Good Food
Modernist Drinks, Geology and 'Terroir,' Margarita Dermatitis
Today, the intersection of science and alcohol: a geologist explains "terroir" and how a chemist turned bartender uses a medical centrifuge to perfect a cocktail.
Today's show is a geeky love fest between alcohol and science. North Carolina natives Brent Manning and Brian Simpson discuss why roasting local malts makes for a more interesting beer. Kevin Pogue, a Washington-based geologist, redefines terroir for local vintners and LA food writer Garrett Snyder visits Alex Day and Chris Day (no relation) at their cocktail-lab Chapter & Verse where they are utilizing centrifugal force to make better cocktails. Good Food producer Gillian Ferguson asks master sommelier Brian McClintic what it's like to take the notoriously difficult Master Sommelier exam (and then subjects him to a blind wine tasting). Plus, have you ever had a terrible sunburn after making Margaritas in the sun? If so, dermatologist Rajani Katta says you may be a victim of Margarita Dermatitis - an odd skin reaction that occurs when a squeeze of stray lime juice lands on your skin and is exposed to the sun. Jonathan Gold stops by to talk about Trois Mec and, at the market, Amelia Saltsman gives tips for grilling vegetables and Mike Cirone is back with his Blenheim apricots.
In this episode
7 storiesMarket Report
Amelia Saltsman is the author of The Santa Monica Farmers' Market Cookbook . This week she offers her tips for grilling vegetables and leafy greens. Check out her recipe for Perfectly Grilled Carrots on the Good Food blog . Farmer Mike Cirone is back at the Wednesday and Saturday farmers' market with his Blenheim apricots.
Read the story9 minLocal Malts for Local Beers
Brent Manning and Brian Simpson own Riverbend Malt House in Asheville, North Carolina. They are producing the first commercial malt in their area since before Prohibition. Read more about their operation in this article from Modern Farmer.
Read the story9 minThe Unforeseen Consequences of Making Margaritas in the Sun
Did you know that squeezing limes for Margaritas or shoving a wedge into your beer bottle can cause a serious skin reaction in the summer months? A stray squirt of lime juice on your arm can quickly turn to a blister when exposed to bright sun. Dr. Rajani Katta is a professor of dermatology at Baylor College of Medicine.
Read the story6 minModernist Mixology: How Bartenders Are Using Centrifuges to Perfect Your Cocktail
Garrett Snyder is the editor of Tasting Table Los Angeles . He visits with Alex Day and Chris Day (no relation) at Chapter & Verse , a cocktail lab in the Downtown LA Arts District to find out what technology they are utilizing to craft their cocktails.
Read the story7 minA Geologist Rethinks 'Terroir'
Professor Kevin Pogue studied geological composition of the Himalayan foothills in Pakistan, but after 9/11 the area became too dangerous. As a wine lover, he shifted his focus and now teaches geology at Whitman College where he schools his students in Terroir 101.
Read the story8 minThe Master Sommelier Exam: The Hardest Test You've Never Heard Of
Brian McClintic is one of the four sommeliers profiled in the documentary SOMM . The film follows the somms as they attempt to pass the Master Sommelier exam, a notoriously difficult feat that to date only 201 individuals worldwide have accomplished.
Read the story9 minTrois Mec: More than Just Three Guys in a Pizza Place
Jonathan Gold discusses Trois Mec , the much anticipated brick and mortar from Ludo LeFebvre and partners Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo. Known for his popular LudoBites pop ups, LeFebvre has settled down in a 26-seat former Raffallo's Pizza spot tucked in the corner of a nondescript parking lot at Highland and Melrose.
Read the story9 min