Spew

Beer Chat: The Red Hot

BOBBLE TIKI: A CHAT WITH CHRIS TRASHCAN >>>

Despite the best efforts of Tacoma’s Bottle Rocket Czar Bobble Tiki knows the suburbs will look and smell like a set from Apocalypse Now tomorrow. Neighborhoods of otherwise model citizens will toss aside their compliant approach on July 4, using the celebration of freedom to exercise a little of their own. Vive la resistance! Sorry ... excuse Bobble Tiki’s French.

Speaking of exploding, Bobble Tiki about lost it when he discovered received that The Red Hot will take the Fourth off. Seriously? Where will Bobble Tiki hide Saturday? Bobble Tiki caught up with Red Hot owner Chris Trashcan for the scoop.

CHRIS TRASHCAN: Seriously. I will be somewhere with my cell phone turned off, enjoying life. The Red Hot Beertender Crew will be enjoying a deserved day off, and we'll be back for the attack on Sunday the 5th.

TIKI: Crap. Now Bobble Tiki will have to spend the day with the extended family. Ugh.

I’ll drop by the next day for my regular real beer float. Bobble Tiki sees you’re using Ninkasi’s Oatis this Sunday for the floats. Why?

TRASHCAN: I chose Ninkasi's Oatis this Sunday because it has a killer roasty, chocolate maltiness to it that goes great with vanilla bean ice cream. Kind of earthy. It's dark chocolate bitterness pulls through the creaminess as well. It has a smooth mouthfeel as is, which is even more pronounced on ice cream. Plus it's just fucking delicious.

TIKI: Hey, little help. Bobble Tiki’s nephews or something shake up his Pabst cans every Fourth. If Bobble Tiki taps the top of his can, will it not explode on him?

TRASHCAN: No, tapping a can does nothing except help to take more CO2 out of solution, which will cause even more foaming. If you don't shake up the can, you won't have this problem to begin with.

TIKI: Crap.

[The Red Hot, 2914 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.779.0229]

Nosh Pit: Crown BBQ, 7 Seas brew

JAKE DE PAUL: FRIDAY FOOD LINKS >>>

Outdoor Barbecue: Charlie McManus and the Crown Bar crew take it outdoors every Friday and Saturday night for curbside apple wood smoked ribs brats and brisket.

NEW BEER: 7 Seas Brewing, Gig Harbor’s first craft brewery, has scheduled three release parties.

Noooooooo!: Dunkin Donuts to temporarily stop selling hot chocolate, Dunkachinos because of — you guessed it — salmonella concerns.

Start Your Fourth With A Bang

The Hub opens at 9 a.m. Saturday, July 4, for breakfast that includes $3 Bloody Marys and $3 Red, White and Blue drink specials. Nice.

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

Summer Tip No. 34

SUZY STUMP: THAT'S RIGHT: I SAID DICKMAN >>>

Over the years, the Weekly Volcano heard tales of an inexplicable summertime condition.  When the sun is shining, we’re told, some people lose their appetites. They all have some ridiculous excuse.  Some refuse to sweat and eat at the same time. Sissies. Others say they’re too busy. Whatever. Still others pull out the old “It’s swimsuit season” excuse. Foolish vanity. The best we can figure, they all have heatstroke and aren’t quite right in the head.

After experimenting with everything from winter squash to summer peas, French onion soup to Eskimo pie, we have reached an indisputable scientific conclusion  — when the sun is shining, things just taste better.

This is especially true when the eating is done outdoors.  The first step is to brown bag it. Then, high tail it to the nine-acre Dickman Mill Park along Tacoma’s Ruston Way.  The park is the largest public space along that stretch of Commencement Bay offering a sandy beach, expanse of lawn, heavily landscaped inter-tidal channel, plaza and hand-launch boat ramp. 

Tonight is perfect for a brown bag dinner. Stop by Met Market or Dave's Meat and Produce on the way for some fixings.

LINK: Other outdoor dining suggestions

Nosh Pit: wine dinner, four-course deal

JAKE DE PAUL: WEDNESDAY FOOD LINKS >>>

A Good Thing: A whole bunch of half-priced wine tonight.

Wine Dinner: El Gaucho Tacoma teams up with Long Shadows Vintners July 10 for a 6 p.m. dinner that costs $125.

Summer Night Out: The Melting Pot offers a four-course dinner for just $36 a person.

Know What’s Bad To Find Good: Top 5 bad wine pairings

Today’s South Sound Special

A Dairy Queen/Orange Julius opens at the South Hill Mall today. Arctic Rush, DQ’s blizzards, sundaes and a new Light Smoothie with fiber or protein can now help you navigate Meridian Avenue South. Cozy up to one at 3500 S. Meridian in Puyallup.

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

Hey bartender! Have you heard? ...

MICHAEL SWAN: HAPPY HOUR TOPIC OF THE DAY >>>

LINK: South Sound happy hours

A taste of Minoela

JENNIFER JOHNSON: FIRST BITE >>>

The rustic wine bistro Minoela opened last week next to The Grand Cinema.  Occupying the location that formerly housed the Kickstand Café (and One Heart Café) Minoela serves lunch and dinner Tuesday through Saturdays at 604 Fawcett Ave. in Tacoma.

The physical lay-out of Minoela strongly resembles former One Heart Café days with two separate rooms for dining and a back bonus area with a cozy couch and coffee table that are lent a semblance of intimacy by a white curtain. The Weekly Volcano call dibs on the couch! 

Minoela’s menu is minimal, but at the bistro wine house taste is not. The three choices of Italian and French inspired pizzas, sandwiches and salads feature larger portions and are under $12 — a pleasing surprise. Gourmet pizzas see creative toppings of herbed cream cheese, sun-dried tomato herb oil, sea salt, basil, toasted pecans served on chewy artisan crust. For sandwiches, ham and brie with apple is an instant favorite.

It's Terminal tonight

MICHAEL SWAN: OREGON CULT BREWERY HITS SOUTH SOUND >>>

Anyone taste an IPA, Golden, Trippel or Breakfast Porter from Terminal Gravity Brewing from Oregon? The word is the Terminal Gravity hits Tacoma's Parkway Tavern beginning at 6 p.m. tonight. Will it land anywhere else in the South Sound?

Nosh Pit: Rocking Denny's, Bad Dews

JAKE DE PAUL: TUESDAY FOOD LINKS >>>

Rocking Flapjacks: Denny's tries night-owl vibe.

Geek Drink: The five best and five worst Mountain Dews of all time.

Save Room: Why don't desserts sell?

Today’s South Sound Specials

Half-price Wine Night, Pacific Grill, 1502 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.627.3535.

Tightwad Tuesdays with $2 tacos, $2 beers, and $2 wells, Hell’s Kitchen, 3829 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.759.6003.

LINK: Eat outside today

Blood drive for cupcakes

SUZY STUMP: MUST. BE CAREFUL. >>>

Back in October I wrote about a blood drive in association with Cascade Regional Blood Services. I got in big trouble. I wrote this:

Chatting with new BFF Jamie from Cascade Regional Blood Services regarding their blood drives in November I learned that CRBS will launch a program titled Pint for a Pint — a program where if you donate a pint of blood you will receive a complimentary pint of beer.

Um, it was a coupon for a pint not an actual pint or something. BFF Jamie did not want to be my BFF.

Well, this time I’m going to let the press release speak for itself:

In response to the shortage of blood donations in our area, the Young Professionals Network of Tacoma-Pierce County is responding by partnering with Cascade Regional Blood Services and Hello Cupcake to sponsor a Blood Drive on July 6th from 4:30-7pm next to Cutters Point, downtown Tacoma.  Each person who donates will receive a free cupcake from Hello Cupcake.

The Harmon is next door to Cutters. They have lots of beer. Just saying.

5 things to do: Saturday

MICHAEL SWAN: SATURDAY, JUNE 27 >>>

1. The Taste of Tacoma kicks in to full gear today. Try some food on a stick, check out plenty of good entertainment, and pee in a Honey Bucket. What more could you ask for? The Taste goes all day, and info can be found here.

2. Check out Chris Cantrell's Romeo and Juliet in Olympia at the Minnaert Center. Saturday's show starts at 2 p.m. and tickets are $12. Oh, and keep in mind - Romeo and Juliet are both dudes in this staging.

3. While you're in Oly, check out Grouper's all ages show at Northern. The ethereal melodies created by Grouper main force Liz Harris echo within the venues and throughout the albums, finding a thought-provoking path to your brainwaves. The music creates an almost suspenseful air and leaves a listener unsure of how to react to the contradictory combination of the spooky and the beautiful. Show starts at 9 p.m.

4. Dick Dale. Duh.

5. The Swellers, Living With Lions, To New Beginnings, Walk The Plank and Serious Black will be rocking the fuck out of the Viaduct in Taocma. Naturally, it's an all ages show - as every show at the Viaduct is. That's the point. This particular orgy of sonic brutality starts at 7 p.m. and costs $10.