Homemade Peach Brandy

Last year, a good friend of mine and fellow blogger recommended that I try making his peach brandy. I had never made my own alcohol before so I thought why not, this would be the perfect time to start. So, six months ago I set about making peach brandy. I carefully peeled the peaches, stacked them in a jar, and poured in an inordinate amount of sugar. Next, I waited, and waited, and waited—It takes six months for the peaches and sugar to combine into a wonderful concoction of peach brandy. When the beginning of March hit, it was time to taste the fruits of my labor (pun intended). So based on the instructions, I strained the peaches in cheesecloth (twice) and poured the brandy into an air tight jar. I immediately wanted to taste it, but I have to be honest, I was a little nervous—what if I had done it wrong and it was dreadful? So I put a very small amount in a shot glass and took a sip…

Success! It was delicious. It is very sweet, but also a little syrupy. Instantly ideas started running though my head on what to do with the brandy (besides the obviously—drinking it straight). Some recipes and ideas were obvious—like putting it over ice cream with fresh peaches, but some surprised me. I have included a few of the recipes below of what I have done with the brandy. Note for all the recipes below: Do not use a large pint glass—the peach brandy, because it is thick, sinks to the bottom which does not allow you to enjoy the full flavors. I used a thin, tall glass similar to those that Pom tea is sold in. Also I mixed the drinks by pouring them into a pint glass and back into the Pom tea glass to ensure they were properly mixed.

Mint Peach Brandy Tonic

1. Put four to five mint leaves in a glass and muddle them to release the oils

2. Fill the glass with ice

3. Add 2.5 ounces of homemade peach brandy

4. Next add tonic water (I prefer Q Tonic because it has a cleaner taste)

5. Stir vigorously to combing the drink

6. Enjoy!

Coconut Peach Brandy Cooler

1. Fill a tall glass with ice

2. Next add 1 ounce of coconut vodka (I used Smirnoff)

3. Add 1.5 ounces of homemade peach brandy

4. Stir vigorously to combine the drink

5. Enjoy!

Lime and Peach Brandy Soda

1. Fill glass with ice

2. Next add 2.5 ounces of peach brandy

3. Add juice of one lime (anywhere between 0.5 ounces and 1 ounce of lime juice)

4. Fill the glass with soda water

5. Stir vigorously to combine the drink

5. Enjoy!

I hope you enjoy these drink recipes. I think they are fun summer drinks that are great to enjoy in the warm weather out on a porch or balcony. It must be said, however, that the brandy is delicious on its own as well—a perfect after dinner or dessert drink. Next up is pear brandy, which will be ready the first week of July, so look this summer for some fun drink ideas!

The recipe for the peach brandy can be found on my friend’s blog at: http://thehipflask.wordpress.com/peach-brandy-pictorial/

Ping Pong in London and DC

Ping Pong in London and DC

Ping Pong is without a doubt my favorite “chain” restaurant. I was introduced to the full experience in 2005 in London by my boyfriend who thought a wonderful afternoon out would be lunch at Ping Pong and a tour of the Wallace Collection—it was perfect. I had never had dim sum before, so I let him navigate the menu, which was completely foreign to me. He came up with the most wonderful combination of dim sum or “tiny parcels of deliciousness” as Ping Pong refers to them, some of which I will share with you below in the “Navigating the Menu” section. The food is consistently great and so are the drinks, which are unique combinations of fresh ingredients—shaken, stirred, or muddled into fabulous cocktails. Since 2005, I have introduced everyone who has spent time with me in London to the restaurant and now that there are two new locations in DC, I have pretty much “forced” everyone I know to accompany me. Most recently I celebrated my birthday there with a group of close friends and it was a perfect dining experience. I highly suggest trying the restaurant with a few friends or even a big group.

Because it is fun to go to a restaurant with recommendations I thought it would be nice to include a section on how to navigate the menu—sharing with you some of my most favorite items. The dim sum generally comes three to a dish and is perfect for sharing. It is great to have a meal and not feel overwhelmed by the portion or so full that you can barely get out of your seat. I generally recommend 5-8 dishes for two people—depending on if it is lunch or dinner and the level of hunger. Certain selections on the Ping Pong menu change roughly every Spring and Winter, so I have noted that in my recommendations below.

Navigating the Menu/Kate’s Recommendations

Nibbles and Sauces
*I generally skip this section, but sometimes I like a little nibble with my cocktail
Edamame (also called Maodou)

Soups and Salads
Smoked Duck and Citrus Salad

Fried and Griddled
Crispy Duck Spring Roll
Chicken and Black Pepper Spring Roll
Vietnamese Rice Paper and Shrimp Roll
Spinach and Mushroom Dumpling
Prawn Toast with Sesame Seeds (London Only)

Baked
Chicken Puff (Winter)

Rice Dishes
King Prawn and Scallop Sticky Rice
Seafood Sticky Rice Wrapped in Lotus Leaf (Spring)

Special Dishes
Crispy Prawn Ball (my best friend insists we each get our own order)
Luxury Vegetable Spring Roll (Winter)

Steamed
Har Gau (My Favorite)
Scallop and Shiitake Dumpling
Black Prawn Dumpling (Spring)
Pork Shu Mai
Seafood Dumpling
Chicken Shu Mai

Desserts
Roasted Pineapple and Coconut Spring Roll (Winter)

Cocktails
Ping Pong
Asian Manhattan (Spring)
Lemongrass and Lime (Winter)

The dishes selected above are my favorites and samplings of each really compliment the experience. I try to get a few in each category (although generally I do not get dessert)—Trying one of the cocktails is a must, but if you are not interested in imbibing any of the flowering teas are amazing! The restaurant is perfect for happy hour dinner and/or a light lunch. Their happy hour consists of a selection of reduced price dim sum and cocktails each day.

My final rating is 5 out of 5 stars for food, cocktails, and providing a consistently good dining experience.

I hope you all a least try Ping Pong once, particularly if you have never had dim sum. If you do, let me know what dishes are your favorites—Happy Eating!

For more information: www.pingpong.us (for US locations) or www.pingpong.com (for UK locations)