There’s nothing more epic or more iconic than the great American road trip. Road trips are embedded into the very fabric of the American male soul. America created car culture, and there’s nothing better than a road trip with the boys. With a country as big as ours, you can’t do it all at once, so you better pick an awesome destination.
California. The Golden State. Just the name is enough to conjure up images of splendor, fun, sun, surf and snow. If you are trying to decide on where your next boys’ trip should be, California needs to be on the very top of that list. Even if you already live in California there are places yet to be discovered, and still more places that deserve another look.
The state has one of the longest coastlines in the country and unfettered access to beautiful beaches sitting on the edge of the great blue pacific ocean. California hosts world class mountain ranges, redwood forests, deserts, cosmopolitan cities, and enough attractions to satiate even the most adventurous of travelers.
Here’s an ultimate guide for planning a road trip to California with the boys.
Just a couple years ago, around 24.6 million Americans, from age 12 and up, were believed to have used some sort of illicit drug. That is 9.4 percent of the American population, and it was a 1.1 percent increase over the last study done in 2002.
They say that blondes have more fun, and we were given a chance to test that theory when Guinness sent over some samples of the latest addition to their beer family – Guinness Blonde American Lager – and challenged us to come up with the best summer barbeque dish to pair alongside it. After taking just a few sips of the crisp, savory beer, which “blends floral and citrus notes with a unique biscuit malt flavor,” we quickly realized that, unlike their heavier stouts, this would go well with just about any summertime dish.
So we decided to keep it simple and make a classic burger-and-fries combo, because Guinness Blonde – which is produced in Latrobe, Pennsylvania – is described as an American lager, and what’s more American than that? It’s something that anyone with a grill and basic cooking skills can make, and it tastes even better with gourmet burgers from Omaha Steaks, who graciously provided the meat for the challenge.
Granted, our finished dish probably won’t be winning any awards for originality, but we tried to get a little creative with our all-beef burger, which was topped with Guinness Blonde-infused BBQ sauce (yeah, we went there), Vermont sharp white cheddar cheese and crispy onion straws on a brioche bun. We paired our BBQ burger with grilled corn on the cob, roasted red potatoes and, of course, a bottle of Guinness Blonde American Lager, and it was every bit as delicious as it looks in the picture below.
A photo posted by Bullz-Eye.com (@bullzeyedotcom) on
For more about Guinness Blonde American Lager, be sure to follow Guinness on Twitter at @GuinnessUS and use #BlondeBBQChallenge to show off your own food pairings. And for other Guinness-inspired dish ideas, check out GuinnessHooley.com.
We’ve been missing/ignoring a lot of holidays lately here at DOTW. However, with everything that’s been going on our country lately — a time when it’s tempting to pull out the Charles Dickens and talk about it being both the best of times and the worst of times — I don’t think it would be right to avoid the annual celebration of all that’s really good about our nation.
Moving on, regular readers may be happy to now that, beyond this link to a cocktail from three months back, I’ll make no references to any musical comedy-dramas featuring our founding fathers. Instead, I’m pleased to present a drink that some nameless genius associated with Hornitos Tequila has come up with.
While I’m fond of presenting cocktails that are, well, way old, the presumably rather new Firework Fizz is truly classic in its simplicity and thoroughly delightful in its flavor. Really, it’s not the free booze from the Hornitos people talking when I say it’s good enough to join any list of classic cocktails. With a relatively low amount of booze and a very high level of flavorful refreshment, not to mention two actual entire pieces of fresh fruit, it’s about as perfect a cocktail as you make on a hot July 4th. Let’s not waste any more time.
The Firework Fizz
1 1/4 ounce Hornitos Plata Tequila
2 strawberries
1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice
1/2 ounce simple syrup or 2 1/2 teaspoons superfine sugar
1 big splash of soda water
Combine the tequila, one of your two strawberries, lemon juice, and sweetener to a cocktail shaker. Muddle the strawberry into a gorgeous, juice-laden pulp. Add ice and shake very vigorously. Strain into a collins or highball type-glass filled with fresh ice — be sure to use a traditional bar strainer. The strainers that come with home cocktail shakers won’t work because the strawberry pulp will block the tiny holes and, for this drink, I think you want as much strawberry pulp as possible to end up in the beverage.
After the straining is done, top off with soda water, add the other strawberry as a garnish, sip slowly and toast a country that’s big enough to allow that tequila is every bit as American a base spirit as bourbon, rye, or applejack. It just is.
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I tried this with a Brand X tequila fairly comparable to Hornitos in terms of price, and it wasn’t terrible. Still, it does seem to work especially with the brand that brung it.
My one major suggestion with this drink is to ignore the temptation to stir the thing, though it won’t be the end of the world if you do. Indeed, the photography Hornitos sent, and that I chose not to use, had a light pink hue that seemed to imply that you’re supposed to stir it. I used my own, much less professional image because it’s closer to the way I think the Firework Fizz should look. I found it much more interesting to let the soda sit on top and gently make its way down. That way you start off with a slightly strawberry/lemon/tequila flavored soda and slowly find yourself enjoying a delightful candy center.
Happy Independence Day everyone and, remember, no one can “get their country back” because it already belongs to all of us.
One of the main reasons behind men going out and purchasing suits is to look good and dress in the perfect manner for special occasions. Formal dinners are definitely one of the best occasions for which you might dream of looking the best in your tailored suits. Now the fact is that you might look great by choosing the best suit but at the same time you also have to remain watchful about acting properly and observing the well-known etiquette rules on your dining table. Wearing a suit and not knowing how to behave on the dining table while having your food is indeed a shameful thing for all men. The concerns of this article will deal with some behavorial mannerisms that you should follow when you’re in your best suit of the evening.
1. Tuck the tie or toss it: If you’re in an outfit that calls for a bowtie, then you’re off the danger. However, on the other hand, if you plan to wear a necktie, anything that your mouth misses will be caught by the beautiful tie that is hanging around your neck. If you are keen on decorating your tie, you can let it lose and if you aren’t, you may either tuck it in between the fourth and fifth buttons of your shirt or you can sling it around the other shoulder to keep it out of danger. The latter step is usually taken by those who are overly conscious about their dress.
2. Roll up your sleeves: Although this is something that is not at all required, you can still properly roll up your sleeves in order to prevent any food from dripping onto your sleeves. Just one or two rolls are sufficient to keep your cuffs from the way of harm that may be caused due to food spilling over.
3. Jacket is not required: Is the cocktail hour done? If yes, then you have perhaps done up with mingling. During this time, it is acceptable to take off your jacket and hang it at the back of the chair before sitting down on the dining chairs. This will give you more freedom to move around and will also reduce the risk of food spilling on your tailor made suits.
4. Open up your lap napkin: Apart from the men’s suits, if you also want to keep your pants spotless, make sure you place the napkin right on your lap. This is one of the best etiquette manners one should follow, especially when he is wearing a men’s suit for dinner. This tip is mostly forgotten by most gentlemen but if you want to keep your suit clean, don’t forget.
Therefore, when you plan to dress up in your best suit for a professional dinner invitation; keep the above mentioned table manners in mind. Dress like a gentleman and also act like one so that all eyes are set on you and no one else.
We’ve been missing/ignoring a lot of holidays lately here at DOTW. However, with everything that’s been going on our country lately — a time when it’s tempting to pull out the Charles Dickens and talk about it being both the best of times and the worst of times — I don’t think it would be right to avoid the annual celebration of all that’s really good about our nation.
