You know how you sometimes find out what the boss is up to from what you might call outside sources? Today we learn that at least part of the time Rachel's locked in her office staring at the computer, she really is researching drinks.
Maddow makes a guest turn this week on a podcast called the Sporkful, the profoundly obsessive podcast about food. An outtake from Rachel Maddow on Cocktail Philosophy:
"You're never supposed to eat the garnish. The garnish is not a snack. The garnish is there to modify the liquor that is in the glass. It is not there to provide you a tasty treat to go along with your drink. The drink is the treat."
As they do on the Sporkful, discuss.
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"Today we learn that at least part of the time Rachel's locked in her office staring at the computer, she really is researching drinks."
If I had to cover the leaders of the largest Democratic landslide in recent memory dropping the ball day after day just to see their asses get handed to them after two years, I'd want to drink too.
I'll drink to that! It would have to be a "mocktail" for me, but I toast that sentiment nonetheless.
Its my darn drink now. I'm already sipping it. If you don't want me to eat the garnish, don't serve the garnish. This says more about you than it does me: Would you rather serve an incorrectly made beverage, or quibble about how I enjoy it? ;)
Amen!
And for the record, I don't plan to ever leave an olive behind. Or one of those little cocktail onions - I love those things.
Me too! I always eat the garnish. I guess I aint got no class.
Wrong baby Wrong Baby Wrong Baby Wrong
- Martina McBride
I disagree wholeheartedly. Drink the drink, then eat the garnish. Once it has served its purpose of 'modifying' my liquor, why leave it to be thrown away?
Besides, they are especially delicious given that they are soaked with the aforementioned liquor.
Who would have known she is germ-a-phobic.
But I thought that the alcoholic content of the drink would take care of any germs.
While I understand Rachel's point, I find it hard to resist eating the garnish. Some of them are quite tasty. It's not a question of willpower, it's just that some are quite tasty... really.
There are few things in life as tasty as a gin marinated olive...yum. After the drink is consumed of course.
Exactly! Why waste a delicious gin-soaked olive? Especially if you wait until you've finished the liquid part of the drink!
I agree with Mike. Once it's done its job, why leave it? Rachel, you're missing out on a delicious, booze-soaked nugget of goodness!
When is the book of "Rachel Maddow's Classic Cocktails and Other Favorite Drinks" going to be available? Would make a nice holiday gift (and the proceeds can be donated to IAVA).
That would b the gift that keeps on giving!
I'm a bit horrified by the comment re the carved radish being re-used at restaurants.....sorry Rachel, but--no, it's not....there is no way they are scraping a garnish off a dirty plate to re-use. Even if it weren't horrifying--it would be way too much trouble to do so!
That recipe sounds great, any tips on the Tessier Orgeat (where to buy)? I am not a huge Torani fan.
I also like to eat the garnish, but only after it's been bathing in the drink for awhile.
Tessier's Sugar House is a local purveyor of maple syrup in Cummington, MA. Perhaps they also make orgeat.
That's probably right. Thanks!
This is not too surprising. Those of us who followed her radio career on Air America have been gifted with a couple of her favorite recipes. I made one with Apple Jack (it had a long, funny name I can't remember) for my Thanksgiving guests a number of years ago and they still remember the occassion fondly!
Rachel's Apple Jack drink is called the Jack Rose. It is, what else, a classic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sebfwBVEVKE
I understand what Rachel is saying about the garnish being there for decoration, not a snack. On the other hand, I'm dismayed at her comment that the carved radish on your dinner plate is three days old and has been served to others. Call the health department if you truly believe that happens. It's against the health code to reuse food that's been served. The same with her implication that the bar garnishes are no longer safe after sitting on the bar all evening. If she believes that, why would she drink anything with a garnish in/on it?
All garnishes in or on drinks touch the liquor. Etiquette aside, everything on your plate or your glass should be safe and edible. And did the bartender wash his hands between making change and making your drink?
I can assure you that the bartender did not wash his/her hands after making change....nor does the server at a restaurant. I never thought about this before, but I guess it's pretty disgusting!
Re the garnishes: chacun à son gout.
The garnish is always meant to be eaten, you are expected to chomp on your parsley to freshen your breath and help digest food better. Citrus should be squeezed into your cocktail, by your own sanitary (hopefully) fingers. Don't eat the tiny umbrellas, but you can eat the orchids....
"If you were on death row, what would be your last meal?" is going to be my new standard question for all candidates interviewing for jobs with salaries of six figures or more.
"If the olive is floating, put down the drink." LOL. I feel like there should be a video to go along with this podcast though. Maybe a reenactment on TRMS is in order.
I agree! I want to see an actual demonstration.
okay, maybe don't eat the lemon or lime that's been hanging out in your vodka+tonic, but Rachel...you can't tell me you don't eat the olives after a perfectly crafted martini. Say it ain't so!
I don't like cherries or coconut, so I guess I don't have to worry about it. I don't like vermouth either. I'm pretty much stuck on whiskey sours.
If the cherry is on like a sundae, it's still a garnish and people eat that. I usually pass the cherry to someone else...which they always eat despite the fact that I dug it out with my own fingers.
You should never have to dig your cherry out of the sundae! If you can't pluck it off the the top by the stem, it has been improperly made. A sham! And if it doesn't have a stem...well, that's just sundae blasphemy.
As for the liquor topic...I got nothin'. Except for that one time, I did I shot of tequila and my brain felt like it was on fire. I haven't had a drink since. Scared me straight, it did.
I'm with you, Grrrl. I detest cherries of any kind, on anything, so I'll happily pass them off. Not much of a fan of olives either.
I usually just drink beer, wine, whiskey sours and rum drinks (not at the same time....anymore). I never have drink decorations.
I'm pretty sure folks aren't paying $18 bucks for 50 Luxardo cherries to toss them, but what do I know? I'm a cherry eater. And an olive eater. Two olives, to be precise.
A lovely fat jalapeno-stuffed olive (maybe three...) in a simply delicious dirty martini... now that's a wholesome garnish after it's steeped for awhile! :-D
Do you know how much a good cocktail can cost down here. I drink the drink, eat the garnish, chew the ice, hell I've been known to take the glass as well, on occasion. If I could lick the glass without my mother having a stroke at the same time (it doesn't matter if she can see me, she'll know), I would.
Give me a shot and a beer chaser any day.
Feel free to look down on me while I enjoy the drink and the garnish. It's OK. Really. I don't mind.
OF COURSE I'm going to eat the garnish! I started out eating my grandpa's martini olives when I was 3! Not going to stop now.
Oh yeah, guard your parsley.