SOUTH AFRICAN SMOOTHIE

Apart from South Africa being my dream country it is also home to this great drink. South Africans are known to be enthusiastic beer drinkers and they also have the best wine. S.A is home to  to Amarula cream liqueur which mostly taken after dinner. It is made from the fruit of the Marula tree.

To make the  S.A Smoothie you need:
 1.5 oz Amarula Creme Liqueur
1 small banana.
I small cup choclate ice cream.

Procedure
Blend until smooth.
Pour into Collins glass.
Garnish with Chocolate shavings, a banana and serve.

This is great on a boring Saturday or any other day when you just wanna relax. Remember you can serve it chilled too. So travel to S.A with me for a few minutes.

 Enjoy...

TAKE YOUR TASTEBUDS ON A JOURNEY

Most people ask me whats with my new found love for beverages and I tell them it is not a new found love. Its always something I've loved to do, I just didn't know that I would be interested at this point.Ever since I could remember, I could always tell the difference between different coffees and other drinks.I didn't know that this would develop into an entirely new venture where I would be told to make drinks for a small party. Of course in the Long run I want to mix a perfect wine cocktail for someone great or a major cocktail party.there is no doubt that a well mixed cocktail is sophisticated and it sparkles with mysterious appeal.It has the tendency of making a bad day better. Very few people indulge their senses in a well mixed drink.In fact few people know that making a cocktail requires balance between sweet, sour, salty, umami and bitter (that is a biology lesson for another day). I am not there when it comes to making the perfect drinks. In fact, I am barely there.Endless seduction lingers in a cocktail glass. This is accentuated by the setting that you are in. If you are having a good time you should be sipping something fine.

Alcoholic or Non alcoholic drinks?
I don't see any big deal with taking either. It all boils down to personal preference and tastes.I have tasted the best of both worlds. There is a mock-tail called the raspberry faux-jito that has no alcohol and its great.Alcohols have a wide variety to chose from (wines, gin, vodka etc.) Whether your drink is alcohol based or not, you should indulge your taste buds. Get a cold Martini or a Sangria.Get champagne or sparkling wine. Let the bubbles kiss you and thrive on the satisfaction that comes forthwith.
It is impossible to learn everything about beverages as there are thousands of drinks and people continue to brew their own liqueurs and concoctions. However its a great journey of discovery.I am yet to try some glow in the dark drink that I saw. (Sounds potent). A well balanced drink is always a delight. You probably don't know this because you are stuck on the conventional tea, coffee, soda , juice and water.Variety is the spice of life. Try different things. Challenge your taste buds.

WHAT YOUR DRINK SAYS ABOUT YOU

When you go to a party or an event. what do you order most of the time and what does it say about you?

Scotch
You love sweaters a lot. V-neck or round neck. You are a bit reserved. You are comfortable with your life. You are a person to make plans but you never talk about them until they follow through. You are not the perfect company to drink with because your talks revolve around mergers and acquisitions, newspapers or the like. You are somewhat important in the society but we wouldn't know by just looking at you.You consider yourself rich.

Gin and Tonic
You are realistic about life. You weigh pros and cons of every situation.You are comfortable. You are not shy to express your opinion. You are an ordinary man in the street but you believe someday you'll be great.

Margarita
You are a ticking time bomb. You want to eat, drink,sleep, rave ,repeat. You live for the moment. These people yell and shout when you are having a conversation or walking with them in town. You are not afraid of anything.

Mint Julep
You are sweet, calm and collected. You are a nice person to date. you are drama free and you love watching the sunset or enjoying  a cold breeze in the beach.

Beer
You love being respected. You command it. You want to be important. Your talks revolve around cars , sports and football.Nothing can bring you down because you believe you have your act together. I don't Know what to say about a girl who orders beer.

Brown Bottles
Anything goes. You just want to have a good time. Hakuna matata. You want to watch the game with your boys, laugh and call it a night. You blow money fast, Tomorrow will take care of itself.

Wine
It depends on the type. You love finer things in life. You are probably energetic and a free spirit but you are serious on most occasions. You are a workaholic and ambitious but you still love to have a good time.

Daiquiri
Bold and Brilliant. King/queen of your castle. You know what you want.

Long Island Iced Tea.
You are strong willed and not afraid of anything. You go hard!

Rum and Coke
If you are not in college you are college at heart. You are experimental. You hate routine. You are the kind of girl/guy with a bucket list that is halfway done.

Apple Martini (Appletini)
You are a health freak. You probably do yoga or zumba. You love fashion. When cleaning the house you wear short shorts or leggings and put Rihanna/ Beyonce on repeat. Drama Queen!

Vodka
So many people fall in this category. You are self centered. You love being in charge. You are independent. (You can take random trips alone). Your fashion sense is t-shirts , jeans and rubbers. Very intelligent and creative and you rarely keep grudges.

Heineken
Extroverted, free spirit, Intellectual and open minded. You have 1001 ideas.

Tequila
Very fun. You drink all weekend. You love making friends and you do that with so much ease.People like you.

Mai Tai
You are probably a model or you think you can model. You love exotic people. You think they are sexy. You love foreigners but not enough to move out of your country. Yet you say you will marry one.

Champagne
You think you are accomplished. You have money. You love briefcases and boardrooms. Crisp suits and nice cars.

So what are you?

STORING WINE CREATIVELY

Every wine lover looks at the best way to store his/ her wine. Here are a few ideas you might wanna consider. You will need to run to the hardware store . You will need to consult your carpenter if you don't want to get your hands dirty.
1. Get a wooden plank . Drill holes through it. Find a way to secure it on the wall.

2. Get these supporting rods from your local hardware. Secure them on the wall

etsy.com

 3.Get your carpenter to do this for you.

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 4. This is an easy one to make. You can convert an old shelf to a wine stand.Enhance the lighting on the shelf to give it appeal.

architectureanddesign.com

 5. Use an old crate.

  6. the following are simple ideas to use with wood. Once you take the design to the carpenter he will know what to do. Be sure to use hardwood.

 7. Use a normal shelf to store your bottles.

 8. Get old PVC pipes. Cut them in equal lengths. Join together with screws and nuts or rivets. Use different colours. Get creative.

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au.lifestyle.yahoo.com

 9. Another great idea that uses wood.

Transform your space with these ideas.

THE WINE JOURNAL

My best friend Mercy bought me a wine journal on my birthday last month. She knew I was taking up this interest in learning about wine and drinks. Wow! I really appreciated this gift.I had been scribbling my wine tasting notes on papers and sticky notes which ended up getting lost.

This journal is amazing. It helps me organize my notes in an orderly manner. It has these sections that are tailor-made for any burgeoning wine aficionado or the established connoisseur. It has some printed notes on the history of wine, the science of wine making and a glossary. Every page has a printed fun fact about wine.
It has a page for wine recipes and a lot more that every wine lover will appreciate.

It also has a page with 100+ websites that every wine freak should know. The first step about learning about wine is having a place where you can organize your information. Though much of a wine journals functionality is replicated online there is something attractive and fulfilling about having something tangible. Ephemera is the physical token of an experience. I prefer writing down how my Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc tasted like on paper. That way I can review it many years later and re-live that experience.

"Keeping a wine journal is helpful, not only to trigger your memory but as a practice of identifying exactly what appeals to you. One of the best ways to sharpen your wine tasting skills is to get in the habit of jotting down a few quick notes whenever you taste an interesting wine. If you can walk into a wine store and tell them what flavours and styles you like and your budget, you'll walk out with a bottle you like, possibly one you wouldn't have chosen based on a region or name.

THE DAWN OF THE CHAMPAGNE BAR

In Kenya people embrace revolutions. They take ideas and run with them. For instance in late 2011,2012 and 2013 lounges sprung up in the capital. People appreciated relaxing and listening to slow music under the dimmed lights. This saw the birth of lounges like Alabaster lounge, Brew Bistro lounge, Secrets lounge among others. Something else is brewing, The Champagne Bar. Champagne is a luxury drink that’s great especially when it is sparkling in a tall glass. It is a drink reserved for the crème de la crème of society. Closer home a few champagne bars have sprung up in a bid to cater for the upper class in society. Men with briefcases come here after a long day of work. It is a place to meet with friends or chill out between destinations while on holiday. There are a few champagne bars that have become all the rage.

The Champagne Bar. Sankara. Nairobi.

It was launched on Friday, 3^rd August, 2012. It is located on the 7^th floor of this luxurious hotel. It is definitely a place to kick back, relax and enjoy the smooth champagne bubbles kiss your tongue. In this bar there are champagnes, champagne cocktails and a vast selection of the finest single Malt whiskies. In their portfolio is Moet and Chandon, Taittinger Brut Reserve, Hibiki (A Japanese Malt whisky) and others whose names I can’t pronounce. These are carefully selected by the experts so you can’t go wrong with this. The ambience in this place is to die for. For a moment you feel like you are in Vegas. The seats are made of palm wood that is hand carved. You can view the skyline especially at night. The view is to die for with all the lights. There is also a lounge where people can relax after long days at work. The bar opens from 6pm to 1am and the dress code is smart.For more info go here.

credits/howtospendit.ft.com

Sevens Seafood and Grill Champagne Bar

Sevens is taken to be one of the cities Steak and seafood outlet. It is very innovative in that t serves the best seafood from Indian Ocean. It also serves the finest beef aged in the best meat rooms. This beef is locally produced. They get it from the finest cows. Think prawns, oysters, lobsters and fish. This is well prepared by their gourmet chefs. They even have their own signature sauces. This is one of the best experiences ever. It has a cocktail bar. This place is beautiful. And did you know that this is the only bar in East Africa that has been endorsed and credited by Veuve Clicquot. So you can imagine the many types of champagne from Veuve that are served. I think this is one of the best places I have been to. I loved the martinis and they even have ice-cream cocktails. I wish I had a sweet tooth. This is a place that excited me. I would definitely love to work here. The experience was something id love to redo.

 Kenyans are coming of age and most people in the upper class are craving luxury drinks.  The champagne bar experience is great. One feels like you are in another city. for more information go here.

credits/http://www.experienceseven.com

THE LONG ISLAND ICED TEA

In my previous post when I advised that you stay away from this Long Island Iced Tea (L.I.I.T), I knew what I was talking about. Its potent. I don't know why it reminds me of Louis Litt from Suits. An angry Louis Litt in that case. Screaming at you !

He he. This drink is very potent and strong. Think of five shots of different spirits in one glass.
It has Gin, Tequila, Light rum, Vodka, and triple Sec (an orange-flavoured liqueur made from the dried peels of bitter and sweet orange). It is topped with cola.

Ingredients
0.5 ounce Triple sec
0.5 ounce Light rum 
0.5 ounce Gin
0.5 ounce Vodka
0.5 Tequila
1 ounce sour mix
Cola 
Lemon wedge for garnish

Procedure
Pour all the spirits into a Collins glass filled with ice.
Stir well or shake.
Top the glass with cola
Garnish with a lemon wedge.

Personal note
I wouldn't call it one of my favorites. The funny thing is that it looks like tea thus the name. It has a great kick but its a potent, strong, angry kick. Well if that is your thing  go for it. This is a drink suited for the boys on a reunion or a crazy night out in town. 

Fact sheet
Made first by Robert Bolt, a bartender from Long Island.

credits/pfchangs.com

Enjoy...

KEEPING HANGOVERS AT BAY

We all hate hangovers. Have you ever felt like there is a typewriter in your head and your body so lethargic after a night out of drinking? Often times we are found singing this phrase, "I am never drinking again". It took me a long time to realize that there are ways around it.I discovered a few secrets that I will share with you. In my campus days a long time ago I got nasty hangovers every Sunday if I had imbibed over the weekend. Don't blame me I was young and living for the moment. Well, these days I don't engage in unnecessary drinking. I drink to enjoy . I am taking up mixology so I have to sample many types of drinks. Even if I am not drinking much I always take note of the following to avoid the aftermath that is the 'Hangover'.

Stay Hydrated
Before you get out of the house to attend an event, drink a glass of water. Carry a bottle of water if you can. If you are drinking in your house, drink a glass of water.

Use water as a mixer
Often times we take our drinks straight from the glass . When you take shots, remember to gulp some water soon after. Use water as a mixer sometimes. Space drinks with water. If you can keep a dispenser nearby if you are in the house.
Eat fatty foods
I know you might be watching your weight but this would be a good time to eat some fatty foods.Eat a steak or french fries. I have this ritual where I eat a kebab if I am going to mix drinks for people or if I am meeting some friends for a drink. Fats absorb alcohol better than carbohydrates. Fats also line the stomach and reduce the alcohol absorption. As you know from basic biology, alcohol is absorbed directly in the body.

"Another Rule of thumb is Never Drink on an empty stomach "

Space Drinks and Slow Down
You are not in a drinking competition so take it easy. Even if It has been a while. Have some time for conversation. Laugh and have fun. Take time. Put your drink on the table.
Stick to lighter alcohol
You might be the drinking guru, or you have a tough liver but if you want to mitigate the effect of hangovers,choose a beer, Clearer drinks like clear vodka and gin.Avoid dark whiskeys and dark rum if you want to keep that hangover at bay.

"The Darker the drink, The worse the hangover"

 Order a light cocktail
Most cocktails are better than hard liquor. Except the Long Island Iced Tea (Stay away from that cocktail) If you want to avoid hangovers. Get a cocktail with tonic water, soda or non alcoholic mixers. It will taste great but it wont do you so much harm.

Hang over cures

1. Drink Water
2. Eat burnt toast (Carbon helps to absorb the alcohol residue  in your stomach).
3. Eat cereal, chevdas, crisps, crackers to boost the sugar level in your body.
4. Eat a banana/ avocado/oranges to boost potassium levels in your body
   
5. Eat bacon( The protein in bacon replenishes neurotransmitters that were depleted by the alcohol).
6. Eat eggs (Eggs have protein that breaks down to amino acids called cystein that relieve the hangover).

I have seen these things work for me. I also cut on my alcohol intake but if you still want to enjoy your drink , exercise these practices.
You're Welcome.
Enjoy...

PASSION FOR FASHION MOCKTAIL

This post was inspired by one lovely lady, Maureen of Chez Maureen . She is a fashionista and shes a teetotaler. She told me to make some non alcoholic cocktail for her. This is why I named it passion for fashion.
Here is what you will need.

• 2 large mangoes
• 4 passion fruits
• 4 limes
• 8 oz water(237ml)
• 3 cups ice

Procedure

Squeeze the limes
Get the flesh out of the passion fruit and sieve in a glass.

 Get equal parts lime juice and passion juice.

 Cut the mango into small pieces. Pour the pieces into a blender. Add the lime and fresh passion juice. Add water.

Blend until smooth. Fill a highball glass with ice . Pour the mixture in the glass. Garnish with a lime wheel.

This is a great mock-tail to enjoy on a Saturday. It is good for detoxing your system because you are using fresh fruit.
Enjoy...

GHANA TO HOST FIRST BEER & WINE FESTIVAL

So Ghana are holding their first ever Beer & Wine Festival.The wine and food industry in Africa is burgeoning at an alarming rate. Kenya has not been left behind. In 2013 Kenya held The Whiskey Festival which was a great success. This was in a bid to educate Kenyans on Whiskey drinking.The revolution spread like bush fire because people now consider whiskey to be their drink of choice. Kenya also had its first Restaurant Week in late January and early February. The key industry players in the food, wine and drinks industries have come together to showcase what Ghana has to offer. I think Kenya should borrow a leaf because this festival is not just about people drinking wine/beer and making merry. It has a theme. The theme is, 'Tickle your taste buds, tickle your love life'.

This is the message that will be on the lips of most Ghanians as they throng the Accra International Sports Center on 12th, 13th and 14th February 2014. The event is organized by the Royal Protocol Services, Ghana International Holdings and the T.T Brothers. The reason why I am saying that Kenya should borrow a leaf from these people is that even the Ministry of Tourism , Ministry of culture and creative arts and the Ministry of Trade and Industry are on board. The keynote speakers will be industry experts,professionals and even doctors. They will emphasize on the negative effects of excessive alcohol consumption. Responsible drinking will be addressed.The manufacturers, producers and distributors will engage with their customers on a one-on-one basis. The speakers will talk about love, life and health. The benefits of taking wine will be elaborated.

Credits/ drinkbusiness.com

The economy of Ghana is growing with most young people being in the middle class. Just like in Kenya, these young people have a high disposable income and therefore they drink wine/ beer on weekends.However, the drinking experience for most people in  Kenya is different. This is the reason you will find people in ditches and half dressed college girls donning the streets after a night out. This results from over-indulging and recklessness.  I think alcohol should be enjoyed in the right measure. By no means should it be overdone. There is a great gap. there is need to educate the youth on the dangers of overindulging and this will see alcohol related crime subside. Examples of such crime is drunk driving which causes grisly road accidents. Something can be done to reduce the alarming statistics on these accidents.
  Do you have any ideas on what should be done?

GARNISHING COCKTAILS PART 2

My previous post highlighted how we use limes, lemon and oranges to present and embellish our drinks. Apart from these citrus fruits, we can use other types of fruits to do the work.

 Cherries
The cherries that are mostly used are the Maraschino cherries. This is a type of cherry that is ideal for cocktails because they are sweet. They can also be used for mock-tails ( non-alcoholic Cocktails) They are used to garnish Martinis and Manhattans.

Olives
There are different types of olives. They come in jars in the supermarket. They are used to garnish Gin martinis and vodka martinis. They are not used for fruity martinis.

Whipped Cream
Whipped cream comes in flavours from chocolate to free whipped cream. It is used for many drinks like the Irish coffee. It can also go well with a strawberry daiquiri.

Apples
Apple slices go well with Martinis

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Bananas
Bananas are rarely used but if you plan to use them you can use a quarter inch especially on  drinks with banana liqueur.

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Berries
They vary from raspberries, blueberries, blackberries among others. The classic way for garnishing is inserting a cocktail stick on the berries then rest it on the drink.

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Candy
One can use cotton candy, candy cane or mini candy bars.

Celery
Once you wash the celery and cut the leaves it can be used for Bloody Mary.

Chocolate
Chocolate shavings can be made with a grater and sprinkled on the drink.

Coffee beans
Coffee beans are used on one signature cocktail. The Sambuca. One drops three beans. The three beans each represent health, wealth and happiness.

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Mint
Mint is used on mohitos like I did here.It is also used for mint juleps.

Pineapples 
These are wedged with the cover on. They are used as a garnish for tropical mixed drinks.

Salt
This is used to rim the glasses. The salt used is the Kosher salt but you can use table salt is this is not available. One simply moists the glass rim with lime and then places the glass on a tray /plate with salt.
It is used to garnish Bloody Marys and salty Dogs.
Sugar
Sugar can be used to rim glasses too. It can be white or coloured.

credits/ whiteonricecouple.com

Strawberries
Strawberries are cut in half or used whole like this. They are used for Daiquiris or Margaritas.

This is how you use things in your kitchen to garnish like a pro.

Enjoy...

GARNISH THAT COCKTAIL WITH CITRUS FRUITS

If you know me well you know that I always love to experiment and try out different cocktails and drinks. I don't drink a lot on when I eat out but I love to try a drink Ive never had before. There's nothing like signature drinks and classic cocktails. What gives a drink its appeal is the presentation. I love drinks that are garnished with fruit and sometimes with vegetables. On my quest to savour the myriads of tastes I have come across all types of drinks.Some were good and some bad. I think the secret to a smashing drink is the balance between sweet, salty and sour. Indulge all your senses when looking for the drink that will be on your hand as you move around the room shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries with people. It has to smell, taste and look good. It has to be in the right glass. Garnishing adds a certain aesthetic appeal to your martini, mojito or cosmopolitan

The  Wedge
The wedge is an eighth of a lime , lemon or orange.

credits/missinthekitchen.com

The Half wheel
This is a half slice of any citrus fruit.

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The Wheel
This is a full slice of a citrus fruit.

credits/cheers mofo.com

The lemon Twist
This is when one cuts off the strip of a lemon rind then twists it in a drink to release the natural oils and essence of the lemon. This drink infused with the lemon oil smells fresh.

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The Orange Spiral
The orange rind is tough and it rarely breaks off. One can use a special type of knife to get a spiral rind. Wrap it around a glass for 5 to 10 minutes to get a springy spiral.Perfect for martinis.

credits/The hopeless housewife.com

That is how you garnish like a pro. This will make your guests keep coming back for more. I will show you how to present drinks with other types of fruit, vegetables, straws and a lot more.

Enjoy...