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A Quick Description Of A Man Cave And The Benefits Of Creating One

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Over the last several years you’ve probably heard the term “Man Cave” being used more and more to describe an area of the house designated specifically for the male who lives in the house. This area could be an extra room or garage, or even the shed out back. This space is meant for the man to use as a refuge from his everyday life.

It could be an important ingredient in a marriage for a man to be able to escape the pressures from his wife, kids or just general tension of any kind. Getting away by himself to recharge is all that is needed. The place he chooses can be made to suit his own tastes, holding things that make him happy and bring him a measure of peace.

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Tags: Bar, beer, cocktail, cocktails, drinks, entertaining, entertainment, Food, home bar, liquor, parties, party, recreation, wine

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How to Become a Bartender

David Artsmith - Bartending is a fun and challenging career, that allows you to work in an exciting atmosphere, making friends and acquaintances, and joining people during their most celebrated and joyous occasions. However the path to becoming a bartender can be daunting, with hidden challenges lurking in the shadows, and difficulties arising at every turn. However all you need is diligence, skill, and perseverance, and you can attain a profitable and enlightening career serving drinks to appreciative patrons.

It is a common misconception that you have to go to Bartending School and get certified to become a bartender. This is a common misconception. Most bartenders have no formal training at all, and many were simply promoted from lower level jobs such as waiter or bus boy.

However Bartending School and certification can help you on this career path in a variety of ways. First, it will give you some training in mixed drinks, and will help to familiarize yourself with the working of a bar. Second, the certification that you receive, while not worth that much on the job market, will at least show a potential employer that you are knowledgeable and have some basic knowledge of how the profession works, and the various recipes that are requested.

The most important thing that Bartending School can afford you is if they offer some sort of job placement. Many bartending schools will work with restaurants and bars, to help place successful students in entry level positions upon successful completion of the course. This can be a major boost, helping you to break the ice and get that all important first job.

However as stated earlier, it is not at all necessary to get training to become a bartender. The most common path to this goal is to get promoted. That means that you have to get a job working in a restaurant, or a bar. Preferably this job should be somehow related to the bar, or serving beverages. This can include being a bar back, or a bartenders assistant.

Once you have a position that is somehow related to the bar, you should work hard to prove yourself to your employers. Be diligent, work hard, and fill in any gaps that other employees may leave open. Help keep the bar clean, pass out drink coasters to patrons, do whatever you can to help. Try to become useful to the bartenders and the staff, help them out when it gets busy, fill in gaps, and try to learn anything that you can.

If you are looking for a new position as a bartender, one way to find a job is to do “the walk”. This is a common experience for wait staff and restaurant employees. It involves walking up and down the street, in the neighborhood where you live, and popping into every establishment, and simply asking if they need help. You should bring a resume that has any pertinent experience that you may have typed up neatly. Even if the place doesn't need help right away, they can file your resume, and if a position opens up, they may call you.

Another version of “the walk” has you opening up the yellow pages, and cold calling every restaurant or bar listed asking for help. Always be polite, and respectful. When you call, try to speak to the owner or manager, as they are the ones who will make the ultimate decision about your employment possibilities.

Bartending can be a rewarding and lucrative position, allowing you to earn a good living doing something in a fun and active environment. However you have to be diligent, and willing to work your way up, in order to get a good position that will ultimately fulfill your goals.

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Tags: bar tending, Bartending, coasters, drinks, napkins, serving, serving drinks, spirits

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Bar Room Home Improvements

David Artsmith - A bar is a social space, designed to bring people together to enjoy a beverage at the end of the day. Whether it is the local pub down the street, or a tiny corner you carved out of your basement, the bar is meant to be shared and enjoyed with others. When creating the atmosphere in a bar that should be your primary concern. You want to develop a space which encourages interaction in an open and affable manner.

The basis of the tavern, is its bar, and this should be the first thing you select. This is the name piece of the room, and it will most certainly be the central aspect of any bar. You don't always want the largest bar, sometimes having more floor space can allow you to create a more comfortable environment. It should be a balancing act, weighing the actual physical size of the piece against the floor room that you have. While sitting at the bar may be the purpose of the room, you also want a sense of flow that makes people feel like they can easily move into and out of the space, without being crowded by oversized furnishings.

Seating is another important element in the space. Bar stools come in a wide variety of designs, from standard swivels, to elaborate high backed mounts. You should try and choose something which matches the style of the bar itself. Match up materials such as the color of hardwoods, and try to ensure that cushioning colors flow naturally with the inherent feeling of the space.

Once you have the bare bones architecture of the room installed, it is time to go for accessories. Everything from a wine rack, to drink coasters, needs to be purchased to flesh out the bar experience. You can purchase spouts, nozzles, mixers, wine openers, and a variety of other objects to help make your bar more functional. However, it is best to purchase these items all at once, so that you can make sure that they match one another in style, material, and color.

You should also pay attention to the decorative atmosphere outside of the immediate bar area. The walls, and the surrounding room all contribute to the eventual feel of the bar itself. You can purchase novelty signs, intriguing wall clocks, and interesting art pieces to dress up this area. A television, or some other media device is also a good option for this space.

When decorating a bar, whether in your home, or in a restaurant, it is important to remember that this is supposed to be a social setting. You want to create an atmosphere which is comfortable and friendly. Provide interesting objects that will start conversations. Create a fun, and uplifting environment, and pretty soon your patrons and friends will be one and the same.

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Serving Drinks the Professional Way

David Artsmith - Being a bartender is a lot harder than most people realize. It is rather simi9lar to being a cook, you have a variety of elements that you can mix and match, all in the pusuit of something surprising and refreshing to the majority of your customers. All of this is performed live, in front of the customer, as they wait patient or not to be served. Based on your performance under this high pressure situation, you will be tipped, or not, depending on the patrons whims.

However bartending is about so much more than just serving up drinks. It is a social profession, where you will be judged more by popularity than by skill, although the two are not necessarily mutually exclusive. The following are a couple of important tips that anyone seeking to join this profession should know.

First of all, you have to understand the art of conversation. You want to make friends with everyone that enters the establishment. However these are not buddies that you can just say whatever you like to. There are certain topics of conversation that should be expressly forbidden. These include politics, religion, and personal conditions. Instead you should seek to ensure that everyone feels comfortable and engaged in an unthreatening environment.

Another important aspect of bartending is keeping the environment itself clean. Every drink should be served with a beverage coaster, and you should make sure to wipe down the bar after every serving.

One overlooked aspect of this profession is the actual serving. When handing a glass to someone, most people pick it up by the rim and slog it over. However as a bartender you have to be aware that people might not want to put their lips somewhere where your hand just was. Instead you should hold the glass by its base or stem, and slide it gently to the customer.

Bartending is a challenging profession. You have to worry about more than just the drinks, as a bartender it is your responsibility to attend to the ambiance of the entire bar, ensuring that it is cleana nd comfortable for your patrons. It takes some practice to get used to the various roles a bartender must play, but if you are up to the challenge it can be an exciting and rewarding profession.

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Understanding Champagne, A Celebratory Survey

David Artsmith - Champagne is a celebration, it’s a toast, and it’s the way to bring in the New Year with good cheer. This form of sparkling wine is the beverage of choice for our most joyous occasions, and our most formal ceremonies. So, how did this bubbly brew get to have such a place of honor and dignity in human society?

Part of the reason for champagne’s upscale reputation is that the nature of the liquid itself is festive. Store under high pressure, the bottle opens up slowly, with someone teasing the cork from the head of the bottle slowly. Even as they do anticipation rises in the room as everyone waits with bated breath for that one, loud, POP, that burst of sound that signals that the party is ready to begin. This is often followed by a spray of foam as it escapes eagerly from the body of the bottle

Then, when you put the champagne to your lips, it’s like the liquid is actually dancing on your tongue. A thousand tiny explosions of flavor pop in your mouth, until it almost feels alive inside of you; alive and ready to party.

Champaign is often coupled with wine coasters, or upscale drinks coasters in order to enhance the effect of the bottle through presentation.

There is also another explanation as to why Champagne has been so associated with celebratory events over the years. Its relatively expensive. The only liquid that can actually be legally labeled as “champagne” has to be made in the Champagne region of France. Anything else which is called champagne is actually just a sparkling wine, at least according to the government of France. Because of the limited amount of the beverage which can be produced in this one region, it is priced higher. The higher price makes it a “special occasion” beverage.

This perception of being “special” and “celebratory” is one which champagne makers do their best to preserve. That is why the law exists determining who can and cannot name their product using that specific label. It is also why millions of dollars are spent each year to hold contests to see who makes the absolute best champagne in the world.

Champagne is a festive beverage that naturally excites all five of the senses. This combined with a perception as being special, have combined to make this one of our most beloved celebratory drinks.

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7 Must Know Bar Drinks from Around the World

Original article published at Off Track Planet – the Backpacking Travel Guide.

Booze is our escape from the reason and logic bestowed on us by the powers that be. From Pabst to top shelf black labels of this and that, we all have our stories of drinking, getting drunk and getting retarded. We have all done the keg house parties, jungle juice gatherings and endless shot for shot competitions. At this point, we bet your liver is begging you to stop drinking that purple drank but before you give in to its pleas, let us show you how to booze it up just a little more; this time with style and worldly culture. Here’s a lucky list of 7 traditional drinks around the world (and 3 complimenting hangover cures).

Caipirinha (lime wedges, granulated sugar and Sagatiba Pura)

Acclaimed as the national drink of Brazil, this sugary cocktail contains cachaca, a rum-like liquor with a sad, but true, history. Brought over by Portuguese settlers, cachaca was given to slaves to increase productivity (seems counter-productive but sure why not?). After slavery was outlawed in 1888, all Brazilians began whipping these suckers up for themselves to enjoy. The Caipirinha pairs well with a white linen shirt, coconutty sunscreen and a lay on a warm Brazilian beach.

Sangria (bottle of wine, sliced fruit, honey, triple sec and a big pitcher)

The jungle juice of Spain, this beverage is traditionally enjoyed in groups (hence the pitcher). Since wine in Spain is insanely cheap (we’re talking less than a dollar per bottle, even cheaper for a box if you’re really scrounging), this drink is quite popular among the backpacking elite. The type of wine used and the fruit thrown inside vary regionally, with the red (“sangre” or “blood” in Spanish) version being the most popular.

Single Malt Scotch in Scotland (single-malt, nothing else needed)

The “single” part means only one grain (barley) is used. To “malt” means to distill in an oak cask. The “scotch” part, well that’s the most important. Single malt scotch is ONLY considered such if it is made in Scotland and aged for no less than three years. If you’re man (woman) enough, we dare you to gather up some hostelmates and go on one of these distillery tours. Pricing is specific to your group’s size and preferences. The tour includes a designated driver. One thing for sure, all of you will leave smelling like drunken Scotsmen (and women).

Elephant’s Ear (Marula Tree Juice, Mangos for garnish)

The presentation of this one is the key. A South African classic, this drink is traditionally served with two ear-shaped dried mango pieces attached to your glass. Why elephants? The symbolism lies in that various animals, including elephants, eat the fruit of the Marula tree regularly. The tree bears fruit with a high alcoholic content which often makes the animals drunk as hell. We don’t know how you feel, but we think this guy needs to go to AAA (animal alcoholics anonymous) pronto.

The Pisco Sour (Pisco, lime juice, egg whites, simple syrup and bitters)

You put “sour” after any word and it sounds like you have drink ordering authority; it’s very James Bondish. This Peruvian drink wields so much power that it has a national holiday (National Pisco Sour Day happens the first Saturday of February). Mostly a great excuse to get the entire nation drunk, this holiday celebrates the concoction and its rebellious origins. In the 1700s, Spanish colonialists brought the grape to Peru. During that time, making wine was prohibited. People came up with prohibition era uses for grapes that weren’t quite wine but still had a high enough alcoholic content to keep people happily intoxicated. Pisco (a brandy-like grape liquor) was born and became Peru’s local drink of choice.

Samagonka (ingredients: the devil and his friends)

Russians drink vodka, not a big surprise and this type of vodka is the most authentic of all. Forget Absolute and Stolichnaya, Samagonka is the general name for vodka that has been distilled in a basement . . . at home . . . from potatoes. Most retailers in Russia will not carry it, so to get a taste you have to put your social skills to work. Old Russian men will always have at least a liter of this stuff sitting around. Befriend one and you will be taking shots with the pros (and chasing those shots with pickles and cold cuts) in no time. If you get really friendly, please refer to the conveniently provided hangover cures at the end of this article.

Mojito (Mint, Rum, Sugar, Lime and Soda)

Cubans are brilliant! Their national cocktail is both a breath-freshener (all that mint) and a panty-dropper (inhibitions cannot withstand this sweet liquid rum candy). We hail it the perfect hook-up drink. The name has been rumored to mean two different things. One interpretation comes from the Spanish word for “a little wet” (well that’s suggestive) and the other is from an African word for “a little spell”. Either way, we’re pretty sure the mojito is how Ricky got Lucy.

3 HANGOVER CURES…

Bloody Mary (shot of vodka, tomato juice, celery stick, squeeze of lemon, few shakes of cayenne pepper)

A drink to cure a hangover? Can’t be true. The infamous breakfast Bloody Mary contains tomato juice which is rumored to dilute the ouchy effects of a bad hangover (the spicy cayenne is there to kick you in the balls so you reconsider overdrinking next time). Invented by a French guy in New York, this drink combines the tomato and “hair of the dog” hangover cures and is sure to have you on your way to recovery (or perpetual drunken ‘I don’t give a shit’ world).

Sleep

Need to get from Brazil (where you had one too many Caipirinhas) to Peru (to celebrate National Pisco Sour Day)? Book the longest red-eye bus ride available. This way, not only are you saving money by taking the turtle route, you sleep the entire time and the hangover becomes yesterday’s news. Employ these safety techniques while you snooze the booze away and you’ll be golden.

Hydrate

Hard to do when alcohol is safer than water in third world countries but a must to cure your dehydrated partied-out self. Most bottled water is fine so buy in bulk and drink at least 16 oz before going to bed post-party. This is also a great time to whip out those water-purifying tablets we told you about. Stay moist friends.

Between the cheap beers and boxed wine, that random jungle juice and straight shots, give these traditional drinks a try in their countries of origin. Chances are their American versions pale in comparison and you get no bragging rights for drinking mojitos at your local boozery (like you would if you had one on a beach in Copacabana).

For more, check out Off Track Planet - Backpacking Travel Guide, Tips, Resources, Advice, Ideas and How-to’s.

drinks

A Quick Description Of A Man Cave And The Benefits Of Creating One

How to Become a Bartender

Bar Room Home Improvements

Serving Drinks the Professional Way

Understanding Champagne, A Celebratory Survey

7 Must Know Bar Drinks from Around the World

Home Brewing Beer

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