It was a Dark & Stormy Pirate Party

Aye, I was invited to a Pirate BBQ last weekend. Upon arrival, I was introduced to a Ginger Beer taste-test competition, with the winner destined to become an intrinsic part of a tall Dark & Stormy cocktail, which in turn became a key part of the Bocce ball game out on the lawn. The group favorite was Gosling Ginger Beer, triumphing over Saranac Ginger Beer, but not over my remembered taste of Ithaca Brewing Co's Ginger Beer. Truthfully, though, none of the three are truly ginger-y enough for this hot weather. And then I stumbled upon this recipe in an email from the amazing Journeyman Restaurant in Somerville, MA.

Heat Wave Recipe: Ginger Beer Syrup, re-posted in it's entirety

When the weather gets as hot as it has been lately, there's only one thing Meg, our manager, wants to drink: ginger beer, with or without the rum to make a Dark + Stormy. Meg likes her ginger beer to be not-too-sweet and very spicy, meaning she rarely likes commercial ginger beers. She's made her own ginger beer syrup at the restaurant that balances a bit of vinegar with brown sugar to keep it on the savory side, and that barely cooks the ginger, imparting its spiciest and brightest flavor to the syrup.

Ginger Beer Syrup
6 oz fresh ginger, skin on
zest and juice of 2 oranges (or substitute limes)
2 cups of light brown sugar (increase by 1-2 cups if you like your ginger beer sweet)
3 cloves
5 tellicherry black peppercorns
(½ tsp chipotle powder or 2 crushed cardamom pods, optional)
4 cups water
1 cup cider vinegar

Combine the ginger, zest, juice, and sugar in the bowl of a food processor. Process until the ingredients are well-combined. Remove the ginger-sugar mixture to a large heatproof bowl or pitcher.

In a pot, heat the water with the spices and vinegar to a full rolling boil, and pour over the ginger-sugar mixture. Stir to dissolve the sugar, and when the mixture is completely cooled, it can be strained (if you like, otherwise, keep the spices in a sachet and just pull them out).

Fill glasses 1/3 with the ginger beer extract and top with soda water for a ginger beer, or come in to Journeyman when we reopen for Meg's take on the Dark + Stormy that combines this Ginger Beer Extract with Berkshire Distillery’s Ragged Mountain Rum, Amaro, and lime.

Ahoy, matey! Next time I join a bocce ball game in Strathmore, I will be prepared. Stay cool out there.

Funky Flea Market, take 2!

The brave folk at the Public Arts Task Force have pulled up their hip knee socks and partnered with the Northside Urban Partnership (Northside UP) to organize another Funky Flea Market! The 2nd FUNKY FLEA in 2011 will happen Saturday, August 27 on a lot on Prospect Ave, off of N. Salina and Butternut Streets- on the Northside of Syracuse this time. International food from the cultural mixing bowl of the Northside will tantalize and I hear they'll be music to jam to ALL DAY.

They're looking for vendor submissions by August 5th, so break out the vintage and chic and get ready to sell, sell, sell. Funky Flea has this instruction for vendor-wannabes:
"If you were a vendor at our first Flea, you can email us to apply-be sure to use "return vendor" in the subject line. If your a new vendor, just fill out our simple application and you will hear from us shortly! C'mon, be a part of the flea!"
funkyfleasyracuse.blogspot.com for more info (click on the link in the title of this post).

Political (He)Art

The 3rd Annual ARTRAGEOUS EXTRAVAGANZA!
This Saturday- July 16, 2011
7:00 pm to11:00 pm

What’s more fun than a Royal Wedding?”
“The Artrageous Extravaganza! Don’t miss it!”

Music outside under a tent. Food, Drink and a Silent Auction inside the gallery. Eat, drink and bid on great Silent Auction items all night (bidding ends at 10:30pm)
All to benefit ArtRage, Syracuse's singular Political Art Gallery.

Line Up:
Guest Emcee, Common Threads Host, Larry Hoyt
7-8:30pm Back by popular demand – Kambuyu Marimba Ensemble
8:30-9pm Acoustic Guitar (inside the gallery) with Anthony Bakowski
9-10:30pm Big Beat / Crunk / Folk Band Utility Life

We have over 100 Silent Auction items to bid on including Gift Certificates to:
Assault City Roller Derby, Sparky Town, Riley’s, Pastabilities, Funk ‘n’ Waffles, The Mission, Roji Tea Lounge, Ophelia’s Place, Delphi Healing Arts, Spa Zend, Heitzman Chiropractic, Terra Organic Spa, Dynamic Fitness for Women, The Blue Tusk, Wise Guys Comedy Club, Scarab Body Arts, Manlius Art Cinema, Dart Computer Solutions, Eureka Crafts, Bersani Gallery, Syracuse Cultural Workers, Eco Chic, The Gift Box, Schenfeld Studios, Mallard Tabbaconist, Organically Hip, The Kind Coffee Company, CNY Yoga Center, Seven Rays Bookstore, Syracuse Stage, Syracuse Opera, LeMoyne College Theater & The Everson Museum. Crafts from local artisans like Steve Linkinhoker, Sharon Bottle-Souva, Kathy Barry, Lauren Ritchie, Fumiyo Hirano, Deborah Sorrentino, a “Growler/Beer for A Year” from Empire Brewing Company…and much more!

Suggested donation: $12 each or 2/$20
Tickets available online or at ArtRage (505 Hawley Ave, @ N. Crouse) during gallery HOURS: W, Th, F 2-7pm & Sat. 12-4pm