Why a man who didn't like rum wrote a good book about it
And guess what's 50th anniversary has arrived?
Richard Foss had not planned to write a book on rum. Yet he did, and in the process became a fan of the spirit and its wild, seafaring, and intensely political history. I was delighted when he came to Washington, DC. We met at a bar on Capitol Hill, not far from the Library of Congress, and we spoke of his trim volume, Rum: A Global History (Reaktion). You can listen to out chat above.
New books worth your attention
B.W. Jackson’s The Rise of Lazarus (Speaking Volumes) is a fun story. It sweeps you up and plops you into a riddle. Aaron, a listless college student, gets pulled into a surreal mystery and finds himself wondering what's real and what's fantasy. This 55-year old coot enjoyed it, and I think teens and early-20-somethings might get a kick out of it…. (Read more)
New to cooking? Then check out M.J. Lacombe’s Intro to Food, which is geared towards college kids but obviously can teach any newbie a thing or two about preparing meals…. (Read more)
Capitalism and free markets are not perfect, but their benefits are immense. Phil Gramm and Donald J. Boudreaux remind readers of this truth in The Triumph of Economic Freedom (Rowman and Littlefield)…. (Read more)
Food and drink items of interest
Detroit-born, Cleveland Chef Brandon Chrostowski has won an award for his restaurant that trains ex-cons to become food industry professionals…. (Read more)
June 19 is National Martini Day and Manhattan’s Regency Bar & Grille invite you to come try “the perfect Martini”… (Check it out)
Falls Church has a new cafe, La Pluma Coffee and Wine… (Read more)
Baroda’ Michigan’s Roundbarn Distillery has released Grapefruit Paloma, a blue agave and grapefruit drink that comes in cans…. (Read more)
Lost Lantern, the independent whiskey bottler, has launched a monthly Discovery Club that will send you a never-before-released Lost Lantern bottling… (Read more)
Vermilion restaurant in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia has regular wine dinners. To get on the invitation list… (Read more)
Speaking of wine, Washington, DC’s The Roost is hosting an Italian Wine Fest on May 25… (Read more)
Not to be outdone, Virginia’s Wine Festival is on May 31…. (Read more)
Cheese! A new fondue restaurant has opened in New Haven, Connecticut. The Melting Pot… (Read more)
For those of us old enough to remember
Joe Don Baker, star of Walking Tall, has died at age 89… (Read more)
It is the 50th anniversary of Pink Floyd’s “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” and the band Brit Floyd is touring and playing it and the whole “Wish You Were Here” album…. (Read more)