Beer: Your daily supplement

Now, instead of just being fun, beer can actually be good for you. I've heard that it hydrates better than water after a workout, but this month's Women's Health magazine actually shows that it is rich in silicon, a nutrient everyone needs for bone health. It helps you to maintain bone and connective tissues in the body. It also helps to aid rapid healing, and the transfer of other nutrients into the body.

Nearly all beer has silicon in it, but Charles Bamforth of the University of California broke it down to determine how much of this enriching nutrient is in different common types of beer. India Pale Ale like Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA has the highest level with 41 milligrams per liter. Pale ales like Bass Pale ale is second with 37 mg/L, and regular ale like Bard's comes in third at 33 mg of silicon per liter. Next come lagers like Budweiser, Wheat beers, and Light Lagers like Amstel Light at the lowest.

Regardless of the brew you choose, you can rest assured that you are doing your body a favor by imbibing. Though ladies, who are found to get most of the silicon they need from grains and veggies, should stop after one, men can drink two to get the nutrients they need. So, in honor of the upcoming memorial day weekend, crack open a brewski and enjoy your daily supplement.

Cienfuegos: A hidden undergroud RUm Punch Paradise

This place looks so cool I had to blog about it. I was doing my daily crawl of gothmist.com, and I spotted a phot tour of Cienfuegos, a cuban spot know for it's small plates and large rum punches. Apparently is is hidden in a little underground nook in the East Village, and you have to enter through a sandwich shop to find it. Check out the full photo tour. I will be making a visit sometime soon.

Recession Specials: Wednesday NYC Drink Deals

I’ve been drinking and eating out on the cheap for years, so it comes as a mystery to me that so much press has been recently dedicated to how to do this. I don’t really understand why so many people spend ridiculous amounts of money on alcohol and food when it can be had so cheaply in so many places, or how people are so mystified by the concept of the deals to be had. So, I’ve decided to make the world aware of the deals to be had in NYC for each day of the week, and they’re the kind of deals that mean you can go out with $20 in your pocket, tip the bartender and still go home with a healthy buzz.

Wednesday has to be my favorite night to go out. It is entirely underrated because most people tend to get into a Tuesday/Thursday drinking schedule and stay home on hump day, but Wednesday is the diamond in the rough, the hidden gem in the middle of the week.

There is The Hill in Murray Hill featuring $3 glasses of champagne for girls. There are Turtle Bay, and MJ Armstrongs which BOTH have dollar drafts of Bud Light and CL Smoothies all night long. Then there’s 1849 in the Village has $7 pitchers and 10 cent wings during happy hour. This place makes a nice double header with Ladie’s Night at Off the Wagon, starting at 8pm that has $3 you call it drinks for ladies.

That said, there is no excuse if money is your excuse to stay in and not just to go out and have some cheap thrills.

Dirty Cajuns

I have a new favorite drink.  I discovered it while celebrating fat tuesday at The Delta Grill.  It was a cajun/creole extravaganza complete with jambalaya, steamed crayfish, and a New Orleans style band.  Among the Southern themed drinks, the Delta Grill offers a Cajun Martini.  Not one to pass up an intriguing drink, or a new spicy food, I decided to try it, and it was love at first sip! 

It's your standard martini, a mixture of vodka and vermouth, but the key is to soak lots of chopped up jalapenos in the liquor for at least six hours before chilling and pouring.  Add a whole okra pod into each glass for garnish and you're all set.  To make a dirty cajun, add a little olive juice.