Buvare: Green Leaf

One year and 25 episodes later, The Table Set and HomeFries Media are celebrating our first anniversary! It's been an exciting and challenging road, fraught with liquid courage, dinner parties, blog neglect (xo..) and plenty of recording bloopers. But hey, we're just getting started!

On our 25th episode, we received a call from a pregnant cocktail lover asking how she can make a mean "mocktail" (pardon the term) that lives up to the meticulous craft concoctions on your local speakeasy counter. Andy, Greg and I all tried our hands at the task with enlightening results. Check out the full episode, and my liver-friendly cocktail recipe below (hint: it's good with kumquat-infused London Dry Gin too!).

Listen to The Table Set: Where's the Party?

Voyager Bien: Desert Gold

Spring in Los Angeles means many things. Open windows. Musky Jasmine blossoms. Rogue beach days. But for me, it always stirs a need deep in my soul to return to the desert. Lucky for us, we don't have to go far. Weekending in Palm Springs is the norm, but this year Spring offered a spiritual respite off the grid. For my friend Natalie's bday (you may remember her as octo-girl), we ventured deep into Joshua Tree's boulder country for a sun-spiked, dusty boot brand of good ol' R&R. With tequila.

First, let's talk about this crazy house. Bless Natalie's VRBO karma, because she scored with Boulder House, a throwback to kitschy Crayola Southwest pageantry at its best.

And Boulder House isn't deemed so for nothing. The master suite is tucked between some ancient big guys, who are quite the sight (and great huggers). Still, I couldn't have been happier with my adorable lil' cowboy twin room.

The morning view from my bed of sleeping boulders and acres of desert foliage grounded my soul. This is vacation.

A desert day started right, with Stumptown Cold Brew stubbies to sip on in the morning sun while cast iron flapjacks sizzled on the wood-burning stove inside.

Dates, fruits and homemade corn nuts from a nearby farm graced the table at every meal.

The water was a wee bit cold for me, so I readied some poolside drinks while the polar bear club dared each other to commit the dip.

I whipped up a pitcher that was a riff on the Sonoran Sunset, a cocktail inspired by my desert hometown Tucson. I replaced prickly pear syrup with earthy raw pomegranate juice, which justly compliments the secret ingredient - Spicy black peppercorn and serrano chili infused tequila.

Yucca Valley Sunset

1 1/2 oz black pepper/serrano-infused tequila
3/4 oz fresh lime juice
1/2 oz raw pomegranate juice
1/2 oz Cointreau

Shake, shake. Serve in a salt-rimmed glass.

Afternoon plans: Desert Gold, the photo shoot. What else?

Nightfall was illuminated only by birthday candles and flashlights hiking into the desert darkness. Fiery-bright stars, beer, and makeshift "piñata" action... Boulder naps, hot tubs and bats.

Thanks for the tip, fridge. (Yes, we visited Pappy & Harriet's in Pioneertown on the drive out of Yucca Valley the following day - what feels like the original Western saloon. Highly recommended.)

Until next time, Boulder House... Spring does come every year.

Buvare: Black Velvet

We drink from time to time on-air while we record The Table Set podcast, but our St. Patty's day episode was next level (is Andy.. drunk?). Irish stout bottles littered the table between our microphones like the aftermath of a long night at Tom Bergin's Tavern. But what's that? A Prosecco bottle? Why that's because Andy brought over a sampling of stouts and porters to try in one of my favorite beer cocktails - The Black Velvet. A sensuous marriage of sparkling wine and stout, this year trade in your green beer for an elegant moussey treat.

Listen to The Table Set: Green Beer

Black Velvet

1 part Guinness Irish Stout
1 part dry Prosecco or brut Champagne

Fill a flute or Collins glass halfway with Guinness.
Top slowly with bubbly (over the back of a spoon carefully for the layered effect).
Enjoy, you're classy!

Buvare: Trader Sam's

How is it that I still haven't written about Trader Sam's?? No stranger to drinking at Disney Parks, when this Enchanted Tiki Room —that's actually a full-functioning tiki bar— opened poolside at the Disneyland Hotel last year one boy's dream literally came true. (Hint: Mine.)

Repeat visits have proven the drink menu, nosh offerings, interactive space, and jubilant staff exceedingly strong. And tonight, for Disneyland's One More Day 24 hour Leap Year event, I plan to kick off my evening in barkeep Rhonda's able hands. Another HippopotoMai Tai, please!

My favorite on the list, the Shrunken Zombie Head is a potent potable of reserve and aged rums, tropical juices, Falernum, and cinnamon. It packs a pleasant punch, and leads to conversation with the Disneyphiles next to you at the bar (who you will probably end up on Tower of Terror with an hour later).

For snacking, the tasty and reasonably-priced appetizers at Trader Sam's are some of the best values in Disneyland. I always order the panko-crusted Chinese long beans with sriracha mayonnaise and Ahi Poke — a wasabi-yuzu-marinated ahi tuna served with avocado, green onion and crispy wontons.

Rhonda summons the gods

If you want to amp it up for round two, I suggest the Uh Oa!, a tiki god-sized grail of light and dark rums, orange, passion fruit, guava, and grapefruit juices, Falernum, cinnamon, and fresh squeezed lime juice. Recommended for two or more guests, this cocktail event includes a ritual... flashing lights, tambourines, chanting, volcanic eruptions, and pyrotechnics. Yes, this is serious, folks.

Whether you crave a respite from the sun and crowds, stiff drink, or simply a cultural bear hug, on behalf of adult Disney and tiki fans everywhere, I thank you Trader Sam's. I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Trader Sam's
Disneyland Hotel
1150 Magic Way, Anaheim, CA 92802; 714.778.6600

Gala Parfait: Mardi Gras

Let's break it down: New Orleans is my jam.
Always has been since the first day I stepped foot on its swampy foundation. Funny then that I've never really been one to celebrate its most iconic holiday - Mardi Gras.
I attribute this mostly to the fact that I have never been in NOLA for the festivities and thus fostered an affinity for it. I know about the plastic beads (and naughty things done to procure said beads), parade floats, excessive liver pickling, Bourbon Street crowds, and garish color schemes... Though for all I love about NOLA, these marks generally excite me the least. But then this year was different. Maybe I miss the dank scent of the Quarter, that high octane slushy daiquiri, and a little night music.

So this past weekend I celebrated the Angeleno way, at the Original Farmer's Market under the shade of the Gumbo Pot where locals claim tables as early as breakfast time on Sunday to have prime seats once the bands start playing and the afternoon beer starts flowing. I joined annual ringleader Lisa early for coffee and beignets, and heavy bead sorting. I stayed until the Zydeco dance floor picked up as the sun went down.

Spotted: Neighborly accoutrement competition.

One fancy kazoo.

Noon = Abita Amber.

The royal Zulu coconut bead.

Spicy Food. Cool Jazz.

King Cake, delivered to your doorstep.

Step 1.

Step 2.

Step 3.

The King Cake baby is found! And thus next year's host selected.

For more on Mardi Gras, and my general love of New Orleans...

Listen to The Table Set: Gimme Some Beads!