SAVORY news and events (the week of March 24, 2024)
An Indian-inspired coffee shop, WhiskyX, "Women in Wine" and—a clown brunch?
—And I quote: “Pie can’t compete with cake. Put candles in a cake, it’s a birthday cake. Put candles in a pie, and somebody’s drunk in the kitchen.”—Jim Gaffigan
—Pop life: Don’t forget my other Substack: “Pop-Eds: My takes on pop culture.” Thank you so much to the people who’ve already subscribed. The latest entry (March 23) discusses Mississippi, bad carrots, March Madness and Joe Biden’s biggest re-election obstacle. Subscribe to andrew449.Substack.com to get all my thoughts.
And now on to culinary items…
—Contest: The chance to be in on all the action during the chef-studded James Beard Award weekend of June 8 in Chicago is rapidly ending.
Among other things, the grand prize winner will get a three-stay in a double-occupancy Hilton Hotels property; a chef’s tasting dinner for two at a Chicago-area James Beard Foundation-recognized restaurant; and admission for two to the awards ceremony. (For my out-of-town subscribers, there’s also round-trip coach airfare from anywhere in the country.)
Enter by March 31 at https://www.jamesbeard.org/sweepstakes.
—I’ll drink to that: On March 21, I was invited to check out dozens of whiskeys, rums, tequilas and other spirits at WhiskyX, which took place at the Chicago venue Morgan MFG and which hundreds of people attended.
WhiskyX has attracted crowds since 2017, and it’s easy to understand why. This particular event not only featured all of the brands of alcohol, but people could also find a cigar lounge, food trucks and even a barber who provided complimentary hair and beard trims. The biggest surprise for me was how much the new Crown Royal Blackberry appealed to me, as I thought the more upscale brands would be more to my liking.
Other WhiskyX events are slated to take place in other cities across the country, including NYC, Atlanta, Denver, Nashville and Los Angeles. Check out https://www.thewhiskyx.com/.
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