Chefs Brooke Williamson and Nick Robert – the cute couple behind Redondo Beach’s Hudson House – are making serious cocktails a priority at the Tripel where the liquor license doesn’t allow for the hard stuff.

Bellying up to the bar at 333 Culver Blvd, also known as The Tripel.

With 14 craft beers on tap at any given time and an even longer list of beers in bottles and cans, they have plenty of ammo to get creative with beer-based cocktails. Seasonal ingredients inspire the creations so expect something different with each visit.

Here are a few of the beer cocktails* the South Bay Foodies tried during a visit to this cozy establishment that’s one part pub, one part wine bar.

• Holiday Spice Cake ($8): Scaldis Noel – a Belgian-style holiday ale – brings the taste of winter to this cocktail that adds ginger beer and bitters for a smooth, easy drinking finish. The orange peel garnish is like icing on the cake.

Holiday Spicce Cake, but drinkable.

• Sour Grapes ($10): If you’re a fan of sour beers, this is one to try. Those who are prone to pucker might want to steer clear of this blend of Madeira sour beer and Luxardo maraschino liquer.

Sour Grapes for the initiated.

• Bavarian Pear ($8): This cloudy, golden cocktail leans heavily on the pear side of its name for a crispy drink that’s perfect for winter. Hefeweizen, pear cider, and pear puree are the ingredients that bring this beverage to life. Imagine the foamy head is a blanket of wind driven snow and you might be reaching for your skis after the first sip.

Bavarian Pear, the golden child.

But the journey dosen’t end here. I would be amiss if I didn’t mention the lovely food that was paired with these beverages. You’ll find that by following this link to The Los Angeles Beat. I have to give a shout out to The Beat for putting me into the position to visit The Tripel and provide you with this review.

• The Tripel
  http://thetripel.com
  333 Culver Blvd, Playa Del Rey

* Prices and menu items are subject to change without notice. Some items mentioned in this article were provided on a complimentary basis for the purpose of this review. This story was accurate when it was published and reflects the uninfluenced opinions of the reviewers.

Happy Hour Menu at Lazy Dog Cafe, Torrance

Known as Happiest Hour, Lazy Dog’s menu specials start at 3 PM Monday through Friday. Sunday through Thursday the party starts at 9 PM and goes until closing time. Happy hour specials are only available in the bar area and on the patio. While there’s plenty of room at the bar and on the heated patio, come early for the best seat selections if you’d like a view of the game on one of the TV’s mounted over the bar. Oh, and come thirsty!

• Sangria Sampler ($8.25): This one is a heck of an idea and a great deal for indecisive sangria lovers. Packaged in cute little mason jars, the sampler features three four-ounce pours of Pomegranate Red, Black Currant Rose, and White Peach sangrias. The rack even has tags to help you keep the different flavors sorted out. If you’re using the wine tasting method to go from the sweetest to the boldest of the bunch, I’d suggest starting with the peach, rounding the bend with the black currant, and finishing up with the pomegranate.
  

Sangria Sampler: Don't settle for one, try all three!

• Cucumber Martini ($6): This heady concoction was a crowd pleaser among the South Bay Foodies enlisted to give it a taste (thanks, Margaret!). The beverage combines Rain Organics Cucumber Lime Vodka, fresh cucumbers and mint, agave syrup, and a dash of sweet and sour. Martini purists might frown on the last two ingredients but a sip or two will have them changing their minds quickly. The layers of flavors in this cocktail give it a sophistication that will make you wonder why you aren’t wearing a tux or an evening gown…well, unless, you just roll like that.
  

The Well Appointed Cucumber Martini.

• Seasonal Mason Jar: This cocktail is served in a do-it-your-self shaker. In a full-sized jar, Veev acai spirits are mixed with seasonal ingredients – in our case it was basil, lemon, and cucumber – and shaken with ice until chilled. The result for this blend was an instant recollection of lazy summer days spent sipping lemonade. This cocktail changes with the seasons so options may differ. At the time we were sampling the basil-lemonade, a cranberry-limeade was in the works for winter featuring Veev, cranberry, lime, mint, and agave. I’ll be back for that one!

Seasonal Mason Jar Festuring Basil Lemonade with Vee Acai Spirits.

• The Craft Beer Sampler ($6): Fear not, beer lovers! Lazy Dog hasn’t forgotten about you. They’re still featuring their beer sampler that gives you four-ounce pours from six of the fifteen or more craft beers they have on tap. The only thing that makes this deal difficult is figuring out which beers to pick! I say bring along a friend, order up 12 different beers and have a mini-beer fest.
  

Craft Beer Sampler: Which ones will you choose!?

With a nice selection of cocktails and beers to choose from, it only makes sense to have an equally balance selection of happy hour eats as well. Stay tuned for a review of the grub that we paired with the drinks!

* Prices and menu items are subject to change without notice. Some items mentioned in this article were provided on a complimentary basis for the purpose of this review. This story was accurate when it was published and reflects the uninfluenced opinions of the reviewers.

The South Bay Foodies got their hands on a beverage* that brings these two healthy powerhouses together, with the benefits of juices and whole grains: Juiceology. Read on to see how it fared in our taste test.

The Two Flavors We Tried: Peach Mango and Blueberry Açai.

First off, I was a bit skeptical. Whole grains and juice? I was thinking it would be something like a chalky, powdered fiber supplement mixed into some fruit cocktail syrup. Juiceology was nothing like that. It had an unassuming appearance – very juice-like. The label indicates that Juiceology contains 70% pure juice.

Moving into the taste test, I captured the reactions of the folks around South Bay Foodies HQ. We tried two flavors, Peach Mango and Blueberry Açai.

Overall, we were pleased with the beverage flavors and were surprised by how sweet they were. The ingredients show no added sugar, with the bulk of the 19 grams of carbs coming from the natural juices. Stevia was also listed in the ingredients, though, so that may be part of the sweetness that Nicole picked up on.

The rest of the 22 grams of carbs comes from the fiber; 12% of your daily intake of fiber to be exact. There are two servings in the 450 ml bottle, which means you could down one of these suckers – a caloric steal at only 98 calories per serving – and get a quarter of the fiber you need in a day.

The Nutrition Facts on the Juiceology Label: Low calorie, high fiber, good flavor.

Nicole, the kids, and I enjoyed the two flavors we sampled but there also three other flavors if peach/mango and blueberry/açai don’t inspire you. I’m curious to try the apple and Concord grape.

Right now Juiceology is only available in Southern California. In the South Bay you can find them at Ralphs, Bristol Farms, and Northgate grocery stores. To find Juiceology in your neighborhood, visit their website. You can also follow them on Facebook and Twitter to socialize with other Juiceology enthusiasts.

• Juiceology, Juices + Whole Grain Extracts
  http://www.purejuiceology.com
  http://www.facebook.com/PureJuiceology
  @purejuiceology

* Samples were provided on a complimentary basis for the purpose of this review.

1. http://www.fruitjuicefacts.org/
2. http://www.wholegrainscouncil.org/whole-grains-101/what-are-the-health-benefits

Dark Beer by ianivarieanna on Flickr.

“Visiting professor Norm Stackhouse from Stone Brewing Company will take students through a history lesson about the origin of Stouts, as well as compare and contrast Stouts vs. Porters. An assortment of complementing desserts will be served”.

Sounds like the makings for an easy A.

Class will be in session on Monday, December 5 at 7:30 PM. For more information and reservations, call 213-623-1172.

• Public School 612
  http://publicschool612.com
  612 S. Flower St, Los Angeles (Map)

That’s exactly what Flemings Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar restaurants did in September 2011. On each Friday of the month, 20 of the “Flemings 100″ – 100 award-winning wines available by the glass – were made available during special wine tasting events at each Fleming’s location.

The front door of Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar in El Segundo.

Here in the South Bay, the “Opening Nights” events were held on the patio at the El Segundo Fleming’s location. Each event was limited to a specific number of guests which allowed plenty of time to sample the wines and space to enjoy each taste. Thanks to an invitation from the folks at Fleming’s, two of The South Bay Foodies (myself and Margaret) were there to take it all in.

A host pours a taste of one of Fleming's new wines available by the glass.

100 Bottles of Wine on the Wall…

When I first heard about the event, I imagined a staggering 100 different wines to be sampled during the 1 and a half hour event. Not that I wasn’t up to the task, but I was relieved to learn that each Friday would only feature a fifth of the wines from the list. At the same time, I was disappointed that I’d be missing out on the wines that weren’t featured the night I visited. I guess that’s all the more reason to go back to Fleming’s for another glass or two.

Follow this link for the complete list of The New Fleming’s 100.

A few of my favorites:

• CAMBRIA, Santa Maria Valley Julia’s Vineyard, 2008/2009 – a light but flavorful Pinot Noir
• PETER LEHMANN, Clancy’s Barossa Australia, 2008/2009 – A smooth Syrah
• YALUMBA, Coonawarra Menzies The Cigar Australia, 2009/2010 – A slightly smoky Cabernet Sauvignon

The Cambria label, a 2009 pinot noir from Julia's Vineyard.

Small Plates on Big Plates

Along with the wine debut, the chefs at Fleming’s were treating the Opening Nights guests to some of the small plates recently added to their menu. Chef Partner Mark Ogren was there personally serving a few of the small plates himself. He mentioned that the idea behind the small plate was to fill the spot on the menu between appetizers and light entrees.

Chef Partner Mark Ogren was on hand serving items from Fleming's new small plates menu.

Known for their “you’ll be needing a doggy bag” portions, Fleming’s was keen to offer something a little bit less daunting than the sirloins and porterhouse’s that one might expect. (Yes, there is even a website dedicated to turning Fleming’s left-overs into new meals!) That’s where the small plates come in.

There are seven small plates on the menu:

• Filet Mignon Skewers
• Jumbo Shrimp Scampi Skewers
• New Zealand Petite Lamb Chops
• Ahi Tuna Skewers
• Sliced Filet Mignon
• New Bedford Scallops
• Fleming’s Lobster Tempura

For a bit of surf and turf, the wine tasting guests were treated to the skewers of shrimp scampi and filet mignon.

The shrimp, drizzled with a zesty chimichurri sauce, and the filet mignon, topped with a gorgonzola-bacon fondue, we both served as tray passed appetizers. That’s an FYI to let you know that if you visit and order either of these dishes, the plates are NOT going to look like the ones pictures below!

The visually appealing and equally delicious Jumbo Shrimp Scampi Skewers.

The filet mignon skewers were perfectly cooked and seasoned.

The guests gave their approval of the new dishes in silence mainly because they were too busy enjoying them. Each platter was emptied just a quickly as they came out.

Unfortunately, not everyone got a chance to taste the rest of the small plates; but the South Bay Foodies did! We’ll be posting a review of those dishes and some other items from Flemings next week. Stay tuned!

Website: http://www.bonmetruck.com/

Twitter: @bonme

The Truck:

The Food:

The Menu at Bon Me Truck

Its no secret that I am a fan of banh mi sandwiches. So it was a treat to come across this truck that was serving the Vietnamese dish that I hold so dear.

I was more hot and thirsty than I was hungry, though, and their drink menu was intriguing. Unfortunately, the drink that I wanted – the Spicy Ginger Lemonade – was sold out.

Bummer! The Spicy Ginger Lemonade is Sold Out!!

I still wanted something to cool off with so I ordered the Thai Basil Lemonade.

Thai Basil Lemonade from Bon Me Truck.

It was just what I needed. The lemonade was tart, tangy, and had the right amount of sweetness to it. The basil added a light, herby flavor that aplified the beverage’s ice cold refreshment. I was missing the ginger, but I was happy.

Next time I’m in Boston, I’ll have to check out their sandwiches!

To literally get into the spirit of the day, I’m diving into a sample of Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum, provided courtesy of the Sailor Jerry himself.*

Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum With A Few Ice Cubes.

I am a rum fan but don’t usually drink spiced rums.  When I think of spiced rum, I tend to think of that other sailor and his line of spirits.  It’s not that I’m turned off by spiced rum, I just don’t gravitate to it.

So when I was offered the chance to sample Sailor Jerry Spiced rum, I was ready to expand my horizons a bit and try something outside of my own personal ordinary.

Coincidentally, not long after I received my sample, I came across a Sailor Jerry display at an LA Food Fest Kickoff Party.  I was pleased to see the spirit being used in a cocktail like a neutral spirit.  I can’t recall the exact make up of the cocktail, but I do recall everything coming together nicely.

Sailor Jerry Cocktail Display With an Image of the Iconic Sailor Himself in the Background.

Prepping my own sample, I went with what I know best: rum over a few cubes of ice in the simplest case, and the slightly more complex rum and cola.

I was very pleased with the aroma of Sailor Jerry right from the bottle.  The tones were vanilla with hints of clove.  Sips of the copper brown liquid went down smoothly when taken both neat and on the rocks.  In round two, the flavors held their presence when paired with the cola.

I know there are plenty of rums out there to be sampled.  On this Rum Day, I’ll be making a few waves with Sailor Jerry.

*OK, I didn’t get it from the Sailor Jerry, but from the folks that work for him.

Tequila: Hecho en Mexico (photo from CC Chapman via Flickr)

Fortunately for South Bay residents, we have a few establishments that can offer a wealth of tequilas to choose from.  If you’re celebrating Tequila Day, here are a few to choose from!

Ortega 120
The 120 in the name of this restaurant isn’t the address; its the number of tequilas they have behind the bar on any give night.  Their signature margarita, the 120 House, features Oro Tequila(the self-proclaimed best tasting tequila in the world), Citronge, Triple Sec, and 120 Citrus Sour made from fresh juices.  Grab a pint of this nectar for $5 during happy hour on Sunday from 3-5PM.

• http://ortega120.com
  1814 South Pacific Coast Hwy, Redondo Beach, CA 90277 (Map)

Mucho Ultima Mexicana
Another great South Bay restaurant for tequila is Mucho in Manhattan Beach.  They take tequila to the next level with at least 18 different flights to choose from, each one featuring three varieties from one label.  As the name of their house margarita indicates, the “Tradícional” mixes just the basics: Herradura Silver tequila, Cointreau liqueur, lime, and cane nectar.  Stop by for a sample during happy hour on Sunday from 4-6:30 PM.

• http://www.muchomb.com
  903 Manhattan Avenue, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 (Map)

Lula Cocina Mexicana
This one isn’t South Bay, but Lula has a special place in my heart:  they serve one of the best margaritas I’ve ever had in Los Angeles.  I can’t recall the exact day, but I do remember the first salty, citrusy taste of their house margarita….and the dizzying buzz after just drinking half of it!  Theirs is a bare-bones cocktail made with Silver Tequila, 60°proof Triple Sec, and fresh lime juice.

• http://www.lulacocinamexicana.com
  2700 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA 90405 (Map)

Tequila Shopping at Total Wine & More
Its not a tequilas bar or Mexican restaurant, but the recently opened Total Wine & More in Redondo Beachhas an extensive selection of tequilas for sale.  Pick up a bottle of one of your favorites or try something new.

• http://www.totalwine.com
  1505 Hawthorne Blvd., Redondo Beach, CA 90278 (Map)

Music, beer, and the beach come together this Saturday at the Liquid Aloha Music Festival.

Taking place at the Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort, the event spreads five bands out over six hours giving ale and lager afficiandos plenty of time to get through the lines at concessions without missing any of the show.

Admission to the event is just $15 and 16oz Kona beers will be going for $5, making the cost of the event worth the drive down to OC.  BYO beach blanket but outside food and beverages will not be permitted.

For tickets and more information, check out the Liquid Aloha Website.

Liquid Aloha Music Festival
Saturday, July 23, 3-9 PM
http://www.liquidalohafest.com/oc.htm

The un-manned Honest Tea Store for the Honest City Experiment. (Photo Courtesy of Honest Tea)

Last year’s social experiment put Angelenos dead last with a 75% honest rating.  Not one to be put down by the competition, LA moved up a notch this year edging out New York City by 2%.

The winner, Chicago, came in with an impressive score of 99%.  Chicagoans improved on their 78% score from last year by leaps and bounds to take the lead.  Nice job Windy City!  The complete standings are in the following chart.

Final Honesty Percentages:

The real winner, though, will be the organization that benefits from this promotion.  Honest Tea will donate all of the money collected — along with an equal match — to  one of these non-profit groups:

• Share Our Strength®, a national nonprofit ending childhood hunger in America by connecting children with the nutritious food they need to lead healthy, active lives.

• City Year, which unites young people of all backgrounds for a year of full-time service, to help turn around high-need schools and get at-risk students back on track.

• Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, a nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., whose mission is to create a nationwide network of trails from former rail lines and connecting corridors to build healthier places for healthier people.

Seth Goldman, President and CEO of Honest Tea, sees the donation as an integral part of the experiment.  “Since one purpose of our experiment is to help people appreciate the strength of our communities, we’re glad to be able to donate the money from the tests to three non-profit partners who help make our communities stronger,” said Goldman. “We hope our donations and the poll on the Honest City website will help raise awareness for their important work.”

Nice touch, Honest Tea!

http://www.honestcities.com