Sir Walter Raliegh on Rt 40 in Ellicott City...oh wait, that closed years ago so we could have yet another car dealer on Rt 40. Seriously, though, this was the first place that popped into my mind, it was warm and comfy, had the big stone fireplace, tastefully displayed decorations during the holidays and delicous prime rib. sigh...

Cranberry Amaretto Kiss
From Bon Appetit magazine, December 2007

2 cups cranberry juice cocktail
1 cup vodka
1/2 cup amaretto
3 tablespoons fresh orange juice
Ice cubes
Clementines, peeled, separated into segments (optional)

Mix cranberry juice, vodka, amaretto, and orange juice in pitcher.
Cover and chill until ready to serve. It can be prepared 1 day ahead. Keep refrigerated.
To make 2 drinks, fill cocktail shaker with ice cubes. Pour in scant 1 cup vodka mixture.
Cover and shake vigorously. Strain into 2 Martini glasses. Garnish each with clementine segment, if desired. Repeat 3 times with ice cubes, remaining vodka mixture, and clementine segments.
Makes 8 cocktails.

Elkridge Furnace Inn has a fireplace; definitely adds to the atmosphere.

I don't recall festive decorations, but I'm sure they're there. Guess I'll have to go investigate...

I really love the Milton Inn at Christmas...

Went to The Dizz for the first time since their reopening the other night. They have lots of colorful holiday lights strung from the ceilings and a warm fireplace.

Woodberry Kitchen has a drink called the headless horseman, which is a fantastic holiday drink.

Pomegranate Martini

1 1/2 cups pomegranate juice
2 ounces Absolute Citron vodka
1 ounce Cointreau liquor

Shake over ice, serve in chilled glass with twist of lemon. Makes 2 (or one really big one for me)

Ocean Pride in Lutherville has a fireplace in their main dining room. At least they used to anyways.

Billy, somehow the "headless horseman" sounds more like a Halloween drink to me ...

I'd much rather be sharing Mojito recipes (and drinking them for that matter) but for cold weather drinks, yet one more:

Bloody Bull:

6 oz V8
4 oz beef bouillon
2 1/2 oz vodka
1 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp hot pepper sauce
1/2 tsp Old Bay seasoning
2 tsp lime juice
1 tsp lemon juice
1 pinch black pepper to garnish
2 sticks celery to garnish

In a small pitcher or bowl combine V8 juice, bouillon, vodka, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, Old Bay, lime juice, and lemon juice and stir to blend well. Divide the mixture between two highball glasses containing ice, and garnish with black pepper and celery.

We like to sit by the fireplace at Pappas in Parkville this time of year. I don't recall how elaborately they decorate for the holidays, but I'm pretty sure the charming little old guy who plays keyboards many evenings has an extensive Christmas repertoire.

Sanders Corner also has a fireplace, but the tiny room it's in makes me feel claustrophobic, so I'd rather eat my sour beef and dumplings on the indoor deck and fantasize about spring arriving at the reservoir.

You people even put Old Bay in alcohol?

I really am *never* going to fit in around here...I can tell.

Lissa

Whatta ya mean "you people"??

Hue,
Lissa is originally from Michigan.

Lissa,
Old Bay is great in Bloody Marys, and Joyce's recipe sounds pretty tasty, if a tad on the salty side.

Some places will even rim your Bloody Mary glass with Old Bay if you like.

It's ok if you don't like Old Bay, Lissa. You can still fit in here in lots of other ways. Especially if you get a car and learn to drive like a psychopath. Or is that only in Pimlico and Baltimore Co?...

After my commute home on Thursday (near head on with a guy who decided to pass on a 2 lane road), stuck behind double parked bus who's driver was purchasing hotdogs at a stand, and ultimate pleasure of being tailgated by the same guy all the way down Greenspring Ave from city to county.... I needed a drink - big time!

At any rate, I personally don't hold it against you that you don't like Old Bay!

Old Bay - The Ketchup of Maryland

Well, Owl, I probably take this differrently than you meant it but ok. I agree with that, in that it's a staple in my kitchen and used in numerous recipes and applications. You didn't mean it like that though, did you?

Joyce, I don't have a car, but I used to be a cabbie in Boston, so I think I can out-psychotic most Baltimore drivers.

I don't drink, either, so a bloody mary isn't going to do much for me. And I think American football is seriously wimpy.

Um...I'm going to go away and hide, now.

My primary complaint about Old Bay is that it's too salty.

Well Lissa, if all you have to go on is the Detroit Lions, I can understand. ;-)

PCB Rob, I can actually get behind a team as bad as the Lions.

What ruined me was playing rugby at college.

Lissa, I understand what you are saying. When I was in Scotland, the locals would scoff at our "protection football", preferring their football (soccer) and rugby.

My Christmas present to you Hal:

J.O. #1 Seafood Seasoning with 50% Less Salt

Avaliable somewhere. Plus the J.O. blend is superior anyway. Old Bay is for cogs.

Hal/Owl,

I googled that spice and its made in Baltimore, or at least sold there.

Visit this link JO Spice and scroll down the page some for the 50% less salt version.

I've always preferred J.O. for seafood seasoning. The reason I NEVER bought Old Bay is that until recently it had MSG in it. Oh yeah. Check your old cans. On this I am inerrant (is that a word?).

I might try that JO spice. Might be a nice change from Old Bay and Zatarain's Creole Seasoning.

Yes Owl, inerrant is a word. I have heard it before, but I even looked it up.

adj.
Incapable of erring; infallible.
Containing no errors.

Owl Meat Gotterdammerung,

Inerrancy of scripture is one of the fundamental beliefs of Christian Fundamentalists. Inerrancy of those who interpret scripture is still open to debate.

Laura Lee, may a papal bull never chase you down the street nor you get this horrible cold that plagues my Nibelungen.

Owl Meat Götterdämmerung? I like how people are riffing on my name. And that will be my name for today. It's quite majestic.

Old Bay & Cheetos

Old Bay & Cheetos

Where did you get that original recipe Pigtown? LQTM

My drink for this Christmas was Martini enjoying with the warmth of fireplace at home.