Food Lush

Mardi Gras Party Ideas

Editor's note: For our last week at Food Lush, I've asked the writers to share both a favorite post by another writer, from over the last three years, and a favorite post of their own. You'll see these posts linked to at the top of their new post for the week. Enjoy a stroll down Lush memory lane!

By Ariel

I'm sad to be saying goodbye for awhile, but thankful to the Lush editors for letting me in on this wonderful website. I learned a lot about food around here (like not everyone is ACTUALLY a gourmet chef in their spare time. Everyone loves a shortcut!) The first post that came to mind when I was asked to throwback a favorite was Carrie's cauliflower pizza crust!  I had never heard of such a thing before but the genius is astounding. I've used it several times and actually find myself craving it more often than regular pizza, go figure. My own favorite of mine is one of the first ones I wrote here at Food Lush, and continues to be my most-requested party food, my Bacon and Cheese Tartlets.  I make these for every. Single. Group. Gathering. And still people need confirmation that yes, I am bringing them, don't worry.

*** 

For my last post around these parts for awhile I thought it would be appropriate to send off with some Mardi Gras party ideas. Fat Tuesday is coming up February 12th, and while I'm a little too far north for the real party, my people and I never like to pass up an excuse to eat and drink in the name of a theme!

First and most important, the drinks:

[Photo credit Chicago Tribune]

The Mardi Gras Hurricane!  Rum, rum, and some other stuff, this is a staple and a favorite of mine.  Whenever I find these on vacation I'll usually down enough so that I won't notice a hurricane going on around me, but what a delicious drink!

Or, if you want to get everyone involved in some fun, how about a Virgin Hurricane?

[ Photo credit Taste of Home]

To spice up your appetizers with some theme fun, how cute are these claw picks?
 

 
[Picture from nolaimports.com] 

My husband and I are going to the beach for a week with a few other couples, I'm thinking I need a beach-themed party before we go and these little claw picks are just so cute I can't stand it.

Of course, you also need some Mardi Gras COOKIES!  You can pick up a set of your own Mardi Gras cookie cutters at Mardigrasoutlet.com for only $12 or browse all their cookie cutter shapes here.
 

For snacks, how about Mardi Gras Pretzels, King Cake Bars, or these Apple Beignets (which I am DROOLING OVER)

[Image from Babble.com]

For the main attraction (ah, who am I kidding, the booze up top is the main attraction!) how about this amazing looking citrus marinated shrimp dish from Southern Living?



[Photo credit Southern living]

And one of my absolute favorite things to eat in the entire world, the Shrimp Po' Boy:

 

[Image from cooking channel tv]

I recently discovered  restaurant nearby that made the most excellent shrimp po' boy I've ever found in this part of the country.  I'm so excited to go back I can't even tell you.

Hopefully I've put everyone in a party mood.  Rather than a Hurricane I'll probably be tipping back a few champane cocktails this weekend (today's my birthday!).  Thanks for two great years, you guys!  We truly couldn't ask for a better crowd around here.

Worth a Taste: Ancient Peaks Winery

By Dani

A few months ago, at my beloved San Clemente Wine Company, I tasted Ancient Peaks Zinfandel and loved it. I mean, I'm not the kind of girl who can instantly declare a wine to be laced with gentle leathery notes and flavors of ripe succotash, but I know good wine when I taste it. I like to think that I am (slowly) getting better picking out more flavors than "mmmm delicious, more please!"

All that to say, the Ancient Peaks Zinfandel was one of those wines that you have with a meal and you actually remember. So, when the Hubs and I were driving through Central California a few weekends ago and I saw their winery, I made him turn the car around right then and there, so we could taste away.

The tasting room is small and spare, and the tastings are cheap ($5 for five tastings, refunded if you buy a bottle). The sommeliers behind the bar are knowledgeable and friendly and, of course, the wine is SO good. Most of it is reasonably priced too, we wound up purchasing a bottle of Merlot and a Cabernet Sauvignon for about $30 total.

The shop and vineyard is in the little town of Santa Margarita, so it's kind of out of the way, but if you're ever in Central California it's definitely worth stopping in. We didn't have time to try it, but we heard there's also a zipline on the vineyard, which could be really entertaining--especially after a robust tasting.

(Photos courtesy of me and my phone. Cute place, right?)

Ice Bucket for the Holidays

By A'Dell

 

I'm a big fan of the Oxo line of products and when I throw a party (small OR big) I consistently wish I had an ice bucket. It's such a simple, silly thing really. I mean, there's a big freezer over there FULL OF ICE. But, sometimes it's nice to have the ice right next to the glassware and beverages!

So, this is definitely something I wouldn't use too often, but over the years I've wished for it often enough that I think I actually want to make room for one in my house.

Oxo Ice Bucket, $30

I like this one because it would match almost any decor scheme I come up with, and it has a lid PLUS a spot to keep the ice tongs which can be a little more awkward than you'd think. (Where do these semi drippy tongs go now that I have filled my glass with ice? On the table? That seems..wrong.)

So, yes it's a little boring and terribly grown-up to want a dumb ICE BUCKET, but...I kind of want a classy ice bucket!

*Note: the above link was to a clearance price for this item and they seem to be out of stock online, you could try instore or you can find them available (for a little bit more) here or here 

(Photo from: Bed, Bath & Beyond)

Easy Crock Pot Beer Brats

by Jess M

This time of year always has me yearning for some nice, heavy, delicious German food. And some nice, heavy, delicious German beer to go with it. So, with football on the TV (Baltimore Ravens!), I wanted something easy and fairly hands-off. I didn’t want to spend my Sunday standing over a pot frying schnitzel.

Last week we made Cook’s Country’s Slow-Cooker Beer Brats. The recipe is pretty simple and doesn’t require a whole lot of prep work. Onions and brats go in the crock pot with a simple mustard mixture and beer. At the end you remove the brats and heat up some sauerkraut. The Test Kitchen recommends you use a light-bodied American lager, but we used a heavier Marzen beer for fuller flavor.

After 4 hours on high, by halftime we were enjoying brats with sauerkraut and mustard and a side of soft pretzels.

(Photo from: Cook's Country)

Leinenkugel's Berry Weiss

by Tara

I adore wine, as has been documented, but sometimes I'm just in the mood for a beer. The problem is that my husband's favorite beers are all REALLY dark and often I just want something sweet. I'm not a huge fan of apples, though, so I really have to be in the mood for a hard cider. I know, I'm difficult.

Anyway, on one trip to the liquor store I actually asked for help (gasp!) and the guy led me to Leinenkugel's Berry Weiss. My husband tried it and made a funny face, a sure sign of a fruity drink. I loved it. If one bottle wasn't 6 WeightWatchers PointsPlus Points, I would have them more often.

Plus, in my head I pronounce both "Leinenkugel" and "Weiss" with a strong German accent, which is really fun for me.

Do you like fruity beer? Any recommendations?

Gallo Family Vineyards

By Julie

Confession: I enjoy wine, but I am not a wine connoisseur. I prefer white to red, sweet to dry, and cost and label mean nothing to me. In fact, if I find a wine that I like that’s super easy on the wallet, I consider that the holy grail. And today’s grail comes from Gallo Family Vineyards.

I found this particular line of wines right in the grocery store, on sale for $4 a bottle. I’ve sampled the sweet chardonnay, moscato, red moscato, and sweet red varieties, and I love them all. These are light, refreshing drinks, not heavy or overly complex. They are exactly what I want to unwind from the day, sitting out on my back porch or on the couch. I would happily serve these at a dinner party or a girls’ night anytime. And even though the label isn’t important to me, the Gallo name is a nice bonus.

I think I’ll open another bottle tonight.

{Photo Credit: www.gallofamily.com}

Off the Beaten Path: Gems in Downtown Napa

by Caitlin

Ask anyone about a trip to Napa and they'll probably start discussing all their favorite vineyards, tasting rooms, and restaurants. A trip to Napa most often consists of a trip to Napa valley and the towns surrounding Napa proper (Yountville, Saint Helena, Sonoma). What I didn't realize when I started planning my first trip out there (and asking for advice, which I received here in spades, and was very grateful for) is that Napa itself is a town, with a downtown area and everything. The past few years have not been kind to the city of Napa, and a lot of businesses have closed. So while the wineries and restaurants in the surrounding area seemed to have flourished (and please correct me if I'm wrong on that), downtown Napa can be a little depressing, with empty storefronts. My husband and I stayed in downtown Napa, though, and boy are we glad we did. We truly couldn't have picked better. 

To start, we arrived at our hotel (The Avia Napa) on a Thursday. Apparently we timed it well, as on the first Thursday of the month during the summer they shut off the street right in front of the hotel for a Chef's Market. We spent the evening wandering around listening to live music, drinking local wine and beer, and sampling all kinds of delicious food from various local vendors. It was a delightful way to start our trip. And I'm saying this as someone who normally finds street festivals to be kind of overwhelming and overrated. To me they're usually too crowded and it's not worth standing in line for mediocre food. Not the case here. We did stand in a few lines, but it wasn't suffocatingly crowded and we met so many great people; locals who were happy to stand around a table in the middle of the street chatting over a glass of wine with a couple of tourists. Including, oddly, a couple who had their two young kids with them named Zach & Caitlin. (This will only be odd if you recall that my husband's name is Zach. It also may be a lot funnier after 3 or 4 beers.)

 

Photo by me.

The next morning my husband woke up early and went in search of good coffee (necessary, on a number of levels). He found a place on Yelp with stellar reviews, and went to check it out. Molinari Caffe was everything Yelp said it would be and more. Zach struck up a conversation with the owner, Rick, and came back to the hotel room telling me what a nice guy he was, and how well he knew his coffee. And Rick does know his stuff: that coffee was perfect, let me tell you. We ended up going back there every day.

Photo from napavalleyregister.com.

We were actually in Napa for a wedding, so we went to plenty of other restaurants and wineries in Napa Valley while attending wedding events and celebrations. We also had a few extra days to spend on our own, and were constantly popping in and out of the hotel. At one point we found a flyer in our room for the Napa Valley Toffee Company, which was next door to the hotel. Again we turned to the yelp reviews, and again they didn't let us down. 

They also have a wine and espresso bar and one afternoon we were in desperate need of caffeine, so we wandered next door for some refreshment. While we were there we chatted with the woman who helped us, and told her we'd come by because of the blurb the hotel had put out. (It turns out she was the owner, and she hadn't seen the hotel flyer, apparently the hotel just loves the toffee?) (We brought one down for her the next day.) We sampled some toffee, and it was quuuuite good so we got a bunch for gifts, and while we were chatting, asked if she could recommend a nearby restaurant that was off the beaten path a bit, where locals go. She recommended Carpe Diem Wine Bar, and, you guessed it, it was another Yelp hit. 

 

Photo from tripadvisor.com.

We happened to hit it on the night they were celebrating their two year anniversary, and it was very crowded. We were lucky and surprised to find the last two seats at the bar. We were further surprised to sit down right next to Rick, from Molinari Caffe, whom Zach had met the day before. We ended up having dinner and chatting with he and a few of his friends at the bar all night, and it was a truly memorable evening. (As a bonus, he supplies their coffee and ordered one of his newest brews for us to try.)

As for Carpe Diem itself, it was my first chance to try what's become a favorite bubbly: Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs. It was recommended by a Food Lush reader, and I probably would never have tried it if not for her. Thanks, Elz! We tried a bunch of things, and our favorite was the boar meatballs. The crispy, goat cheese stuffed olives were great, and we also enjoyed one of the flatbreads and the alligator tacos, which were that night's specialty. Rick ordered the ostrich burger and when we saw it served we were sorry we didn't have enough room for one!

We hit plenty of the well-traveled places you've probably heard about in Napa (Ad Hoc, Bouchon Bakery, Domaine Chandon, etc.), and we really enjoyed them all. But we also loved making these memories of places we'd never have imagined or planned on going to, and we're so glad we did. We met some truly wonderful, gracious people and got to share delicious things with them in beautiful Napa. What's better than that?

Have you been to Napa? Have you found any hits off the beaten path?

Two Great Beers for Fall

by Elissa

Fall is a great season for beer-drinking: there's playoff baseball, the start of the football season, and the cooler temperatures put me in the mood for more substantial drinks. Here are a couple of beers that I think are a perfect fit for this time of year.

(photo from brooklynbrewery.com)

First is the Pennant Ale from Brooklyn Brewery. I don't think I've ever had a Brooklyn beer that I didn't enjoy, but this one might be my favorite. They describe it as a "honey-colored pale ale with a brisk malt palate and finely balanced hop character." It's not too dark, has plenty of flavor, and is the perfect thing to drink while cheering on the Washington Nationals (we are huge fans and can't wait to watch them in the playoffs).

(photo from dogfish.com)

Next is the Punkin Ale from Dogfish Head Brewery. I love pumpkin beer, but in my experience there is a lot of bad pumpkin beer out there. This one is just right, with a clean pumpkin flavor and spicy finish, but without being too sweet. Watch out though, at 7% alcohol this is stronger than your average beer. Because Dogfish Head comes from Delaware it's easy to find in DC, but as the brewery has grown so has their distribution, and I think it's pretty widely available across the country.

Do you have a favorite fall beer I should try out?

Pacifico: Favorite Beer #24740

By Jennie

My favorite beers are well-documented on Food Lush (perhaps this is why I subconciously created Food Lush!) and beer in general is well-documented by the rest of the group (my kind of ladies!). So, I'd like to toss another one into the ring: Pacifico.

(I clearly did not launch a food blog to showcase my awesome photography skills.)

I bought a single at World Market the other day and loved it. It's definitely more of a summery, beach beer, but I'm an equal opportunist. I won't say no this fall or, heck, any time of year.

Cheers!

Favorite Wines from Marlborough, New Zealand

by Maura

If people judged wine expertise by how much wine they drank, I would be a guru. Fortunately, that is not the standard. Despite years of wine drinking, I have always had a hard time remembering which wineries I like. This summer, though, I narrowed it down to a region, and am slowly working my way through every winery from the Marlborough region of New Zealand. My favorites are:

Clifford Bay Sauvignon Blanc {$10-12}

According to the winery, the wine "is all about expressive fruit flavors. The wine possesses a light straw colour and tropical aromas of guava, melon and citrus. The palate exhibits the same fine flavours followed by a crisp, dry, flinty finish." I love this wine because it has a nice, strong citrus flavor. It tastes like grapefruit, which may be the guava and citrus.

Whitehaven Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc ($13-15)

Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc is a "classic regional style – the palate is full and vibrant. Fresh nettle, gooseberry & tropical-fruit flavours abound and linger on the long, clean acid finish." This wine is a little pricier, but it is light, crisp and delicious. I would happily take this wine as a hostess gift or to a party.

Noblito Regional Collection {$12-14}

One of my friends calls this wine her "house wine," which I love. Noblito is "a quintessential Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc which treats you to aromas of ripe tropical and citrus fruits which flow through to the palate and a crisp dry finish. A fresh,fruity liquid pleasure."

As you can tell, I prefer dry, citrusy wines with a screw top. Okay, I will buy a corked wine, but Will opens them for me. Do you recommend a "house wine?" What would you recommend I try?

{photo credit: snooth.com, wines.com, and Target.com}