Grade "A" Fancy

Make it Good and Make It Snappy.

2012-03-11T16:21:00.000-04:00

The Grade “A” Bentley Cocktail
You know that the Grade “A” Fancy Beverage Commission endorses only drinks that have a swift shaker-to-table appearance. The oft-quoted Harry Craddock of the Savoy Hotel, London, said that a cocktail should be imbibed quickly, while it’s still laughing at you. The GAFBC says it must also arrive in front of you at a decent clip, while you can still laugh with it.

We enjoyed this one last night, and it’s so simple and satisfying we predict it will stay at the top of our rotation. It began in our test labs as an applejack takeoff on the Manhattan, but when we replaced the Italian vermouth with Dubonnet, and in a smooth one-to-one ratio, it frankly purred like a fine engine. For a garnish we added a lemon twist – it turned out to be a zingier garnish than that cherry you assumed would be indispensable. A dash of Angostura bitters makes it very stimulating, indeed.
We then hied it to our library for a spot of cocktail bible study—because of course such a simple drink could not possibly be new—and in our search discovered that Mr. Craddock’s own Savoy Cocktail Book contains a Bentley cocktail with the same liquors, yet no garnish or bitters.

We urge you to try our new vintage Bentley Cocktail for 2012.

The Grade “A” Bentley Cocktail
1 part Laird’s Old Apple Brandy*
1 part Dubonnet Rouge
Dash Angostura Bitters
Stir over ice.

Strain into a chilled glass and garnish with a twist of lemon peel.

*applejack will do, and Calvados will more than do

There's no reason to think it's named after John Steed's beloved automobile, but here's…

A toast: To top professionals and talented amateurs!

Tiny Tim's Crutch

2011-12-23T20:52:00.000-05:00

By popular demand — and as a teaser for tomorrow's fun — we give you the award-winning Fool's Paradise Xmas Party Cocktail of 2008:

Tiny Tim's Crutch
A salute to The Smoke

1 1/2 ounce Gordon's Gin
1/2 ounce Harvey's Bristol Creme Sherry
1/2 ounce brewed and cooled Lapsang Souchong tea

Put some sugar on a plate. Moisten the rim of a cocktail glass with a citrus wedge and dip glass into the sugar.
Stir all liquids over ice until very cold and strain into the cocktail glass.

There you have it, now you won't have to wait for the publication of the official Grade "A" Fancy drinks manual. Remember to tune into Rex on the mighty WFMU this Saturday for this holiday season's dedicated cocktail.

'Tis The Season!

2011-12-22T08:43:00.007-05:00

Click me.

December 24, the war on X-mas Eve gets off to a rollicking start as Grade "A" Fancy joins Rex for the annual Fool's Paradise Christmas party on the mighty WFMU, the Fun 91, the Freeform Station of the Nation at 91.1 on your fm dial. Rex will remind us, one and all, of the reason for the season as he celebrates the American Novelty Songbook in true Fool's Paradise style, spinning your favorite (?) holiday-themed selections at 45 r.p.m. And Grade "A" Fancy's own chief mixomatologist, Karen McBurnie, will once again unveil a brand new cocktail to make your spirits bright, live on air! "Bartender of the Airwaves" is a unique piece of radio broadcast history. Don't you dare miss it! The fun happens from 1 to 3pm EST and you can find WFMU at 91.1 here in the tri-state area, 90.1 in the Hudson Valley, or streaming live at WFMU.org on the interwebs. If you insist on spending the day with family the show will be archived so you'll be able to enjoy the radio hi-jinx at your leisure for years to come.

Algebra of Ordering

2011-11-29T11:50:00.004-05:00

Avoid disappointment! Master any menu! Beat the odds!
Ladies and Gents, dinner and cocktails are no longer a gamble. Calculate the Grade “A” Fancy way.

Blarney Stone

2011-07-18T16:51:00.002-04:00

What's green, tastes like beer and corned beef, and used to stand on every other corner in Manhattan?

Manhattan Confidential

2011-04-14T11:44:00.003-04:00

It looks like we have another Grade "A" Fancy exclusive. How do we keep scooping the competition? We have some influential friends. The Martini was so pleased with our interview with her that she slipped us Manhattan's unlisted number.

We caught up with our favorite Manhattan-about-town in a quiet, wood-paneled snuggery hidden in the corner of a chophouse of esteemed vintage.

Can the Canned

2011-01-24T18:55:00.023-05:00

Look out, Grade "A" Fancy readers. Our usual live-and-let-live, happy-go-lucky, zip-a-dee-doo-dah sunny dispositions are temporarily discarded as we take on the plague of piped-in music in restaurants.

2010 R.I.P.

2010-12-30T10:49:00.000-05:00

Grade "A" Fancy makes our first foray into the realm of cinema with this tribute to some places we lost this year. 2010 was a hard year for New York City bars and restaurants, and this is by no means a comprehensive list, but these are some of our favorites. The city will be poorer for the loss. Each of these had its own unique charms, but we relied on all of them to temporarily shut out the horrors of the homogenized Disneyfication New Yorkers have all had to endure over the last decade or so. If you missed any of these special places in their prime, that's a pity. But if you have an Old Reliable, one whose unchanging, comforting personality owes nothing to a corporate headquarters in Texas or Tennessee, you better give it a visit soon. We will be doing that very thing tomorrow. You should too. Don't say we didn't warn you. Enjoy the show.

Kringle Tingle

2010-12-26T13:42:00.001-05:00

Here it is folks, the secret recipe for the 2010 edition of the Grade "A" Fancy holiday cocktail, The Kringle Tingle. Thanks to Rex, one of our favorite WFMU Good Guys, and mastermind of the Fool's Paradise radio program, for hosting the most swinging Christmas party ever.

The Kringle Tingle

as debuted 12-25-10 on-air

Fool's Paradise

WFMU

2 1/2 ounces Cognac

1 ounce Dubonnet rouge

1/2 ounce Crème de Cassis

4 shakes Fee's Old Fashion Aromatic Bitters

Add all ingredients into a shaker half-filled with ice. Shake; strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

Garnish: a twist of lemon peel. Optional: if you're insured, flame peel over the glass.

Yield: one extra-large (Santa-sized) cocktail.

Grade "A" Karen shakes it up, while Nancy points out the action.

Cheryl adds her two cents. Todd-o-phonic Todd smells trouble.

Sorcery!

Kaboom!

photos courtesy the one, the only, Paul Lukas

Coming Attractions: Due to a demanding public, our annual Fool's Paradise secret recipe holiday cocktails will be published, along with other Grade "A" Fancy original concoctions, in a Grade "A" Cocktails booklet so you can play along at home. Ideal for gift giving, 2011-style.

Holiday Cheer

2010-12-21T12:47:00.003-05:00


Grade "A" Fancy takes to the airwaves. In what has become a holiday tradition, we join Rex for the annual Fool's Paradise Christmas party on the mighty WFMU, the Fun 91, the Freeform Station of the Nation at 91.1 on your fm dial. It's always a can't-miss event when Rex celebrates the American Novelty Songbook in true Fool's Paradise style, spinning your favorite (?) holiday-themed selections at 45 r.p.m. And Grade "A" Fancy's own chief mixomatologist, Karen McBurnie, will once again unveil a brand new cocktail to mark the season, live on air! This feature we like to call "Bartender of the Airwaves" is truly a milestone in radio broadcast history. The fun happens from 1 to 3pm EST and you can find WFMU at 91.1 here in the tri-state area, 90.1 in the Hudson Valley, or streaming live at WFMU.org on the interwebs. If you insist on spending the day with family the show will be archived so you'll be able to enjoy the radio hi-jinx at your leisure for years to come.

The End Of Summer As We Know It

2010-11-14T16:21:00.003-05:00

Grade"A"Fancy says goodbye to Ruby's and a whole bunch of other great stuff that will soon be gone, leaving Coney Island changed forever.

A Menu For America

2010-10-29T14:30:00.004-04:00

The Tea Party aren't the only kooks that want to save America. Grade "A" Fancy makes your dinner table safe for democracy.

Interview With The Martini

2010-09-14T13:34:00.006-04:00

Scoop! Our first one-on-one interview, and it's a biggie — the Martini! Grade "A" Fancy dishes the dirt with the most glamorous cocktail on the scene. Plus exclusive recipes will help pros and talented amateurs get her just right. You're welcome.

Hot Off The Digital Presses

2010-09-12T15:19:00.002-04:00

You are looking at the latest issue of Grade "A" Fancy, the smart New Yorker's guide to smart New York, the foe of the faddish, delivering the big city, distilled and decanted by Karen McBurnie and Jon Hammer. This one is entitled "The Theater District in Aspic", wherein we explore some of the last vestiges of that neighborhood before it went all corporate. Through the miracle of digital publishing, Grade “A” Fancy magazine takes you on safari into the heart of Darkest Times Square, where chain stores are many and pleasures are few, in search of some nuggets of historical and gustatory interest.

Neon!

2010-05-03T13:39:00.008-04:00

Publishing dynamo Grade "A" Fancy presents a selection of photography by noted shutterbug and Negatives photo club co-founder Karen McBurnie. It is an riot of neon signage in digital and trad film media, with lots of double exposures to spice things up.