Please The Palate Pick of the Week: The Funk Jamaican Rum Daiquiri

Written by Allison Levine on February 2, 2019

Cocktails

A great daiquiri is a crisp and clean cocktail made with rum, lime juice and sugar. Finding balance between the rum and the lime, a daiquiri should not be sweet but rather frothy, tart and refreshing. And finding the perfect rum for your daiquiri is part of the challenge! Try The Funk Rum in your daiquiri and you will understand why it is the Please The Palate pick of the week!

The Funk Jamaican Rum is an un-aged heavy pot still rum with no added color or flavoring and bottled at 100 proof. The Funk Jamaican Rum is under the portfolio Proof and Wood Ventures. Two years ago, Founder and President Dave Schmier, formerly of Redemption Rye, purchased an un-aged pot still rum. Pot still rum has more intensive flavors and more esters, however, it can have an off-putting character. In fact, Dave’s warehouse manager called him up and said he had never smelled something so awful. Schmier brought the rum to 100 proof, reducing some of the intense funkiness. The result is a rum that is funky, a little bit like a stinky cheese, with tropical notes as well as ripe vegetable aromas. At the same time, the rum is approachable.

The Funk Jamaican Rum is a great rum to use as a modifier in a drink or in a daiquiri, which is how I enjoyed it. And enjoy it, I did! A daiquiri made with The Funk has a lot of character. There is a slight funkiness in the nose but there is depth and roundness in the mid-palate and a citrus-tart finish.

With The Funk Jamaican Rum, a refreshing, clean, classic daiquiri becomes just a bit more interesting and complex and that is why it is the Please The Palate pick of the week.

Please The Palate Pick of the Week: Seedlip Cocktails

Written by Allison Levine on January 26, 2019

Lifestyle Cocktails

My days and nights are filled with wine lunches, tastings and dinners. And one of the biggest challenges is limiting how much is consumed if I am driving home. But this week, I went to lunch on a beautiful, crisp, clear day at the Malibu Beach Inn and spent three hours sipping Seedlip cocktails. And, in the end, I got in my car and drove home. Why? Because all of my cocktails were non-alcoholic! It was such a treat to sip cocktails all day and yet not experience the effects of the alcohol, among other benefits, and that is why Seedlip Cocktails are the Please The Palate pick of the week.

Seedlip Distilled Non-Alcoholic Spirits are the world’s first distilled non-alcoholic spirits. Made from herbs and botanicals, it is a truly nonalcoholic spirit, as well as sugar-free, allergen-free, sweetener-free and has no artificial flavoring. And Seedlip has no calories or carbs. Read More +

Please The Palate Pick of the Week: Jaffa LA

Written by Allison Levine on January 19, 2019

Food Cocktails

Almost a year ago, Jaffa LA opened its doors on West 3rd Street in West Hollywood. With a modern take on Israeli cuisine featuring fresh seasonal ingredients and sustainable meats and fish, Jaffa LA has been serving healthy, fresh and delicious flavors. I returned this week to try a few new dishes and revisit some others and loved every single bite and that is why Jaffa LA is the Please The Palate pick of the week.

There was not a bite that I did not enjoy. And now there are more reasons to head to Jaffa LA. One of the reasons is that Jaffa LA just launched Social Hour Bites, available weekdays from 4:00pm-7:00pm. On the Social Hour menu are four plates for $7-$9.

One of the most addictive items on the Social Hour list are the Eggplant Crisps with shakshuka dip. Crispy, warm, salted and gluten-free (for those who care), these can easily replace french fries.