"tequila" news and stories

Margarita made with Partida Elegante tequila. Photo: Winemeup, Flickr.

Alabama-born LeNell Smothers defines herself first and foremost as a bartender, but she's been called many things -- most recently, the proprietress of LeNell's liquor store. She's owned her own whiskey label called Red Hook Rye and been recognized by her home state as an honorary Colonel. Other interests include gin, sin and men.

Is a spirit ever too good to use in a mixed drink? My answer to this question is inspired by Julia Child, who taught us that, when cooking with wine, use a wine you would be happy to drink, not just some cheap plonk.

And just because you are making a margarita doesn't mean you should grab the cheapest rot-gut tequila. I'm not saying that you have to break your family savings to drink well, but I am saying that I feel no guilt when I use a rare spirit in a cocktail.

My man and I recently closed on a cozy little house in La Paz, Mexico. To celebrate, we popped a bottle of Partida Elegante tequila. Priced upwards of $300, this is not an everyday sipper for most of us.

Some fresh fruit juice shots. Photo: Jennifer Iserloh

My neighbor Susan recently gave me this charming book about old fashioned cocktails. The author stresses throughout the book that the base of a delicious mixed drink comes from premium spirits and fresh juices -- no bottled mixes. He's got some real concoctions in there from what he considers a "gentler" time when specialty cocktails and sophisticated entertaining reigned supreme.

I really like the idea of a homemade drink, especially when it comes to entertaining. But I've never been able to handle those bar shots that people try to get you to down when you're out for a night on the town.

Mordida cocktail. Photo: LeNell Smothers.

Alabama-born LeNell Smothers defines herself first and foremost as a bartender, but she's been called many things -- most recently, the proprietress of LeNell's liquor store. She's owned her own whiskey label called Red Hook Rye and been recognized by her home state as an honorary Colonel. Other interests include gin, sin and men.

I'm not above a little hell-raising, but I swear I was not doing anything illegal a few weeks ago in Mexico when my sweetheart Demian and I got pulled over by the police on the way to the beach.

Demian was accused of drinking and driving. We were eating homemade pesto while driving, but last I checked that wasn't illegal anywhere in the world. We did have an unopened bottle of Champagne iced in a cooler. Demian showed the officer the pesto and the bottle of bubbly. In the end, the cops accused Demian of speeding. His excuse?

Rose salt. Photo: seesternrea, Flickr

• Professionals, history and calculators, oh my! Here is just about everything you could ever want to know about salt.
• Chef Rob Feenie shares a recipe for Baked Marinated Sake and Soy Sablefish, Asparagus and Soybean Salad and Tomato-Caper Jam.
• Dishing on local delights, from Halifax's tiny lobsters to Calgary's sausages.
• Author Michael Steinberger talks about the changing face of French food.
• Tempt with tequila, or catch a video about the celebrity tequila trend.
• The fickleness and fabulousness of fresh basil.
• The delicious brew Innis & Gunn is so popular in Canada that there's a special "Canadian Cask" edition.
  
• The ash rind and sweet flavor of Grey Owl Cheese make it a "showstopper."
  
• A picnic menu perfect for summer.

Alabama-born LeNell Smothers defines herself first and foremost as a bartender, but she's been called many things, most recently the owner of LeNell's liquor store. She's owned her own whiskey label called Red Hook Rye and been recognized by her home state as an honorary Colonel. Other interests include gin, sin and men.

I've been in the mood for tequila of late. Perhaps it's Cinco de Mayo still lingering in the air -- or more likely that week-long vacation in Baja -- but I've got tequila on the brain and on my lips. I love the stuff in my fizzy drinks, and especially in my Dré Fizz Affair.

Ever heard of the Dreyfus Affair? It's a bit of French history involving the wrongful conviction of an officer. The whole ordeal inspired Emile Zola to write "J'Accuse!", a letter addressed to the French President printed on the front page of the newspaper L'Aurore that caused a stir worldwide. And I've got a friend named Dré whom the ladies love almost as much as Dré loves tequila. He is a Numero Uno Tequila Fanatic.

Thus, after the jump, the Dré Fizz Affair, aka Dreyfus, aka what you'll be drinking all summer. You're welcome.