It was a Dark and Stormy Night

I wonder when I'll run out of rain-themed post ideas?  Hopefully not for a while since I think we're in for some pretty significant thunderboomers (there!  another name for a thunderstorm!).

So, if you're keeping up my dear four readers, last night I was considering NOT going to "The Blind Pig" with the hubs to meet some friends because it was POURING outside.  Thankfully, the rain abated, I threw on some clothes and we headed over to the general area where we thought this little Speakeasy was located.  Now, there have already been some super clever blogs about this place that I couldn't (and wouldn't) attempt to duplicate.  If you're interested, you can read more about The Blind Pig here:

Mr. Delicous: The Blind Pig, Makati's Best Poorly Kept Secret

Enroute: Through the Dark and Into Blind Pig Speakeasy Makati

Maraisms: A Night at Blind Pig Speakeasy Salcedo

At least I can say that I am not the only one who has broken one of the cardinal speakeasy rules by letting the world in on this little "secret".  It's been done before and heck, is probably being done right now by someone else since one of our companions is a fellow blogger and our husbands caught us taking the same (flashless) photos of the menu and rules.  Lame?  Maybe.  But at least we're not alone in our lameness.

I don't want to turn this into a review but I loved this place.  The drinks, while expensive, were worth every penny and I'm not exaggerating in the slightest when I say husbear's gin and tonics were the best gin and tonics I've EVER tasted.  There is a menu you can order from and I think between the 10 or so of us, we managed to try one of everything but, like other bloggers have mentioned, you can also just tell the bartender what you're feeling and he'll throw together something that will knock your socks off.  For my first drink, I decided to let him do just that.  I wanted strawberries, mint, and vodka -- "not too sweet" I said.  Well, alas, they were out of strawberries but offered me a choice of blueberry or raspberry.  I chose blueberry.  What arrived was nothing short of perfect.  She called it a Blueberry Caipirorka and it like a mojito but less sugary sweet and more....well blueberrily bliss like.  As great as my drink was, the Gin and Tonic Zach had with a kielbasa-sized chunk of ice was like drinking spring in a glass. Yum!

For my second drink, I ordered off the menu.  I thought, given the night we'd had so far, it was more than appropriate to order the Dark and Stormy (dark rum, fresh ginger syrup, and fresh lime juice).  It was great but would have been better with some food probably.  I don't know what it was exactly but I kept wishing the popcorn we'd ordered hadn't already been demolished.  The ginger gave it a nice little kick and left my lips burning just a tad but it was missing some sort of munchie.  Maybe I was just getting the midnight snackies??  Who knows.

The Dark and Stormy

The only drawback to our evening?  With our group, they should have renamed the joint a "Speakloudly".  I love socializing as much as the next person but I think some of the vibe of the place was lost on us.  It seems a more appropriate venue for a couple on their third date or perhaps a party of four.   Our 10ish colleagues and friends gathered for a farewell party were a bit overpowering in the somewhat diminutive establishment.  I wouldn't trade the group OR the conversation;  I'm simply saying I'll be back Pig....and I will make it my mission to get my prohibition vibe on.

Dammit! I totally forgot that I was going to make this posting about The Blind Pig different by telling you why the hell they call it that in the first place.  A quick search will get you that answer but since I think it's super cool and reminds me of dry county rules in today's day and age, I thought I'd just tell ya instead of making you look it up.

So a Speakeasy was also referred to as a "Blind Pig" or "Blind Tiger" back in the prohibition era.  Much like happy hour specials on food that you see in dry counties*, in Speakeasies a customer would pay a fee to see an attraction (like a blind pig or blind tiger) and would then be served a complimentary alcoholic beverage thereby circumventing the law.

[*In some dry counties, happy hours are restricted to food products only.  Meaning, the establishment can discount food stuffs as a way to draw customers in but NOT alcohol.  It's a wacktastic law in bassackwards bible belt towns.  Too many southern euphemisms there?  Too bad.  :)]

Anyway, I think it's an all around super cool idea and in case you're wondering, it did take us a hot minute to find the joint but when we did, it didn't disappoint.

It's dark because I was trying to obey the rules - no flash photography!

The only marking that helps you identify the "pig".  Um... super secret awesomness much?!?!

Gaga for our Gaggia

Shall I start with a quick hello?  I feel that's fair after OVER A YEAR LONG absence.  So, Hi Howdy Hola but most importantly, MABUHAY!  Why Mabuhay?  Because my friends, "Mabuhay" is the tagalog greeting and in case you're wondering what tagalog is (as I was), it's one of the (many) languages spoken in the Philippines, primarily Manila and surrounding areas.  But still, why should you care?  Well, in truth, maybe you shouldn't.  YOU aren't the one moving to the Philippines in less than a week ..... but WE are! :) 

So, MABUHAY! 

A new member of our family will be moving with us.  You heard that right, we have a new child.  She is shiny and grand and requires constant attention.  She is still a newborn but seems to be learning the ropes quickly.  Sorry Mom, she does not have a heartbeat, curly hair, or my eyes.  "She" is our Gaggia Academia Espresso Machine and probably the most important thing that's happened in our lives since we adopted Cassie.  Here she is - feel free to gasp, exhale, ooh-ah...whatever you need to do....

Ok Ok - that's not really our girl.  But this is...

And boy does she turn some heads when she does her little coffee dances.  I mean, look at this purty concoction she put together when my sister came to visit:

Really - she is the most thoughtful "child" we have....sorry Cassie.

If you're in the market for an espresso machine, you can't go wrong with this baby.   She'll make espressos, coffees (long or short), caps, lattes, and the list goes on.  You can get all hands on with her or simply set her up to be responsive at the touch of a button.  Easy breezy.    She ain't cheap but she's worth it AND it's true what they say, she does get better with age.  Seriously, the thing gets smarter then more coffee you make.

Sadly, Lady Gaggia is on her merry way to Manila and we probably won't see her...or her wonderful caffeinated brews .... for several months.  We will try to endure but no doubt will suffer some pangs along the way.....and headaches. 

Honey....I'm home!

Ok, I'm not home at all but after a few Jack Daniels Tennessee Honey drinks last night, I sure felt like I was flyin' somewhere!  Though the effects are a  bit painful today, this stuff went down as smooth as....well...honey.  A group of us easily polished off a bottle within a couple of hours.  Give it a try.  It's not too sweet.  There's a hint of pepper to counter the sweetness and the mix of the two is just purrrrfect.  It's especially good with ginger ale, sprite and diet coke (not all at the same time, mind you).  It's also pretty smooth by itself.

Don't say I never did ya any favors....

"A day without a friend is like a pot without a single drop of 
honey left inside."
 - Winnie the Pooh

Poor Man's Margarita

"The Bullfrog"

This is an old family recipe.  I can remember my grandparents, great aunts and uncles, mom, dad, and the rest of the family huddled over a game of dominoes drinking round after round of Bullfrogs.  I always thought they looked so delicious, especially in the heat of summer.  I never could understand why they wouldn't let me have one.  Now I do.  Mixed right, this is one potent little beverage but you'd never know it because the limeade overpowers ANY alcohol taste. 

 If any of you are like me, you are desperately clinging to what's left of summer (even though, technically, I guess it's over).  Either way, there's still time to drown your sorrows in a glass of the soon-to-be world famous...BULLFROG!

 

 1 can frozen Minute Maid Limeade
 Vodka
 Ice

Pour Limeade into blender (you can let it sit out for a few minutes to soften if you like).  Fill empty Minute Made can with Vodka and pour on top of limeade.  Fill the remaining space in the blender with ice.  Blend.  Serve in cheesy red Solo cups.  If you want to get super fancy, you can salt the rim.  I wouldn't recommend getting too fancy though...sorta defeats the purpose.

If life gives you limes, make Margaritas!

I'm a bit late on this but to be fair, I have at least been thinking about writing this post for a while.  These guiltless margarita mixes are fantastic!  I love a good margarita every now and then but they are so so bad for you.  When my friend Brie told me about Skinny Girl margaritas, I was pretty excited to give it a try.  Unfortunately, we were deep in the summer months and the stuff was NOWHERE to be found!

I ended up picking up Scales Margarita mix at the grocery store and it was ok.  It tasted a little saccharin-y for my tastes so I probably won't buy it again unless it's the only thing around.

Next stop was the Master of Mixes Lite Margarita Mix.  I liked this one a good deal better than the Scales Mix.  It had a traditional Margarita taste so although I knew I was being good, it didn't taste like a diet margarita.

To be honest, I still haven't tried Skinny Girl BUT I did ship several bottles to our new place so that I could try it when we get there :).  I have heard lots of good things about it from girlfriends, mother/sister in laws, etc so I have faith it will be tasty. 

For a quick run down on the dunlop WON'T be getting with these drinks, you can reference the calorie count below:    DRINK UP BEEOTCHES!  (and for those of you who don't know what a "dunlop" is, you can find the definition at urban dictionary)

Skinnygirl Margarita - 100 calories per 4 ounces (Calories are higher because Skinnygirl has built in Tequila!)
Master of Mixes - 20 calories or fewer per 5 ounces
Scales Margarita Mix - 5 calories per 4 ounces

By the way, you should also note that most of these companies offer different flavors of their lighter fare.  For instance, Master of Mixes has Lite Strawberry Daiquiri and Lite Sweet and Sour Mix.  Scales has the same plus a Bloody Mary Mix.  Skinny Girl just released a line of Sangria.  All of them sound pretty darn good to me!!