soda

Fizz With Flair, SodaStream's Penguin

by Michael B. Dougherty (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets

The recent crop of home soda makers appeal on several levels: environmentally (no plastic bottles to discard), economically (no plastic bottles to buy) and practically (fizzy water for everyone, anytime). But one shortcoming has been aesthetics, since most models look like a Nalgene bottle jacked into a piece of lab equipment. Thankfully SodaStream has corrected this oversight with their Penguin.

Available through SodaStream's website and at Williams-Sonoma, this avian-themed carbonation factory is something you'll actually want to display at home. Operating without batteries or an electrical connection, the Penguin carbonates beverages with a few quick pumps of the beak (I prefer to add my own penguin sound effects when doing this). Simply rotate the stainless steel flask and insert one of the two glass carafes provided, which are attractive enough to pass for vases or decanters. Close and lock, depress the beak to activate (2-4 times, depending on how much fizz you're after), and push the pressure release valve before opening again. Once carbonated, you can seal the carafes with the provided hermetic stopper for freshness. The CO2 canisters that power the Penguin are easy to install and SodaStream estimates you'll get about 45 carafes-worth of fizz out of each.

SodaStream also offers various soda mixes and recently released a line of all-natural flavor syrups, from apple mango to pink grapefruit, but I've found that a few well-placed lime wedges work just as well. I haven't yet experimented with the Penguin and alcoholic beverages, but something tells me a Collins night is in order soon.

Tags: carbonation, kitchen gadgets, penguin, soda, sodastream, water, williams-sonoma

Vignette Wine Country Soda

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

Can you have a wine spritzer without the booze? Last October I tried First Blush Varietal Grape Juice for the first time, now Vignette Wine Country Soda combines the he juice of California varietal wine grapes with the fizz of soda. The drink is made from 50% varietal juice with no added sugar or colors. It comes in Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Rose. You can buy it online through Hello Delicous for $35 for a 12-pack.

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Tags: drinks, grape juice, GrapeJuice, non alcoholic, soda, varietal grapes, VarietalGrapes, vignette wine country soda, VignetteWineCountrySoda

Dry Soda

by Nicole Weston (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

Dry Soda is a soda for foodies, the carbonated equivalent of a fine wine. Or, at least, it wants to be. The all-natural, lightly sweetened sodas come in unique flavors that are meant to compliment foods. There are four flavors, Kumquat, Lavender, Lemongrass and Rhubarb. Suggested pairings include:

Kumquat -- clean citrusy flavor with a high acidity. Versatile and pairs well with salmon, white fish, risotto, duck, sweet leafy greens and oysters.
Lavender -- lively with a lavender flavor and low acidity. Pairs well with cheeses, pork, desserts and chocolate.
Rhubarb -- fruity and tart with a high acidity and tartness. Bold, bright flavor pairs well with veal, cassoulet, red meats (including hamburgers) and winter vegetables.
Lemongrass -- bright, floral and grassy, with a medium acidity. Pairs well with Asian-inspired foods, spicy dishes, sushi, goat cheese and asparagus.

The sodas range from 50-70 calories per bottle, so they could serve as an alternative to wine for those who want to watch their calories as well as their alcohol intake. Price: $25 per dozen.

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Tags: dry soda, dry sodas, drysoda, food, food pairing, foodies, non-alcoholic, soda, wine

One Minute Drink Chiller

by Nicole Weston (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Wine

Why wait around for a cold drink on a hot day when you can have one in minutes? The One Minute Drink Chiller promises to take a room temperature can of soda down to an icy 38-degrees F in under one minute. It can cool a bottle of wine down in just under 4 minutes, too. It is equipped with a sensor to automatically stop the chilling process when your drink reaches the optimum temperature, so there is no risk of a frozen drink. The Chiller includes a car adapter, so you can take it with you to picnics and tailgates.The capacity of the machine is only one can or one bottle, so you will have to work one at a time, but as long as you start with your own drink, waiting for any subsequent ones will not seem as bad. Price: $99.95.