’re not only out of the pit of gloom, you’ve somehow managed to leap atop some gaudy and magnificent peak, surrounded by vast rolling plains of hope and opportunity.

Oh, sure, there will always be those who will shrill that it is false optimism driven by a chemical reaction in the brain, but so what? As any motivational speaker will tell you, a positive attitude, attained by whatever means, is the first step toward accomplishing anything of value.

Where there’s hooch, there’s hope.

2. It inflames the imagination.

“For art to exist, for any sort of aesthetic activity to exist, a certain physiological precondition is indispensable—intoxication.”

—Friedrich Nietzsche

It’s no wonder teetotaler artists and writers are especially eager to rail against alcohol—drinking provides an unfair advantage. It’s steroids for the creative set. It not only allows you to look at something from a fresh angle, it pries open the door to the subconscious, the primordial muck from which all ideas spring.

The Roman philosopher Seneca said, “Drunkenness is nothing but voluntary madness,” and he was dead right. Applied liberally, alcohol makes you go out of your mind, and by that I mean it allows you to poke your head out of whatever mental rut you’re trudging along in. Which is important, because that ditch doesn’t offer much of a view.

Granted, some of the sheen and shine will fall off those grand ideas come morning, but a few nuggets will almost always glitter from those ink-stained cocktail napkins.

3. It unites the tribe. 

“The secret of drunkenness is that it insulates us in thought, whilst it unites us in feeling.”

—Ralph Waldo Emerson

Thanks to TV, the Internet, cell phones, telecommuting, pharmaceuticals and video games, the average person presently spends more time physically alone than in any other era in human history. It’s an irony of the times—technology brought us out of the caves and into the cities and now it’s leading us back to the caves. We’ve been reduced to hermits shouting at one another from digital windows.

Which is no way to go through life, if you ask me.  Communicating with a fellow human through fiber optics and satellite signals may be convenient, but it’s a sorry substitute for face-to-face contact.

There is nothing like alcohol to get you out of your cave and into the crowd. A handful of drinks and you suddenly feel the world could well benefit from your exalted presence. It makes you want to seek out human companionship, and once found, it sheds the veils behind which we hide. Put 20 strangers in a room and serve them water, and you’ll get some strained conversation at best. Give them booze and you’ve got yourself a party. Unrestrained laughter breaks the surface tension, friendships are formed, romance is sparked.

You’ll eventually return to your cave, to be sure, but perhaps you’ll bring someone back with you.

4. It makes you more human.

“In a world where there is a law against people ever showing their emotions, or ever releasing themselves from the grayness of their days, a drink is not a social tool. It is a thing you need in order to live.”

    —Jimmy Breslin

During a typical day, the average person’s emotional pendulum swings perhaps ten degrees in either direction, from mild annoyance (spilling a cup of coffee on your desk) to mild amusement (a coworker spilling a cup of coffee in his lap). Baring your emotions, society has taught us, equates vulnerability, which is another word for weakness. We’re not only encouraged to keep our emotions off our sleeves, but buried deep inside, where they can keep our ulcers company. And there we are, glorified monkeys who learned to make machines, and now, for some inexplicable reason, we’re attempting to become those very machines.

Which is a sad state of affairs. The finest examples of humanity, all the great figures in history and legend, were men and women who roared through life with an excess of passion.

And there’s nothing like booze to fan the fires of passion that smolder within. It serves as an emotional catalyst, it gives that pendulum a shove, allowing it to swing in a broad arc. It lends you the energy and excuse to exercise the full gamut of human emotion, from righteous Moses-coming-down-the-mountain rage to deepest, purest romantic love. (And on a good evening, both within the space of five minutes.)

Sober, we are soulless robots and about as fun. Drunk, we are cavorting monkeys willing to have a good time. Which would you rather be?

5. It’s a sure path to adventure.

“It’s like gambling somehow. You go out for a night of drinking and you don’t know where you’re going to end up the next day. It could work out good or it could be disastrous. It’s like the throw of the dice.”

—Jim Morrison

Daring  types once sought out adventure by setting out to the edges of civilization with loads of expedition gear. Now that the edges of civilization have overlapped, the bold must find adventure in familiar surroundings, they must eke it out of the commonplace.

For adventure to exist, two elements must be in place: risk and the courage to engage it. Alcohol provides both, in spades. Which is why the daring presently set out for the nearest bar and load up on booze.

Inebriation increases the possibility of adventure by pumping up the X Factor. No matter how well you become acquainted with the effects of drinking, there is always the possibility something unpredictable will happen, especially when you consider those around you are tempting the same fates with every lift of their glass.

Booze also lends you the necessary courage to face that inherent danger, it instills the confidence and devil-may-care attitude essential to taking that first step into the metaphorical jungle.

Now, some may decry this brand of bravery as “Dutch” or false courage, but what does it matter from which quarter courage springs? Do you think Genghis Khan gave a damn whether it was bloodlust, loyalty to his command, or a bellyful of fermented mare’s milk that encouraged his horseman to swoop down on a rival tribe?

Nowadays people crave the thrill of adventure but would prefer to do without the danger, which is ridiculous. That’s not adventure, that’s a ride at Disneyland.

Drinkers are risk takers, they’re willing to throw the dice, and don’t let modern society’s namby-pamby, play-it-safe ethos make you believe that’s a bad thing. Taking risks is what makes a life a life, as opposed to a life sentence.

6. It’s a fool-proof escape plan.

 “Modern life is often a mechanical oppression and liquor is the only mechanical relief.”

 —Ernest Hemingway

Your life is a prison. You, sir, live in a cage.

Hold on, you say. I love my life. I have a swell time! I wouldn’t trade it for anything!

Well, sure. I’m not saying it’s not a gilded cage with amenities galore, and I’m certain you’ve learned to play all sorts of delightful tunes when you artfully rattle the bars.

What I am saying is you are trapped in a prison of conformity and routine: you must go to work, you must pay your bills, you must feed your pets, you must be at certain places at certain times and if you aren’t then you’re going to have to find a new cage to live in.

The first thing getting drunk does is make you aware that you are in a cage. Fuck that job, you’ll think. It’s a fucking drag. And fuck going to your in-laws’ for Christmas, like you do every goddamn year. And you sure as hell don’t want to go to church tomorrow.  Suddenly you can see the bars, and I don’t mean the ones you’re drinking in.

The second thing it does is make you forget the cage exists. You get so wrapped up in the good times everything else seems a distant blur, a vague childhood memory where nothing much happened. Drink enough and you’ll have a hard time telling the cab driver on which street your cage is situated. Whoever said alcohol won’t drown your worries didn’t fill up the bathtub with enough booze.

Of course, employing alcohol to escape reality is vilified these days. Somehow it’s a terrible thing. The bars of the cage are there to protect you, they’ll tell you. What they don’t understand is that the thing you’re trying most to escape is right there in the cage with you. Namely, you.

7. It makes you pay.

“The hangover became a part of the day as well allowed-for as the Spanish siesta.”

    —F. Scott Fitzgerald

I know what you’re thinking: “Why in high hell would a rabid proponent of drinking celebrate the hangover, of all things? Hangovers are the sworn enemy of drunkardom!”

I disagree. Hangovers are good things, and here’s why:

First, they provide a balance. Every Yin must have its Yang. I know it’s hard to appreciate that when you’re Yanging over the sink the morning after, but consider this—what sort of crowd would you find in the bars if it was all good times, if there was no punishment lurking behind the pleasure? A gang of fair-weather pussyfoots is what you’d have, and who wants those types getting in the way of your next drink?

Hangovers make drunks a tougher breed of character. The hangover is the mean older brother who toughens you up and teaches you how to fight back. Don’t believe me? Tell you what—you gather the gang from Starbucks and I’ll assemble the boys from Kelly’s Pub and we’ll meet in the parking lot. The caffeine crowd won’t even manage to throw a punch, they’ll be too busy texting the cops: OMG! DRNKS TACKNG US! HLP!

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, hangovers teach the art of the rebound. It instills the idea that if you grit your teeth and fight through the pain, soon enough you’ll be able to get back up and start swinging again.

You can’t keep a drunk down. Especially once Happy Hour rolls around.

8. It imparts self awareness.

“It is most absurdly said that a man is disguised in liquor; for, on the contrary, most men are disguised by sobriety.”

—Thomas de Quincy

It’s crazy. People attend seminars, meditate, indulge in astrology, consult palm readers and take any number of personality tests, all in an attempt to figure out who they truly are. All those poor souls are walking around wondering, “Who and what am I really?” When all they need to do is get good and stinking drunk.

Nothing reveals your inner nature, to yourself and those lucky enough to be around you, like a good booze-up. Drink by drink, alcohol strips away all those carefully applied layers of deceit. It knocks loose the gaudy ornaments of pretension and affectation, finally laying bare what hides beneath.

I’m going to say it flat out: anyone who’s never been drunk doesn’t know a damn thing about themselves. All they know is the conscious voice in their head, and that voice is an expert liar. It’s only when that preacher is shoved off the podium—so the rest of the congregation can speak—that you become aware of the true dogma of the self.

Drunks have a very fine understanding of their true selves. They are keenly aware of every dimension of their psyche—they’ve sung with their angels and raged with their devils. They’ve examined that inner face from so many different angles they can render an accurate sculpture from memory, flaws and all.

Which is important, because as Plutarch preached, you cannot entirely love someone until you entirely know them.

Which brings up the next best thing about boozing.

9. It allows you to believe you are a better person than you ever imagined you were.

“When I have one martini, I feel bigger, wiser, taller. When I have the second, I feel superlative. When I have more, there’s no holding me.”

—William Faulkner

Ever notice how drunks rarely seem to mind being the center of attention? Not only don’t they mind, they practically demand it, even if it means breaking your things and yelling at the top of their lungs.

Why would this be so? Because when you’re drunk you’re certain you deserve the spotlight. You might be the shyest, most reticent mouse while sober, but load you up with enough liquor and you’re John Barrymore shouting Shakespeare, however unintelligibly.

Booze burnishes to a high gleam every quality you’re lucky enough to possess, and some you weren’t even aware you had claim to. It certainly makes you more generous—there isn’t a barista on earth that makes as much as a bartender. It elevates your sense of humor, surely—no one laughs at a bad joke like a drunk. It reveals you to be an expert dancer, deft conversationalist, brilliant philosopher, gifted singer and the most sensual of lovers. And good looking? You’re so damned handsome you’d have to beat the girls off with a stick if they weren’t so intimidated by your sheer, well, handsomeness. And tough—you’re so hard you could deck half the guys in the room with a single punch if they’d just stay still for a goddamn minute.

Alcohol lets you love yourself. And I say that’s a fine thing. Everyone should feel that way every now and then. Why must you go through life acting like an accountant or salesman or carpenter, just because that’s what you do for a living?

Why should only kings get to feel like kings?

10. It brings the joy.

“Why on earth aren’t people continually drunk? I want ecstasy of the mind all the time.”

—Jack Kerouac

There isn’t enough joy in the world, and that’s a fact. If there was, alcohol would have been dismissed as a mere disinfectant long ago.

I know, I know—we should just get “high on life” and then we wouldn’t have to bother with the booze. And I’ve noticed that it seems to work for some people. What I’ve also noticed is those people all seem a little, well, insane.

I’m not saying there isn’t opportunity for “highness” in the sober world; I’m just saying those instances are too few and far between. Think about it–how often do you feel genuine unbridled glee while sober? Once or twice a week? You can’t count on it. You can’t expect the neighborhood kids to launch a glorious foul ball right through the living room window of your asshole neighbor every day of the week. No matter how much you pay them.

It always amuses me when I read about some hand-wringing do-gooder wondering why-oh-why do seemingly sensible people pursue alcohol with such fervor. What dark motivation, what genetic flaw must drive them? What the Drys don’t seem able to grasp is that a drinker can walk into a bar, and a handful of transactions later, attain the same level of euphoria that the teetotaler would have to strangle a half dozen or so kittens to achieve.

It’s joy on demand. Your fifth drink goes down and a sense of well-being rises up. Then, as the night reels along, the feeling expands into a real sense of euphoria. There’s nothing fake about it. It’s a three-pronged attack: you feel good because stress is released, self-image is elevated, and your inhibitions get the old heave-ho.

And what a joyful feeling it is, knowing that joy is always and only a walk to the bar away.

—Frank Kelly Rich

 SOURCE: Drunkard

With Cinco de Mayo this weekend, food and drink are constantly on my mind. Regardless of whether or not the holiday has cultural significance to you, chances are that you’ll be celebrating in some way. Perhaps it’s a gathering with some friends or a night out at a restaurant that is throwing together a big hooplah.

Maybe you’ll be paying homage to Mexico with choice pours of high-grade tequila. Well, if you’re going to be celebrating where food is involved and task numero uno after showing up is bringing food, surprise others with some black bean corn salsa couscous.

Do something a little different with black bean corn salsa couscous

This versatile dish is sure to give taste buds a little fiesta. You can serve it hot or cold. So, what does it take to put together this colorful and healthful dish together? Below are instructions on making enough for 6-8 people.

Ingredients:

• oil
• 1 medium red onion, diced
• 1 large red bell pepper, seeds removed & diced
• 2 cups couscous, dry
• 2 cups whole corn kernels
• 2 cups black beans, cooked and drained (about 1 standard can)
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 2 tsps taco seasoning
• 1 tsp garlic salt
• 2 medium Roma tomatoes, seeds removed & diced
• 1 cup cilantro, roughly chopped
• hot sauce of choice (optional)

Directions:

1. Dice/chop all needed ingredients. Keep separately.
2. Place a large pot on medium-high heat. Add just enough oil to coat the bottom.
3. Once hot, add diced red onion. Stir until just starting to turn translucent (~2-3 min.). Then add red bell pepper for another 2 minutes.
4. Add couscous and coat well in the oils. Quickly add in corn and black beans.  Stir for another 2 minutes before adding broth.
5. The broth will cause the couscous to expand. To prevent the couscous from burning at the bottom of the pot, make sure to stir frequently. When the liquid is nearly all absorbed, season with taco seasoning and garlic salt.
6. When thoroughly mixed, turn off heat and add in tomatoes and cilantro. You don’t want these to overcook.
7. Lastly, if you like it hot, you can add little by little the hot sauce you want. I used a Caribbean lime chile sauce that gave a spicy sour kick.

BHCC

BHCC’s top 5 champagne and cigar pairings are:

1. Salon Blanc de Blancs Le Mesnil-sur-Oger ‘97 (750 ML)

The 1997 Salon Blanc de Blancs Les Mesnil-sur-Oger is recommended in a tulip-shaped glass rather than a champagne flute to enhance the enjoyment of the rich, complex aromas and its impeccable, lingering finish. Wine Enthusiast Rating: 96. $500.

Goldwin LOUIXS Rosado

A celebratory cigar from rare Nicaraguan Rosado leaf. A full, subtle two hours of pure smoking enjoyment. $50.

“The ’97 Salon Blanc is the Belle of the Ball of the Beverly Hills Cigar Club wine cabinet this year. Taking your time with a LOUIXS will bring out the sweet complexities drained from the grape leaving a hint of elegance on your tongue from the mahogany leaf,” says Lee.
2.    Charles Heidsieck Champagne Charlie ‘85 (750 ML)

Wine Enthusiast gave this fine champagne a 93 rating. Notes of almonds, hazelnuts and rich fruit on the palate, the 1985 Charles Heidsieck Champagne Charlie is a warm wine that has matured very well over the years. $399.99.

Arturo Fuente Opus X Perfecxion

One of the rarest and highest rated brand in the world, OpusX has a world- renowned reputation for quality and class. It is full-bodied with a rich, robust flavor. Cigar Aficionado Rating: 91. $40.

“Opus X and I are old dear friends. Champagne Charlie recently made my acquaintance at a red carpet after party,” said Lee. “What a perfect way to ring in the New Year with new and old friends alike.”

3. Nicolas Feuillatte Palmes d’Or Grand Cuvee ’98 (750 ML)

The 1998 Nicolas Feuillatte Palmes d’Or Grand Cuvee is a blend of 50% Chardonnay and 50% Pinot Noir, which makes for a crisp flavor with a well-balanced finish. Wine Spectator rating: 90. $150

“Now is the time for the world to celebrate its recovery and success.” said Lee. “For the New Year, from Dubai to Paris and from New York to Beverly Hills, it is time for the world to rejoice in what we have and who we are. Coming together with a glass of bubbly and a fine cigar.”

Padron Anniversary 1964 Series “A”

A box-pressed cigar with a very even burn and a lush draw that saturates the entire palate with complex layers of spice, nut and wood flavors before a toasty finish. Cigar Aficionado rating: 95. $32

“They say the richest man has the poorest palate yet the fullest belly, but the poorest man has the richest palate from his empty belly,” says Lee. “Whetting that appetite with this Grand Cuvee, then quenching that hunger with the ’64 Padron, will make anyone feel like a rich man, but still leave coin in their pocket for Chateaubriand with portobellas.”

4.   Veuve Clicquot Brut Rose Champagne (750 ML)

Despite its lightness with berry and watermelon notes, Veuve Clicquot Brut Rose shows intensity and length. Wine Spectator Rating: 90 $59.99

Davidoff Zino Platinum Crown Series Rocket

A thick torpedo that smokes well, forming a large, solid ash as it burns. This cigar starts out papery but warms to show some nutty and savory notes. A light, mild-to-medium-bodied cigar. Cigar Aficionado Rating: 87. $30

“A winning combination for everyone, Veuve Clicquot is a dance of the senses, igniting your taste buds and tickling your tongue, allowing the Davidoff Zino’s smooth melody to gently rock you to sleep after the ball drops in Times Square,” says Lee. “Many BHCC members entertain with this pairing as both products are so very readily available and an affordable luxury.”

5.   Taittinger Brut La Francaise

Wine Enthusiast describes the Taittinger Brut La Francaise as, “…almost the essence of Champagne. Crisp, rich and complex.” Wine Spectator Rating: 91 $45

Macanudo 1968 Toro

A dark cigar with lots of woody, cedary flavors. The taste is complemented by significant notes of toast as well as black cherry flavors. Cigar Aficionado.  Rating: 90. $9.50

“Unbutton the Kiton, kick off the Tatinos, loosen the Bijan, and with Taittinger in one hand and hers in the other, walk the beaches at midnight New Years Eve,” says Lee. “On this night, she’ll even appreciate the ’68 Macanudo on your kiss.”

Few pleasures can equal the heady combination of exquisite food, remarkable highly collectible aged spirit, and the unique opportunity to sample both in the company of renowned whisky collector and founder of UWE, Mahesh Patel,and The Delmore’s Director of Rare Whisky, David Robertson, who has enjoyed an illustrious career at some of Scotland’s most distinguished distilleries.

This is a truly rare opportunity to taste some of the oldest and highest valued whiskies in the world in which combined have a pour valve of over $2000.  Dalmore – the revered single malt from the Highlands – will share their 18 year old, King Alexander III, 1978 Vintage, 1974 Vintage and the sublime 40 year old single malt, Astrum.

They are also delighted to offer pours from the newly launched Sirius range which includes a 1965 Carsebridge – single grain, a 1966 Fettercairn single malt and a 44 year old single malt from the Dalmore stable to name but a few.

LIMITED SEATING IS AVAILABLE AT THESE EXCLUSIVE EVENTS, WITH THE FIRST WEEK OF MEMORABLE EXPERIENCES FEATURING CRITICALLY-ACCLAIMED RESTAURANTS SUCH AS:

May 8th – The City Club of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA

May 10th – Boa Steakhouse, West Hollywood, CA

May 11th – The Balboa Bay Club & Resort, Newport Beach, CA

May 14th Rainier Club, Seattle, WA

For tickets and pricing for these amazing events visit: universalwhiskyexperience.com