Archive for the ‘Holiday’ Category
Thursday, December 15th, 2011
Written by William Morse special to The Pensacola News Journal
 Spiced Apple Pie Martini / Gary McCracken/gmccracken@pnj.com With the holiday season upon us, I thought it only fitting to write about a cocktail that goes with the season. Everyone has a favorite food or drink that they associate with different holidays or times of the year. Of course most of us relate hearty turkey, poultry or duck meals with Thanksgiving and Christmas, but there are other dishes, although not main courses, that are nonetheless just as relevant to these holidays. Foods such as cranberry sauce, stuffing, gravy-covered mashed potatoes — and for me, warm apple pie.
Let me introduce you to the spiced apple pie martini. It’s pretty much known that the “flavored martini craze” began with drinks such as the cosmopolitan and more so with the apple martini. However, don’t mistake the spiced apple pie martini as just (more…)
Posted in Holiday, Pensacola, Recipes, The Deck Bar, The Fish House, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Thursday, December 15th, 2011
Written by Melissa Bailey special to The Pensacola News Journal
 Cocktails and appetizers are perfect for holiday parties. / Tony Giberson/tgiberson@pnj.com I must say Christmas is my favorite holiday, from the decorations to the smell of a fresh-cut Christmas tree being decorated by the family. To me, the house just feels warmer and more welcoming with the scent of baked cookies and the glow from the fireplace as it crackles during dinner.
The best part about this holiday is that you can celebrate all month long. Between office holiday gatherings and gift exchanges with friends over wine and old black-and-white Christmas movies, there are several ways to celebrate the season. This week I would like to offer you a few ideas on how to celebrate with friends and co-workers throughout the month.
As you may know, I am in charge of holiday celebrations at the Fish House and Jackson’s Steakhouse. With the variety of rooms we provide and the types of events that I have planned and executed over the years, I’m inspired to share some of my best ideas with you. Whether you work in an office of 10 or 100, there are lots of different ideas to make your co-workers feel special. (more…)
Tags: Fish House, Happy Hour, Melissa Bailey, Melissa Martin, party planning, Things to do
Posted in Cocktails, Entertainment, Event Planning, Family, Holiday, Pensacola, The Fish House, party planning | No Comments »
Thursday, December 15th, 2011
Written by Chef Trina Confusione special to The Pensacola News Journal
 Cranberry Upside-down Cake. / Gary McCracken/gmccracken@pnj.com Time to bring out the tried-and-true pie and cake recipes that all the family has come to love and look forward to every year. In every family, someone has perfected the staples; pumpkin pie, apple pie, pecan pie and so on. If you are not one of those lucky ones that make that family favorite, you are probably the one that gets to take new and interesting desserts to the family dinners. That would be me. I never take the same dessert to the holiday festivities. I always try to do something I know no one else would even think of doing, but still has that “Holiday” element to it.
This year I wanted to use the element of cranberries. There are not many desserts that use cranberries, and why only use them in a sauce? You can use fresh or dried cranberries for this recipe. If using dried cranberries, reconstitute them first. I like to let mine marinate overnight in orange juice, or an orange liqueur like Grand Marnier. Just be sure to squeeze out any excess liquid. Happy Holidays!
CRANBERRY UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE
Butter a 9-inch by 3-inch round cake pan and set aside (more…)
Tags: America, Cooking Tips, Holidays, local restaurants, party planning, Recipes, Things to do, Trina Confusione
Posted in Holiday, Recipes, The Fish House, quick and easy desserts | No Comments »
Thursday, December 15th, 2011
The Fish House celebrates New Year’s Eve with a four-course wine dinner, live music, and complimentary champagne toasts at midnight!
On December 31, beginning at 6:00 p.m., the Fish House will offer a special dinner in celebration of New Year’s Eve. This special menu, created by Chef Billy Ballou, features four delicious courses paired with wines selected by Beverage Director William Morse and Premier Beverage Company.
Some highlights of the menu are an appetizer selection of a Butternut Squash Tart with roasted butternut squash, Alabama chèvre, and fresh herbs paired with Peter Lehmann Layers White 2010, Barossa and Adelaide, Australia. A dessert selection: Roasted Pear and Hazelnut Parfait, layered with roasted-pear mascarpone, hazelnut nougat, and zinfandel-poached pears paired with Marqués de Cáceres Satinela 2009, Rioja, Spain.
The full menu is available on our website: Click here
(more…)
Tags: America, events, Holidays, local restaurants, Melissa Martin, Things to do
Posted in Entertainment, Holiday, Live music, Pensacola, Restaurant Specials, The Deck Bar, The Fish House, wine | 1 Comment »
Thursday, December 15th, 2011
Written by Chef Jim Shirley
 Sparkling wines mentioned by Jim Shirley in his wine column include Marques Gelido, Graham Beck Brut and Francois Montand Rose. / News Journal Wine Time – Special to The Pensacola News Journal
It’s time to think about stocking the wine box for the holidays. I recommend having a spread of three wines when entertaining a squad. A sauvignon blanc or light chardonnay will keep the white wine faction happy, a pinot noir is a nice touch for the red wine faction, and to prove it is a celebration, let’s bring in some bubbles.
On the easy to drink and easy on the pocketbook team is Francois Montand from the Loire valley. Their rosé is always a wine-festival award winner, and for about $11, it can be a winner at your event. And Cava, from Marquis de Gelida, is a standout, receiving ratings like wines that cost three times as much. New (to our area) is Graham Beck non-vintage from South Africa, a light, yeasty brut made from pinot noir and chardonnay. Both the Gelida and the Graham Beck can be picked up locally for about $12.
Tags: America, Chef Jim Shirley, Fish House
Posted in Celebrity Chefs, Chef Jim Shirley, Holiday, The Fish House, party planning, wine | No Comments »
Thursday, December 15th, 2011
Holiday Greetings!
 General Manager, Jean Pierre NDione Photo: J.D. Hawyard Photography
We are right in the middle of a bustling holiday season at our house. What a wonderful time of year! It’s my favorite. We have had so many of you coming over to celebrate the season! Guests come in their holiday finest, bringing gifts, laughing, sipping champagne. Such a happy time! For our complete holiday hours, click here.
We are getting ready to celebrate the beginning of a new year with a four-course wine dinner on New Year’s Eve. We will have two seatings to accommodate those wishing to participate in this year’s Pensacola Pelican Drop Celebration on Palafox. We will also have a complimentary champagne toast and live music from Jerry Dawson of The Shiz accompanied by band members of The Astronauts. For reservations, call Melissa or Bianca at 850-433-9450. To view the menu, click here.
Down on Palafox Street, our Great Southern Events team will be hosting New Year’s Eve in the courtyard on the corner of Palafox and Government streets. There will be a bar serving delicious raspberry margaritas, mixed drinks, beer and wine. Chef Irv Miller from our sister restaurant, Jackson’s Steakhouse, will be serving a Pensacola Cheese-Steak Sandwich with caramelized onions and hot pepper cheese sauce for $7.00. The courtyard will open at 5:00 p.m. for bar service with sandwich service beginning at 6:00 p.m. Be sure to stop by and say hi so we can wish you a happy 2012!
2012 will bring Great Southern Restaurant Week. The Fish House, Jackson’s Steakhouse and Atlas Oyster House will once again team up to present Winter Restaurant Week, January 24 – 28, 2012. In step with similar events in cities all around the country, Restaurant Week is a culinary celebration that offers residents and visitors alike world-class dining at a great value. For more information, including menus, click here.
We hope that you and your family have a wonderful holiday season. Happy New Year from our house to yours!
Jean Pierre Ndione
General Manager
Tags: America, Fish House, local restaurants, Marketing, Melissa Martin, Pensacola, Things to do
Posted in Entertainment, Event Planning, Family, Holiday, Restaurant Specials, The Fish House, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Thursday, November 17th, 2011
 The Gobbler. / Ben Twingley/btwingley@pnj.com Now that November is here, the weather is turning cooler and all the stores are starting to string up twinkling lights, bringing on dancing Santa Clauses and Christmas trees — wait — what?
Is it just me, or has the world gone crazy? Have we completely forgotten that greatest of gluttonous holidays — Thanksgiving? How can we skip right over the giant turkey, the stuffing, the family, the football? Well, to all these festivity rushers who want to skip right to Christmas, let me offer one more reason to take time to be thankful for Thanksgiving.
Though beer might be the traditional beverage to accompany the start of the extended weekend that is Thanksgiving break for most of us, why not try something a little different this year?
In the past, I’ve offered up cocktail recipes with lemonade, juice, wine and Champagne, but this month, let me suggest one with beer. But far from the red eyes and Irish car bombs that may come to mind when one hears “beer cocktail,” this drink is not for chugging. It can be enjoyed sip by sip in between first downs and turkey legs. I hope this cocktail can help us slow down, enjoy the day and keep from rushing through the season too quickly.
The Gobbler 4 ounces wheat beer ½ ounce Grey Goose L’Orange vodka ½ ounce Licor 43 ½ ounce Frangelico ½ ounce Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey Splash fresh lemon juice Dash bitters Cinnamon sugar (to rim the glass)
In a cocktail shaker with ice, combine Grey Goose L’Orange, Licor 43, Frangelico, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey, lemon juice and bitters. Pour into a chilled martini or wine glass rimmed with cinnamon sugar. Add beer slowly, and stir gently with a spoon or decorative stir. Garnish with an orange slice.
Great Southern Restaurant Group, 600 S. Barracks St., 470-0003 or www.goodgrits.com.
Tags: Beer, Cocktails, Fish House, Florida, Holidays, humor, Melissa Temsook-Boeker, Pensacola News Journal, Recipes
Posted in Cocktails, Fun, Holiday, Pensacola, Recipes, The Fish House, party planning | 2 Comments »
|
|
|
