FEB 13 2017
W&P Design
W&P make some of the coolest entertaining-ware you can find. From a pineapple-shaped cocktail shaker to carry-on cocktail kits to coffee techniques to a homemade hot sauce kit, they can help to complete your kitchen, bar, and evening altogether.
One of the most fascinating pieces of the drink world is clear ice. I’ve read a ton about it and watched multiple YouTube videos on the matter; however, I’ve not dove into doing it myself, primarily for the sake of freezer space requirements. Thankfully, these guys have a Clear Ice Mold as a part of their new Peak Ice Works collection.
Taking care of the insulation process for you, this 3-piece kit will get the job done for one clear cube of ice. It’s almost like a set of Russian nesting dolls but with purpose. Before I had only seen the Neat Ice Kit, which while it’s great and offers a bit more in terms of versatility, it’s rather expensive for the use-case, at least for me. At $35, W&P’s kit is affordable and comes without the pain of learning tricks or buying a new fridge.
Some of my other favorite products offered by W&P are:
The Bartender’s Knife — $40 (Wife purchased this for our 5th anniversary.)
The Stirred-Cocktail Kit — $70
Baking Blanket — $20
The Host Board — $110
They even have a Nacho Grater coming. Interests Peaked.
Nacho Average Nacho
Bloomberg released this post prior to the Super Bowl; however, when is it not a good time for nachos? Never, or Always…. It’s always a good time for nachos. There.
Master at the helm of Houston’s newly-opened, One Fifth Steak, Chris Shepherd, has bore knowledge to the mass, food-craving public of a fantastic nacho recipe and methodology. I get it. It’s just another nacho, right? Who needs it? All you have to do is lay out some chips, throw on some cheese, and top with jalepenos and sour cream, and you’re done. What if I told you, this guy won a rather large award for his efforts as a chef? And not just any award, the James Beard Foundation Award for Best Chef: Southwest in 2014 for his work at Underbelly.
The James Beard Foundation has a goal to “celebrate, nurture, and honor chefs and other leaders making America’s food culture more delicious, diverse, and sustainable for everyone.”
Shepherd’s tips come from one of his other establishments, Hay Merchant, which specializes in beer and beer plus food, and this particular item, Silver Platter Nachos, is only served after 11PM. Between the award and the whole beer plus food bit, we can lay off the reputation piece, though I must give you one more thing. It’s a quote by the man himself in regard to the world of nacho:
A small plate of nachos is BS; I like a pile of stuff.
Hooked? Hooked. Now, the tips.
1.) Recognize the Importance of the Chip. Thick chips are required, not only thick but sturdy as well. He’s against the round chips, in favor of crispy corners, so I’ll take his word there.
2.) Pile on the Cheese. For grated only, use Cheddar or Colby; however, he recommends going for both cheese sauce AND grated cheese. No argument there.
3.) Layer Up. Don’t simply lay out the chips and spread the goods. Think tiers and spread the chips out so everything gets cooked up real nice.
4.) Pickled Hominy. The guy loves it and touts the pop it brings, much like a tomato. I won’t lie; hominy terrifies me. I have nightmares, still, of it from when I was a kid. Maybe that’s because it was never done right? Sorry, grandma. Anyways, I’m in… for now.
5.) Texture. He warns about the sog. Stay crispy, my friends. He didn’t say actually say that.
Cook some up, and if you’d like, take a stab at his exact recipe found within the link below:
Bacon Baking, Baking Bacon
Are you tired of your bacon laying flat in the oven? Are you tired of all the grease just sitting, bubbling on top of your bacon? Do you have a few extra dollars to sling? If you are and do, then you’re crazy, but do I have a news for you! Try Nostalgia’s Bacon Express Express Crispy Bacon Grill!
So weird. My wife hates the grease, so maybe….
Chance at the Grammy(s)
Chance the Rapper took home the award for Best New Artist at the Grammys last night. You’ll hear people grunt and moan online about these guys have been around forever, much like they did when Bon Iver and Arcade Fire won in previous years; however, I will say there has been much less of it, possibly given Chance’s mainstay to the mixtape online and not so much in stores and labeled.
After winning the award, he went on to perform his songs, “How Great” and “All We Got”, later in the evening. He wasn’t alone though, as he was joined by Nico Segal, Francis and the Lights, and gospel greats, Kirk Franklin and Tamela Mann. The gospel explosion brought the house to its feet and the roof underneath them.
Equality
Nike released a spot for their new awareness campaign along with many others amidst the present times in the US. Tagged “Equality has no boundaries.”, narrated by Micheal B. Jordan, sung-over jazzy and new by Alycia Keys with the great “A Change Gonna Come”, and including all-stars like Lebron, Megan Rapinoe, Serena Williams, Kevin Durant, and Victor Cruz, it’s a haunting black-and-white portrayal of the uprising that is unity and the power we possess.
Unfortunate/Mostly Unrelated News: Victor Cruz was released by the New York Giants this morning.
