Guaranteed to Raise your Spirits for the Holidays
By Madelyn Miller, the TravelLady
- BottleWise Bag Makes a Smart Gift for Wine Lovers on Your Holiday List
- This new TSA-friendly tote lets wine travelers safely transport wine in checked
luggage, making it the must-have accessory for wine country travel or for
picnics in the park, or for bringing your favorite wines when you travel
If your holiday gift list includes a wine enthusiast or two, the BottleWise Duo
wine bag makes the perfect gift.
Developed in response to U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) restrictions on liquids in carry-on bags, BottleWise Duo lets travelers safely
transport two wine bottles inside their checked luggage. The padded liquid tight
bag provides peace of mind for anyone who's tried to bring wine home from their
travels. For gift givers, the innovative carrier removes the
stress and intimidation of shopping for that special wine gift for the oenophile
who has everything.
Pricing for BottleWise Duo starts at ($48.95). It is available in three >
colors: Black, Bordeaux and Cork. For more information or to order, visit
www.BottleWise.com.
To order by phone, call 800-673-9770.
Celebrate with Ice Tea and Lemonade
These Southern favorites are even more comforting when combined with champagne
or vodka.
A quick and easy cocktail that is even simpler than using a simple syrup. Based
in Austin, Texas, Sweet Leaf
 Tea tea was founded in 1998 by Clayton Christopher.
Using his grandmother's tried-and-true iced-tea recipe, Clayton and his best
friend and business partner, David Smith brewed the original batches of Sweet
Leaf Tea in pillowcases, using crawfish pots as brew tank. The Texas tea
tradition can be a new tradition for your holiday parties. My favorite is
Organic Peach Sweet Leaf Tea combined with champagne.
www.sweetleaftea.com
512-328-7775
Teahouse Fantasies
I still remember the first time I was in a Japanese teahouse. I spent a day in a
geisha girl training school (please don't tell my ex-husband about that) to film
a TV segment. For four hours, I learned how to hold the cup, how to turn the
cup, how to lift the cup, and finally how to drink form the cup. Sounds boring
but it was really fascinating. Time flew—or perhaps it stood still.
So when a friend sent me a book on Japanese Teahouses, I remembered my wonderful
afternoon. And each time I look though the book I remember the serenity of the
teahouse.
 A welcome armchair retreat, The Contemporary Tea House: Japan's Top Architects
Redefine a Tradition (Kodansha International, September 2007, $39.95 hardcover)
is brimming with stunning images that impart to the reader the sense of
tranquility that is intrinsic to the Japanese tea house. The authors are three
of Japan's top architects: Arata Isozaki, Tadao Ando, and Terunobu Fujimori.
This sumptuous volume presents an array of modern structures that are as well
suited to reading and relaxing as they are to the ceremonial serving of tea.
Five visionary Japanese architects share, in their own words, insight into the
creative process of reinventing this iconic architectural form. Complementing
the informative text are thoughtful, often surprising accounts of the
architects' deeply personal experiences during the design and building
processes. Accompanying the text of The Contemporary Tea House, superb color
photographs bring these unique spaces to life, lingering on the gorgeous
materials and stunning natural settings that elevate these thoroughly modern
structures into precious sanctuaries from our everyday concerns—just as they
were intended to be, half a millennium ago
Santa's Winter Whiskey
Have you been naughty this year? A bit more spice than sugar? Not to worry,
Santa won't cross you off his list.
Simply, follow the lead of celebrities staying at the W Hotel, New Orleans this
holiday season and treat yourself to a gorgeously naughty but oh-so-nice drink:
Santa's Winter Whiskey. Named after the jolly round man himself, this is one of
many delectable cocktails whetting lips at W Hotels this time of year.
So what are the ingredients of Santa's eponymous libation, you ask?
With a mischievous start of Jack Daniels, a sexy splash of white Godiva, a kick
of peppermint Schnapps, a pour of rich whole milk and a dusting of powder sugar,
Santa's Winter Whiskey is whipping up quite a storm. And jolly Old Saint Nick
tops off his signature drink with an accoutrement of peppermint leaf and a mini
candy cane tucked into the glass.
See, nothing to fear. Santa is generous at the W even if you've been naughty.
  Santa's Winter Whiskey
- 2oz Jack Daniels
- Splash white Godiva
- Splash Peppermint Schnapps
- Splash Whole Milk
- Powder Sugar
Garnish:
- Peppermint Leaf
- Mini Candy Cane
Exclusively at W New Orleans on Poydras!
Madelyn
Miller is a food and travel writer. Read her stories on
www.travellady.com,
www.carladynews.com,
www.chocolateatlas.com,
www.cocktailatlas.com,
www.coffeeAtlas.com and
www.teaAtlas.com
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