What do the '90s taste like? If this is something you’ve been pondering, you’re in luck! Food and drink writer, Sam Slaughter, has captured the spirit of the decade in his cocktail book "Are You Afraid of the Dark Rum?: and Other Cocktails for '90s Kids" with delightful concoctions like "I'm too sexy for this grog" and "Pickelodeon."
This was a really fun and thought-provoking conversation. From talking to Sam, I learned that there’s so much more to crafting nostalgic cocktails than witty puns and repeating old catch phrases. You have to consider the cultural context of then and now, recognize that not everything was perfect in the time we pine for, and though you’re playing with something that’s already been done before it’s still important to create something new with it. Pulling off nostalgia can be tricky — it takes a lot of work, research, and a fluency in the decade you’re referencing. In the case of “Are You Afraid of the Dark Rum,” Sam clearly is a master at both the language of the 90’s and the language of cocktails.
I really enjoyed talking to Sam about how much went into studying up on the pop culture of the best decade of the century, and what he had to consider when turning fond memories into original cocktails.
You can order "Are You Afraid of the Dark Rum?: and Other Cocktails for '90s Kids" on Amazon, and be sure to listen to this latest episode of Amuse-Bouche on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and everywhere you listen to podcasts.
Looking forward to:
Another Neil Estate: Property Listing Comedy Show is streaming live on Sunday at 9pm! I watched their show last month and it is so entertaining. Expect fun real estate games, quirky listings, and lots of laughs. If you want a little taste of how the show works, you can watch the first Neil Estate here! Streaming details TBD, but you can follow the fun here on Facebook!
Appearing:
I appeared on Fox29’s Good Day Philadelphia to give tips on where to take mom out for Mother’s Day (don’t forget it’s this Sunday, May 9th)!
Publishing:
Nearly all of Philadelphia has weighed in on this historical and cultural analysis on how Wawa has built a cult-like following. It’s a trifecta approach I like to call The Theory of Wawativity!
Listening:
Science nerds are going to love Roaring Earth, a new podcast exploring the natural world. It’s hosted by journalist Kate Morgan, who was the first guest on Amuse-Bouche.
Watching:
My husband Jon and I are still on a Kevin Smith binge, savoring everything that this Jersey boy has ever created. We just finished watching Dogma, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, and Clerks 2.
But aside from that, for giggles, I started watching the “History” Channel. I use quotation marks because the term “history” is being used really loosely there. Since when did the History channel turn into the Conspiracy channel?
Thank you for understanding:
My newsletters haven’t been weekly as promised due to my grandfather’s illness and his passing this past weekend. I’ve only had the capacity to keep up with the work that pays the bills. The Amuse-Bouche podcast is recorded and edited in advance, which is why this project has been more consistent. As things slowly go back to normal, I hope to go back to weekly newsletters. My goal is to go weekly again by the end of this month. Thank you so much for understanding and keeping my family in your thoughts.