I had some epicurean friends over this weekend (tromboneborges and offline friends Binar and Theosophy). Regardless of the goal of the gathering, that group inevitably ends up trying good and/or crazy food, and this weekend was no exception. Convivium Osteria for dinner Saturday: exquisite and familial. Dizzy's for brunch: we sat outside, but the food was great. And we visited LeNell's, a "wine and spirits boutique" in Red Hook. It's an amazing place with many, many varieties of alcohol that I've never seen. That's not saying much, but they had one thing that's probably remarkable even to more experienced folk: Eau de Vie de Douglas Fir, a 98-proof brandy with Douglas Fir buds infused several times during its creation.

It's like eating a tree that has been soaked in alcohol instead of water for a couple of years. It is profoundly strange.

... Here, try this.