TIP OF THE DAY: Red, White & Blue Iced Tea For July 4th

Today’s tip comes via one of our favorite artisan tea blenders, Tay Tea. It’s blue tea, an herbal tea from Thailand that made its way here a few years ago. It still remains largely under the radar, except at artisan tea shops and some spas. The blue tea is steeped from the butterfly pea flower…
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COCKTAIL RECIPE: Black Pepper Dirty Martini

For those who like things hot and spicy, here’s a variation on the Dirty Martini: Add black pepper heat! You get the salty brine from the olives, and heat from the pepper. You can purchase pepper-infused vodka like Absolut Peppar (photo #2), or infuse plain vodka with peppercorns (instructions below). (Pepper vodka is also great…
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FOOD FUN: Chocolate For The Poker Player

Know how to hold ‘em, fold ‘em, or eat ‘em (photo © Woodhouse Chocolate).   For the poker player, two edible chips from Woodhouse Chocolate, an artisanal chocolatier in the Napa Valley. Actually, their Poker Chip Peanut Butter Cups. Specially decorated in a card suit motif and presented in a poker chip styled box; as…
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FATHER’S DAY GIFTS: Koloa Single-Batch Rum & Round Barn Mint Chocolate Cream Liqueur

[1] Koloa 12-Barrel Select Hawaiian Rum: heavenly (photo © Koloa Rum). [2] Round Barn Winery’s Mint Chocolate Cream is a delight for any chocolate lover [of drinking age] (photo © Round Barn Winery).   We taste lots of spirits, and most of them are delicious. But we’re not a spirits website, so we only write…
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RECIPES: Watermelon Rind Slaw and Coleslaw

Don’t throw away your watermelon rinds. Watermelon rind is not only edible; it can be turned into crunchy slaws and watermelon pickleswatermelon pickles (pickled watermelon rind). Here are two crunchy, fun recipes from the Watermelon Promotion BoardWatermelon Promotion Board, which has the best collection of watermelon recipes. The slaw has a yogurt dressing while the…
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