Misc. Bull$h!t

Your little anecdote got me to change my Happy Hour drinking plans from an Aviation to a Sidecar, Matt. No Remy Martin in the house but I had some Courvoisier VSOP in the back of the cabinet, plenty of Cointreau, squeezed a few ounces of lemon juice and I was ready to break in a new set of coupe glasses. Did the sugar-rimmed glass for my wife, but skipped it for mine. After stirring in the shaker I double strained to keep out a few bits of lemon pith that snuck in, then finished it off with some showtime, letting some orange peel oils drip through a flame and then using it for a garnish. I don't think it changes the taste but it's fun to do plus it gets the Alice Kramden eye-roll from my wife.

Yeah, Sidecars were invented in France either during or just after World War I and practically disappeared after World War II until the cocktail revival of the early 2000s. But they are a really solid choice and I think pretty accessible for an inexperienced drinker.

You would obviously know better than I, but it seems to me that your bartending years were kind of a low point in popularity for classic mixed drinks. Not that they went away, but it seemed as if the old school cocktails were considered more like holdovers from the 50s and 60s. At least at my watering holes I saw fewer Martinis or Manhattans or Old Fashioneds.

Holy cow, it's hard to believe a bartender wouldn't know Anisette. I'm not familiar with Escarchado, but it sounds like fun. I generally like anything in the Anisette/Ouzo/Pastis/Raki family. Very continental. I've had Aguardente in Portugal, which seems to be in that same grouping. Are you familiar with that?

I do love Port wines, especially with Stilton cheese, one of the most perfect food-wine pairings I've ever had. Or with chocolate. We once spent a week in the Douro Valley enjoying the bounty. We also like the crisp Vinho Verde Portuguese wines.

Are you familiar with Ginja? We would see people lined up in front of booths in the town square around lunchtime getting their fix. Especially in Lisbon. It's a nice pick-me-up to get you through the afternoon.

Bocce update. The Assassin has returned.  On Sunday we played a male up match and The Assassin brought his A game. I played the first two games and we won them handily. I sat out the third game and unfortunately, we lost that one. But, it still kept us in 4th place. Tonight's match was a barn burner. I came out smoking and we won 7-1. My teammate Adam, didn't have his best game, so I had Sam play with me the second one. He's new to the game and has perfect form (unlike me), but has trouble with distance. He didn't have it tonight and we got down 1-5, but came back to 6-6. I had a chance to win it it, but blew the shot. They won 6-7. In the third game, we quickly fell behind 0-2, but then Adam found his range and we quickly dispensed them by a score of 7-3. I rolled two balls at the end that put it away.

We have a 16 team league, and we are currently in 4th with one game remaining. The top 6 in the league make the final tournament and while we are not mathematically in, we are in really good shape. Our final match is against the team with the worst record, but it's not a gimme.

I'm usually not very verbose, but when I have it on the bocce court, I feel like I will make every shot. Reminds me of my youth and pinball. I was the wizard.

Ever since I was a young boy
I've played the bocce ball
From Soho down to Brighton
I must have played 'em all
But I ain't seen nothing like him
In any amusement hall
That assassinator Matthew
Sure plays a mean bocce ball
He stands like a statue
Becomes part of the target
Feeling all the bumpers
Always playing clean
He plays by intuition
The digit counters fall
That assassinator Mattthew
Sure plays a mean bocce ball
He's a bocce ball assassin
There has got to be a twist
A bocce ball assassin
Got such a supple wrist
How do you think he does it? I don't know
What makes him so good?
Ain't got no distractions
Can't hear no buzzers and bells
Don't see no lights a-flashin'
Plays by sense of smell
Always gets a replay
Never seen him fall
That assassinator Matthew
Sure plays a mean bocce ball
I thought I was
The bocce tournament king
But I just handed
My bocce ball crown to him
Even on my favorite table
He can beat my best
His disciples lead him in
And he just does the rest
He's got crazy rollin fingers
Never seen him fall
That assassinator Matthew
Sure plays a mean bocce ball