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.

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~

Red Wines

Among the countless wines on the rack for sale at Harvest Moon, the cafe pours nine of those represented by Wine Trends. Tonight, I tasted each of the four red wines:

Mark West, Pinot Noir

California

A basic, red table wine, this Pinot Noir is simple and will go well with any food you might order at the cafe. It is a top-seller here as well for those who want to take a bottle home.

Montes, Malbec

Chile

This wine has a beautiful, rich color. It begins as a mouthful of berries and ends with a dry finish. Interestingly to note, Chilean wines are an up and coming surprise. Most Malbecs are made in Argentina, but Chile shares the Andes mountains that receive fresh air, crisp water, and fertile soil - resulting in a real treat. Goes well with meat. Try something new tonight!

Guenoc, Cabernet Sauvignon

California

My favorite taste of the evening, this Cabernet Sauvignon went down sweet and easily. It had a distinct, fruity scent, and caused my tongue to tingle with delight! Perfect with chocolate and meats.

Four Vines, Zinfandel

California

Wow! This red Zinfandel made me pucker for sure! As our bartender put it, the best and perhaps only word to describe it is "spicy". I couldn't agree more. If you're ready for an adventure, test it with chocolate and pretty much any food!

Drink Review: White Peach Sangria

Summer is still here, and Harvest Moon's new patio has been approved for alcohol consumption! Our summer cocktail menu, crafted by renowned mixologist, Chris Dehlavi, utilizes only freshly squeezed juices and house-made syrups, as well as beer, wine, and spirits that you won't find most other places. Think handcrafted, signature, unique, and totally natural - and those are the kind of cocktails that Harvest Moon delivers!

My first alcoholic beverage to review is the White Peach Sangria. Fruit-filled with a sunset-colored hue, this sangria is both beautiful and irresistible. The bartender combines Bacardi Rum with Cointreau (orange liqueur) and our New Age Mascato. She then squeezes in fresh orange juice and and Harvest Moon's house-made peach syrup (created in the kitchen from loose leaf peach tea straight out of the Garden Herb Shop). Seasonal fruit is muddled into a white wine glass and topped with ice, and you're well on your way to the Caribbean!

The initial flavor that will hit your tongue is the intense orange that both the Cointreau and and the fresh juice contribute. Then the satisfying bite of rum completes the sip. Come and try your own while it's still summer!