Drink Review: Hot Chocolate

Well, readers, the oppressive summer heat has loosened it's grip and tell-tale evidence of Father Christmas' fast approach is in the air. Coolness has descended outside, and the time is nigh for snow! Doesn't the cold air just make you think of things such as cozy blankets, warm ginger bread men, crackling fireplaces, roaring camp fires, scarves, hats, mittens, coats, and Christmas! Yes, my friends, these are a few of my favorite things. :)

While playing Christmas music is obviously forbidden until the day after Thanksgiving, Hot chocolate made from real cocoa is welcomed for as many months as you can drink it enjoyably. I took the opportunity and wrapped my hands around a steaming cup of hot chocolate today and, typing and tasting, I recorded my thoughts...

The chocolate-laden steam and semi-sweet drink had a rejuvenating and heavenly warmth to it. It is recommended for dipping cookies in if that's how you like to dance, or for having with a side of Turkish Delights for those of you who've seen The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. And as a personal preference, I suggest it being made with steamed almond milk.

For keeping cozy, and for the sake of a wonderful winter experience, I recommend this delicious drink by furnishing it with adjectives such as: warm, sweet calming, satisfying, and dark.

~The Harvest Crier~

Saturday Night's Oktoberfest

Well, I can honestly say that if you weren't here on Saturday night, you missed out on one heck of a party. The cold of October gave way to an Indian summer, causing Harvest Moon to throw open its doors and let the perfect evening temperatures aerate the cafe. The sound of a skilled live musician and grown-up laughter enchanted the night and drew the crowds in to see what the hubbub and hullabaloo was all about.

What an outsider would have walked into was a gathering of people spilling out of a trendy, quality, and classy brick building. Behind the counter one would find black-clad staff working like bees in a hive, and Mr. Brian himself humoring those at the bar with his Brian-like-antics and impeccable conversational skills. All around would be a mix of old and young enjoying samples from the various vendors as well as some house-made hors d'oeuvres straight from the kitchen, not to mention Harvest Moon classics like the Bison Burger or the Hummus and Olives Appetizer.

Even with an OSU game going on at 9pm, the turnout was exceptional. It seemed from my standpoint that not many ordered their tickets in advance; rather, most strolled in and bought their tickets at the event itself. The draw seemed to be the people enjoying themselves on our awesome patio; credit also should be given to the live-musician, who will receive a shout-out on our Facebook.

The laughter and samples poured out abundantly and everyone seemed to have enjoyed themselves. Even Art Studio 7.5 was open during the event. I would say that this Oktoberfest played itself out very well, and I would implore you to check out the Moon's next wine-tasting event, lest you be square.

~The Harvest Crier~

Cocktail Review: "Frostbite"

Harvest Moon stands behind its values not only when serving you delicious food, but also when crafting its one-of-a-kind cocktails. The rare and refreshing use of real ingredients has made an impression on me once again. Our new fall/winter cocktail lineup made it difficult for me to choose which one to review first, but the frost that greeted me this chilly morning helped me to narrow it down. "Frostbite", a crisp blend of Hendrick's Gin, house-made rosemary syrup, and freshly-squeezed lime and ruby red grapefruit juices will have me staying for another. It's that good! The pale green-white liquid, captured in a delicate chilled martini glass and garnished with a sprig of fresh rosemary is magical. The rosemary, of course, is unmistakable and lovely. But, if you linger long enough, you'll taste a hint of rose that is unique to the Hendrick's Gin. It's truly a winter's night dream.

Whole Grain Harvest Pancake Experiment

Hey there, blog readers. Just wanted to write to you a blurb about recent happenings in Harvest Moon.

This morning, I was able to sample a new menu item that the kitchen is experimenting with. There are many who love our heavenly hotcakes, recently popularized by a Columbus Parent article. Now the crew is experimenting with a whole grain pancake which is rumored as being called the Harvest Pancake. Here are my thoughts:

This morning being drizzly, this whole grain flap jack had a cozy taste and a hearty feel to it - a perfect warming food for the colder months ahead. I could definitely feel the textual difference between this and the heavenly hotcakes, myself preferring whole grain much more. I do hope they perfect and keep this new slant on an olde tyme favorite.

Hard-to-place flavors akin to vanilla and maple tickled my palate, but that was probably just the mouthwatering syrup I poured all over the top of the pancake. Delish!

~Your Friendly Neighborhood Harvest Crier~

Draft Beers

Dear beer lovers,

I am not a beer person, but just for you, I made sure to sit at the bar this afternoon and sample each of Harvest Moon's beers on tap. And to my credit, I really enjoyed one of them particularly- the Rare Vos Belgian amber ale. But come in and choose your own new favorite!

Smuttynose, Finestkind IPA (New Hampshire)
Qualities: light, crisp, citrus, hoppy

Lagerhead's Smokehouse & Brewing Co., Tyranny APA (Ohio)
Qualities: cider color, hoppy, bitter

Ommegang, Rare Vos Belgian Amber Ale (New York)
Qualities: fruity, sweet, mellow

Magic Hat Brewing Company, Ourtoberfest Hex Amber Ale *SEASONAL* (Vermont)
Qualities: malty, dark, hints of toffee and caramel

Thirsty Dog Brewing Company, Siberian Night Imperial Stout, (Ohio)
Qualities: smoky, very dark and rich

Gluten Free Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake

The evening life of Harvest Moon is steadily growing and the timidity of the dinner crowd is giving way to a growing population of night owls.

A good glass of wine or a frosty draft beer is best complemented with either a hearty meal or a quality dessert. The dessert featured here, the Gluten Free Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake, would excellently complement a drink of some kind. Actually, a tall cold glass of Thirsty Dog Siberian Night is the bartender's recommendation.

Thirsty Dog Siberian Night

A fluffy slice of decadent chocolate cake covered with rich chocolate/peanut butter frosting and speckled with the sharp sweetness of peanut butter chips - this photograph says it all. It's a towering dessert of chocolate and peanut buttery goodness. The layer of thickly rich icing tucked in the middle of the fluffiness is to die for!

Now I warn you, it's pretty sweet, so perhaps it's best to split it between you and your sweetie. With darkly sweet frosting and PB chips both on top and inside the cake, it's sure to satiate your most stubborn sweet-tooth.

While this peanut butter and chocolate treat isn't available today, we may be able to convince Nathan to make it again if we get enough comments about it. Are you a fan of the Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake? Have you had a slice yourself?

~The Harvest Crier~

Drink Review: Conrad's Margarita

The other night, I dined out at a Mexican restaurant. After ordering a gigantic margarita, I decided that I needed to try out our local Harvest Moon's "Conrad's Margarita".

My immediate impression of the Conrad's was how, well, real it tasted. Gone was the sugary mixture of last night, and hello fresh! This crisp, Himalayan salt-rimmed cocktail is created with freshly squeezed lime juice, house-made simple syrup, Jose Cuervo's gold tequila from the Blue Agave plant, and a splash of Cointreau.

You can definitely tell when a margarita is hand-spun...and when it is poured out of a spicket. This is where it's at folks. Bienvenidos!