all i need in life: flip flops that open beer.

one of the bartenders told me there are flip flops that have beer openers on the soles. ONE ON EACH SOLE. so basically, you could be walking around with swimming trunks and flip flops and still have the ability to open a beer. this is the greatest thing ever invented. seriously. the greatest. this is some serious technology. it's much like cold fusion--only better, because cold fusion lacks the capacity to open a beer or be on the bottom of a flip flop.

i wonder who it was that invented the beer-opening flip flop. i hope that guy (and you know it's a guy) is a multi-millionaire. you know? like some millionaires, i'm like, "i don't like that guy. i don't like the cut of his jib." but this guy i'd be like, "get those flip flops over here! we're gonna have a couple of beers!"

i went to Marco last night after work. my friend derek is the G.M. there and it was my first time checking out the place. it was great: cozy, intimate and the food was amazing. i had the eggplant caponata: a delicious blend of eggplant, peppers, olives and capers; caprese salad; figs wrapped in prosciutto and stuffed with blue cheese and finally tagliatelle bolognese--oh, and a few glasses of Costera Cannonau di Sardegna Argiolas to pair. Cannonau is a red grape from Sardinia. It actually has more antioxidants than almost any other red wine, which is significant when you consider that the sardinians are some of the longest lived people on earth! Cannonau is very trendy now--like Jane Austen or Chipotle peppers. It's also very delicious. Similar to Chianti: cherry and chocolate on the nose with an iron-like minerality, but juicier and more fruit-forward. excellent food wine...

enjoy this beautiful new england summer (eyes rolling.)

waiting for the cork screw cross-trainer,
geoffrey

The One Liter Bottle: Duh!

Okay, seriously...Why didn't anyone think of this a long time ago? So I've been seeing a lot of the 1 liter format recently. At banQ, I even have a 1L bottle of Gruner Veltliner on the wine list. What I want to know is: HOW GREAT IS THIS IDEA?!?!?! I've always felt that the normal .750 sized bottle was just fine. But seriously--have you and a friend gone out (or stayed in) and had A bottle of wine? I mean...when was the last time that's happened? It's not just me, right? A .750 bottle is just not enough. You always wind up getting a second bottle--and then that's too much and you leave your phone in a cab and pass out on your stoop. What? Over-sharing? Okay. My point is--the 1L bottle is the greatest invention since bar snacks. And don't even get me started on box wine! Tonight kicks off Two-for Tuesdays: A pitcher of sangria and a bar appetizer for $20!!!! And don't forget Mojito Madness this Thursday from 8pm-midnight. $5 mojitos in five fantastic flavors: passionfruit, watermelon, strawberry, pineapple and blood orange.

even better: a 1L bottle with a screwtop,
geoffrey

The Secrets of Sangria

Despite New England's best efforts, Summer IS upon us, and with that comes the onset of Sangria. Now I'm not one to be all tied up int tradition, but, for me, Summer is about a few key things: Brooklyn Summer Ale, oysters at The Salty Dog, luke warm Fenway Franks, Bill Ashe's Lounge on Revere Beach and Sangria. It is in that spirit that banQ restaurant is poised to introduce its "Two for Tuesdays": a pitcher of Sangria for two and an Appetizer for $20! All brought to you courtesy of Domingo--the leopard spotted boston bartending icon that we welcomed with much pomp and circumstance to banQ mere weeks ago! I'm very excited to get to work tonight, as Domingo and I will be experimenting with different Sangria recipes to kick things off this Tuesday. There will be much mixing and concocting and I would not be surprised if some Sangria was available for sampling (i.e. free. get it?) Azure will be her most convivial self, as always, and your's truly will be watching over the "Sunday Night Wine Club" presenting superior wines at ridiculous prices. All the wines on the S.N.W.C. list are offered AT COST to anyone having dinner. It really is the best deal in the city for wine geeks (I can say that. I AM one!) So come into banQ tonight and watch the Sox sweep the dirty National League Phillies and have a glass of Txakoli with me!

All hail Jason Bay,
Geoffrey