Tending to the Trends
May 24, 2005
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Tips, Trends and Tradewinds
The Allure of the Cocktail
There was a time when malt and sulfite based potables such as wine coolers, hard lemonades and Zima dominated the thirst quenching arena. Now the cocktail has regained the limelight. Although alcohol consumption on a national level is down compared to 10 years ago, bars and dining establishments alike report service of hard liquor has seen a recent increase. Part of the reason is attributed to a matter of image. It is believed that an expertly concocted drink served in appropriate glassware can connote class and glamour, somehow avoiding all allusion to the prohibition origins of certain cocktails when juices were mixed with bathtub gin simply to mask the dreadful flavor of the cheap alcohol.
Martinis, which enjoyed prevalence in the 1960’s as the drink of the elite, have experienced a colorful resurgence. Originally made with gin, the martini of the 21st century is primarily a vodka drink, flavored with everything from sour apple liqueur to chocolate syrup. The martini’s tart cousin, the Cosmopolitan, still leads the way as one of the most popular and most frequently ordered drinks in the nation. At the head of this resurgence in alcohol appreciation is not a band of hardcore mixologers, as one might expect, but rather female patrons who have developed a nationwide craving for drinks with flair. This trend can be attributed, in part, to television shows such as “Absolutely Fabulous” and “Sex and the City” which have promoted the feminine side of imbibing. Don’t discount the men, however. Consumers in general are constantly on the prowl for something different and delicious. Lately, men and women alike are enjoying more adventuresome drink choices. Establishments that offer a wide variety of standards and specialty drinks are finding their cocktail choices to be a good draw, often featuring them in advertisements and on their restaurant’s web pages.
The drinks do not need to be outlandish. The Margarita, the origin of which is uncertain and long-debated, is still a patron favorite. Daiquiris (a 1920’s development, named for the island in which they originated) carry mass appeal, appearing on a spectrum of drink menus from local chains such as Applebee’s to Coyote Ugly in Las Vegas to Wolfgang Puck’s Spago in Beverly Hills. Some bars and restaurants offer special drink menus carrying a variety of unique exotic blends tagged with catchy names. Who wouldn’t want to sample a “Guava Lava Flow” or a “Raspberry Dynamite”? Whether the offering is a regional favorite (the Brandy Old Fashioned in Wisconsin, the Mai Tai in Hawaii, Killer Kool-Aid in Rhode Island) or an old standard with a new twist (swirled blended drinks are a tasty and visually appealing offering where different flavors of blended cocktails are layered into a hurricane glass), patrons are taking the plunge and tempting their taste buds at the bar.
The well-stocked lounge is sure to fare well as the allure of the cocktail continues to make its return.
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Food Industry News
Upcoming Food Shows, Expos and Festivals
June 2-4
Retail Produce Solutions Conference
Monterey, CA
www.pma.com/
June 3-5
Great American Dessert Expo & Coffee Fest
Las Vegas, NV
www.dessertexpo.com/
June 3-5
Annual Dairyfest
Marshfield, WI
www.marshfieldchamber.com
June 3-5
Houston Food Show
Houston, TX
www.exposwest.com/houston-food-show.htm
June 5-7
Dairy-Deli-Bake Seminar & Expo
Minneapolis, MN
www.iddba.org/conf.htm
June 10-11
Banana Split Festival
Wilmington, OH
www.clintoncountyohio.com/
June 14-15
Expo of Chicago Pizza
Chicago, IL
www.pizzaexpo.com/c2005/
June 14-16
2005 All Candy Expo
Chicago, IL
www.allcandyexpo.com/
June 17-19
Ice Cream Days
Le Mars, IA
www.lemarsiowa.com/
June 24-July4
A Taste of Chicago
Chicago, IL
www.cityofchicago.org/specialevents
June 25-26
Cedarburg Strawberry Festival
Cedarburg, WI
www.cedarburgfestivals.org/Strawberry.html
June 26-27
International Bar Show
New York, NY
http://rdpgroup.com/rdpgroud/index.htm
June 26-28
Southwest Food Service Expo
Dallas, TX
www.restaurantville.com/cc/swexpo/
Tidbits
Nibble on this . . .
In the 14th Century, distilled liquors were applied as remedies for the Black Death.
In the 1600’s, thermometers were filled with brandy instead of mercury.
In the 1800's, rum was considered excellent for cleaning hair and keeping it healthy while brandy was believed to strengthen hair roots.
Food For Thought
“And do as adversaries do in law, strive mightily, but eat and drink as friends.”
William Shakespeare (1564-1616) The Taming of the Shrew
Menu Helpers
Aside from Dairy month, the month of June is:
National Seafood Month
National Iced Tea Month
National Candy Month
Denmark: celebrates an Eel Festival this month. In the city of Jyllinge, Denmark, every restaurant in town serves fried eel during this celebration.
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