LIQUID COURAGE
May 6th: Drink Better Tequila Day

Coming off the heels of Cinco de Mayo, many might be thinking twice about inviting tequila to the party. If your head hurts, your mouth is dry, and your liver is crying: you probably overdid it. Next time, celebrate in style with a luxury sipping tequila like Casa Dragones, your body will thank you.

Whiskey and scotch have some stiff competition these days. Luxury brands are crafting sipping spirits from rum to tequila that will easily compete with their caramel-colored counterparts. One of our favorites to hit the market is the high-end sipping tequila Casa Dragones.

CULINARY OCCASIONS
Kentucky Derby Round Up

This upcoming weekend kicks off the summer partying scene with Cinco de Mayo parties all over the country but there’s also another event worth celebrating this weekend that honors all things southern. The “greatest two minutes in sports” gives you an excuse to wear a ridiculous bonnet with feathers, tulle, and more while sipping on a traditional drink, the mint julep. Bad bets and thoroughbred racehorses aside, the 139th Annual Kentucky Derby is reason to celebrate with these events, drink specials, and snacks.

LIQUID COURAGE
From Smoky Mezcal to Spiked Horchata

For Cinco de Mayo don’t rely on the tired cocktails and beers designated for the holiday. There's so much more than icy lime margaritas, Corona bottles, and shots of Jose. Expand your cocktail repertoire! Tequila is a versatile spirit and can make an array of drinks using herbs, fruit, flowers, and more. Mezcal, tequila’s smoky cousin can be used in traditional-style margaritas or used to create a unique smoky punch. Don’t think that Corona and Dos Equis are your only options if you’re more of a beer drinker. The Mexican brand, Bohemia, is a delicious Pilsner-style beer that can be kicked up a notch with a simple rim of chipotle. For fans of the traditional chilled rice drink, Horchata, you’ll love it even more when it’s spiked with rum! Below you’ll find cocktails that everyone at your fiesta will love. Cheers!

CULINARY OCCASIONS
Fiesta Foods to Get You in the Mood

You’ve got the tequila, Coronas, and the frozen margarita machine packed with ice to kick off the first weekend of May. Chances are you bought maracas and the biggest sombrero you could find from the party store. The only thing missing is great eats to round out your Cinco de Mayo celebration. Here are five recipes to make your Cinco de Mayo unforgettable and probably help keep you off the floor after doing one too many tequila shots!

LIQUID COURAGE
Cinco de Mayo Cocktails

With a little over two weeks until Cinco de Mayo, Chef Antelmo Ambrosio from bustling Battery Park staple SouthWest NY shares three cocktails inspired by his hometown of Oaxaca, Mexico, to get you in the celebratory spirit!

All three hand-crafted concoctions will be served at the restaurant on the actual day of Cinco de Mayo along with a ‘Buffet del Mercado’ boozy feast featuring mojito-marinated skirt steak, margarita chicken breast, Guajillo-garlic shrimp, and much more for $22 per person.

DAILY BITES
The Food Trends that Stuck

With each new year an abundance of publications and newspaper canons provide their predictions for the year ahead in food and gastronomy. Now, a quarter of the way through 2013, Joonbug lists 5 key trends that have emerged as more than just a flash in a pan.

Sunchokes: Also known as the Jerusalem artichoke, these root vegetables are not, as the name would imply, an artichoke, neither are they from Jerusalem. In actual fact they are the root of sunflowers and possess a complex nutty, potato/artichoke flavor. Find them at seafood haven BLT Fish where Chef Amy Eubanks serves them as an accompaniment to a Crispy Skin Mediterranean Branzino with fennel and saffron ($33).

DAILY BITES
The Best Part of Wakin’ Up

When most people think about Haiti they unfortunately think of the devastating earthquake that rocked the island nation and the political and social unrest that seems to have plagued the island throughout its history. Many don’t know that at one time, Haiti was at the forefront of coffee production, before the title was taken by Brazilian coffee producers. Haitain coffee, revered around the globe as some of the best coffee in the world, is currently not represented by any of the consumer brands that coffee drinkers would find at their local market or coffee shop—until now.

DAILY BITES
Get Healthy This Spring!

With Summer right around the corner, it's time to get fit and healthy to get bikini body ready. The time for procrastinating is over! But don't worry, no need to diet and eat foods that have no flavor...there are somedelicious and healthy options out there for you to get on track. Check out some of our favorites below!



SWEET TOOTH
Mast Brothers Chocolate Adventure

With descriptions more often found on the back of a wine bottle than a bar of chocolate, Mast Brothers gourmet chocolate is no average candy bar. Available in 19 flavors and split into two categories, Single Estates Origins and Blends & Pairings, expect to taste the unexpected. From Vanilla and Smoke to Black Truffle and Moho River, no bar comes in with under 70% of organic cocao harvested from small farm cooperatives dotted around South America, and no, none of the bars come with a milk or white chocolate option as, to the gourmet chocolatier, either would be cocao sacrilege.

LIQUID COURAGE
Mad Men Cocktails

The highly anticipated Season 6 premiere of AMC's Mad Men is right around the corner and the best way to celebrate is toasting the show in the best way we know how...with one stiff drink. If you are in New York City, make sure to stop by this awesome viewing party to snag more delicious Draper-worthy libations.

LIQUID COURAGE
Pinnacle Introduces New Flavors












Pinnacle Vodka, a company known for their fun and unique flavored vodkas, is at it again, creating new and unusual drinks. Last night, Pinnacle Vodka held an exclusive party at Jimmy at The James Hotel in New York City. Guests at the Pinnacle cocktail party were invited to taste their newest flavor innovations and sample their flavor portfolio. Invitees had no idea what to expect before they arrived and were surprised with the announcement of not one, but two new flavors.