Sunday, January 23, 2011

Molecular mixology extravaganza!

One chilly Saturday night in January we had an evening of extravagant molecular mixology* where all our guests were mixing & blending like never before!

* Molecular Mixology is a special practice of mixing drinks using the analysis and techniques found in science to understand and experiment with cocktail ingredients on the molecular level. Popular techniques of molecular mixology include the use of foams, liquid nitrogen, gels, mists, heat, solidifying liquids, black liquor, etc.

We had a true competition spirit:
3 teams
3 rounds
11 mixologists
9 new cocktails


The base drink for the first round that every team had to use was: VIRU VALGE ESTONIAN VODKA

From the left: "Tropical fantasy", "Love of Lemon", "Frocz"

"Frozc" (cocktail = experience for 2 people!)


The base drink of the second round: COINTREAU
From left: Hangover Mary", "Sweet Banana Pedro", "No bull"



"No bull"



Third round base drink: Chinese sparkling wine

From left to right: "Christmas cool-down", "Honey bomb", "Sharp champagne"

"Sharp champagne"



Long live mixing :)!

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Happy New Year in Qingdao

This year`s New Year party destination - Qingdao (2 h bus ride from Rizhao)...where we hoped to have a more authentic New Year spirit with more foreigners `cause Chinese don`t really care so much about Western New Year...Chinese year of Rabbit will only start at the beginning of February!

Arrival to Qingdao....freezing....hunt for taxi....hotel.... hunt for dinner....initially planned Russian restaurant seems to have closed down...hunt for other nice dinner option...nice Italian restaurant dinner... success :)... hunt for a bar with foreigners...success at Le Bang...but then 45 minutes to New Year we feel like hunting for other place...Creative Industry 100 area rocky performance is where we start 2011 :)

And as band and other spectators are not too bothered by the arrival of 2011..we sneak out for our very own improvised fireworks ("glitter-works") and champagne :)
Happy New Year everyone :)


Refreshing New Year morning walk by the sea


Qingdao Olympic Sailing marina...relaxed...and perfect for morning hot chocolate :)


And after a visit to Louis Vuitton shop for some warm up we head to Qingdao "Underwater world" :)




Second day of New Year is perfect for Qingdao Old town walk.
Wedding photo... outside temperature is - 5

Old town spirit :)

A door


Ice ice baby...


A view from the top


Quite many people for such a chilly day!


And then....The Naval Museum...and my first submarine visit!



And then some military ships


This one has been transformed into a shop :)


And a tank


Uncovering secrets of Chinese aviation ;)