Category Archives: Blog

Pick Your Poison – Adult Beverages of Choice?

Wine has always been the adult beverage of choice for supper clubs. The increased popularity of Craft Beer and the fact that hard liquor (without mixers) presents a low/calorie/carb option has brought the wine choice into question. A deeper dive into the data might suggest otherwise.

Per the Wall Street Journal Americans aren’t drinking beer like they used to.

AB InBev, Heineken, and Molson Coors have all reported significant drops in beer volume in the U.S. in the first quarter of this year. According to The Wall Street Journal, AB InBev (BUD, -0.39%) saw a 4.1% drop, Molson Coors (TAP-A) a 3.8% drop, and Heineken (HKHHF, +0.75%) saw a “high-single-digit percentage” drop.

The decline in sales is brought on both by consumers increasingly turning to other alcoholic beverages like whiskey and wine, and an overall falloff in alcohol consumption.

Craft beer sales have taken a hit as well “Some of the country’s biggest craft brewers are struggling with falling sales, hurt by a glut of competitors crowding retail shelves and moves by megabrewers to scoop up some of their rivals.” “They used to say a rising tide lifts all boats. And it is definitely not that now,” Mr. Steinman said. His firm estimates that shipment volumes declined for 16 of the top 36 craft-style U.S. brewers last year.

So where are the trends going. Yes I am a data freak. If you look at three key variables the answer becomes clear

  • Health trends with calorie and carb content are important.
  • People want a balance between alcohol and calorie/carb content
  • Supper clubbers want to socialize, not get wasted

The data tells a very clear story:

  • Beer just isn’t the answer. Calorie and carb content are an issue for regular and craft beers and lite beer while somewhat healthier just is not the answer.
  • Hard liquor while great (Low calorie/carb) by itself when you add in mixers to make cocktails issues arise.
  • Wine, while not a panacea, certainly presents a healthier alternative and pares well with foodie delights

If you enjoyed this blog and similar other stories/supper club lessons follow me on Facebook and Twitter and subscribe to get future blogs at www.impromptufridaynights.com/blog and check out my book Impromptu Friday Nights a Guide to Supper Clubs. Published by Morgan James Publishing and available through most channels where books are sold.

 

Salvation For Overloaded Parents…Impromptu Friday Nights

Have you ever thought of having an Impromptu  party  to sneak socializing with friends into your busy schedule?

There is a great article in today’s Wall Street Journal  A salvation for overloaded parents: the weekday mini-date. The solution presented is a mini date with your partner is a great idea.

Weekday mini-dates are good, but sometimes you need to have adult conversations with someone other than your partner. I am not saying that conversations with your partner aren’t important. I would say that it is equally important to talk to others too. Everyone needs socialization and there aren’t many things more fun than dinner with good friends, good food and an adult beverage or two, or four.

A perfect solution is an Impromptu Friday Night party where you get to socialize with friends over food and wine. It doesn’t have to be a formal dinner party. In Impromptu Friday Nights – A Guide To Supper Clubsa solution is provided where you don’t even need to cook.

My daughter’s mother in law is a great hostess. Her theory is “I don’t cook, but I know where to buy”. Helene and her husband Rick throw great dinner parties where they source everything from local restaurants and markets.

This formula works really well when you coordinate and delegate. You would be amazed how receptive your friends (Overloaded Parents or not) will be to an impromptu invitation. The hostess/host can get texts flying with instructions as simple as:

  • Kenny’s buying Chinese
  • Smiths bring red wine
  • Harper bring beer
  • Nangle bring white wine
  • Flora’s bring dessert
  • All Show up at 7 pm

Voila… you have your solution. You can even simplify further by deciding to meet at a restaurant.

The key is coordination and delegation!

If you enjoyed this blog and similar other stories/supper club lessons follow me on Facebook and Twitter and subscribe to get future blogs at www.impromptufridaynights.com/blog and check out my book Impromptu Friday Nights a Guide to Supper Clubs. Published by Morgan James Publishing and available through most channels where books are sold.

Crème Brûlée Will Never Be Jello

When it comes to supper clubs I am all about making things easier. Nine times out of ten you can get by with the short cut. Remember the line from My Best Friend’s Wedding where Julia Roberts tells Cameron Diaz that:

Crème Brulee can never be Jello. You can never be Jello!

Check out the film clip

Well that is probably true. Having worked for General Foods/Kraft for 35 years and having worked with Jello products on many levels I have to agree with Julia Roberts. There are lots of things that Jello is great for. Crème Brulee just isn’t one of them.

However, there are times when Jello is better than the real thing.

Here is where I have to make a confession. In My book Impromptu Friday Nights – A Guide to Supper Clubs I have a great recipe for Spiced Chocolate Mouse. It is a great recipe and the mouse is not all that hard to make. But… when it came time to do the photography I substituted Jello Instant Chocolate Pudding. It looks great. It made a great photo. It just didn’t taste nearly as good as  the Spiced Chocolate Mouse, but for the photo, no one will ever know…

Check out the recipe for the Spiced Chocolate Mouse 

If you enjoyed this blog and similar other stories/supper club lessons follow me on Facebook and Twitter and subscribe to get future blogs at www.impromptufridaynights.com/blog and check out my book Impromptu Friday Nights a Guide to Supper Clubs. Published by Morgan James Publishing and available through most channels where books are sold.