DIY ideas for National Margarita Day

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DIY ideas for National Margarita Day. Photo: Twang, used with permission.

Thursday February 22 is National Margarita Day and for anyone looking for some last-minute DIY cocktail ideas, Twang is sharing a twist on the typical margarita and a recipe using their products. Anyone can use these ideas to create their own cocktail in the comfort of their own home. Twang is a family-owned and operated creator and manufacturer of premium-flavored salts, sugars and seasonings based in Texas. Twang’s product lines include Twang-A-RitaBeer Salt and more, all designed to easily add flavor to drinks and elevate at-home alcoholic beverages to cocktail bar status. Twang’s products are available throughout the country in 46 states, in grocery stores, convenience stores and online. (Twang, 2018)

Orange Pomegranate Margarita:
1 oz. pomegranate juice
1 oz. orange juice
.5 oz fresh lime juice
2 oz Tequila Blanco
1/2 oz Cointreau
1/2 oz light agave syrup
Twang-A-Rita Golden Roar Salt

Prepare the glass. Drag a cut lime around the rim of the glass. Dip the rim in Twang-A-Rita GOLD salt. Make the drink. Combine ice, agave, pomegranate, orange and lime juice with the tequila and Cointreau in a cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously and then pour into chilled, ice-filled glass or mason jar.

Margarita Con Twang:
Ice cubes
3 oz tequila
2 oz freshly squeezed lime juice
1 oz Simple Syrup
1/2 to 1 teaspoon orange liqueur
1 tablespoon Lime-salt-sugar
2 tablespoons of Twang-A-Rita Unwind Lime Salt

Rim a glass with Twang-A-Rita Lime Salt and set aside. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add tequila, lime juice, Simple Syrup and orange liqueur. Cover and shake until mixed and chilled, about 30 seconds. In general, the drink is ready by the time the shaker mists up. Place Lime-salt-sugar on a plate. Press the rim of a chilled rocks mason jar or wine glass into the mixture to rim the edge. Strain margarita into the glass.

Zas! Super Seasoning recipe for Super Bowl Sunday

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Cucumber Avocado Chili Lime Roll recipe by Twang.  Photo: Twang, used with permission.

With the Super Bowl coming up next weekend, there is always room for one more recipe to kick it up at the watch party. This recipe for Cucumber Avocado Chili Lime Roll is from the fine folks at Twang. Twang is a family-owned and operated creator and manufacturer of premium-flavored salts, sugars and seasonings based in Texas. One of those products is ZAS!, a super seasoning line of flavor blends that enhance natural and delicious spices to everyday food. It is sure to impress party guests and football fans alike and is available for purchase online and La Fiesta Supermarkets. (Twang, 2018)

Cucumber Avocado Chili Lime Roll
Simple ingredients, fun presentation. This appetizer is a fun and creative finger food with a punch of flavor that party guests will remember.

Serves:20 rolls
Ingredients:

  • 1 Avocado
  • ¼ of a cream cheese block (4 oz.)
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 2 tsp of Lime Juice
  • 3 Tbsp of Pine nuts
  • 1 Tbsp of ZAS Chili Lime (and a dash for garnish)
  • 1 cucumber
  • Mandolin or Potato Peeler

Instructions:

  1. Toss all ingredients (except cucumber) in a blender or food processor. Or if you want to be traditional do it by hand, finely mince garlic and mash ingredients together with a fork until smooth and creamy. Let mixture sit in refrigerator for 10 minutes.
  2. Use a mandolin or potato peeler to cut long thin strips from the cucumber. Be sure to leave the skin for pretty color.
  3. Take a cucumber strip and spread a thin layer of the avocado mixture along the length of the strip. A little goes a long way so be mindful. Make sure the spread goes all the way to the end so that it sticks once rolled.
  4. Roll it up! No toothpicks needed. Sprinkle on a dash of ZAS Chili Lime Seasoning to give it more presentation.

Christmas specials in San Antonio

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Hotel Contessa is one area business offering Christmas Eve and Christmas Day menus.  Photo: Hotel Contessa, used with permission.

Christmas is fast approaching and for anyone looking for dining out options, area restaurants are having menu specials and special offers. (Hotel Emma, Bakery Lorraine, Boiler House, Hotel Contessa, Esquire Tavern, Downstairs, Rosella, Twang, 2017)

Hotel Emma will offer special holiday themed menu items Christmas Eve and on Christmas Day at Supper. On Christmas Eve Supper will have a Whole Bronzino grilled and stuffed with braised fennel, crab and lemon on toasted cauliflower puree with herb salad for dinner from 5p.m. to 10p.m. On Christmas Day Supper will have Cider and Spiced Roasted Porkloin with Apple Marmalade, Pickled Mustard, Blistered Beens and Almonds, Parmesan and Rosemary Potato Gratin for lunch and dinner. Lunch hours are 12p.m. to 3 p.m. and dinner hours are 5p.m. to 10p.m.

Bakery Lorraine has an assortment of different holiday themed desserts throughout the holiday season such as chocolate covered gingerbread men, ornament moon pies and more. Customers may place and pick up orders of specialty large pies and seasonal macaroons. Large pies, 9” are $26 and Macaroon holiday flavor packs are $12  for a 6 pack or $20 for a 12 pack with flavors like eggnog, hot cocoa, cinnamon, peppermint, and angel food. Christmas Eve hours are from 7a.m. to 6p.m. and the restaurant will be closed on Christmas Day.

Boiler House will be serving holiday themed cocktails and dinner items on Christmas Eve from 5p.m. to close. The restaurant will be closed on Christmas Day. Cocktail items include Gingerbread Martini for $14, Hot Buttered Texas Rum for $12 and dish items include Lemon Chive Crabcake for $15 – Sweet pepper relish, achiote aioli, sunny quail egg; Calamari Piccata for $21 – Pan roasted calamari, charred tomato concasse, capers, rapini and arugula; Roast Leg of Lamb for $29 – Pappardelle, roasted garlic, mustard greens, pan jus, parmesan and Eggnog Pound Cake for $8 – Candied fruit, cocoa nibs

Hotel Contessa is offering a pre-fixe dinner menu on Sunday, Christmas Eve and a holiday brunch on Monday, December 25th from 11a.m. to 2:30p.m. Reservations required for Christmas Day brunch, $55/person, $25/children ages 8-13 and children 7 and under eat free.

Downstairs at Esquire and Esquire Tavern will be serving aged Egg Nog. Guests can experience a very traditional Egg Nog whipped up by the folks behind The Esquire in San Antonio and based on recipes dating back to the 1700s. This classic Egg Nog uses Paul Beau VS Cognac, Four Roses Bourbon, El Dorado Demerara Rum, milk, cream, sugar, and eggs and is spiced with a bit of cinnamon, star anise and nutmeg.

Rosella at The Rand will be serving a White Chocolate Peppermint Latte throughout the holiday season for only $4.75. The restaurant will be serving brunch on Christmas Eve from 9a.m. to 3p.m. and closed on Christmas Day.

Twang is offering “The Beer Lover Party Buckets” for this holiday season.  Both party buckets will retail online for $39 each with free shipping. Bucket 1 (Texas Themed) includes 1 Texas Themed Twang Beer Salt T- Shirt, 2 Holster Koozies that carry Twang Beer Salt, 8 Beer Salt Longnecks, 1 Twang Beer Salt Steel Bottle Opener, 2 Beer Salt Drink Glasses and 1 Twang Beer Salt branded bucket to keep drinks cool. Bucket 2 includes 1 Twang T- Shirt, 2 Holster Koozies that carry Twang Beer Salt, 8 Beer Salt Longnecks, 1 Twang Beer Salt Steel Bottle Opener, 2 Beer Salt Drink Glasses and 1 Twang Beer Salt bucket to keep drinks cool.

Father’s Day special menus

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Krause’s Café is one area restaurant that will be having special Father’s Day menus. Photo: Krause’s Café, used with permission.

Father’s Day is coming up on Sunday June 18 and area restaurants and businesses are offering specials to celebrate dad on his special day. Some of these include Boiler House, Hotel Emma, Paramour, Southerleigh, Krause’s Café and Twang. Detailed information is available online. (Giant Noise, 2017)

Boiler House will have a specialty Father’s Day menu and regular brunch items served on Sunday. Entrees include Makers and maple glazed baby backs, Mexican corn, bourbon baked bean for $18, smothered pork chops and biscuits-grilled pork chop on buttermilk biscuits, fried eggs, buttermilk gravy for $19 and lobster pot pie for $21. Dessert includes The Homer Simpson-Warm glazed donut, espresso ice cream, Guinness caramel for $8.
Brunch hours are from 10 a.m. to 3p.m.

Hotel Emma:
Supper will offer a lunch sandwich special of Bratwurst Burger with Burgundy Cabbage, Pickles and Cider Mustard. Brunch hours are 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Larder will offer all fathers a complimentary iced coffee or glass of wine with every purchase. Larder hours are 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Paramour will have a specialty whiskey flight menu, “Hey Daddy Que Paso?!” on Father’s Day from 11a.m. to 3p.m. Dads are welcomed to bring outside cigars so they can smoke them on Paramour’s patio. Reservations: info@paramourbar.com

Southerleigh’s Beer Club makes the perfect Father’s Day gift. A one-year membership valued at $250 includes exclusive access and perks for members.
Brunch hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Krause’s Cafè will have a special Father’s Day menu along with the regular menu items. Brunch entrees include Herb Crusted Bone in King’s Cut Prime Rib with fresh ground horseradish with twice baked potato served with hefeweizen aujus and a beer flight for Dad for $36.95 and Steak and eggs Benedict with béarnaise sauce with toasted English muffin topped with seared beef medallions and poached eggs for $14.
Brunch hours are 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Twang also has gifts for dad: their Beer Salt, a delicious, citrus-flavored salt product pairs well with a six pack of beer.