The Gaijin Guide: Meals/Snacks

Bailey's Cream - Cream, and coffee flavored liquor. God, this stuff is heave! (If ONLY it were vegan as well!)

Black Russian - Kahlula coffee liquor and vodka. Really good, and recommended.

Brandy Alexander - A combo drink of brandy, creme de cacoa, nutmeg and cream. 'Cept for the non-vegan creme, this stuff is extremely da bomb!

Campari - An Italian aperitif, flavored with a bitter combination of quinine, rhubarb and pomegrante...often served watered down with water, seltzer or similar. I have to say that it was interesting (you have to like the bitter flavor to appreciate this one.) Not my style, but interesting, none the less. (And it potentially leads to the way to experiementation with a lot o' other Italian apertifs...!)

Dark and Stormy - Originating in Bermuda, this cocktail is made from Black Seal Rum (1.5 oz), mixed with a certain amount of ginger beer. Though the authentic version is trademarked by Gosling's Brothers, lots of other places make it. And wow, is it good! (Especially at Pegu Club, where it's known as a Jamaican Firefly--or fire something.) Yes, I happen to be partial to ginger. But you owe it to yourself to try this one.

Creme de Menthe - Kind of self-explanatory - a menthol flavored liquor. Really good, esp. in a grasshopper.

Grasshopper - Creme de menthe and cream (or perhaps soy milk.) Pretty yummy - AND day glo green color as an added bonus....

Handgrenade - A New Orleans speciality, made from gin, grain alcohol, melon liquor, rum and vodka. Esp. well made at the Pirate.

Hurricane - A potent drink in New Orleans, made from lime juice, passion fruit, syrup and rum. Man, this stuff is strong. And good.

Kaluha - Coffee liquor. Not bad stuff, esp. in a white or black russian.

Margarita - Cocktail made from tequila, triple sec or Cointreau and lemon juice. Not bad as a bar staple, though not sweet enough (usually) for my tastes.

Martini - Cocktail made with gin and vermouth (which, incidentally, is a wine). Never met a single martini that I actually liked. Blech. I definitely prefer my liquids sweet.... Okay - there IS one exception...the Godiva Chocolate Martini made at the Cheesecake Factory, which was positively amazing!

Marsala Wine - A little too dry, and a little too...nah. Not impressed. But reputedly good for cooking.

Medeira Wine - I was told this was sweet, and comparable to port. In my humble opinion, it wasn't all that close. Had a pruney taste, and just couldn't compare with a good, tasty port!

Old Fashioned - Whiskey, syrup, and bitters. It's okay - though surely nothing special.

Port Wine - Okay, it's not a liquor. But its the best (*&(W*&(*& wine in the world. Utra sweet, and really, beyond delicious!

Sambuca - Liquorice flavored liquor. Good, but it gets old quick.

Sangria - Red wine punch, made from wine, fruit, honey, soda and the spirits of choice (be they brandy, triple sec or other.) Nice and sweet, and okay on a late night out.

Sidecar - An old style cocktail made from Cognac, Cointreau and lemon juice. Somewhat on the bitter side, but not bad at all.

Tequila - A spirit/liquor made in New Mexico, known for being bottled with a worm. Dry stuff, and not my type of thing.

White Russian - Kahlua coffee liquor, vodka and cream. Not bad at all, though nicely substituted by a vodka and chocolate soy milk. Seriously.

	Cocktails and Liquors - Misc. Nationalities Oh, so many cocktails to try - so little time! Here's a compendium of the general liquid delights that I've put to the test, and a few thoughts about whether I'd consider them worthy of a second go... Bailey's Cream - Cream, and coffee flavored liquor. God, this stuff is heave! (If ONLY it were vegan as well!) Black Russian - Kahlula coffee liquor and vodka. Really good, and recommended. Brandy Alexander - A combo drink of brandy, creme de cacoa, nutmeg and cream. 'Cept for the non-vegan creme, this stuff is extremely da bomb! Campari - An Italian aperitif, flavored with a bitter combination of quinine, rhubarb and pomegrante...often served watered down with water, seltzer or similar. I have to say that it was interesting (you have to like the bitter flavor to appreciate this one.) Not my style, but interesting, none the less. (And it potentially leads to the way to experiementation with a lot o' other Italian apertifs...!) Dark and Stormy - Originating in Bermuda, this cocktail is made from Black Seal Rum (1.5 oz), mixed with a certain amount of ginger beer. Though the authentic version is trademarked by Gosling's Brothers, lots of other places make it. And wow, is it good! (Especially at Pegu Club, where it's known as a Jamaican Firefly--or fire something.) Yes, I happen to be partial to ginger. But you owe it to yourself to try this one. Creme de Menthe - Kind of self-explanatory - a menthol flavored liquor. Really good, esp. in a grasshopper. Grasshopper - Creme de menthe and cream (or perhaps soy milk.) Pretty yummy - AND day glo green color as an added bonus.... Handgrenade - A New Orleans speciality, made from gin, grain alcohol, melon liquor, rum and vodka. Esp. well made at the Pirate. Hurricane - A potent drink in New Orleans, made from lime juice, passion fruit, syrup and rum. Man, this stuff is strong. And good. Kaluha - Coffee liquor. Not bad stuff, esp. in a white or black russian. Margarita - Cocktail made from tequila, triple sec or Cointreau and lemon juice. Not bad as a bar staple, though not sweet enough (usually) for my tastes. Martini - Cocktail made with gin and vermouth (which, incidentally, is a wine). Never met a single martini that I actually liked. Blech. I definitely prefer my liquids sweet.... Okay - there IS one exception...the Godiva Chocolate Martini made at the Cheesecake Factory, which was positively amazing! Marsala Wine - A little too dry, and a little too...nah. Not impressed. But reputedly good for cooking. Medeira Wine - I was told this was sweet, and comparable to port. In my humble opinion, it wasn't all that close. Had a pruney taste, and just couldn't compare with a good, tasty port! Old Fashioned - Whiskey, syrup, and bitters. It's okay - though surely nothing special. Port Wine - Okay, it's not a liquor. But its the best (&(W&(*& wine in the world. Utra sweet, and really, beyond delicious! Sambuca - Liquorice flavored liquor. Good, but it gets old quick. Sangria - Red wine punch, made from wine, fruit, honey, soda and the spirits of choice (be they brandy, triple sec or other.) Nice and sweet, and okay on a late night out. Sidecar - An old style cocktail made from Cognac, Cointreau and lemon juice. Somewhat on the bitter side, but not bad at all. Tequila - A spirit/liquor made in New Mexico, known for being bottled with a worm. Dry stuff, and not my type of thing. White Russian - Kahlua coffee liquor, vodka and cream. Not bad at all, though nicely substituted by a vodka and chocolate soy milk. Seriously.
	Egg Cream (NY) - US An oldie, but wow it's good! Egg creams were created in New York City (specifically in Brooklyn, by a man named Louis Auster), and were a staple of soda fountains everywhere. There are no eggs in an egg cream: rather, it contains chocolate, seltzer, milk and/or cream. It's hard to describe the taste, but it's extremely nice - the seltzer gives it a certain bite, and the chocolate and milk gives a rich sugarish flavor. Now THAT'S an authentic NY taste! Would I try again? Yes! Where I found it: At a street stand during a fair on Ninth Avenue.
	Grappa Made from every part of the grape (including stems, seeds, and skins) grappa is 40% -50% alcohol by volume. Originally manufactured to prevent waste during the wine making process, it is now a popular wine in its own right (the name comes from its city of origin - Bassano del Grappa.) It smells and tastes quite strong, with a flavor something like Absinthe, straight up. Plus--at least at Robertos--it comes in a really, really cute glass! Would I try again? Occasionally, as a dessert drink. Where I found it: Robertos, on Arthur Avenue
? *Picture not found*	Tej - Ethiopian Fermented honey wine (also known as mead.) The version known as Tej is slightly on the dry side, but sweet, as all meads are (if you've never had mead, think of a sweet wine, and you'll get the general idea.) In Ethiopia, special bars called tej abet sell the draught. It is good (and comes in two flavors at Awash - regular and blackberry). But -- I'm married to a mead maker, and know what the best stuff tastes like. So if honey wine sounds appealing to you, check out www.gotmead.com. (I have a friend who makes the best mead imaginable, out of honey and rosemary. You can read her recipe here. Now that deserves 4 stars!) Would I try again? It is good, but I'll go for top notch mead, instead! Where I found it: Awash