Sunday, June 10, 2007
Acrostic by Emily Cox & Henry Rathvon
The quotation: FEW QUESTIONS HAVE SO VEXED DRINKERS AS WHETHER TO SHAKE OR STIR A MARTINI ... SHAKING CREATES A COLDER DRINK BUT RISKS DILUTING THE INGREDIENTS ... JAMES BOND ADDED INSULT TO UNCERTAINTY BY ESCHEWING GIN IN FAVOR OF VODKA
The author’s name and the title of the work: BEN SCHOTT FOOD AND DRINK
The defined words:
BOURGEOIS (A. Conventionally middle-class)
EXITVISA (B. Leave to leave [2 wds.])
NONSTICK (C. Teflon-coated) SHETLAND (D. Archipelago whose islands include Yell and Muckle Roe) CHECKMATE (E. Bad situation for a king to be in) HIGHWIREACT (F. Performance by a funambulist [2wds., hyph.]) OVERAWED (G. Intimidated, cowed, unnerved) TURTLEDOVE (H. One of a pair given on 11 straight days, in song) TRENTON (I. Where Washington fought after crossing the Delaware) FALSIFY (J. Doctor or cook) OAKRIDGE (K. Tennessee locale nicknamed the Atomic City[2 wds.]) OSSIFRAGE (L. Vulture that feeds mostly on bone marrow) DRAWNOUT (M. Protracted; talked into talking [2 wds.]) ABSINTHE (N. Liquor banned in the United States since 1912) NEVERMIND (O. “Forget about it” [2 wds.]) DARKNESS (P. What Erebus personified, in Greek myth) DRYASDUST (Q. Exceedingly boring, as writing [3 wds.])
REHNQUIST (R. Burger replacement) INSIDEJOB (S. Work of a mole, perhaps [2 wds.]) NEARTHING (T. Narrow escape, close call [2 wds.]) KIDSKIN (U. Material used in making vellum) The quotation is from Ben Schott’s Schott's Food & Drink Miscellany, a collection of uncommon knowledge from the worlds of food and drink, including eponymous foods, famous last meals, and unconsidered trifles from the culinary world, including food history, cooking terms, cocktail recipes, dining etiquette, grace before meals, after-dinner toasts, a miscellany with everything for the wine drinker, gastronome, and glutton. It seems there may have been a more interesting quotation available, plus.
However, we get a quotation in reference to a James Bond martini, and a miscellaneous group of “defined words” -- the most closely related to the quotation being ABSINTHE. The remainder of the words are unrelated to the quotation and are collectively unrelated to each other. I was drawn to HIGHWIREACT, as I am a fan of the funambulist Philippe Petit and had the occasion to meet him after he walked a high wire near Belvedere Castle as a benefit for children in Central Park as punishment from a New York City Court for having walked between the World Trade Center towers without permission.
I also found it interesting how scant information is on Erebus and the ossifrage, contrasting with the more familiar Rehnquist and the turtledove. Had trouble finding a decent reference to KIDSKIN (Material used in making vellum) -- I was more familiar with vellum being made from calf, sheep or goatskin -- I now know the source can also be antelope or any other young (hence “kid”) animal skin.
I must read Mr. Schott’s miscellany to find if he included that tidbit under “what to do with leftovers”!
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