Thursday, December 24, 2009
Bites / Open Thread Light the Festivus Candle -- It's Our Weekly Open Thread
Posted by Nicki Wood on Thu, Dec 24, 2009 at 9:34 AM
The weeks of festive food and overflowing drink are reaching their peak as the days are growing ever-so-slightly longer. Symbolic foods like rich cookies, steak and Sister Schubert rolls, sumptuous cheese trays, green bean casserole make their yearly appearance. Or was something more unusual on the plates and platters where you are? Did a new food, dish or tradition strike your fancy? Or were you and yours comforted by old favorites?
For Bites readers in the business of restaurants and food sales, have the holidays been what you expected or hoped for? Did the crowds arrive, wallets open and hearts generous?
And did anyone spot bourbon balls this year?
Comments (9)
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December has well exceeded what we thought we would do in both dining and gift card sales. A pleasant and welcome surprise. Last year at this time, all we were doing was lamenting how many groups had canceled due to the crash. This year we were having to turn away groups because we were fully booked.
The most interesting tidbit I observed this season was that most of the office parties booked at lunch this year instead of dinner. But at least they booked! And for that I am very thankful. A nice way to end a very trying year.
Goodbye Aughts. Cheers Tens/Teens/Whatever! And cheers to Bites for supporting the Nashville food and beverage community!
- doug
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Good to hear that, Doug. Thanks for the nod to Bites. Keep reading us! Hope you have a happy new year.
Whoops! That was me, Dana, posting the last comment. How did I wind up anonymous? Hazards of traveling and using a new computer, I guess. Hope everyone had a great holiday.
I surprisingly didn't spot any Bourbon Balls this year, but Nashville food blogger and occasional Bites commenter Kmays posted a recipe for a Bourbon Ball martini from a cookbook she picked up on her trip to the Bourbon Trail, and HOLY COW. That thing was awesome! I opened a new bottle of Bulleit Bourbon Monday (12/21) at 1am (technically Sunday night), and by Tues morning it looked like this: http://twitpic.com/up536. Let's just say the Bourbon Ball martini's were a big hit with us, and our neighbors (who helped us in drinking them).
Also, Monday evening myself, The Boy, and our neighbors finally got the chance to try out Whiskey Kitchen. I really liked the redesign, a definite improvement from Agave. I wanted to eat everything on the menu and was really happy with the selection of healthy options. Everyone really enjoyed the food. However, I was very unimpressed with my drink. I ordered the Maple Manhattan per Beth's recommendation, and it tasted VERY watered down. Perhaps it's just that the homemade Bourbon Ball martinis are so strong? But either way, I was just really bummed to pay $9 (I think it was $9) for such a sad drink. The food, and the nice & friendly bartender (we sat at the bar to avoid waiting an HOUR for a table) made up for it, and I will be back. However, if my next cocktail is as watered down and disappointing as my first, I'll just order whiskey on the rocks from now on. And go to Patterson House or Rumba if I want a good cocktail.
Speaking of Rumba, after WK we moved on over to Rumba (a place we can drink and then WALK home). Our party of 4 expanded into a party of 6, then a party of 8, then 11! Haha... we loved the new "lounge" area in the back of Rumba. Service was great, drinks were great! We love Speedy the bartender, and also met & chatted with the manager.
(I didn't intend to write so much... but... got a little carried away)
Erin, did you get that recipe for Bourbon Ball martinis? Gotta have it if you've got it.
Yeah, it's on Kmays blog. I plan on blogging it too (at some point...when I get around to it); a recipe that good needs to be shared with the WORLD.
http://foodallaputtanesca.blogspot.com/2009/12/bourbon-ball-martini.html
"Bourbon Ball Martinis
source: Cooking with Bourbon
Ingredients
2 oz. bourbon whiskey
2 oz. creme de cocao
1 1/2 oz. hazelnut liqueur (like Frangelico)
Fill a shaker with cracked ice. Combine ingredients, shaking to chill. Strain into a martini glass. Garnish with two bourbon ball chocolates on a skewer."
And when I made it, mine was lighter in color, because I bought creme de cocao that was clear, without added colorings.
I found that if you're making it for two people, I used the ratio of 3/3/2, and it was the perfect amount for two martinis using the not small/not big martini glasses I have.
Our neighbors/friends who drank them with on Sunday night, and again Monday night, called me on Wednesday night when they had left town to go see family. They said they finished dinner, and looked at each other and said "Bourbon Ball Martini's?!", so they called and got the recipe! haha....
This season at Chef's Market we sold hundreds of bourbon balls. They make a great passed dessert at events where libation is free flowing and party guests want just a little something sweet. The Bourbon Ball Martini is an incredibly fun idea. I've printed the recipe and filed it away for next year. Thanks Erin.
Btw...December sales were way up from last year..very close to 2007 sales. Thanks for asking.
Speaking of libation desserts, we are featuring a Strawberry Champagne Cupcake in our pastry case all this week for New Years. It is a champagne laced cupcake topped with chocolate ganache and a chocolate dipped strawberry.
Sorry the Maple Manhattan was watered down Erin! The ones I've had definitely haven't been- I usually can't see straight after just a couple ;-)
Yeah, those bourbon ball martinis are CRAZY strong (and large!). I got my fill of bourbon balls on the KY Bourbon Trail, but I'm tempted to try and make my own.
Usually, we do Chinese food for Christmas Eve (The husband's family tradition), but there was no open Chinese restaurants in Charlottesville, VA on Christmas Eve. So we ended up with some killer Indian food. And I think we have ourselves a new family tradition!
