Where Pittsburgh Eats

Whether you are a whisky enthusiast or just enjoy the occasional dram, a visit to a whisky distillery to see at first hand how your favourite single malt is crafted from the natural ingredients of the Scottish landscape, can be both memorable and enjoyable. Islay is the Southernmost of the Western isles and well worth a visit just for the scenery alone, but there are no fewer than eight distilleries to visit, producing some of the best single malt whisky.

It is not difficult to find excellent accommodation on Islay and at Bowmore distillery they even have their own holiday cottages where you can stay and enjoy a complementary tour of the distillery and sample their excellent single malt whisky. There are 130 miles of beautiful coastline, around which seven of the distilleries are sited. The inhabitants number approximately 3500 and there is a strong community spirit. There are a number of festivals throughout the year including the festival of Malt and Music in May, which celebrates the rich heritage in Whisky production on Islay.

The first people to set up stills and produce whisky on Islay are thought to have been Irish monks in the 14th century The monks found the island so suited to the production of what was known as Uisage Beathe (water of life) because of the unlimited supply of peat and pure soft water in the lochs and rivers, and an early strain of barley was grown by the crofters known as Bere.

Bowmore is the oldest distillery on Islay where it has stood on the shores of Loch Indaal in the town of Bowmore since 1779. It was started by a local merchant David Simpson who built the distillery and began producing the whisky which, in years to come would be sought after the world over. The distillery has changed hands four times in the last two hundred years and is now owned by Morrison Bowmore distillers who have owned it since 1994 and who carry on the traditional methods of production.

Single malt whiskies have a wide diversity of flavour and taste, and no two are identical even if the distilleries that produce them are side by side. The individual character of each whisky is determined by fermentation time, style of stills and operation, type of condensers used and the amount of spirit saved known as cut. Peat, barley, water and wood strongly influence the flavour of the whisky produced at Bowmore, which is known for its warm smoky character with peaty, toffee flavours and some floral scents with a trace of linseed oil.

The quality of Islay whisky is strongly influenced by the sea spray that sweeps across the island with the winter gales, and sinks through the heather into the peat. Bowmore distillery takes its water from the pure source of the Laggan River which flows down from the mountains carrying with it the rich flavours and colouring from the peat as it goes.

Bowmore is one of only a few distilleries to still produce their own floor malted barley in the traditional way. The island peat is also used in the malting process which further adds to the quality and flavour. The barley which is sourced from the east of Scotland is turned by hand by the maltman using a wooden shovel.

At Bowmore Distillery traditional methods are used by a very experienced team, most of whom have worked at the distillery for many years. Demand for Bowmore single malt whisky is high and it is exported to forty countries around the world. A bottle of Black Bowmore, distilled in 1897 was recently sold at auction for 1400. The whisky if left to mature in the famous Bowmore vaults where the damp cellars are below sea level, keeping them at a constant temperature the year round, stored in casks of Spanish and American Oak which adds to the rich mellow flavours of the maturing whisky. The workforce take great pride in the single malt whisky they produce and their constant efforts make Bowmore a world class dram.

If you are looking for a new way to spend your weekends that provides endless opportunities then you might want to consider making your own wine. A home wine making kit makes it easier than ever to fill your own wine cellar with spectacular wines. You can make your own wine from scratch and modify each batch to your taste.

Many wine lovers enjoy the freedom of making their own wine. This is perhaps one reason why the home wine making kit is such a popular gift. Sellers find that their kits are generally in high demand. Making your own wine is an enjoyable hobby with many possibilities.

You might find that you like your own wine more than your old favorite wine from the store. For many people, a home wine making kit becomes more than just a hobby. It is easy to create a tasty wine that you can even sell yourself.

In fact, it is possible to compete with wine makers all over the world if you properly market your new creation. The process of making wine isn’t even that complicated and if you spend a little time learning the basics you can be on your way to discovering the perfect wine recipe.

Your Own Winery

If you decide that you would like to make a little extra money from your home wine making kit then you need to think about a label for your bottles. You will want to come up with a good title for your “winery” that stands out from the others. You might also consider an original slogan that describes your wine. You will also want to learn a little about how to market your wine.

The next step after coming up with a name is to decide how you will market your wine. There are many marketing books available that can give you the tips you need to get the public interested in your creation. Once you identify the potential markets and how best to reach your buyers then you are ready to make money with your home wine making kit.

After the decision has been made to sell your wine you will then need to perfect a recipe or two. This is the fun part of the home wine making kit. After you assemble your kit and acquire the ingredients then you are ready to begin a quest for the perfect wine.

This is the fun part of making your own wine. Once you get your kit assembled and learn how to make your first batch then you are ready to experiment and modify your recipe until you discover the perfect combination of ingredients. Once you fall in love with one of your own wines then you are ready to sell it to the world.

[I:http://wherepittsburgheats.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/JasonJia19.jpg]China is famous for its tea and tea sets, especially unique Yixing purple clay teapots. Some Chinese tea lovers see collecting purple clay teapots as a great pleasure. Mr. Liu Tianbao has evolved from an amateur teapot buyer to a master purple clay teapot collector.

The Costly Lesson

Liu was first exposed to purple clay when he was a little boy. His father had a miniature garden, and collected dozens of purple clay garden pots. Liu learned from his father the unique advantages of Yixing purple clay.

Over 30 years ago, there were several curio markets in China’s capitol city. Following his father’s footsteps, Liu started to shop around at places where various folk arts and crafts were sold, looking for valuable purple play.

It was in one of these markets that Liu made a big mistake that he would remember for the rest of his life. In southeastern Beijing lies the well-known Panjiayuan Secondhand Antique Market. A lot of dealers go there before daybreak to prepare their wares. One day, Liu bought 50 secondhand purple clay teapots. He quickly brought them home and soaked them in water, and he was almost brought to tears. The handles and spouts of each and every teapot dropped off one after another. He realized the he had been cheated, and bought nothing more than broken pots.

An (Almost) Lost Love

[I:http://wherepittsburgheats.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/JasonJia20.jpg]In 1986, Liu made a trip to Tianjin. At a local antique market he took a fancy to a quaint purple clay teapot. Regrettably, the price was more than he could afford, and the seller refused to bargain with Liu. In the end, Liu had to part with the pot reluctantly. However, this was not the end. In 1996, Liu unexpectedly discovered the same teapot at a secondhand antique market in Beijing. He didn’t skip the chance a second time. He bought it right away.

According to his judgment, this pot was crafted several hundred years ago by a famous purple clay teapot maker named Pei Shimin. It featured a coat of yellow glaze on its surface. Finishing this pot called for two firings, and the technique was very hard to master. Today, a teapot like this can only be admired at the Palace Museum in Beijing.

Save a Pot or Save a Hip?

Understanding the true value of a purple clay teapot, Liu knows how to cherish them. Once he bought a purple clay teapot made in the late Qing dynasty. He carefully put it into his knapsack, and bicycled towards home humming a little tune.

But all of sudden, an old man walked in front of Liu. To prevent from bumping into the old man, Liu rolled down and off his bicycle. In the blink of an eye, he gripped his teapot fast, and let his hipbone, instead of the teapot, hit the ground first. As a result, a hipbone fracture laid him up for twelve months. Whenever his friends referred to his incident, they would gasp in admiration at how Liu loves his purple clay teapots much more than his bones.

Over the past 30 years, Liu has been addicted to collecting Yixing purple clay teapots. His face lights up as if he was talking about a family member whenever someone mentions his pots. He seldom makes a mistake now, and as a matter of fact, he has developed a very good eye for purple clay teapots.

Liu says that each of his purple clay teapots contains its maker’s originality, craftsmanship, and aesthetic standard. And as far as Liu is concerned, the teapots he collected prove his strong and unique vision.

Who was the first person that discovered the distinctive purple clay ideal for making teapots? How deep do purple clay teapot collectors love their treasures? There are many interesting Chinese legends and folklore that aim to answer these questions.

A mysterious monk, the father of purple clay

[I:http://wherepittsburgheats.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/JasonJia12.jpg] Long, long ago, in southeast China’s small town named Yixing, the locals were enjoying the tranquility of the country life.

But one day, a strange monk showed up at the town. He shouted while walking, “Clay makes you rich! Clay makes you rich!” The villagers looked at the monk curiously. The monk saw the confusion in the villagers’ eyes, so he shouted again, “You can be rich if you are not royal family members!” Hearing these words, the villagers grew more bewildered, and gazed at the monk moving about. Soon the monk raised his voice, and set off in quicker paces.

One sly villager decided to find out the hidden meaning, and went after the monk. In a short while, they were at a nearby mountain. However, the monk was gone. The man tried to find the monk once more, but failed. Instead, he only found several freshly-dug caves. He cautiously came up to the mouth of one cave and looked inside. To his surprise, the caves were full of colored clay.

The elder took some of the colorful clay back home. He shaped and fired the clay. When the pottery came out of the kiln, he could not believe his eyes, for it featured unique colors. This matter reverberated through the town. The villagers followed the elder’s example, and the Yixing purple clay industry began.

A pauper with his only purple clay teapot

Once upon a time, there was a rich man who particularly enjoyed drinking tea. No matter who came to his home for tea, rich or poor, he would treat them well.

Once, a ragged panhandler wandered over to the man’s house. He asked for a cup of tea, rather than food. With no prejudice, a butler ushered the panhandler in, and poured a cup of tea for him. The panhandler caught a glimpse of the tea, and then surprisingly commented, “The tea leaves are not good enough.”

“Does this guy know what good tea is?” the servant said to himself, and made another cup of tea with the best tea leaves. The panhandler smelled at the rim of the cup, and commented again, “The tea leaves are good, but the water is subpar. The best water for brewing tea comes from the mountains.”

“He must be no ordinary pauper,” the servant thought, and then he immediately made another cup of tea with the mountain water kept in the residence. After taking a sip, the pauper made his comment again, “This water is ok, but the firewood is not the best. You know, the firewood from the mountainside facing the sun is too soft, but wood on the other side is usually good.” The servant marveled at the pauper’s words, so he promptly brewed tea once again using the good firewood, and asked the rich man to come out and meet the strange pauper.

When the tea was ready, the rich man and the beggar drank a cup of it together. Then the beggar remarked, “Well, this time the tea leaves, water, firewood and fire are good, but the pot is not good.” “This is the best pot I have,” the rich man replied.

The panhandler then reached and pulled out a dainty purple clay teapot featuring soft and inviting luster. “Try again with this one,” he said with a smile. This time the tea tasted so good that no one could say no to it. Realizing the true value of this pot, the landlord made a prompt decision: He offered to purchase the teapot from the panhandler on the spot.

Saying nothing at all, the panhandler picked up his belongings and was about to go away. The landlord stood in the way at once, offered in a high voice, “I want to exchange half my house and property for that teapot.” The panhandler did not reply, and just tried to leave. The landlord grew so anxious that he raised his pitch again, “All right, my entire house and property, ok?” Recognizing how much the landlord loves a good purple clay teapot, the panhandler smiled and said, “Well, I used to be wealthier than you, but now I have lost everything except this pot, and there’s no way I’ll trade it for anything.”

Is a purple clay teapot worth a poor girl’s life?

[I:http://wherepittsburgheats.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/JasonJia14.jpg] Once upon a time, there was a local official who was absolutely nuts about purple clay teapots. In his eyes, the most precious one in his collection was a teapot crafted by the most famous master potter of that time.

Once at a tea party, a maidservant was serving tea to the administrator and his friends. All of a sudden, an accident took place. The cherished purple clay teapot accidentally slipped from the maidservant’s hand, and broke into pieces. The administrator hit the ceiling, and wanted to get reimbursed by taking the frightened girl’s life.

When the artist learned about that, he decided to save the maid as quickly as possible. He rushed to the local official’s residence, carrying a dozen of his choice, handmade teapots. He proposed to the official, “You may choose any one of the most elaborate teapots I have made if you release the maid.”

This suggestion made the administrator quite pleased. He picked one of the ten pots, and ordered his guards to unshackle the maidservant.

Later on, the administrator brought forward another question, “Sir, would you like to sell me the other teapots?” The potter rose to his feet silently, and smashed every one of them.

The magistrate was stupefied, and felt deeply regretful. He asked why the master potter would rather break the pots than sell them to him. The potter answered, “I broke them and they don’t have to be reimbursed by anybody’s life. But if they are broken in your home, who knows how many people will have to die!

In recent years, we have witnessed a proliferation of wine clubs due in part to an increased interest in wine connoisseurship. There are several benefits to belonging to a wine club. Membership is not limited to expert vintners or sommeliers but in fact is available to whosoever will. Again, there are a bevy of bonuses associated with belonging to a wine club. One bonus is a wine of the month perk. This is the cornerstone of belonging to a wine club.

Many clubs send you a complimentary bottle of wine each month. A lot of these wines are new entries and come with detailed descriptions of their origins and the processes involved in its aging and even the awards that it has received thus far. The perks dont stop there, as a member, you are sent recipe books, wine catalogues, newsletters and party invites; the list goes on.

There are many perks that come with being a club member. You are sent recipe books, wine catalogues, party invites and so on. Your benefits are given to you on a club membership status basis. Premium club members receive certain things that basic club members do not. Greater discounts still are given to elite club members. There are health benefits as well associated with a regular intake of wine. Studies show that 1 to 2 glasses of wine a day go a long way in regulating a healthy blood flow.

When acquiring a wine club membership, there a few things one should consider. First of all, on a face value appraisal, you have to decide if you are getting the most bang for your buck. Are the services proffered worth the fee Im payingdo they offer a comprehensive package, complete with such activities as guided vineyard tours, wine tasting galas or soires and wine of the month considerations? Do they have credentialed experts working for them that are capable of making sound wine recommendations? Do they have any international offerings as part of their selection? Do they feature wines produced in other parts of the world, etc? These are all questions one should ask when choosing a wine club.

Lastly, if you drink wine on occasion or daily, having a wine club membership is a good decision. You save money in the long run. If you were to only drink the wine offered you by the wine of the month perk associated with your membership, you would still save a bundle while enjoying wines from all over the world. Enjoy and remember that wine clubs are for us all.

The sound of savoury foods is mouth watering, but the effect might be swelling. Most savoury foods have high sugar contents and this is very damaging to the arteries of the body. Sugar can be found in its natural and organic form usually in plants or herbs or in cooked food containing carbohydrates.

They smell and taste good and highly nutritious especially for babies. Some vegetables which are rich in carbohydrates often contain starch that produces sugar when overcooked. Most fruit purees contain very rich nutrients and these can be mixed with fruits and vegetables like sweet potatoes, carrots, apples or bananas to make a fine dessert without sugar.

Artificial sweeteners or sugar in disguise is read as dextrose, fructose, glucose and sucrose and products containing them have higher sugar contents than those found in ice creams. Science has proven that synthetic sweetener leads to high risk of heart ailments and usual users of these products are diabetics which complicate the problem. This is a common problem with products containing sugar in disguise in labels which can be very confusing.

Anything that is pleasant and attractive to the sense of taste and smell fall under the category of savory. Therefore, it does not mean that only sweet snacks or sweetened products are savoury foods. It is not only sweetness that makes a food mouth watering but spicy and salty foods too are considered savoury.

Nowadays, vegetarian menus can be prepared with ingredients that are very pleasant to ones palate. Everything that is used to create these menus is all plant products which include seaweeds. There are several varieties of edible seaweeds that are beneficial for inside and outside treatment of our body.

The dilemma we are facing is the fact that most commercially grown vegetables and fruits are bombarded with chemical fertilizers. These types of inorganic fertilizers which are absorbed by the plants are harmful to the health of humans who eat these plants. It often takes good judgment when we want to enjoy savoury foods.

Acai juice is a fruit juice made from the acai berry. The acai berry commonly found in swamps and floodplains in the rain forests of South America. It is the fruit of the acai palm tree which is a member of the genus Euterpe, which consists of eight species of palm trees. These acai palm trees are native to Central and South America, from Belize southward to Brazil and Peru.

When the acai berries are young, they are green in color. When they are older, they turn more purple. Some of them are very dark purple but others are lighter in color. They are as small as blueberries, some are smaller but some are bigger. An acai palm tree are very tall trees and can grow as tall as 15 to 25 meters high and near the top of the tree are the little acai berries in bunches, similar to grapes. The stone in each berry is very large.

People in Central and South America have long known the great benefits that the acai berry offers. The little berry contains more nutrients, vitamins and minerals than most other fruits. They would drink the acai juice in the morning before work and with other meals throughout the day. The berry is a staple food source in the countries where they grow.

Pronounced “ah-sigh-ee, the little purple fruit has made its way outside of its native countries. The acai fruit has been a popular fruit among in Brazil and Peru but now it is also a hit in the US. In the US, however, there are no fresh acai berries, only acai juices. Since the acai palm trees do not grow in the US, drinking acai juice is the only option for people of the United States.

When the acai juice was not so popular, you could only find a few brands in only selected, specialized health food stores. But, now that the demand for acai based products has skyrocketed, there seems to be more acai juice brands than most other juices. Two famous companies have attracted the most attention. They are Sambazon and MonaVie. Sambazon has a wide range of acai products, not just acai juices, whereas MonaVie is a network marketing company with only a few lines of products.

No matter where you buy your acai berry, you need to do your research beforehand. You can find out a lot of about berry as well as its nutritional content before you make a purchase. By doing so, you will be able to avoid falling for scams. There are many scams that take advantage of the acai berry craze nowadays. If you are afraid of buying online, you can just visit your local grocery stores and see what acai juice they have.

It might not sound such a good idea to be thinking of wine accessories when lots of people are trying their best just to make ends meet. But for those who can afford it, why should they stop enjoying wine just because the economy is bad? It is not the peak of arrogance or indifference when one enjoys a glass of bubbly once in a while.

Anyway, wine is not always expensive. Local and foreign brands are available at reasonable and affordable prices, even if you are only earning median wages. It is less costly than going to the heart of the wine countries of Italy and France.

Enhance wine-drinking with the proper wine accessories. The first thing you should have, after you have secured the wine, is a functional corkscrew. Never ignore this little doodad, and if it prevents cork from getting into your wine, it has done its job.

You can surely improve your wine-drinking habits with some proper wine accessories. With that, a decent corkscrew would greatly be necessary. This could preserve not just the taste of the wine but could also work as a good accessory to improve its appearance.

The winged corkscrew is very popular. But it is the one of the worst. The auger or worm, the curly metal in the middle is not long enough to go far into the cork for a good hold. It merely weakens the cork, breaking it into pieces as you pull the cork out.

Get for yourself a waiters corkscrew instead. With a worm, a lever, and a small knife, it is complete. With it you are able to take off the corks protective covering and cleanly take out the cork itself.

A carafe or decanter is another indispensable accessory, as it lets wine breathe, letting oxygen get to the wine to pick up the flavor and aroma. Taking out the cork is not good enough because the bottle opening is still too small for oxygen to come in. Put wine into a carafe or decanter, one of those wonderful wine accessories.

Acai juice is a fruit juice made from the acai berry. The acai berry commonly found in swamps and floodplains in the rain forests of South America. It is the fruit of the acai palm tree which is a member of the genus Euterpe, which consists of eight species of palm trees. These acai palm trees are native to Central and South America, from Belize southward to Brazil and Peru.

The acai berry is green when young. A young acai berry can be light green but its color darkens and turns purple as the berry ages. The small berries grow on top of the acai palm trees in bunches, similar to grapes. While the fruit is tiny, its stone inside is large in comparison. The stone makes up about 80% of the acai fruit. Each berry contains only a small amount of the acai pulp which is the best part of the fruit.

People in Central and South America have long known the great benefits that the acai berry offers. The little berry contains more nutrients, vitamins and minerals than most other fruits. They would drink the acai juice in the morning before work and with other meals throughout the day. The berry is a staple food source in the countries where they grow.

Pronounced “ah-sigh-ee, the acai fruit has been a popular fruit among the people of its native land for generations. In the US, acai palm trees do not grow so people drink acai juice instead of eating acai berries. Recently, the acai berry has become the subject of a North American health craze with many companies introducing various acai juices, health products and weight loss supplements.

When the acai juice was not so popular, you could only find a few brands in only selected, specialized health food stores. But, now that the demand for acai based products has skyrocketed, there seems to be more acai juice brands than most other juices. Two famous companies have attracted the most attention. They are Sambazon and MonaVie. Sambazon has a wide range of acai products, not just acai juices, whereas MonaVie is a network marketing company with only a few lines of products.

Before you buy any acai juice or other acai berry products, make sure that you have done your research thoroughly. You should find out about the nutritional content of the acai berry as well as the nutrition facts of the acai juice you are interested in. Some juices are more nutritious than others. By doing research, you will be able to avoid falling for scams that seem to be common nowadays.

Drinking Beer, along with other Alcoholic beverages is most certainly one of the worlds favorite pastimes. Watching sports, sitting at the beach, and basically any other activity you can think of can be significantly improved with Beer. (except maybe activities that include driving.) Just like any other pastime beer costs money. Beer can add up quickly depending on how much you drink. Thankfully a lot of beer companies have turned a sympathetic eye to this problem and produced cheap beer.

Of course the lower price comes with an added cost, namely a lower quality product, but hey you get what you pay for, and some of these ‘cheap beers’ I have trouble even regarding a beer. Finding a cheap beer that you can both enjoy drinking and that doesn’t empty you back account and your glass is a true challenge.

Finally I’m going to give you some recommendations, and I promise if you take these to heart you will not be disappointed. Even though many of the local restaurants in your area might only have a small selection, you can always find a much larger selection and your local grocery store or Walmart.

If your looking for quality at a low price, my recommendation would have to be Miller Lite, especially from a draft I find this beer goes down fairly smooth, and if I don’t feel like dropping the cash for the expensive stuff this is usually my drink of choice. Coors is a fairly decent second but I will always go with Miller if given the option.

Just like most things in life, Beer comes down to personal preference. You like what you like, get used to drinking it, and stick with it. My hope is that after reading this article you are encouraged to try something new next time you need to stock the fridge. Good Luck, and Happy Drinking!