Friday, August 30, 2013

Hemingway Mixology & the Hemingway Daiquiri

Borrowed From Liquor.com -- See the Original Link Below


Since Labor Day Weekend marks the end of summer and  a lot of drinking is observed, I thought I would offer this post for those who imbibe. Remember not to drink and drive, but do always drink and fish (but do not drink and shoot at critters in the water attacking your Marlin, because that is how Papa shot himself, twice).  For those who might want a recipe for the famous Hemingway Daiquiri, here it is. Enjoy.

Toasting Ernest Hemingway

fa-hemingway-1
Ernest Hemingway was one of the 20th century’s finest authors and also, of course, one of its most prodigious drinkers. (Papa would have turned 114 on Sunday.) His tastes ranged widely, from enjoying French wines with Gertrude Stein, Pablo Picasso and Ezra Pound in 1920s Paris to shaking up tropicalrum concoctions on Key West and in Havana.
All of this makes him an ideal subject for a mixological biography. And Philip Greene delivered last fall with To Have and to Have Another: A Hemingway Cocktail Companion, a tome full of recipes, anecdotes and history from Hemingway’s life and novels. (The work is actually a finalist in the Best New Book category at tomorrow night’s Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards.) We asked Greene about some of the drinks connected to Hemingway and got a few great stories.
There is a famous elixir that Hemingway himself really invented: the Death in the Afternoon. The simple mix of Champagne and absinthe was first published in 1935’s So Red the Nose, a collection of cocktail recipes from noted writers including Edgar Rice Burroughs and Erskine Caldwell. Hemingway concocted the formula, according to lore, after spending hours helping to free a fishing boat that had run aground during a storm.
“Given that many ‘cocktail origin’ stories are pure folklore, as are many of the legends associated with Hemingway, the chances of fabrication or embellishment are greatly enhanced with this one,” Greene says, “but I am willing to believe that he did invent this; after all, he loved the drink’s components.” The characters in Hemingway’s novels often call for bubbly brands like Bollinger, Piper-Heidsieck and Perrier-Jouët, and in For Whom the Bell Tolls, the author wrote that whiskey “does not curl around inside of you the way absinthe does.”
Hemingway loved plenty of other cocktails as well: “Of his ‘favorites,’ Greene says, “there are theWhiskey & Soda (number one in terms of number of times mentioned in his prose), the Martini, theDaiquiri, the Gin & Tonic (his had Angostura Bitters), Dripped Absinthe, and the ‘suite’ of Campari-based drinks, the Negroni, the Americano and a variation of his called the Gin, Campari & Soda.”
Greene’s personal favorite Hemingway cocktail is the Green Isaac’s Special, a tipple that turns up in the posthumously published Islands in the Stream. It makes its first appearance while the main character, Thomas Hudson, is out deep-sea fishing: “Where Thomas Hudson lay on the mattress his head was in the shade cast by the platform at the forward end of the flying bridge where the controls were and when Eddy came aft with the tall cold drink made of gin, lime juice, green coconut water, and chipped ice with just enough Angostura bitters to give it a rusty, rose color, he held the drink in the shadow so the ice would not melt while he looked out over the sea.”
And then there’s the Hemingway Daiquiri, created at Floridita, a Havana bar the author frequented and whose bartender, Constante Ribalaigua Vert, was known for his mastery of the Daiquiri. “By the mid-‘30s, the Floridita had no fewer than five variations of Daiquiri,” Greene says. “The 1937 Floridita menu lists a drink called the E. Henmiway Special, a misspelled homage to their newest, and most famous, regular.”
Because Hemingway’s father had been a diabetic, he was concerned about the amount of sugar in his cocktails, so his eponymous beverage swapped out the sweetener for a little bit of maraschino liqueur instead. And it calls for some grapefruit juice in addition to the standard lime.
Today also just happens to be National Daiquiri Day, a coincidence we’re sure Hemingway would have appreciated. We hope you’ll join us in mixing one up and toasting Papa’s birthday!

GREEN ISAAC’S SPECIAL

Contributed by Philip Greene
INGREDIENTS:
  • 2 oz Gin (London dry-style)
  • 4 oz Coconut water (unsweetened)
  • Juice of 1 lime (about 1 oz)
  • 2 to 4 dashes Angostura Bitters
  • Garnish: Lime wedge or peel
  • Glass: Tall
 PREPARATION:
Add all the ingredients to a shaker and fill with ice. Shake, and pour (unstrained) into a tall glass. Garnish with a lime wedge or peel.

HEMINGWAY DAIQUIRI

Contributed by Philip Greene
INGREDIENTS:
  • 1.5 oz Papa’s Pilar Blonde Rum
  • .5 oz Fresh lime juice
  • .33 oz Ruby red grapefruit juice
  • 1 tsp Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur
  • Glass: Cocktail
PREPARATION:
Add all the ingredients to a shaker and fill with ice. Shake, and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
(Photo courtesy John F. Kennedy Library)

Monday, August 19, 2013

Keeping It Surreal in "The House Dali Built"

Perhaps His Most Famous Image -- Warped Time-- Dali was Intensely
 Interested in Einstein's Theory of Time, the Atomic Age, and Anything
Dealing with Dreams or Sigmund Freud
(All Photos Taken by Drew Smith)
The first rule of "The House Dali Built" is "Break All the Rules." There is a warning outside the museum of the famous Surrealist, Salvador Dali: "Do Not Attempt to Tour the Museum With a Prefigured Plan, Dali Would Not Approve!" By the time you scroll to the bottom of this blog post, about the time you see the life-size "Apartment of Mae West", you will understand. This is also his final resting place.

Welcome to the "Theater Museum of Salvador Dali," the most visited place in the Catalonia Region of Spain, despite the fact it is located in a relatively obscure place --the small village of Figueres -- halfway up the Mediterranean coast between Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia, and the French border.

The Other Side of the Dali Museum & Theater at Night (He Had a Thing for Eggs)
So, why this strange warning on the brochure and signs for our visit to the "Teatre Museu Dali"? Mr. Dali personally could not condone something so confining as a pre-planned route, or map, with a disciplined and orderly approach to viewing his art.

Pink Blob: Notice the Hand Coming Out of the Top
You see, why on earth would someone who fought order, structure and boundaries with his life's work want to make the experience of viewing that work the very opposite experience... especially when so often this artist tries to make you an active part of his canvas?

Salvadore and Gala's Bed (Notice the Skeleton)
If you have ever gotten turned around in an art gallery, as I have, and had to stare at the color-coded crazy brochure to figure out where you are, then you will find this place a welcome relief.

Indeed, Salvador Dali -- another "lost generation" member like Hemingway -- uses the entire theater-museum as his canvas. It is easily the most remarkable and unforgettable art exhibit I have ever witnessed, and may ever again...  Hence the overwhelming popularity.


Dali was born here in Figueres, christened in the ancient church just steps away, and attended the theater and later movies in this building as a young boy. It was also in the lobby of the original theater that he first exhibited his early works of art to the public.

During the Spanish Civil War, in the 1930s, the forces of Franco bombed the theater until it was but a shell. In later years, when an effort began to save the theater from demolishing, Dali offered to make this theater the museum of his life's work... and what a remarkable life and work it was.

This is a Good View of the Middle of the Museum,
Which Had Been Bombed Out in the Spanish Civil War
Dali said that one reason he picked this as the spot to exhibit his life's work is because he thought it was appropriate to use a theater, since his work and he were very "theatrical" in nature. Indeed, Dali was a master at using modern communication to build his image, and was somewhat jealous of the fame received by his friend and sometimes-rival just down the road, Pablo Picasso.

The Painting of Lincoln in the Background?
Up Close It is a Painting of a Nude Woman... Really
We had left Barcelona by rental car, early that morning, with me behind the wheel. This gave Drew lots of fun at my expense, comparing me to Chevy Chase in the Grizwald "European Vacation" movies.

Dad and Me Walking the Streets of Figueres
Looking at Dad's tourist guide, I noticed that Dali's town and museum were not far from our planned route to France. We had to stop.

After parking in a typical Spanish parking garage (no SUVs need even try, I might add, they are so small), we walked across the street to this remarkable building and town center.

A Long Line Awaited Us at the Most
Popular Tourist
Attraction in Catalonia
We immediately saw the line that was at least 50 yards long. This was evidence to me that we MUST SEE this museum. It was the longest line of any I would see in Barcelona or throughout my tour of Spain.

Plenty of People Were On Hand
to Entertain Us as We Waited In Line
While we were waiting, we took turns visiting the town church, where you could see the famous panorama of the "Holy Land" and see the baptismal font where the baby Dali was christened. I am not sure, but I do not think he had his trademark mustache at that point.

Eventually, we made it inside. What can I say.... it lived up to the hype. We were not disappointed. Dali lived most of his days not too far away, in a small fishing village on the Mediterranean. I would have loved to visit his home, his art studios, and the rest that are all still exactly like there were when he died.


We all agreed that the detour was a good idea, and well worth the time. The Dali Museum was a visual feast. If you are ever in the vicinity, it is worth a day trip to see, or I should say experience this place.

Dad In Front of Dali's Car -- Which Has A Manikin Inside at the Wheel,
a Living Garden and a Watering System 


By the way, these photographs are another example of Dali's "no rules" legacy for his museum. Every other art gallery I have been in I could not take photographs. In Dali's house such a thing is unthinkable... why you are as much a part of the show as he, don't you see. Not allowed to take pictures? Ridiculous! Drew could take pictures until his heart's content, with no pesky guard scorning him.

Dali also had a life-long love affair with his wife Gala, and she was the subject of many of his paintings throughout the gallery.

Portrait of the Love and the Muse of His Life -- Dali's Wife Gala
(Learn More at http://www.salvador-dali.org/dali/en_biografia-gala.html)

Dali's Famous Appartment "Me West" -- This is Furniture in a
Room About 750 square feet

You Walk Up a Ladder and look through a Viewer and... It is Mae West
Yep, Mae West! (For Fun, Zoom This Picture as Large as You Can
 to see the People in Line on the Right and Coming in the "apartment" on the Left)

The Cryp 

Perhaps the most real part of this museum is the crypt where Dali is buried, underneath where the original stage for the theater once existed. In the end, surrounded by his masterpieces, it seems fitting that this theatrical showman, this rule breaker, this amazing artist, should be buried in this place for eternity.

If you have read this far, I strongly recommend you view the entire collection with explanations of his art found at this website:http://www.salvador-dali.org/dali/coleccio/en_50obres.html

One of the most interesting pieces on Dali, by the way, is an old black and white masterpiece, discussed here:http://www.closeupfilmcentre.com/vertigo_magazine/issue-14-december-2007/arden-and-dali-loiter-in-the-streets/

My next post is from France: "La Tour de Jour: My Day at the 100th Anniversary of the Tour de France." Until then.... stay surreal!

Sunday, August 11, 2013

Barcelona = Mediterranean, Gaudi, Picasso, Dali, Beaches, Catalonians = Beauty

Entrance to Guell Park -- Both de Gaudi Buildings (All Photos Credited to Drew Smith)
To be in Barcelona is to be in a painting...to be inside a moving work of art. The beauty is so ubiquitous that you find that even you are a part of it. You are watching it and a part of it at the same time. The visual feast begins with the mountain backdrops next to the blues of the Mediterranean Sea, continuing with the architecture of de Gaudi, the paintings of Picasso, and -- of course -- the beauty of the catalonian people, all enframed by the swaying green palm trees, enraptured by a soft sea breeze everywhere you go. It is easy to see why this is a major Honeymoon destination.

The Palm Tree Laden Parc Guell -- Another Gaudi Masterpiece (View from the Top)
Drew and I hiked to the very top point overlooking the city, in preparation for Kili and for the great view, while Dad enjoyed sitting at the outdoor cafe below. After leaving this park, you should stop by “The Gaudi 4 D Experience” which pays tribute to his life and work in an amazingly high tech way.
Everywhere you look there is art... inside buildings with the famous Pablo Picasso Art Gallery, in the many parks, in the street art, and best of all -- the buildings themselves.


Barcelona Beach Front -- Ten Miles on the Med
Located on the Mediterranean, with nearly ten miles of beachfront, Barcelona is considered the capital of the Catalonian Region of Spain. It has a very pleasant climate, with a constant ocean breeze, the mediterranean dry heat, and palm trees everywhere.


My son, Drew, wanted us to see a city he has visited four times now. I am glad he did. It is truly striking and is the kind of place that can only be taken in by being there in person.


de Gaudi's "Temple of the La Sagrada Familia" Still Under Construction is a Must See
First, of course, you must see the Temple of the La Sagrada Familia" designed by Antonia Gaudi -- the modernist architectural genius who is the best known architect of the region and perhaps the best known modernist period. He considered this his finest masterpiece, but he also designed the city's main park overlooking the entire city, as well as several key buildings and villas during the time he was alive.
Dad Sitting Next to a Life Size Statue of de Gaudi in the "Gaudi 4D Experience Museum" Near the Parc Guell


We were also able to go swimming in the Mediterranean -- one of the bluest places you will ever visit. Drew and I wanted to check that one off our list of oceans and seas to swim in, plus it was the closest thing to a “beach day” that I am likely to see this year. Dad also took a dip. The place is clothing optional, but nobody seemed to care or even notice. It was not a big deal... but I have a feeling the Americans in the area were pretty shocked.


Barcelona has many outdoor cafes and bars, and entire avenues and plazas where people like to stroll outside in the pleasant climate. We highly recommend ordering the calamari. I am not sure what it is but we found it to be the most amazing calamari in the world! A must!




Another must is the Bar Marsella, which I blogged about in an earlier post ("Midnight in Barcelona"). It has been untouched for over 100 years, has been there for 150 years, was where Hemingway, Gaudi, Picasso, Dali and many others drank a new drink invented there known as absinthe. It was hard to find, and now is in jeopardy of closing due to a developer. Sign the petition on-line to keep it open. In my opinion, the Bar Marsella puts the "bar" in "Barcelona".


Sign the petition on-line to keep it open. In my opinion, the Bar Marsella puts the "bar" in "Barcelona".




Of course, Dad and I had a mission to make the Picasso Art Museum, one of his favorites and also a member of “The Lost Generation” with Hemingway. It is located in a beautiful old villa in the middle of “the old town” section of Barcelona, where the streets are so narrow there is limited access by automobiles. The museum was created by one of his friends during his lifetime and contains the largest Picasso collection anywhere. The visit here was one of the most “Old Europe” places of our trip, and if you go there it is a must.


Inside the Picasso Museum



Dad also has always loved the “Flamenco Dancers” of Spain. Although Drew tells us that the real culture of “Flamenco” is in Southern Spain, we got away for a performance and dinner the night before our departure for France... figuring we might not get that opportunity again.


We also rented a car... something I highly recommend you research before you attempt. We managed it somehow, and after spending three days in this beautiful city were sad to leave for France the next day. But before we left, we would stop at one of the most unique museums in Spain and in the World -- the Salvador Dali Theatre-Museum just south of the French border, in the Artist's hometown of Figueres. It is the most visited site in Catalonia. When you see my next blog post, you will see why.

Old Barcelona -- Cars are not allowed. Very Narrow Streets. This is Where the Picasso Museum is located



The Famous Gaudi Dragon -- Good Luck to Put Your Hand in His Mouth







In the Gaudi "Caves" at the Park
Looking Relaxed on top of the Double Decker Tour Bus



Drew On Top of the Highest Place at the Parc
In the Plaza where Drew and Nate Stayed at the Hostel, and Where the Calamari is Amazing!