VODKAS NOT STUPID...

The Globe & Mail recently ran an article about Bartenders waging war on VODKA...

First of all how this is even a news story is beyond me, must have been a slow news day. However since it has to do with Vodka and someone waging war on it I had to give it a read. Who knew that what I was about to read would get me so angry...I know...getting angry over Vodka? Silly...

However it was not the vodka issue itself that got me irritated it was the high and mighty attitude of the people interviewed for it. COME ON...A restaurant owner who WON'T serve cocktails with Vodka in them before dinner because HE feels that Vodka is not a good match with food...Ummm HELLO...remember me...THE CUSTOMER... what the hell happened to what I want.

Damon Clements, a chef-owner of the new Toronto restaurant Ortolan...and I quote...

“We’re trying to have things that are genuine aperitifs that open the palette, or digestifs,” he says. “And vodka and gin are more of a let’s-go-to-the-bar-and-get-loaded drink.”

Well La-De-Da aren't you so fancy..huh...You know where I WON'T be eating...

So sorry that us minions are not intelligent enough to make a decision for ourselves. Thank you kind sir for educating us what we NEED, cus of course you know best.

The cocktail culture is Canada is booming as of late and this is exciting and fabulous. Unfortunately it's snobbery and pretentious'ness like this that ruins it for everyone else...There always has to be one kid that pees in the pool!

Mixology has been around for centuries, as have bartenders and servers. Mixologist have been around since someone felt their penis was too small and they needed a bigger, fancier title...Yes I am blaming a man...It's been around since someone thought that being a fabulous bartender just wasn't cool enough. It's been around since someone thought they might get laid more if the were Fancy ...huh...It's like calling yourself ... "The Fry Manager" at McDonalds...and you still just make fries...

But of course that wasn't good enough and someone came along with an even smaller penis and felt their title had to be BIGGER AND BETTER...and on that day...The MASTER Mixologist was born. Wax on....Wax off...

I was lead to another article while reading the Globe & Mail article, that reflects this I AM THE GOD OF ALL THINGS BOOZE attitude quite well...

Another restaurateur and another restaurant I won't be eating at...wrote and article called Vodka is Stupid... Now normally I don't like to give small minded, I am better than you, blogs or bloggers a bigger soap box or liquor crate to stand on. But the author of this piece does such a good job of making herself look like an ass, it's worth the read...because as far as she is concerned...we are all DUMB...and she uses big words like DIATRIBE ...

The whole point of my rant...cus I think I have one...is...

WHO GIVES A SHIT....stop taking yourself so bloddy seriously...

Anyone can mix and pour a drink, it is NOT rocket science.

Need I say more...

You can use all the fancy ingredients or micro whatever you want. It's simply a recipe that anyone can follow...Anyone can also create a drink...my 13 year old does it with fountain pop whenever he gets the chance...Swamp Water Baby...guess we were all Mixologist at one point...

BUT...Not everyone can be a great bartender , this is a true talent...GO TEAM BARTENDER!

Besides, anytime I have ever had a Mixologist make me a drink...it takes TOO DAMN LONG...Just get me a drink already, I'm thirsty!!! As much as this deflates your ego, I came to drink a drink...not watch you make one.

My name is Dee Brun and I was and always will be...a Proud Bartender...

Only now I wear better shoes...and Cocktail'ista sounds funner...see...it's all about the fancy title...

Cheers

VODKAS NOT STUPID...

Canada Day Giveaway!!!

Just in time for Canada Day...

Summer always is the best time of year...Backyard parties, pool parties, parties of any kind!! All with fabulous food and libations of course...

I LOVE to have the inside scoop on new products and I LOVE me some small kitchen appliances, it may be an addiction...So when I had a chance to see both, I was over the moon.

Hamilton Beach has some amazing new products coming out this year and here are 3 of them...Have a look at the video and you can have a chance to win 2 of the products I chat about...gush over really...

LOVE all of these...

So how and what can you win???

Let's start with the WHAT... I , thanks to Hamilton Beach, am giving away the deevine Red Blender and Quesadilla maker!! LOVE me some Red...These 2 appliances are sure to make your next party a hit!

Hamilton Beach® Wave MakerTM 2 Speed Blender

• Wave-Action™ system eliminates Ice

Chunks – Every time!

• 700 watts peak power

• 48 oz. dishwasher safe, thermal shock

resistant glass jar

• Easy clean touchpad

Hamilton Beach® Quesadilla Maker

• Makes 6 wedges

• Locking lid for less mess & upright

storage

• Power & preheat lights

• Nonstick surface wipes clean

Now for the HOW...It's easy...

1) Leave me a comment with one of the names of the Hamilton Beach Ice Cream makers and tell me what Cocktail would make a FAB Ice cream flavour. Be sure to leave your Twitter name in your comment...

2) Follow Me @cocktaildeeva and Hamilton Beach @HBCanadaNews on Twitter.

That's it...your entered!

For an extra entry...

Tweet this out...

I love George Clooney & Hamilton Beach @cocktaildeeva @hbcanadanews #sillyfunHB

Now you have 2 entries...

And just for stopin by...I want to leave you with my deelish...Tequila Salsa recipe...Cheers

Tequila Salsa

3 Chilli peppers-your choice, chopped- stems and seeds removed

1/3 cup Patron Tequila

2 large chopped ripe tomatoes

2 Tbsp olive oil

1 large chopped spanish onion

2 cloves minced garlic

2 Tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped

1/2 cup fresh lime juice

1/4 cup water

ENJOY! and Happy Canada Day...

** Contest open to Twitter and Canadian residence only. Contest ends Sunday July 3, 2011 at 12am. Winner will be announced Monday July 4th 2011.**

Canada Day Giveaway!!!

OH CANADA!

Canada Day is by far my Fave summer holiday...To me it is the best way to kick of my favourite season...

With 4 kids, 2 teens and 2 toddlers, it is always a chore to try and decide what to do for Canada Day. Mama wants low maintenance and indoor plumbing. Dad would prefer to pee in a bush and eat grubs off a rock. Guess who wins?

Here are a few fun, easy and some have indoor plumbing, ideas on what to do with your friends or family for Canada Day...

CAMPING

Anyone who knows me knows I DO NOT CAMP...I GLAMP...no bugs, indoor plumbing and room service are preferred. Also with toddlers,1 still in diapers, I am sorry it is not fun...So this year I have given into my husbands desire to go camping and we will be pitching a tent...right in our own back yard . So mommy can sleep and pee inside ... It is FREE and fun and the kids

could care a less where we are so long as they get to sleep in a tent...WIN WIN!

PICNIC

I LOVE picnics, with wine...I love the whole idea of the fun foods you can wrap up. The pretty blanket you can sit and eat on, the cool picnic kits that you can find, so fun. See I'm an outdoors'ey girl. The best part is you can have them anywhere!! No reservations required and they are always kid friendly.

POOL PARTY

If you have a pool, you are so lucky! if you don't , makes friends with someone who does, even better, no maintenance! I have always loved a good pool party, the sun, the surf...well sort of, Kids splashing around, so fun! This can be a great way to spend a day with the family and friends, just be sure to be safe, both around the pool with kids and with the sun screen!!

FIREWORKS

There is something about fireworks that makes me feel like a 5 year old kid, I LOVE them. What I don't like is driving to a "place" to see them, paying for parking, peeing in port'a'potties, paying $7 for a bottle of water and then waiting 60 minutes at the end of the night to get out of the parking lot. Oh goodness what a mess... What I DO like is fun, neighbourhood firework parties, lawn chairs, coolers and indoor plumbing. I suggest to talk to some families in your neighbourhood and creating a Fab HOOD firework extravaganza at someones house or a local park. Just be sure to check into your cities by-laws to make sure you wont get busted...There is no fun in spending the night in the "Big House."

BACKYARD BBQ's

By far these are my favourite as I LOVE to entertain. I do believe that Canada Day is about hotdogs and potato salad, cold drinks, family and good friends. There is nothing more invited then having people over to your own home. If you are having one, I will be waiting for my invite!

Regardless of what kind of party you are up for on Canada Day, the main thing is to be a great host or help a friend be a great host. The best way to do this is to visit...

www.deflatetheelephant.com , where you will find FABULOUS Mocktail recipes, tips and ideas on how to help make sure non of your guest drink and drive.

Be sure to also visit their FaceBook page and take the pledge today!

Here is my favourite Canada Day Mocktail recipe...Enjoy and have a Happy and Safe Canada Day...

Cheers

OH CANADA!

I BELIEVE

I believe 1 + 1 = endless possibilities...

I believe drinking an entire bottle of wine is very European...

I believe that hard work DOES pay off...

I believe my mother...

I believe love, sex and vodka cures everything...

I believe in the power of the stiletto...

I believe one day I will meet George Clooney...

I believe in karma...

I believe in second chances...

I believe you always have a choice...

I believe in my children...

I believe in the people I call friends...

I believe in change...

I believe in Santa Claus...

I believe in myself...

I believe you should never skip dessert...

I believe that I can be a better person...

I believe in the power of good coffee...

I believe in cocktails with lunch...

I believe gay is more than just o.k...

I believe a toddler running through a sprinkler constitutes a bath...

I believe in the power of good over evil...

I believe my father...

I believe in social media...

I believe in acceptance...

I believe my husband loves me deeply...

I believe in being real...

I believe bacon & Reese's Peanut butter cups are the perfect foods...

I believe facebook was created so I never forget birthdays...

I believe in tolerance...

I believe teaching a child to tie their shoe is the hardest job in the world...

I believe in accessories...

I believe reality t.v...

I believe in singing in the shower...

I believe in the perfect handbag...

I believe I will have another drink...

What do you believe...?

I BELIEVE

Talkies & Drinkies....

So last week, just like so many I headed out to Blissdom Canada for their first Talkie North of the boarder. It was also my first Social Media Talkie...

( Talkie = Conference)...

As s former member of the sales & marketing world, I have attended enough Talkies to choke a horse...My former employers Coke & Mars loved to hoard all their employees into a dull, badly decorated hotel ball room and melt our minds with powerpoint after powerpoint. Feed us stale sandwiches and force us to be inspired. The when we were good and numb we'd roll into a local pub for the Drinkies, and that's when the real work would begin.

So these events for me are broken down into two sections...Talkies & Drinkies... I know, I know...I am linguistically gifted...

So on my way down to Blissdom my fabulous travel mate Tricia ( @mumby) kept correcting me on the Talkies and informing me they are called Sessions... By Friday night she was throwing the word Talkies around like her wig...1 Convert...now to take over the world...

As this was my first Social Media Talkie experience I was not quite sure what to expect, there was an "Agenda" afterall...I had been to a day Talkie the week before and was

seriously disappointed, UN-inspired and frankly...pissed off when I left...Was this going to be the same thing for a WHOLE 3 days ??? Oh pass the Drinkies...

I missed the talkies on the Thursday as I was getting ready to rock it old school style at MabelBliss with the fab gang from Mabels Labels (@mabelhood) ...I heard the Talkies were great...but I KNOW the Drinkies were Deevine...

So on Friday morning I stumbled into a Talkie, no clue what is what about...But this Eric Alper guy

( @ThatEricAlper) was a presenter and I had seen him on Twitter and heard he was a dude and worth a listen...So I did...I mean I DID..I actually listened...and paid attention, and understood stuff. All of a sudden there was a tingly feeling in my special place...Was this the feeling of INSPIRATION ?? YES...I was enjoying a Talkie...The other Talkers ( or as Mumby calls them, Panelists)

were also Fabulous.. Catherine Connors

( @herbadmother), Janice Croze

( @5minutesformom)..she talks REALLY fast so stay alert! Barbara Jones ( @barbarajones) a.k.a. Grand Master Flash a'la Swiss Miss ... and Duri Alajrami ( @duriajrami)...not sure what he was really saying...I was mesmerized by the sultry sounds of is voice...

Now the only negative about these Talkies ...Are the CLICKERS ... I had never really seen anything like it. People were face deep into their laptops typing every

last word the Talkers were saying. It was like their fingers were dipped magic typing dust and they couldn't stop...Every last word had to be transcribed to Twitter or posted to a blog IMMEDIATELY! ...I HAVE TO BE THE FIRST TO TELL THE WORLD!!!...Yes...this was annoying as shit...It wasn't just the clicking and clacking that annoyed me. I felt a li

ttle sad that even tho they were catching every word in print, there faces were glued to their monitors and they were actually missing "It"...The "It" being the real connection to the Talker, their fabulous energy coming through in those words...That is where the real Inspiration lies...

So go ahead Clickers leave your comments...It's all about "Transparency"... (see ...I was paying attention..)

As the day was wrapping up the conversation turned to the Drinkies...There was a party that night, a costume and Karaoke party in the poorly decorated hotel ball room...And the Fabulous ladies of Blissdom Canada rock'ed it out OLD SCHOOL STYLE...It was such a fun and fierce night. Everyone dressed in their Halloween best and was there to enjoy the moment. It was a Deevine Drinkie!

HUGE Cheers to all the Fabulous women I had the pleasure of chatting, drinking and Rockin with...you were all the best Inspiration...

I have a theory when it comes to Talkies and Events in Social Media... Especially those chatted about on twitter...

They are like SEX...

Some are BAD sex, there is lot's of hype and hashtags leading up to them (foreplay) , A decent but not record breaking amount during ( bad sex part) and as soon as the event is over...there is none. Not a hash tag to be found... ( no cuddling). Immediately the attention is turned onto the next upcoming event.

Some are GOOD sex, lot's of hashtag hype before hand, streams and streams of hashtags during, possibly even trending!! ( blow your mind, toe curling sex) ... The tons of hashtag love after...( cuddling, cooing and spooning)

Dear Blissdom Canada...you are getting cuddle to death...You were a FABULOUS lay...Well Done!

Cheers

Talkies & Drinkies....

Oh Canada I Stand on Guard For Thee!!!

So here it is ... a regular old Monday when all of a sudden my email box starts filling up. Theres 1,2 6,12...What The Hell? Did George Clooney get married and these are all wishes of sympathy??

No, not that...( I still have a shot...)

All the emails, marked urgent, were about an article published Saturday August 7th on The National Post.com by Adam McDowell , titled "The Myth of our Caesar."

Now before I go any further I need to clarify a few things...I am not a journalist and don't write for any fancy papers, so lay off my grammar & fact checking. I am not a "Cocktail Historian", a fancy New York or Paris bartender, relative of Walter Chell or own stocks in Mott's.

What I am however is...a proud CANADIAN CocktailDeeva, mom , blogger, award winning author and...THE LEADER OF CANADA'S NATION COCKTAIL PARTY!!!

So I say to you Adam McDowell and all your Sherlock Holmes worthy investigation work...

"Why?"

Why did you feel the need to debunk this so called "myth"? There are much bigger

myths to fry, Loch Ness , Big Foot, Does it really take 7 years to pass gum after you swallow it?

As a people Canadians are very proud, but we are not boastful...however sometimes we need to be damn it.

Sometimes we need to stand up and say ...NO...and NON for my bi-lingual friends...

NO you can't have it...

NO we won't let you give it away...

NO we simply don't believe you...

I know it may seem trite and yes I may need to get a life or a hobby...and yes I am wrapping the whole "Oh she's just a crazy blogger" stereo type up in a nice little ribbon for you.

But say what you will Canadians hold their countries treasures close to their hearts. We love our beavers, loons and sap. Our toques, toboggans and hockey. Out Timmie's,

back bacon and Brian Adams.

Quite frankly we (me) don't give a rats ass that you "unearthed evidence" with some U.S. cocktail guru "who consulted his large database of cocktail lore". I consulted my large database of Cocktail Lovers...and it's unanimous....

THE CAESER IS OURS...not Paris or New York's ...were keeping it...Canadian...Calgarian...

We get the Caesar...They can have Celine Dion...

Oh Canada I Stand on Guard For Thee!!!