Another last for 2011

Yes yes. I've been posting things about the end of the semester and here is another:

After classes finished a few of us headed to Crunkleton, one of my favs., along with some of our professors to enjoy a cheers to the semester.

I had a "Carrboro" 75 but with Gin, aka a French 75.

Crunkleton was all decked out for the holidays.

So lovely.

xoxo

The Superior Cut

There is nothing like day drinking to celebrate the last day of teaching for the semester.  

And that's just what I did after class finished.  

I met up with the boys at R&R for an extra-refreshing beverage and some lunch.

It may be in the back of the BofA building, 

but once you get inside it's a chill place with good service and tasty food.  

I of course had a G&T.  For the food I had the pesto chicken sandwich with mozz on a brioche bun. I love when I can get brioche, it feels like I've found a quarter on the ground or something just as randomly pleasing.  

Oh, and the best part about R&R? 

Their fries.  

They are steak fries, obvi the best cut. Absolutely delicious. 

After our last final, the girls and I headed over here again from more drinks and more fries.  

Still the best.

xoxo

box cox-ing it at fox

So Jonathan took me here a while back and it was good time, as mentioned before, Fox Liquor Bar does good things with ice. 

We went back last weekend with Ashbash and Casey. So much goodness, so many types of ice and glass:

Casey had the Negroni with the giant ice cube:

Jonathan had the Greenpoint, no ice:

Ashley had the Champ, which tasted like a caramel apple pop, but not too sweet. 

And look at all that crushed ice!

Also note Ashley's lovely nails. 

Top shot of the ice

And I, shockingly, got a drink without gin, the Queen's Park Swizzle:

It was awesome, similar to a mojito.  

It was a good time of course, filled with economics, due to the high concentration of economists.

xoxo

gun and tonic

One of my dearests, heather also enjoys a good gin and tonic. 

But she likes to add a little twist. 

Rather, than a little, it is really more like a metric crap ton of twists, aka limes. 

See the ridiculousness below:

Recently she enjoyed a few of these and feel victim to "autocorrect" and described to the world of her love of "gun and tonics" 

Needless to say, it stuck. 

So have a Happy Halloween, and have a gun and tonic tonight. 

With or without twenty limes, the choice is yours.

xoxo

Gin: What Summer Tastes Like

I was recently reminded of a something my dear Ashbash said towards the end of last semester: "Gin is what summer tastes like." She is clearly correct in this opinion and I'm quite thankful for it.  Gin is my favorite and I have enjoyed it in some tasty cocktails this summer.  But all of the fancy gin cocktails this summer have had something in common: cucumber.  A delicious addition.

Given my growing appreciation for this new twist I followed in Ashbash's footsteps (and fine recipe) and made some cucumber infused gin. 

I started with some sliced cucumber, a mason jar, and a bottle of gin.  I went with the lime-twist gin since I always like lime in my gin drinks.

 

It's pretty simple: just put some slices of cucumber in the jar, top with gin and seal it. I let my set for probably 3 days

 

When you are ready to go pour the contents of the mason jar into a measuring cup (I went with my gravy separator to catch the cumbers.)   Pour the gin back into your bottle and you have made some infused booze!

 Now all that's left to do is pour yourself a bit, top it with some soda water, and take a sip of summer.

xoxo

Oh Arkansassy!

I recently got to spend a few days in Little Rock with my Arkansas team and it was of course a wonderful time filled with my wonderful people and delicious food.
I of course had to go to my favorite brunch spot, b-side.  Seriously people, it may be my favorite place to get brunch in the country.  I force myself to get something different every time I go and I'm never disappointed.  I went basic this time with the traditional breakfast - eggs, bacon, toast, gouda grits. Yes gouda grits, they are so friggin' good it should be illegal.  Did I mention the $3 mimosas? Yeah, I love this place.

I also got to enjoy some items that really you can only justify while on vacation...in the south. Items like, buffalo chicken dip and a bacon cheeseburger topped with a fried egg...

During these fine few days I also had a take on my summer fancy.  Any gin cocktail that combines cucumber, mint, and lime will do.  It is an amazingly refreshing combo that never disappoints.  This one was called the effin good martini, and it was.

Finally there was the absolute ridiculousness that was dessert.  We ordered key lime pie and a flourless chocolate cake topped with ganache, blue bell, and whipped cream.  Now the piece of pie in the picture was a standard slice of pie to help show how absolutely massive the chocolate cake was.  And it was every bit as delicious as it looks.  Now Arkansas holds a good piece of my heart, but I worry I can't ever live there again or else I'll blow up like a hot air balloon...