The Yum Yum Factor

The only thing more Canadian than clamato juice is maybe beaver tails, Molson Canadian and maple syrup even though up until now, Clamato juice automatically has meant  US based Mott's Clamato Juice. When you go to the States and try to order a bloody Caesar, you tell them it's basically a bloody mary but with clamato juice instead of tomato. Then, you have to explain what clamato juice is and then the groans and gags start. CLAM JUICE???? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? If you sat one of those naysayers down and served them a proper bloody caesar without revealing the wonders of clamato to them, I am positive that they would drink their glass dry without a second thought. I can understand that it's hard to get past the clam juice in a cocktail thing but I grew up drinking clamato juice and I love it, straight up on ice, in a cocktail or as a virgin caesar. I am more about the clamato than the vodka, frankly. Now, as a person who cares about what they eat and tries to avoid pre...

Shack really is the chick in this relationship - in a great way, of course. He is the one who LOVES to talk on the phone, loves to shop, loves to buy shoes and absolutely loves lady drinks. Give that guy a blender, some fruit and assorted bottles of booze and look out. He is a true blender artist. Last winter we went to a wedding in Montreal and our hotel was right down the street from a great bar, The Dominion Square Tavern . These are real bartender mixologist magicians, complete with old timey mustaches, white tuxedo shirts and long, white half aprons. For some reason, known only to him, Shack decided to order a Pimm's Cup despite the fact that he had never had one and had no idea what was in one. Even though it was the first Pimm's Cup either of us had ever had, I know that it was probably the best Pimm's Cup on earth. It was a bit tart, a bit sweet, had almost a bitter edge to it and it was full of cucumber flavour. It instantly became his favourite drink and we v...

I used to spend a lot of time in Mexico and one of my favourite things to drink was something they just called Jamaica, pronounced ha-my-ka. I knew it was just a steeped agua fresca type drink made from these Jamaica flowers and water. I was told it was a natural diuretic and so it was great for me because I might have consumed a little bit of alcohol back in those days and so it was the perfect thing to sip on all morning. I just assumed it was some exotic thing that I could only get in Mexico so imagine my embarrassment when I wandered into a Mexican dry goods store in Kensington Market only to discover that Jamaica is spelled like Jamaica and is simply the name given to Hibiscus flowers there. As soon as I realized what it was, I made sure to always have some on hand and I would often throw a handful in my pitcher of steeped cold berry tea that I like to keep in the fridge. I had some beautiful, local strawberries which were really ripe and threatening to go bad on me and I ...