January's Best of

Our "best of" tasting was super fun and we are happy to support the tradition for next year.

Slight modifications were made to original recipes, which made it even more fun:
Team BJ made their own cornmeal sage dough for the empanadas and also presented a cup with Buffalo Stew Meat Goat Cheese and Cilantro. They also made the Watermelon Margaritas with Sotol in honor of John's recent run in Bandera.
Team K cooked their pork on the grill instead of the oven.
Team N didn't change the carnitas recipe, we did serve with Bluecorn and Flaxseed Tortillas, Cotija Cheese and Cilantro. We didn't find any of the Sakes that Jonathan brought to the sake tasting so we just brought a sake to represent...
Richard brought a bottle of Baker's and Paul showed up with a bottle of Bain's, that South African Whiskey that was ordered online, and left it for John as a congratulatory gift.

Team BJ does Team N's Blueberry - Buffalo Empanadas
Team BJ makes Team K's Watermelon Margarita 

Team N does Team K's Pork Carnitas
Team N brings a sake in honor of Jit's sake tasting

Team K does Team BJ's Spiced Pork
Team K serves Team N's Boom Boom Syrah

Richard brings Single Batch Baker's Bourbon

January's All Inclusive Best of Tasting Info

January 19th 7pm

We thought it would be fun to initiate an annual Best of Tasting to be held every year in January. This tasting will include a favorite food and beverage from each Tasting Participant from the previous year. Since this is the first one we will be able to choose from the inception of 2dbooze, May 2010.
This year each participant pulled a sheet out of a hat with another participant's all inclusive list of:
A. recipes
B. food
The participant will then prepare their favorite recipe from the list and bring their favorite booze. They do not have to pair the food with the alcohol, we will mix and match pairings based on what is contributed to the tasting.
EX: Team N drew recipes from Team K
        and booze from the list that included the Gibbons, Rob and Richard
        We will bring Team K's Carnitas Tacos and one of Jonathan's sakes
TaDa!!
this should be fun....

December Tasting Food

Due to the theme of next month's tasting (information worthy of it's own post) we have reinstated the importance of tracking the items contributed to each tasting.
so here goes:

Team K's Awesome Salmon

Team D's Crab Stuffed Shrimp

Team BJ's Shrimp & Grits

I think Becca has the picture of Team N's Spring Rolls

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/shrimp-and-mango-summer-rolls-recipe/index.html

so she can add it here....

December 2012 Sake

Jonathan did a fine job presenting sake. His employer and clients should certainly give him a chance to sell, especially since he can make a successful pairing with shrimp and grits. Apparently sake is the new black and goes with anything.

Here are the Sakes:

December Tasting

Saturday December 29th

Sake & Seafood
Jit is bringing the sake since he's developing a sake presentation for work. Thanks for practicing on us!

November Team N

TYKUSOJUTy

So we didn't really mean to get "diet" liquor. We were looking for Ichiku, served at Keichii in Denton, TX and couldn't find it at Paradise or Goody Goody so we came home with this. Not as good as Ichiku, but not bad either...

Ty Ku Soju
1/2 the Calories and Twice the Taste of Vodka. Asia's best kept secret, Soju (also known as Shochu) is the #1 distilled spirit in the world. TY KU Soju updates this ancient spirit by producing an unbelievably smooth beverage that is lower in calories* and more versatile than vodka. Its superiority is the result of expert small batch distillation & cold filtration, utilizing 100% premium barley. TY KU Soju is crafted from the finest all natural ingredients with no additives, no preservatives and no sweeteners. TY KU Soju is best sipped chilled and enhances the natural flavors of fresh fruits and juices without the need of added sugar, creating better balanced, better tasting and lower calorie* premium cocktails.


and we paired it with a recipe a friend suggested a few ago

http://farmhousetable.wordpress.com/2010/11/18/asian-pork-meatballs-with-braised-winter-greens/

(the photo is from the website)

November Tasting

After taking a break in October to birth babies and run races we're
on for November 24th.
This time it's a free for all to get us back in the game.
Bring any type of booze and any type of food. Should be fun!