Beer Vinegar

In the last place Bill and I lived, we were just around the corner from this wonderful little consignment shop that always had all kinds of interesting things for sale. I am genuinely amazed at the fact that, more often than not, I would go in there looking and manage to NOT buy something. It’s truly the kind of place that could drive one to spend a small fortune there on a regular basis.

However, what I was prone to buying there was anything both kitchen-y and “weird.” Which is how I ended up with this piece of ceramic on a wood stand.

A beige ceramic vinegar crock, with plastic spigot, on top of a wooden stand. Foreground is a small glass bowl with a tiny amount of a brown, hazy liquid - vinegar.

So, see, I’ve actually wanted to make my own vinegar for several years now. And, no, I don’t know why I’ve wanted to.… Continue reading →

Some Thoughts on Two Years Without a Microwave

Almost two years ago, Bill and I moved into our current home. And it wasn’t until we were about a week or two in, trying to reheat leftovers when we realized: no microwave!

We had always rented places with built-in microwaves, so it didn’t even register with us that we didn’t own a microwave until we “needed” it. We laughed, reheated on the stove, and said we’d get one. And then, we never did. Eventually, we made the conscious decision not to buy one, as our counters were so crammed full of appliances anyway. And we’d been doing without it for so long!

Well, it’s time to move again. And that means the usual: packing, purging, cleaning, etc. That said, one particular part of “purging” is “using up food in the kitchen.”… Continue reading →

APRIL FOODS!

I couldn’t resist the play on words in the title when it came up. Sometimes, some silliness helps. Especially when you’ve FINALLY moved into April from #FuckingMarch.

Anyway, the sun is coming out in Portland and that is a huge relief. The grey and short days that make up winters are here really puts a lot of cramp in my style. It never feels like it’s going to end. But, finally, it’s starting to. Enough so that in the last two days, I’ve had two sodas. And brewed up some iced tea! I did both before I saw the following ad, which is relevant to the first link of APRIL FOODS!

The ad is from Montgomery County, Maryland, and it showcases some of the things the county has been doing for the last three years to try to curb soda usage without a sales tax increase specifically on “sugary drinks.”… Continue reading →

Food (Literal and for My Soul) Links

March is a very hard month for me, typically speaking. Bad enough that I am genuinely superstitious about it. I just expect, at this point, things to suck in March. Not everything, for sure. One of my delightful nieces was born in March. My father was born in March. Angelique was born in March. I made some cool-ass friends two days ago (which was already March!).

But, generally, I dream of skipping to the end of March. Maybe to just a couple of days before all those birthdays I mentioned (because, seriously, they’re all at the end of March; I think their mothers were trying to spare them March birthdays, but just couldn’t quite do it). It never happens, but I dream of it. I hate March enough that I really could have sworn I had a “fucking March” tag on this blog, but I do not.… Continue reading →

Washington D.C.’s Cafe Berlin

While I continue to feel like I need to write deeply profound things, and thus continue to not find them, Isis reminded me of something important:

A group of friends and I had a really great meal and beers and banter at a restaurant yesterday. Enough so that I should tell you about it. Damn shame I didn’t take any pictures, though. I was too busy having fun!

So, here’s the fast details:

Cafe Berlin
322 Massachusetts Ave, NE

Washington, DC 20002

Everything they had on draft (7 taps) was a German import of some type. My Metal Curator and Beer Pal D (MMCBPD) and I shared three beers and while all were solid one, the Hofbräu Delicator, was just out of this world.… Continue reading →