Food for Thought

I bake. So sue me. Don't ask me why, but it must have been something in my genes passed down from my Grandmother who baked my wedding cake. I enjoy a little time in the kitchen with the oven on, and a beer in my hand. And it's typically my co-workers or family members on a holiday that become my test market.

Anyways, so we're talking about baking and beer. The mind doesn't have to wonder too far before one decides to combine them. A favorite beer (and brand) of mine is Guinness. All the way from the entertaining TV commercials and ads to the bottle graphics and a vintage logo that screams "We've got our #$%! together and know how to brew what you are about to drink", I love this beer. And as doing a shot of tequila is more fun with a lime and salt, Guinness gets even better floating atop a half glass of Bass or Harp lagers. So why not bake with it?

Guinness already thought if it. Their breadmix bag looks like a part of the family, but it's not stocked in the beer section of the grocery store. If you cannot find it, here's one that will produce a bountiful and filling bread to share with family and friends. So hats off to a brand that can extend itself to products for everybody and their unique niches (like a guy that bakes for fun).

- Jeff (see my page)

Attitudes & Latitudes

I did my spring fling in Key West earlier this month with one of my pals. We got sunburnt, drank pina coladas, walked up & down Duval Street checking out all the other tourists and went to the sunset festival at the pier. That is the attraction in Key West. Then before we left we had to buy t-shirts at Hogsbreath, Margaritaville and Hard Rock Cafe (Sloppy Joe's was too crowded). We were in Key West after all.

We could have had a drink and a snack at those places too but when it came time to enjoy a few Coronas we headed to a local hangout off the beaten path called Don's Place. It's the kind of place I always look for. Never crowded and no tourists, except me. It doesn't hurt if they have a Goldentee Golf machine either.

The other places have live bands, nice t-shirts, boat drinks, and a bunch of hotties walking around but Don's has soul. The people in there just got out of work or had it off that day looking to pass the time. Shoot some pool, a little tequila then some Goldentee, it doesn't get any better than that. I also got the skinny on the best places to eat, where to avoid when cruise ships pull in and when is the best time to take the bridge out of town (closed for repairs 6 hours on Mondays, I must of missed that sign). And what a bunch of cartoon characters they are. Part of the customers include 5 dogs, a lizard, a parrot and a big cockroach. The chickens aren't allowed in. I found it takes a certain kind of person to live and work there. I'm not cut out for that but I love to visit and get the real slice of life.

So now that I'm back I have cool t-shirts that I love, from bars I didn't drink at. It doesn't hurt them. I imagine merchandising their brands is most of the business anyway. Everybody's happy, especially me. Their names live on and when I wear them I'll think of palm trees, sunburn and Don's Place, the local joint where I kicked ass on Goldentee.

I guess sometimes what a brand represents is more important than what a company is trying to sell.

Enjoy
Duke (AKA ZIT - check out my great shot on UTUBE!)