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- Winter Weekend in Charleston: Part I
  
  Posted at 11:16 am by athenapappas, on February 12, 2018
  
  Doesn’t every weekend story start with a great brunch? A few weekends ago, I took a quick trip down to Charleston with friends, our intended goal to eat and drink all of the things. I think we made pretty good progress towards that.
  
  We started our chilly Saturday morning in Charleston with the Pappas driving tour of the city followed by brunch at Poogan’s Porch. Tucked in a stately old home on Queens Street, Poogan’s Porch has been serving Charlestonians and visitors alike delicious Southern classics.
  
  I kicked the meal off with a boozy iced coffee, which was rich and delicious.
  
  For the table, we shared the fried green tomatoes and mac & cheese. Both were phenomenal.
  
  For my main, I got the biscuits and gravy. I’m a huge biscuit fan, and I was not disappointed. The gravy was well-seasoned and tasty without being overwhelming. The biscuits were flakey and soft. Poogan’s Porch never disappoints.
  
  After brunch, we walked through downtown, stopping at Rainbow Row.
  
  We also walked through the City Market.
  
  After all of that walking and history, it was time for a beer! We stopped at Closed for Business on King Street to plan our next stop. I tried the Cooper River Orange Infused Blonde Ale. It was the perfect afternoon beer, light and citrusy.
  
  Check back next week to see the Charleston weekend adventures continue!
  
  Posted in Adventures, Charleston, Restaurants, Review, Travel | 0 Comments | Tagged beer, brunch, Charleston, historic, southern cooking, tour, Travel
- Official Unofficial NYC Brewery Tour: Breweries of Industry City
  
  Posted at 8:10 am by athenapappas, on January 22, 2018
  
  For the next stop on the Official Unofficial NYC Brewery Tour, we head a few blocks down from Five Borough Brewing Co. to Industry City. On the sixth floor of one of the reclaimed industrial buildings is a unique space that holds not one but two breweries and a distillery. The Wartega brewery, Industry City Distillery, and Lineup Brewing all have their tasting room homes here.
  
  Lead by head brewer Katarina Martinez, Lineup Brewing offers delicious, finely crafted beers with awesome names like I Bet You Think This Beer is About You and the N Train to 36th Street. After trying a sample of Lineup, you don’t even have to leave the bar to try Wartega, a brewery whose mission statement is to create beer that is both balanced and interesting.
  
  If beer isn’t your speed, Industry City Distillery is also located in the same space with decadent cocktails for purchase.
  
  If you are visiting Industry City, I highly recommend stopping by. From the six floor, the views of the city and waterfront are breathtaking. Sipping on a meticulously crafted beer, watching boats on the waterfront…it is hard to imagine a more enjoyable afternoon.
  
  Posted in Adventures, New York, Offical Unofficial NYC Brewery Tour, Review | 0 Comments | Tagged beer, brewery, Brooklyn, industry city, New York, Review
- Official Unofficial NYC Brewery Tour: Five Boroughs Brewing Co.
  
  Posted at 9:00 am by athenapappas, on January 16, 2018
  
  Welcome to the first installment of the Official Unofficial NYC Brewery Tour…reviews, pictures, and tales from touring as many breweries in NYC (and maybe Long Island) as possible. First stop, the Five Boroughs Brewing Co. in Sunset Park!
  
  Tucked among warehouses in the formerly very industrial, now next-up-and-coming-neighborhood, the Five Boroughs tap room is a large, open space fit for hanging out and trying new brews.
  
  I started out with a tasting of their Raspberry Gose, Tiny IPA, and Mango Saison. The Tiny IPA was the most easy-drinking for me as it was designed to have the full hops of an IPA but with a lower ABV. Next up was the stunning red Raspberry Gose. Although I am not usually a huge fan of sours, I found the bright red hard to resist. Salty and tart with a mix of raspberry, this was a really fun beer to try. I rounded out the sampler with the Mango Saison, which was my personal favorite. Taking a classic farmhouse style, the brewers then add Citra hops throughout the brewing process along with a heavy dose of mango. The end result is a delicious, fruity beer that isn’t overwhelmingly sweet.
  
  We of course had to take the obligatory brewery tour selfie.
  
  After trying our samplers, I ordered a glass of the Mango Saison. In addition to having unique beers and very knowledgably and friendly staff, Five Boroughs has a very cool aesthetic. It is well worth the trek to Sunset Park to enjoy a brew (or two or three!) at Five Boroughs.
  
  Posted in Adventures, New York, Offical Unofficial NYC Brewery Tour, Review | 0 Comments | Tagged beer, brewery, Brooklyn, NYC, Review, sunset park
- October Weekend in Durham, NC
  
  Posted at 8:00 am by athenapappas, on October 12, 2017
  
  In what now might become an annual tradition, I flew down to Durham, NC for a quick birthday weekend of fabulous food, friends, and (mostly) local craft brews.
  
  First stop, Criterion! Located in the heart of Durham’s downtown, this vintage-feeling bar is meticulously designed from wooden booths to the tin ceiling and cinephile light fixtures. Quickly becoming a local favorite, Criterion specializes in classic cocktails. The weather was so warm and sunny that I opted for a sparking rose to start the evening. Although it was quiet early on a Friday, I am sure it gets quite busy in the evening.
  
  Our next stop for the evening was local brewery Durty Bull. Armed with take-out from Zen Fish, I was ready to try some local beer samples. Before I go into those, I have to say how incredibly awesome Zen Fish was! A build your own Poke bowl spot, Zen Fish specializes in using locally sourced ingredients whenever possible. You pick your base (rice, quinoa, noodles), add your protein (mostly different fish), then add veggies, sauce, and the crunchy stuff. Incredibly delicious with a super friendly staff.
  
  On to the brews! Specializing in sour beers, I was surprised at how much I really enjoyed Durty Bull (sour beers aren’t usually my favorite). Their Imperial Rice IPA was my favorite. Although it had a high ABV, it was still refreshing, crisp, and hoppy. In their low-key garage-like setting, it was fun to try sample sizes of their different brews.
  
  Our final stop for the evening was Beer Durham, my favorite local brew shop. What makes Beer Durham so unique is not just their incredible selection of beers for purchase but their friendly, knowledgeable staff and rotating beers on tap. It was great to try a variety of local and not-so-local beers.
  
  And that was all just my first day in town! Don’t worry, I will be posting more Durham adventures soon.
  
  Posted in Adventures, Durham, Review, Travel | 0 Comments | Tagged beer, brewery, Durham, local, North Carolina, poke, sunset, Travel
- Restaurtant Review: Colador Cafe
  
  Posted at 9:00 am by athenapappas, on July 5, 2016
  
  Off the Bedford-Nostrad G stop is a delicious café, restaurant, and bar called the Colador. You can catch a Mets game there, grab a bite, or sip one of their beers on tap. One things I really love about the Colador is that they always have a very unique selection of drafts. Gabe, of the band Trash Gendar, (above) tried Ballast Point’s Habanero Sculpin. A light hoppy brew with a kick in every sip, it was too spicy for me! I’m going to stick to their other Sculpin flavors (like pineapple and grapefruit). I drank the much less spicy New Belgium Slow Ride Session IPA, a very fruit-flavored IPA.
  
  On to the food! I will have to confess that I have only tried the Panini’s at Colador, but they do have a full breakfast menu, salads, burgers, and quesadillas. The other evening, I tried the ham and cheese Panini, a crunchy, delicious, and filling meal. And their fries! Try them with an extra side of the chipotle sauce for dipping. Crisp, not too greasy, these fries are perfection. If you are in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn and looking for a quick meal or a cold beer and the Mets game, stop by the Colador Café.
  
  Posted in Adventures, New York, Restaurants, Review | 1 Comment | Tagged Bed-Stuy, beer, Brooklyn, Fries, New York, Review
- Adventures in Durham: Part II
  
  Posted at 10:00 am by athenapappas, on June 13, 2016
  
  I had so much fun in Durham over New Year’s that I just had to go back for round 2! Memorial Day weekend, I flew down for a quick trip to the Research Triangle area. It was a weekend of good friends, great food and beer, and plenty of pug snugs!
  
  One of my favorite spots was Raleigh’s Boxcar Bar + Arcade. A lively bar filled with arcade games, each drink purchase got you a token to play more! From Skeeball to Dance, Dance Revolution, there were fun games for everyone. The MarioKart game even took your picture so that you can race your friends with your own character. With free freshly popped popcorn, this is a great spot for an afternoon or evening of fun.
  
  For an afternoon pick-me-up, we stopped by the local favorite coffee shop, Cocoa Cinnamon. House in a former service station, this coffee spot has a fun and funky vibe to it. They pay their staff a living wage and source ingredients responsibly. I tried the KokyTu, espresso over an iced can sugar Mexican coke. The combination might sound strange, but it was so delicious. Not too sweet, frothy and satisfying. I also had to show off my nail art that Sarah did for me!
  
  Near Cocoa Cinnamon is the Geer Street Garden, another gas station turned awesome local business. With farm fresh ingredients, I couldn’t resist getting the pesto ravioli special. But everything looked delicious… from the burgers to crab sandwiches to giant salads. It is great so see so many awesome (and tasty) local businesses. If you are looking for a low-key weekend get away, I would highly recommend the Raleigh-Durham area.
  
  Posted in Adventures, Review, Travel | 0 Comments | Tagged Barcade, beer, Durham, North Carolina, Travel
- New Year’s in Durham, NC: Part I
  
  Posted at 10:00 am by athenapappas, on February 16, 2016
  
  For New Year’s, I spent the long weekend in the lovely North Carolina city of Durham. Of course, the first of the year has to be kicked off with eating a bowl of Hoppin’ John’s, black eyed peas and other vegetables like collard greens. It might be a strange way to start the day, but it brings good luck in the New Year and is a Southern tradition.
  
  One of the stops on our tour of the city was Fullsteam Brewery. I love how beautiful the boards are that hold their tasting flights! I tried a variety of 5 different beers. Highlights included the Carver, which is a sweet potato larger. Of course, I had to try the class Fullsteam, which is a very easy-drinking American-style Lager. My personal favorite was the Rocket Science, a hoppy American IPA. Overall, delicious beers in a really fun and beautifully created space.
  
  In addition to touring breweries, we also did our own tasting of local brews. Yum! This included the Sonoma Cider, a local cider brewery. We also tried the Star Hill Brewery Snow Blind Doppelbock, which had a caramel aroma and lightly malty flavor. And the New Belgium Accumulation, a white India Pale Ale. Sensing a theme here? They were all wintery/Christmas themed beers. Nice spices, very full-bodied, and delicious taste. Durham is very much a craft brew city great for exporting.
  
  Posted in Adventures, Cooking, Review, Travel | 0 Comments | Tagged beer, Durham, New Years, North Carolina, Travel
- Mountain State Brewing Co.
  
  Posted at 10:55 am by athenapappas, on June 24, 2014
  
  For Memorial Day weekend, our motley crew of city-folk adventured out the mountains of West Virginia for some fresh air and grilling. My one request was that we stop by the Mountain State Brewing Company, a local brewery. Above are Stephen and Gabe in front of the brewery’s pub. Inside, it had a very wooden-rustic look that felt very down-home, but not in a kitschy or fake way. At three in the afternoon, there weren’t many patrons, but the bartender was happy to help us out. They were also serving some really great looking sandwiches.
  
  So, the beer! First of all, the prices were great (although after being in New York long enough, just about any price for beer seems reasonable). The sample flight included their four main beers. From left to right are the darkest to the lightest. First is the Miner’s Daughter, an oatmeal stout. It wasn’t as heavy as other stouts I have tried, but still too dark for my taste. Next is the Seneca India Pale Ale (my second favorite), which had the great hoppy taste without the bitter aftertaste that many IPAs have. Third from the left is the Almost Heaven (are you sensing a West Virginia theme here yet?) Amber. This one was nice, lightly hopped with a caramel aftertaste. My favorite was the final, the Cold Trail Ale, a light but not too wheaty Blonde Ale. Our group took a six pack of the IPA and Blonde to enjoy by the lake later in the weekend.
  
  I found this little guy near the bar. Maybe it was a tiny bit kitschy, but that’s okay with me.
  
  I had to get a souvenir t-shirt! Even though it wasn’t my favorite beer, I did really love the design for this one. In addition to great beer, Mountain State does have excellent design for their packaging. They also have other brewery locations in the WV/PA area, but if you find yourself in a specialty beer store that carries Mountain State, I would highly recommend giving it a try.
  
  Posted in Adventures, Restaurants, Review, Travel | 0 Comments | Tagged beer, Blonde, brewery, country, country roads, IPA, Mountain State, Review, Travel, west virgina
- Adventures in Cooking: Beer Mac N Cheese
  
  Posted at 10:02 am by athenapappas, on May 6, 2014
  
  Sunday night, I decided to try a new mac and cheese recipe. This one comes from a friends Beer of the Month Newsletter, but they found it via livelovepasta. I’ve been wanting to try this one for awhile. I did make a few adjustments to the recipe just to save some money. I didn’t add the Romano cheese, Panko bread crumbs, or Parsley. I was able to find all of the ingredients I didn’t have at my local grocery store. For the beer, I choose Bell’s Amber Ale. Bell’s is a Michigan brewery, and it is always really exciting to see how it has grown in NYC. There is my Gouda ready to be shredded.
  
  Here are my ingredients all ready to go while the water boils. I personally find it easiest to get everything chopped, shredded, and measured out before I start cooking (or waiting for the water to boil). As a general rule of thumb, the time it takes for the pasta to actually cook is about equivalent to the time you need to make your cheese sauce. If you can time it just right, you will only need one timer going and everything will end up ready at about the same time. Also, Bell’s Amber is delicious! Not that I sampled any while cooking…
  
  Here is my cheese sauce. It was a bit darker in the pot. This was an incredibly easy cheese sauce to make. The recipe does warn that it won’t thicken like a regular cheese sauce, and it was correct. It is going to bake with the pasta for another 30 minutes (so be sure your pasta is also super a la dente), so it will thicken and adhere and do that mac n cheese sort of thing in the oven.
  
  Here is the finished result after 25 min. in the oven! I should have taken a video, this guy was bubbling. So delicious. The mac and cheese was the perfect creamy thickness with a smokey edge. It was perfectly fine without the extra garnishes (Panko, Romano, and Parsley), but if I were making this for guests, I would add those. I think this would also be really great with a smokey meat (panchetta or a thick cut bacon) and chives. I also would maybe sprinkle a bit more paprika at the end to taste. Overall, a great, quick mac and cheese for any beer lover.
  
  Posted in Cooking | 0 Comments | Tagged beer, Bell's, Gouda, Mac and Cheese
- Pumpkin Mania
  
  Posted at 12:56 pm by athenapappas, on April 25, 2014
  
  This past fall, I fully embraced the seasonal pumpkin fad as overdone as it might seem. One of the most exciting pumpkin adventures was the pumpkin cask ale at Brouwerij Lane, a fabulous beer store/bar in Greenpoint. Yes, that is a tap in a pumpkin that pours great beer. I don’t know that I would normally order a beer that pumpkin flavored, but it was totally worth it for the novelty of drinking an ale from a giant pumpkin. Although the weather was a bit nippy, there was a small outdoor area with communal picnic tables. In addition to a wide selection of bottles, they always have a rotating selection of draft beers in sizes from samples to growlers. The staff is always friendly and knowledgeable. If you are in the area, Brouwerij Lane is a great place to check out for craft beers.
  
  In addition to trying pumpkin in public, I also made my own pumpkin delicacies. Here, I might have been a bit more focused on my Halloween-esque red wine, but I was actually making pumpkin snickerdoodle cookies. I used this recipe, which made some seriously fluffy, delicious cookies. What I really like about these cookies is that they are a lot of fun to make. Also, I feel like the taste of pumpkin is just a nice after taste, it doesn’t overwhelm the cookie. The red wine was pretty good, too!
  
  Posted in Cooking, New York | 0 Comments | Tagged beer, Brouwerij Lane, pumpkin
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