The Cocktail Party Thread (a.k.a. The "Jack This Thread" Thread)

[Louweasel]

What he said about fruit flavoured vodka.

Needle, I'm sorry to say it was a vodka martini as I am experiencing a gin crisis right now. Drinking neat vodka on my own makes me feel like an alcoholic; adding a drop or two of vermouth and serving in a pistachio green martini glass adds a veneer of respectability, in my mind if nowhere else. At least I didn't shake it.

For the record, I'd prefer the olives on the side by way of a cocktail nibble - a sliver of lemon zest in the martini, if anything.

I've got some cold chicken left over from a concert picnic in crystal palace park tonight, if anyone is peckish? Chicken thighs marinated in lime juice and coriander seeds, and roasted with a little salt and paprika on the skin. *hands round dish* I'm sorry but there are no pigs in blankets left; they went down a treat. If anyone fancies pudding, i can offer some strawberries in a syrup of balsamic vinegar and sugar - sounds odd but it's delicious.

[needle]

Originally Posted by Louweasel

I've got some cold chicken left over from a concert picnic in crystal palace park tonight, if anyone is peckish? Chicken thighs marinated in lime juice and coriander seeds, and roasted with a little salt and paprika on the skin. *hands round dish*

Hmm, this sounds interesting, I'll try a piece. No pudding for me though, thank you. Of the two English contributions to world cuisine (fish-and-chips, and pudding) I'd rather there was just one, and not the latter.
I like the flavor of that chicken, sounds like it will pair nicely with Syrah - pass me the bottle whoever's got one, please.

[Inquartata]

Originally Posted by Louweasel

At least I didn't shake it.

I for one would like to see that.

[Louweasel]

Originally Posted by needle

Of the two English contributions to world cuisine (fish-and-chips, and pudding) I'd rather there was just one, and not the latter.

I've a feeling we might be at cross purposes here. When i say pudding, I mean dessert as a general concept; the sweet course after the main course in a meal, not a specific dish. I don't think the english can have invented dessert, can we? I mean, the moors had sorbet whilst we were still living in caves going "ug".

[Inquartata]

Some of us were still using Roman roads and aqueducts and villas.

[needle]

Originally Posted by Louweasel

I've a feeling we might be at cross purposes here. When i say pudding, I mean dessert as a general concept; the sweet course after the main course in a meal, not a specific dish. I don't think the english can have invented dessert, can we? I mean, the moors had sorbet whilst we were still living in caves going "ug".

Ah, that's better. I thought you were a sensible enough person not to offer that particular dish, but then you started pouring vermouth into perfectly good vodka, and I started having doubts. Glad we cleared that up. I'd love a dessert, thank you very much

[Zilverzmurfen]

Originally Posted by needle

I'd love a desert, thank you very much

I'm sure Inq has lots of sand to offer...

[needle]

Originally Posted by Zilverzmurfen

I'm sure Inq has lots of sand to offer...

Well, I'll let him go into over-production crisis on this one

[Nicksmom]

Originally Posted by needle

There are many criteria (purity of taste, the "afterkick", etc) that can be very subjective, but there's one true differentiator between bad vodka and vodka that can be further examined for possibly being good: if you drank only vodka and no other alcohol all evening, and you have a headache in the morning, it was bad vodka. Headache invented as an excuse for something () doesn't count.

Oh, and of course anything that's flavored and/or doesn't have 40% alcohol is not a true vodka at all (though personally I'm partial to cranberry-flavored "vodka" for lack of better name, as long as it has 40% alcohol), so there's no point discussing whether it's good or bad

The vodka went down like water, no burn, no after taste. The problem came when the vodka ran out and we drank, champaigne, gin and warm beer. I do know that I was in better shape the next afternoon than the 2 russian guys we were drinking with.
I personally like cranberry juice and vodka.

[needle]

Originally Posted by Nicksmom

The vodka went down like water, no burn, no after taste. The problem came when the vodka ran out and we drank, champaigne, gin and warm beer. I do know that I was in better shape the next afternoon than the 2 russian guys we were drinking with.
I personally like cranberry juice and vodka.

The first rule of vodka supply in Russia - no matter how much vodka you buy for the party, at some point during the party you'll need to send someone to get more.

[Louweasel]

So needle, what are you talking about when you say pudding?

[needle]

Originally Posted by Louweasel

So needle, what are you talking about when you say pudding?

This type:

Originally Posted by Wikipedia

"solid mass formed by the mixing of various ingredients with a grain product"

[Epee_Pox]

Like nearly all Americans, if I hear the word "pudding," I think of this:

http://www.fwvs.com/r1_pudding1.jpg


The sweet course served at the conclusion of a meal is called "dessert," and only dessert. Pudding is only one kind of dessert. And if you were to mention "afters," nobody here would have a clue what you were talking about.

Suet puddings, by the way, are unknown and unavailable here. As it suet itself, nowadays.

[Fencergrl]

Originally Posted by Epee_Pox

Like nearly all Americans, if I hear the word "pudding," I think of this:

http://www.fwvs.com/r1_pudding1.jpg

Damn! I had to open the jpg.... now I'm craving some chocolate pudding!

[Fencergrl]

Originally Posted by Epee_Pox

Suet puddings, by the way, are unknown and unavailable here. As it suet itself, nowadays.

Suet is available usually around the holidays. These days however, it is mainly used for making bird feed.

[Louweasel]

That picture's not helping much. It doesn't look like it's got much air in it, so it can't be chocolate mousse, but it looks a bit too stirred-up to be blancmange....*mystified* What's in it?

[Louweasel]

Originally Posted by Fencergrl

Suet is available usually around the holidays (Christmas & Thanksgiving). These days however, it is mainly used for making bird feed.

There's another one...holidays. When you say holiday to a brit, we think of going somewhere sunny for a break from work; what you'd call a vacation I guess. "The holidays" is a phrase only schoolchildren really use, when they are talking about the long summer holidays. Christmas is just Christmas, unless you are trying to specifically make a religious point and you are actually celebrating Diwali. Although tbh I ony know when that is when I hear the bangers go off. And Eid moves, so I just look out for when our office manager has henna tattoos on her hands and one of my colleagues misses lunch.

[Fencergrl]

Originally Posted by Louweasel

That picture's not helping much. It doesn't look like it's got much air in it, so it can't be chocolate mousse, but it looks a bit too stirred-up to be blancmange....*mystified* What's in it?

It's pudding (like a custard). Essentially you warm up milk, add eggs, sugar, flavouring etc. As it cools in the fridge it thickens. Very rich and tasty. I can post a recipe if you like (or you could google).