The Kentucky Derby is fast approaching, and with it comes all the glorious pomp and pageantry associated with the grand spectacle. Old money and tradition meets frat-tastic young drunkards in a vortex of pastel and bourbon-fueled ecstasy. Also, there is horse racing… The Derby truly incapsulates everything amazing about the South…for good or ill. People get…
The Big Texan Bourbon & Grapefruit Cocktail
This one is pretty easy yet so tasty! In a cocktail shaker, combine grapefruit juice, bourbon, simple syrup and basil leaves. Fill a chilled rocks glass with ice. Add a few ice cubes to the shaker and shake well. Strain the drink into the ice-filled rocks glass. Garnish with the grapefruit slice and cherry. You can also…
The Charleston Bog
In a cocktail shaker, muddle the raspberries with mint leaves, lime or lemon wedges and Honey Syrup. Add ice and the bourbon and cranberry juice. Shake well and strain into a glass (I used a mason jar). Garnish with the mint sprig and/or lemon or lime wedge. Ingredients : 4 raspberries 8 mint leaves, plus…
Bacon Crackers
Ingredients ¾ pound (about 12-16 slices) thinly sliced bacon 42-48 Rectangular butter crackers (such as Club or Captain’s or Waverly) (to make Brown Sugar Bacon Crackers: Add 6 teaspoons of dark brown sugar) Preparation Heat the oven to 250°F. Slice the bacon slices into thirds crosswise. Wrap each cracker with a piece of bacon, overlapping as little…
Hoppin’ John
Southerners are a superstitious bunch, and for New Years day, having a bowl of Hoppin’ John, served with a side of greens is supposedly a promise of happiness and prosperity for the year. The black beans are suppose to embody coins (riches), while the pork conveys optimism, because pigs forage forward and never look back. This particular recipe (there…
Southern Reads: Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil It has been over 20 years since the publication of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. In that span, John Berendt’s book has racked up approximately 2,700,000 hard cover sales as well as over 1,300,000 in paperbacks sales. It also spent 216 weeks on top of the New York Times…
Southern Reads: The Proud Highway by Hunter S. Thompson
“We are all alone, born alone, die alone, and—in spite of True Romance magazines—we shall all someday look back on our lives and see that, in spite of our company, we were alone the whole way. I do not say lonely—at least, not all the time—but essentially, and finally, alone. This is what makes your…
Taking Drinks at Random Row Brewing Co.
Random Row Brewing Co. is a smaller place, as far a square footage goes, but a brewery doesn’t have to be gigantic to be good, they just need to make good beer. I have to say, these guys make great beer. A group of us went on a Saturday afternoon as the sun was setting….
A Day at Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards
The day started out overcast as we pulled up to Pippin Hills Farm & Vineyards , yet the place still radiated beauty. The six-acre vineyard is settled on a southern-facing hillside with stunning views of the valley. It’s truly a captivating place. The vineyard itself offers a range of event venues such as weddings, rehearsal dinners or private events (it’s rumored that Jennifer…
Cider Tasting at Albemarle CiderWorks
Charlottesville is such a beautiful place and I typically get to visit once or twice a year to see close friends. Every time I go I get introduced to something different and utterly fantastic, and this trip was no exception. If you follow me or know me at all you have probably deduced that I love to…
The Southern Blueprint 