Image by walknboston via Flickr

It’s true. Women think they have us figured out. It’s soooo easy, apparently. They even think they can analyze a man’s personality based on the drink that he orders. Exhibit A: the slideshow that Julie Fishman of Glo put together of a few examples of drinks men order, with the analysis courtesy of Manhattan bartend Dara Mahler and bartendner/blogger/author Jordan Catapano.  Check out their analysis and see if they’ve got you pegged…or if the ladies need to head back to the field for some more “research”.

Jack and Coke – “A weeknight drink for men who wear suits.” A whiskey and soda guy often appears as if he could drink for eight hours straight—even while making business deals—without slurring a word. While he can be overly macho, we’d like to think that this guy isn’t into playing games.

Wine – A guy who asks to see the wine list usually has an interest in art, culture and travel. But if he orders the house varietal without thinking, he might need some more grooming.

Light Beer – Mahler believes that light beer drinkers are most often partiers after quantity not quality, though there’s also the occasional fitness fanatic who doesn’t want to ruin his six-pack. The quantity guy may seem affable and fun-loving, but his heavy drinking could be a sign of trouble, whereas a calorie counter may be judgmental and unable to let loose.

Craft Beer – Catapano finds that “a man who drinks craft beer appreciates the finer things in life.” This type typically isn’t looking for a quick buzz, but rather seems to enjoy savoring the moment. And we like to believe that a man who sips high-quality beer will value a high-quality woman, as well.

Gin & Tonic – These men are generally polite and reserved—until they perhaps enjoy a few too many cocktails and morph into their more rambunctious alter egos. “These are often the guys who get thrown out of the bar then appear a few weeks later as if nothing ever happened,” adds Mahler, citing her experience.

Scotch – Characteristically patient and wise with a strong work ethic, a man who drinks fine-aged scotch is “accomplished but rarely boasts,” says Catapano. This kind of man is often serious and contemplative, so chances are he’s looking for more than a casual fling.

Vodka & Redbull – Either right out of college or still holding on to those glory days, this guy is—more often than not—a “hard partier who doesn’t mind waking up without a clue as to what happened the night prior,” says Mahler.

Dirty Martini – A martini man “likely has money and wants you to recognize it,” says Mahler. If he knows exactly what he wants in a drink (Grey Goose, straight up, with two olives), then he probably also has specific criteria for a mate. He can be difficult to please, as he looks for faults in everything, says Mahler.

Tropical Cocktail – Pastel-colored drinks festooned with umbrellas may look feminine, but don’t be fooled—a man who drinks them can be both strong and quick-witted. Most often comfortable in his own skin, “he likes what he likes, and the viewpoints of others are irrelevant,” says Catapano.

Tom Collins – Since this drink requires fresh ingredients and a perfect balance of flavors, this guy “understands that when you want something done right, you need to put some TLC into it,” says Catapano. We imagine that this man has a passion for details and would love planning fantastic date nights for the two of you.

White Russian – If he loves this hipster drink of the moment, then this guy probably regularly quotes The Big Lebowski. Likely a liberal into indie rock and anything retro, he may come off as trying too hard, but he is often well read and well spoken, ensuring conversations will never be dull.

“Whatever she’s having” – If a man doesn’t have a set drink and tends to just piggyback on your order, then he’s certainly easygoing, but he may also be complacent. A man who’s agreeable will probably treat you well, but his “whatever you want” routine could become frustrating over time.

Related articles

• Get Pretty Good At Drinking Beer (mademan.com)
• Excessive Drinking Costs US $224 Billion a Year (livescience.com)
• The realities of compatability with #BrewDiet and a day job (funanymore.com)
• Building Your ‘Mad Men’ Bar (foxnews.com)
• Drink This, Not That. (collegefitnesstips.wordpress.com)

Don’t you hate going to the store and having to buy coke after coke over again. A solution to your problem can only be a 5 gallons away with this clever invention. You might have to visit the dentist more often, but you do get to drink your coke on a daily basis without a worry.

Related articles

• Japan Makes a Game Out of Buying a Coke (escapistmagazine.com)
• WIN the Diet Coke Catwalk Collection PLUS a YEAR’s worth of nails inc. manicures! (graziadaily.co.uk)
• My Coke Habit (katiebman.wordpress.com)
• Coke is a winner on Facebook, Twitter (usatoday.com)
• Can coke dissolve a wire nail (wiki.answers.com)

Hair in a can, the Flowbee and ExtenZe.  How do they all fit together?  I’ll save you a bit of head scratching:  They’re products that offer incredible results, but generally fall flat on their faces in the delivery department… not that I’ve ever tried any of them.  Ever.  Ahem, moving right along.

As men with disposable income, we’re subjected to a near constant barrage of crap that will do anything from grow muscles, grow a “muscle” or cure us of some menial chore that only seems to be difficult for actors on infomercials.  Generally, it’s pretty easy to weed out the chaff and move on with our day.  However, what happens when you come across something that is cause for a bit more attention?  Something like one of the candies from a company called Snap Infusion?

Let’s say you were out one night until an irresponsible hour (I know, such a thing would never happen), and let’s say that during your nocturnal sojourn you imbibed more than your fair share of scotch.  The following morning when you wake up to go help rebuild the orphanage and rescue kittens from trees you may be suffering from a hangover.  Standard cure?  Pop two aspirin, pound back some coffee, take a shower and get yourself some bacon and eggs.  Maybe a hash-brown if you’re feeling frisky.  Some prefer a certain sport beverage hocked by their athletic idols, but really… you’re a grown man of refined taste, surely you can do better.  Which is when you reach for the jelly beans you keep on the nightstand.

Snap Infusion is selling itself as a bit of a candy-miracle-cure-all.  Here are a few quotes from the product’s website, and no, I’m not making these up:

“You could climb an entire mountain while chewing our Gum and have enough energy left to blow a celebratory bubble at the summit.”

“…its true calling is to help you run, jump, play, shoot and shred with an advanced degree of awesome.”

Personally, I’ve only got a B.A. in Awesome and could use the more advanced degree.  Are these the words of a modern day snake-oil saleman?  Each of Snap Infusion’s candies use “super science to squeeze massive flavor into a small space”.  I have no idea what that means.  That said, here’s some of what they boast:  all-natural ingredients, no HFCS, B-vitamins, electrolytes and antioxidants.  I dig it and maybe this isn’t just a passing fad.  Instead of popping an actual handful of jelly beans or gnawing our way through some caramel we can have a “candy” that gives a little back.

I don’t think that chewing on a piece of gum is going to cure a hangover, but neither will the shower, the bacon and eggs (regardless of quantity) or massive cup of coffee.  Time cures hangover.  What Snap Infusion is offering is a little bit of a boost to help you along the way.  Certainly something to consider before your next night out.

Love can be crispy, brown and packed with tons of salt. yum!

I decided to make this for breakfast today and it was real easy to make. I just added some salsa to the top of it and a tad of salt. I recommend it if you’re looking for another method to cook eggs if you’re tired of scrabbled, over easy or your other favorite method.

Photo by: marta juez

What should you keep in mind in order to have the ultimate tailgating party? To follow are several tips to get you on your way to being known for the best ones ever:

The first one should actually go without saying but in the interest of clarity…you should always know exactly where you are going. This means having a map of the parking area, contacting the owner to see if there are any specific guidelines that you need to follow and be sure to get there early enough; before the gates so that you can stake out a great spot.

Your next tip is to not assume that since you have had that same spot for a number of years that you will naturally get the same one, especially if you do not show up early in order to claim it. After all, it is basically a “first come – first served” type of event.

You will need ice, lots of ice. You will need it to keep drinks cold and if you plan on having any cocktails you will need it for that as well. Ice will also help you keep any raw meat as close to 40 or below as you can to help ensure no one gets sick.

You should also have a good grill; charcoal is great for flavor if you have the time to get it up and going properly. However, gas is quicker and you plank cook or use wood chips to get that smoky flavor. You also want to bring one that is big enough to handle more than just a few burgers at a time. Along those same lines make sure that you have enough food to actually feed everyone; most grill masters agree that you should have at least 8oz. of meat for every person. Also, side dishes are good but you want to make sure it will be something that everyone will eat, there are many times that several tubs of unopened coleslaw or potato salad are thrown away.

If you are going to be making cocktails forget about the gas powered blenders all you really need are a few large shakers. You can whip out those margaritas on the rocks, mai tais and several others just by using a shaker. A personal favorite is ice, Grand Marnier, tequila, limeade and fresh limes in a well salted glass.

Of course seating is something to consider; bring some comfortable chairs, invest in a tailgate couch or find one of the inflatable couches (just be sure you have a way to fill it).

One last item, try to load as much as you can the night before so that you will be pretty much ready to go on game day and claim your title as “Tailgating King”.

With impending cold weather and early darkness there is nothing that brings warmth quicker than a good hearty meal; so round up your roasters and crock pots and get ready to satisfy that cold weather appetite with some traditional and simple recipes.

Shepherd’s Pie – for this you will need 2 pounds of ground beef, one chopped onion, 2 cans cream style corn, about 8 peeled potatoes, one fourth cup of butter and three fourths of a cup of sour cream along with pepper and salt to taste.

Boil the potatoes for approximately 45 minutes then mash them with the sour cream, butter, salt and pepper. Cook and drain the beef then add the onion to it and put it in a 13” x 9” pan, place the corn on top and then the mashed potatoes over all of it. Bake it for around 30 minutes at 350 degrees and then broil until slightly brown. Enjoy!

Irish Stew – one of the heartiest recipes for cold weather. Start with 2 pounds of beef or lamb, boned and cut in about ¼ inch strips, 3 thinly slice onions, 2 pounds of thinly sliced potatoes, 4 carrots cut up into about ¼” chunks, 2 tablespoons of parsley, 1 tablespoon of thyme, about 14 ounces of water and salt and pepper.

Preheat the oven to 275 degrees, when you trim the meat leave a little bit of fat for some flavor. Season veggies and meat with the salt, pepper, thyme and rosemary then place all of the items in a casserole dish, cover and cook for about two and a half hours. You will know it is ready when the liquid starts to thicken.

Simple Roast Beef in the Crockpot – This is one of those recipes that is very simple but tastes very difficult. Begin with about 4 pounds of beef top round boneless roast, ½ teaspoon of lemon pepper, 2 chopped onions, 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 4 minced garlic cloves, 1 cup chopped celery, 1 cup chopped carrots, 3 quartered potatoes, 1 teaspoon of sugar, about 1 cup of either beef broth or dry red wine, depending upon your personal tastes, 1 small can of tomato sauce and about 2 tablespoons of tomato paste.

Heat the olive oil in a heavy skillet or Dutch oven and brown the roast, that you have sprinkled with the lemon pepper, on all sides and drain the liquid. Mix the broth or wine in a bowl with the tomato paste and sauce along with the sugar; put the veggies in a crock pot and place the roast on top of them, then cover it with your mixture. Cover it and cook slowly for about 6 to 8 hours until veggies are tender and the roast is done.

Don’t be afraid to try new recipes, most are not as difficult as they seem and everyone will love your new found manly skills in the kitchen.

If you live in the Midwest or plan on visiting Madison, Wisconsin during the middle of August (the 14th to be exact) then you want to be sure to check out the Great Taste of the Midwest, a micro-brew fest where you will meet about 5,000 or so of the friendliest beer lovers anywhere.

This event is all about meeting lots of new people and trying new brews that they would not find at home. What starts out as a stranger sitting next to you comparing notes on the different brews you have tried may just end up being your best friend; or at least someone to catch up with at the next festival.

The festival takes place on the hillside next to Lake Monona in Olin Turville Park and the summer air, warm sun and gorgeous water view just seems to make the beer taste better. There are several big tents that house booths containing almost 160 Midwestern brew pubs and microbreweries that provide three ounce offerings of their best creations. The price of admission is $35.00 and tends to sell out in a hurry.

If you ask most of the festival goers exactly what is the best part they will likely have a difficult time deciding if it is the first taste of a new and exciting brew hitting their tongue or the look on the face of the brewers when they see someone enjoying the fruits of their labors. While others think the best part is being around all of those like-minded people that really know a great brew when they taste one.

Okay, so the purists will condemn this recipe, but it tastes great. Cooking a brisket on a covered grill or smoker for up to twelve hours can waste a lot of daylight. I’ve saved a lot of time by setting my oven to automatically start at 4 A.M. at 225 degrees. By noon, I’ve got eight hours under my belt.

Remove the brisket from the oven and finish it off on the grill or smoker. Times vary depending on the size of brisket you select. This brisket was twelve pounds and took about twelve hours total cooking time. Grills and smokers temps can vary and keeping a constant temp can be difficult at times. The oven gives me seven controllable hours of perfect 225 temperature.

Once you put it on the grill, sear it at high heat until the sides are a crispy brown. Lower your heat to 225-250 for the next 2-4 hours and by 4 P.M. your ready to serve. Use the regular spices, condiments, rubs, and sauces that your recipe calls for. Make sure to add your favorite wood chips to the grill for a two to four hour smoke. This is sufficient to give it great flavor. Make sure your apron looks like its been through a war, blackened with charcoal and red with sauce. When the guests arrive, they’ll think you’ve been at this before the sun came up.

Put on your game jersey, chill the beer and round up some of these tailgate friendly foods:

1. Chili; probably the standard for many tailgate parties. It is simple to make, can be prepared way ahead of time and then stored until it can be re-heated as necessary (many people think that chili has the best flavor when it has been left for a day or two).
2. Potato Salad; another standard that just begs to be on every tailgate. There are many different ways to spice up the old standard and it can also be made ahead of time and brought out when you are ready to eat.
   

   Photo By: Jeffrey Collingwood

3. Quesadillas; a warm, gooey snack that is another blank canvas waiting to be improved upon. Traditionally it is made with cheese and veggies but when you add some spiced chicken or ground beef it becomes more of a meal than a snack.
4. Chicken Wings; the ultimate finger food. You can bake them before hand in your oven at home and pack them up for later or even better take them with you to barbecue while you are at the game. Try bringing several different sauces or baste them with different ones such as hot or mild sauce or honey mustard, etc.
5. Chicken Skewers; another hand-held meat idea. They taste the best when they are cooked on the grill but if you won’t have the time they can be done in the oven prior to game time.
6. Cheese bean dip; what tailgate party would be complete without some sort of dip? Spice it up with some garlic cloves and onions, add some kidney beans, or whatever bean you prefer, some freshly grated cheddar, melt it all together and get ready for some good dipping.
7. Standard Tomato salsa dip; the favorite standard that is enjoyed by most everyone. This is a staple at tailgate parties and it tastes the best when you make your own using onions, garlic, white vinegar and some jalapeno’s for a little added “oomph”.

You probably have your own favorites so don’t be afraid to brush up on your culinary skills and totally wow your friends at the next game.