Beer and Bacon Hot Potato Salad

Beer and Bacon Potato Salad is my boozed up version of Hot German Potato Salad.  Traditional Hot German Potato Salad is made with a vinegar based dressing and slightly sweetened.  In my potato salad, I'm using beer and malt extract. This dish also freezes very well, and is wonderful for breakfast topped with eggs over easy. Ingredients: 5 lbs red potatoes, washed, cut into 1-2 inch cubes 24 oz raw bacon, cut into 1/2 inch pieces. I prefer to use peppered bacon, but you can use regular smoked bacon. At least. More bacon is preferable. 1 large yellow onion, diced. 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar 1/2 to 3/4 cup malt extract (I used extra pale) 3 bottles of a lager or something that is not a stout or porter. I used (512) Wit. You can use a generic brand here if absolutely necessary. 1 bottle of a wit or hefe.  This will be added directly into the potatoes, so make sure it is something you like to drink.  Tools: Colander Large pot(s) for boiling the potatoes Heavy large pan for frying the potatoes Place beer and potatoes in a large pot and start the burner.  If there isn't enough beer to cover the potatoes, you can add water.  Allow the potatoes and beer to come to a boil.  Boil for about 15-20 minutes until the potatoes are tender.  Larger pieces of potatoes will take longer to cook.  The potatoes are done if you can pierce them easily with a fork.  The beer and water mixture will probably get foamy and gross.  Make sure to watch it the pot carefully. While the potatoes are cooking, fry up the bacon bits (you can use bacon end and pieces as well) over medium heat.  You want to make sure the fat renders out.  Having the fat is critical for this dish.  If there is not enough fat or if you are vegetarian, you may substitute 1 cup of butter.  Once most of the fat is rendered, add the onion and cook until the onions are transluscent.  Remove most of the bacon and onions from the pan.  Leave the fat in the pan.  The potatoes should be done by about now.  Drain the potatoes, and carefully place into the hot frying pan full of bacon fat and/or butter. Allow the potatoes to fry until they are golden brown on the bottom.  You might  need to do this in 2 batches.  Once the bottom is fried, mix the potatoes around and scrape the bottom of the pan.  You want to mix the potatoes and fat together with the crusty yummy bits.  Add the malt extract, apple cider vinegar, and about 1/2 cup of beer into the mix with the burner on low.  The bottom should continue to cook.  Add more beer until the potatoes are somewhat smashed.  Add more beer until the potatoes reaches the consistency you like.  I used about a cup and a half of beer.  Taste the potatoes as you cook as well.  It may or may not need more malt extract or beer as needed.  Also, use very good beer. No cheap stuff.  No amount of bacon fat can cover up bad beer taste. Add salt and pepper as needed. Bacon cooking. Potatoes are baking. Finished product! Heart attack on a plate!

Win Tickets to Cocktail Throwndown Sept. 24th #cocktailriot

Winners so far:
Ryan Snedegar
Kay Marley-Dilworth
Chelsea Stark
Sinda
Jay Campbell

Dog friendly places named were: North by Northwest, Spiderhouse, Cuatro's, Uncle Billy's,Dog and Duck, Gueros, Opal Divine's, Scholz's, Gingerman, Draught House, Black Sheep Lodge, Drungo's Ice House, BB Rover's, Zax's Pints, The Grove, Luster Pearl Bar, Max's Wine Dive, Tiniest Bar in Texas, Waterloo Ice House, Cool River, Crown and Anchor, and Moonshine.

Heya Readers,

I have 10, yes, 10 tickets to Cocktail Throwdown this year.  To win tickets (they will be given away in pairs, 5 pairs total), you must email or @twitter me with the answer to this question.  First 5 correct replies via email OR twitter wins!  Each winner will need to provide me with his/her full name and full name of guest.  My twitter is @misohungry, and my email address is jennie@misohungrynow.com.

Are you ready?  Get set........ Go!

Name five or more official dog friendly brew pubs or bars in Austin. The rules:
1. Five or more Austin proper locations. Don't name a bar in New Jersey that is dog friendly.
2. They must be officially dog friendly (on the Austindogfriendly.com list).
3. Brew pub is a place that brews beer and serves food.
4. A bar is a place that serves alcoholic beverages.  The bar may or may not have a limited menu of food.
5. You may also name a restaurant that has an extensive bar or wine menu such as Peche or Fino.  Neither are dog friendly, so no freebies here. 

Get Started now!  I'll edit this post when I get the names of the winners.  I will be posting the winners' names here as well.

Previous post on the finalists below:

If you thought Cupcake Smackdown1.0 was a blast, here's an event that will knock your socks off.  Cocktail Throwdown is just around the corner.  After receiving tasty cocktail recipes from Austin bars, 5 finalists were chosen.  

The finals take place on Sept. 24 from 5:30-7:30 p.m on South Congress (location information will be sent to winners of the tickets).  The Cocktail Throwdown is an annual contest to name the official drink of Austin.  The winner receives a custom Gibson Guitar with their logo on it, a couple of day passes to the ACL festival, a national news release announcing their victory, and a year of promotion by our media team.

Eleisha Eagle will play a rockin’ set for the night, Frank will be providing the tasty bites, local beer will be provided for those hops and barley lovers, & Tito's will also be hand pouring their signature cocktails. Door Prizes include: an Austin gift basket, a Tito’s gift basket and the big one: two round-trip tickets on JetBlue to any of their destinations that fly nonstop to Austin.

To win tickets, stay posted for the contest.  I only have 5 sets of 2 tickets (10 tickets total) to give away.  They are sure to go fast!

Here are the cocktail throwdown finalists:

·         Mole on the Rocks, by Fino
·         The Enlightened Austin Martini, by La Condesa
·         The Lady Bird, by Stephen F’s Bar & Terrace
·         The Redbud, by Paggi House
·         Shirley Bird Tea, by Hyatt Lost Pines Resort & Spa

Austin's Best of party at a Best of Austin winning bar, The Gingerman

I'm still in shock that I wound up as the Austin Chronicle's Best of 2009 Most Diverse Portfolio.  With that said, @windaddict thinks it is high time that we celebrate the recognition by having beer and food made beer.  The eats menu has not been finalized, but I'm guessing that there will be cupcakes.  :o)  This party is not just a celebration, but a big thanks to those who helped get Keep Austin Dog Friendly, Austin Drive Clean, and MisoHungry where it is now.  We hope for many more fun-filled years to come.

Location: The Gingerman 301 Lavaca St Austin, TX 78701 (512) 473-8680 
When: Sunday, Sept. 20th, 2009, 5-7 pm
Why: Because we love you.
What to bring: yourself and some cash for booze, also some room for grub.

Below is @windaddict's facebook event. Feel free to RSVP, but not necessary.  This event is also dog friendly.  Hope to see ya there!

Come celebrate Jennie's Best of Austin '09 Award at a Best of Austin '09 winning bar. To thank all of you for your support, Jennie will bring a selection of her beer creations for everyone to enjoy. We hope to see you there!

Read about Jennie's award:

"Most Diversified Portfolio: Jennie Chen
What would your life look like if you could focus your energy on your favorite things and then become an expert in all of them? With a résumé that reads like a Choose Your Own Adventure novel, MisoHungry Makes It With Moonshine blogger and veritable modern Renaissance woman Jennie Chen might know exactly what that feels like. MisoHungry is primarily foodie-focused, touching on topics such as cooking and baking with alcohol, specifically local craft brews, as well as restaurant reviews, food event notices, and cheerleading her own favorite delicious finds. She's probably best known for throwing this year's Cupcake Smackdown, pitting local purveyors of the delightful nibblies in a copious contest of crumb. But hold on to your leash! Chen is also the force behind Keep Austin Dog Friendly, an informative website listing dog-friendly restaurants, businesses, off-leash park locations, dog events, and more. Not impressed? Chen also created the Austin Drive Clean group, open to anyone "who wants to learn how to live green and drive clean." And dig this: While Chen's not practicing fuel-efficient driving, spending time with her pooch, or flashing her local foodie-finess, she splits her time as a DNA collector for the University of North Texas Health Science Center, through which she has worked with the Texas Attorney General and state law authorities, and as a research assistant and graduate lecturer at Texas A&M. So you have a choice: Look at what Jennie Chen has accomplished as inspiration to follow your own dreams, or sink deeper into that couch, potato, and give up now. misohungrynow.blogspot.com, austindogfriendly.blogspot.com, www.austindriveclean.com "

http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Awards/BestOfAustin?Year=2009&BOACategory=Politics%20%26%20Personalities&Poll=Critics

The Ispahan Cocktail - Best in Show at First Yelp Cocktail Throwdown

Yelp's Elite event was a cocktail throwdown, not to be confused with the upcoming Cocktail Throwdown on Sept. 24th.  For the Yelp event, Elite members were asked to submit up to 3 original cocktail recipes.  The list of cocktail names were voted upon by the members, and the top 5 were served at the event tonight.  The other cocktails were the Beer Margarita, Make Her Mojito, Bee's Knees, and Intoxicated Mojito (I think).  
 My cocktail was based off of a cupcake (surprise!) My ispahan cupcake is Amaretto Cake, brushed with rose water, filled with Lychees and Raspberries, topped with St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur Swiss Buttercream.  It won Best in Show, and with that, I won a gigantic basket of libations from Twin Liquors!  Yay! Here's the recipe.  Enjoy! Photo above by John Knox.

 
 Ispahan Cocktail

The ispahan is a signature creation of Pierre Hermé, a French pastry chef who has been dubbed the "Picasso of Pastry-making".  The combination of rose, raspberry, and lychees was first used in macaroons, but it now more common (relatively) in other pasties such as cakes and cupcakes.  The name Ispahan, also known as 'Pompon des Princes" is actually the name for pink half-opened rose that grows wild in Iran. 
 

	1/4 oz Chambord
	3 oz lychee juice (from can or fresh)
	1 oz Vodka
	2 oz club soda
	Splash St. Germain Elderflower liqueur
	Garnishes: Whole Raspberries, Whole Lychee fruit (canned or fresh), fresh rose petals (preferably edible)

Combine chambord, lychee juice, and vodka in a shaker.  Shake with ice for 10 seconds and pour into martini glass straining out the ice. Pour club soda into the glass as you pour the chambord, lychee juice, and vodka mixture.  Float a splash of St. Germain on top of the drink.  Garnish with whole raspberry, lychee fruit, and fresh rose petal. Place lychee fruit and raspberry inside the rose petal like a cradle.  Using a cocktail sword or other item, pierce through the rose petal, then fruit, then rose petal again. The fruit should be secured inside the rose petal. 

*Lychees can be found canned at any local Asian market or event specialty stores such as Whole Foods or Central Market. The liquid from the canned lychees can be used as the lychee juice.

The cupcakes.

More cupcake please.

St. Germain Elderflower

My prize!