Cocktails that sparkle
Put leftover Champagne to good use in these uplifting drinks >
One bonus of a successful New Year’s Eve party is a fridge full of leftover Champagne. But if you’re toasted-out from the holidays, put it to good use with one of these sparkling wine-based cocktails.
Doc Daneeka Royale
Makes 1 drink
2 ounces Plymouth gin
1/2 ounce Grade B [...]
New Year > our best wishes
Dear Readers,
Happy New Year! May all your dreams come true in 2009!
We are back, after our Christmas Holidays, which we spent in Berlin, Germany. We had a terrific time so eventually we have lots to tell you and report, plus of course lots of photos.
This is just a short note, to let you know we [...]
Christmas in Germany
Popular seasonal markets emphasize regional crafts and food.
People crowd around the stalls in front of the church of Our Lady and the Gothic fountain, left, during the opening of the world renowned Christmas market in Nuremberg, southern Germany.
This time of year, the Christmas spirit descends on Germany’s cities and towns in the form of wooden [...]
Christmas Eve > the Hungarian style
Christmas in Hungary means a family feast.
On 24th of December before everything else families set up a pinewood tree at the middle of the living room and richly decorate it. The origin of the ornaments put on the tree usually goes back to the past, since most of the families collect them since ages. [...]
Christmas Eve Cioppino > recipe
Here is a recipe to get you into the Christmas holiday spirit >
Christmas Eve Cioppino
Ingredients >
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 can anchovy fillets, drained
5 cloves garlic, minced
1 bay leaf
2 celery stalks, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
1 cup dry white wine
1 (14 ounce) can chicken broth
1 (32 ounce) can diced tomatoes
1/2 teaspoon each [...]
Christmas traditions are not forgotten
Holiday traditions from native lands aren’t forgotten. Instead, over the years, many traditions have been adapted or slightly adjusted to new surroundings.
In Cuba families do the traditional Noche Buena (Christmas Eve) celebration that is in line with Cuban and many other Hispanic traditions. However, presents don’t get opened until Christmas morning. In a Noche Buena tradition [...]
Christmas traditions and merrymaking
According to http://www.history.com/, Norway is the birthplace of the Yule log. The ancient Norse used the Yule log in their celebration of the return of the sun at winter solstice. “Yule” came from the Norse word “hweol”, meaning wheel. The Norse believed that the sun was a great wheel of fire that rolled towards and [...]
Christmas worldwide
Caroling, feasting, and gift-giving along with the prayers and wishes, Christmas is celebrated with high spirits in various parts of the world.
While most of us celebrate it as a festive season spreading over a week, for some it is a month-long festival that starts with the Advent on Sunday next to November 26 and ends [...]
Christmas gifts for the liquor snob
Three unconventional and highly affordable bottles from Astor
Instead of buying your favorite liquor-loving friends another bottle of their standby whiskey or gin, surprise them with one of these atypical bottles from Astor Wines and Spirits.
For the Tequila Aficionado > The just-released Sombra [$46] is a prime example of why savvy sipsters are reaching for mezcal. This [...]
All that glitters at Rolf’s
Overdose on Christmas kitsch (and German sausages) at Rolf’s
In its 50-plus years, the landmark Gramercy restaurant Rolf’s has consistently put on one of the city’s most exuberant holiday displays: shiny stalactites of ornamental balls hang from the ceiling, accented by gnarly tree branches, evergreens and faux icicles. Stop in to admire the elaborate fantasia and [...]
