Ceremonies: December 2008 Archives

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Holy Christ! It's like Christmas Eve here at Hot Knives HQ because our second annual LA Grand Crew beer-bike ride goes down tomorrow. Tomorrow! We have oak barrel fairies dancing in our heads.

WARNING WARNING: The after-party booked up days ago. If you didn't reserve a spot and PayPal us in time we really sadly have to cut you off from the party. No exceptions. We are bummed too. But the good news is the ride is the main attraction anyway and it is free and open to everyone. So we encourage you to come along and then throw your own after-party afterward!

For all of you riders, here are the details you'll need.

Mapping: Above is our tried and true map. Barring unforeseen snags, we'll stick to it and have spoke-card versions to hand out tomorrow. Please make mental notes of where we'll be and plan your escape route accordingly for the end of the ride.

Meeting: We meet at Union Station at 11 a.m. in a courtyard to the right of the main entrance Look for 50 bikes! Here we will take attendance and go through some perfunctory safety tips before shoving off.

Rolling: No ecstasy. Also, red lights: we will be obeying traffic rules when and where we can. We'll also have appointed Beer Monitors who will help block lanes for turning as needed. Be ready to obey their wise-ass bike advice. Remember we are not breaking any laws by biking in the street. And though we are not traffic cops, we may attract their attention. Be smart. The Hot Knives corporate entity is not liable for loss of limb or life or broken bottles.

Shopping: Remember, we are trying to shop, not drop, so please buy bottles to go for loved ones and friends rather than yourself. Don't booze hard while riding, please, or we'll get Bad Santa on your ass. No Michelob please. We are trying to support craft brew and the dudes who monger it. Go cheap if you wanna, but don't blow your wad on the first store.

Stocking: A sneak-peak at the discounts and offerings at the four stores...

Ramirez Liquor (no sales tax)
HK Picks: Black Flag, Skullsplitter, Stone's Holiday Trio, Dad's Little Helper

Red Carpet (10% off)
HK Picks: Abbaye de Saint Bon Chien, Yulesmith Holiday, Bourbon County, Dale's 12-pack

Stopping: We will end our ride in Glassell Park. Those heading home can keep pedaling or hit the nearby Metro Gold Line at Lincoln Heights/Cypress Park (see map). Those registered for the party will let off at Verdugo Bar. Once the after-party ends (between 7 and 8 pm) we will organize packs of riders heading to the Metro.

Checking: Bike, helmet, water, a bag, money for beer, an I.D., a bike light.

What happened, where did the time go? It's been nearly 18 months since the smashing, first-ever annual LA Grand Crew beer-bike ride and we at Hot Knives HQ completely slacked on organizing our second event. But we've got it together now. We've really done it. And it's gonna be gooooood.

Listen up people. On Saturday, Dec. 20 , the extended Hot Knives blogging crew will lead a roughly 22-mile bike ride and holiday shopping spree to four of our favorite beer stores on L.A.'s eastside. Some of the stores you may know, some may be new! Most of the owners have graciously offered our beer riders a discount, so it's a perfect chance to grab a rare bottle of holiday ale, stout, porter, saison, lambic, winter warmer or whatever for your loved ones this holiday seaz. Think of it like Christmas shopping on spokes, without even going to the mall! And no Santas!

But wait, the best part is: Our ride will culminate in a private, all-you-can-drink keg party at the beloved brew joint Verdugo Bar in Glassell Park where we will feast on Hot Knives-made bar snacks and vegan food courtesy of Pure Luck vegan restaurant. Not to mention said kegs will be amazing, locally brewed holiday beer.

Why are you still reading? Go pump your bike tires already! The details, like our exact easy-riding route, will ferment by next week. But we're expecting a bigger turn-out than last time so go ahead and reserve a bike seat now so we know to expect you, and spread the word or just re-post the above video! Registration is $10 per person to cover the fancy kegs and all the food. The rest is up to you!

When: Saturday Dec. 20, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Where: We start at Union Station & end at 3408 Verdugo Rd, LA (map forthcoming)

Bring: Bike, backpack, helmet, water, ID, money for beer and lights for your ride.

Freshly arisen from a snoozed-out weekend, we dug through the video snippets of our Thanksgiving meal and smooshed 'em together like a leftover cranberry and mash sammich. Like most years, we cooked all day, but instead of setting our own table this time we packed our goodies up in milk crates and hit a potluck with dear some friends and neighbors. Prepare your swollen belly for more food and watch the above footage!

The day broke to Alex tiptoeing downstairs to massage and ferment his ten bubbly loaves of sourdough foccacia and ciabatta before letting them sit and catch a windowsill breeze. By mid-morning the Hot Knives kitchen crew grew to four, coffee in tow, and we manned our respective stations. Meagan set to mixing up a green-chili meatloaf. Lake sautéed Indian spices for a cranberry chutney. Evan worked the mashed potatoes and gravy. By beer o'clock we had found that 'good stopping point.' So while the oven did its thing, we trolled the Echo Park hills for an hour looking at cats and houses.

Back to gussy up before sundown, we turned the kitchen lights on for the first time. We hurriedly whipped dairy into the porcini-portobello gravy. Mixed the salad greens and toasted cayenne-pumpkin seeds. Shoved loaf after loaf of dough into our jerry-rigged "hearth" oven. Put on fancy clothes. And when we finally found the house a couple blocks away, half of the Thanksgiving party was already assembled. We added our own dishes to the table, where a serious smorgasbord of vegetarian wizardry lay in wait.

Thanksgiving 2008 Menu
Layered Noodle Kugel
Cauliflower Gratin
Baby Eggplant and Artichoke Stew
Pesto Smashed Potatoes w/ Crimini Mushroom Gravy
Marscapone Mashed Potatoes w/ Portabello-Porcini Gravy
Blue Cheese-Oyster Mushroom Tartlets
Stewed-Cabbage Pierogies
Long-Cooked Anasazi beans
Indian Cranberry Chutney
Green Chili Seitan Meatloaf w/ Cranberry-Kriek Coulis
Spicy Mixed Greens and butternut squash w/ maple-beer dressing and pumpkin seeds
Homemade ciabatta loaves
Homemade Sourdough Foccacia w/ truffled herb oil and porcini mushrooms
Cheeseboard featuring Stilton, x,x,x
Crème Brulee
Gingered Pumpkin Pie
Pumpkin Mini Souffles w/ homemade "Cool Whip"

Beer Cave Selections

Cantillon Iris Lambic
Aged 4 Years
Decadence Red Ale
Aged 2 Years
Avery's 'the Czar' Stout
Aged 2 Years
Jolly Pumpkin's Fuego Del Otono
Aged 1 Year
Sprecher's Imperial Czar Stout
Aged 2 Years
Allagash Curvieux
Aged 1 Year

Five hours later, the 20-plus eaters had conquered less than half the feast. Here's to leftovers!