in lima

well, it has been about two months since i last updated this blog, but now's a good of time as any to give you loyal readers (ha) an update on my whereabouts.

currently in lima, peru this week for work. as this is my first time in peru, i don't have much of an idea what to expect. lima is ok - today was the exception, but it seems to be always so grey. no rain, no sun, just grey. it is in the 60s, so considering it is their winter, all is not bad. last night i survived my first seismic activity if you don't count the lancaster experience when i was younger. according to the news, it was 5.8 on the richter scale! i thought i was just having a crazy dream, like falling or something.

so far, the food has been great. i've not been as creative as i'd hoped with the choices (a lot of meals at the hotel), but lots of seafood. fish in a sauce of tomatoes and onions, ceviche, lentils, and sopa criolla (a peruvian soup with potato, cilantro, chiles, and a fried egg on top - which i didn't touch) have been some highlights so far. it sounds like a lot of food for 3 days, but it is not that much. as for the libations, i've been drinking chamomille tea like it's my job. perhaps tomorrow i will cash in my coupon for a free pisco sour.

what strikes me most about peru, or perhaps more accurately lima, is how many american brands set up shop here. like act ii popcorn. i don't know anyone that is an act ii fan in the states, yet here it is popular. or colgate (said with a spanish accent - col-gat-eh). one of the most famous spots in lima is a shopping mall overlooking the pacific, with such stores as starbucks, hooters, etc. and don't even ask how many kfc/pizza hut's i've seen so far.

i'll try to keep this blog updated daily during my two week tour of south america. for now, abrazos.

drink of the week: basil limeade

my days are all messed up with the long weekend, so tuesday's drink is posted today, wednesday.

i had bought a big bag of limes that were starting to turn, so i decided to make limeade this weekend. to give it a bit of a twist, i made a simple syrup (one part water to one part sugar, heated on the stove until the sugar dissolves) and infused it with basil leaves. i also added some soda water in place of regular water, which also gave it a bit of a kick.

verdict: it was delicious. a perfect summer drink, that also can be used as a drink base with vodka or rum. will definitely make again.

drink of the week: aguila

this week's brew comes from baranquilla, colombia. aguila is the colombian equivalent of budweiser, i suppose, since they have aguila girls that go to bars and events, just like the good ol' us of a. 

it is a pilsner style beer. it complements the hell-like hot weather and humidity of the colombian coast quite well, it is just a shame that it is currently cold and rainy in bmore.

verdict: j picked this up from well's for $3.99. for a six pack of bottles. that is almost cheaper than water! aguila is a fine enough beer, it gets the job done, and i'm sure i'll have some again when i go back to colombia for work the next time.

drink of the week: resurrection

(i took a pic on the iphone but it was way too dark, so instead you'll get a logo.)

this week's libation comes from brewer's art in baltimore, md. resurrection is one of ba's house beers and clocks in at 7% abv. the belgian-style beer has a powerful taste, and according to their website, it is crafted from "five types of barley malt and lots of sugar." one glass cost $4.25 (not including a $1 tip).

verdict: definitely recommended for a nice evening out as this is not a "typical" beer. the bar is cavernous and the best in maryland, at least according to esquire magazine. unfortunately, when we went on saturday evening one of the bartenders had on a horrible playlist (think blink-182), but in general brewer's art is a great space.

drink of the week: meta

last night i went out for ethiopian at dukem with the girls and we tried their local beer, meta. i had ethiopian beer once before, hakim stout, and thought it was fine. meta had a nice touch of sweetness to it and paired really well with the food. too bad it cost $5.50 a bottle! (unbeknownst to us, our alcohol total came to $33 for six beers among the three of us.)

verdict: i really liked meta, but since it is only available at dukem/ethiopian restaurants/ethiopia (to my knowledge - the internet didn't have much on the beers of ethiopia) and rather expensive, i won't be having it often.

drink of the week: saranac pomegranate wheat

another week, another beer. i swear i created this "column" for all types of beverages, but i digress.

this week's drink of the week is from the saranac brewery in the adirondacks, ny (utica). i tried this drink as part of saranac's 12 pack "summer sampler" (bought at our local smitty's for $12.99), which contains a whole host of different varieties. to date this is the only beer i've tried in the pack.

according to their website, the beer is a "wholesome combination of unfiltered wheat beer and real pomegranate juice." i would have appreciated a bit more pomegranate flavor, since i'm a huge fan of pomegranates. perhaps others would appreciate the subtile taste, but it wasn't quite enough.

verdict: i would try again (since we have another in part of the sampler), but i'm not super convinced yet that this would merit another buy.

drink of the week: tommyknocker maple nut brown ale

i have decided to start a new blog feature: tuesdays are now "drink of the week" days, where i'll highlight a beverage that i enjoyed (or hated) during the past week.

this week comes from the centennial state (colorado) and the tommyknocker brewery in the rocky mountains. apparently, tommyknockers are elf-like creatures that inhabited the mines in the rocky mountain region of colorado.

according to their website, maple syrup is added to each barrel to "impart roasted sweetness." the maple syrup takes this beer from just an average brew to something quite special.

verdict: very good; will try again. the website lists a good number of distributors across the country and j found it at well's liquors in towson, md.

now i've seen everything

(sorry for the guerrilla photo, but i was trying to be as inconspicuous as possible.)

this city never ceases to amaze me... mostly in a bad way. my walks around bmore tend to show off the finer points in life: drugs, fried chicken, and malt beverages. just outside my office this morning i noticed this gem: iced tea cocktail. who knew i could live more than twenty years on planet earth without knowing its existence?