(I might have forgotten it was Easter if not for the fact that I got the day off on Friday. That is always a good reminder about the imminence of a holiday -- I saw e-mail from HR Thursday about Good Friday hours and said to my desk-mate, "Wow, do we have the day off tomorrow?"
If memory serves, Slivovitz is the brand favored in the new Dan Clowes/Terry Zwigoff flick, Art School Confidential. I had no idea it was a real brand though. I mean, with a name like THAT...
It's not a brand, it's the generic name of Polish plum brandy. I don't even know what the brand name was of the stuff I was drinking -- the label was puzzling.
No, no, all I meant by 'generic' is that 'slivovitz' is a word like 'cognac', not a brand like 'Henessey'. I was drinking some kind of slivovitz, but I don't know what kind -- the label was partially in Polish and partially in Hebrew, neither of which I read, and I couldn't pick out a transliterable brand-name.
I've had two (2) slivovitzes, neither of which had anything approaching a strong plum flavor. Each had vague hints of plumminess (and were suitable for, say, rinsing a glass before filling it with something else, which actually resulted in a pleasing plum aftertaste). Neither tasted just plain "alcoholic", but what flavor there was was quite subtle. I can't remember the brands.
I also have a French, IIRC, plum eau de vie that's quite plummy.
Maybe I'll scan the label. The question is moot, though, because it's no longer being made (although if I happened to be running a distillery, I'd be calling Polant for the recipe now.)
I've had my fair share of slivovice (the Czech version) and it certainly puts the hair on your chest. Or something like that. But I recommend checking out the Hungarian version--I think the name is palinka. Much tastier in my experience, with equally mind-reeling amounts of alcohol.
One year my Dad brought home a Ukrainian egg dyeing kit. It had all kinds of wax, but I didn't prgress very far. Ideally you were supposed to be able to build complicaed patterns of mult-colors. All that I could manage was dyed and undyed waxed white. More than that, and it was just mud.
My dad brought home the same kit -- you have to read the manual; there are rules about which colors may be layered on which, mostly that lighter colors have to come first. We got to the point of making recognizably Ukranian looking, but still very kindergartenish and lame, eggs with it.
(I might have forgotten it was Easter if not for the fact that I got the day off on Friday. That is always a good reminder about the imminence of a holiday -- I saw e-mail from HR Thursday about Good Friday hours and said to my desk-mate, "Wow, do we have the day off tomorrow?"
Posted by The Modesto Kid | Link to this comment | 04-17-06 2:15 PM
As long as you're talking about candy, that's fine
They are awful sweet.
(I can't believe I have to do all the work in this double entendre.)
Posted by Tia | Link to this comment | 04-17-06 2:15 PM
If memory serves, Slivovitz is the brand favored in the new Dan Clowes/Terry Zwigoff flick, Art School Confidential. I had no idea it was a real brand though. I mean, with a name like THAT...
Posted by moira | Link to this comment | 04-17-06 2:33 PM
It's not a brand, it's the generic name of Polish plum brandy. I don't even know what the brand name was of the stuff I was drinking -- the label was puzzling.
Posted by LizardBreath | Link to this comment | 04-17-06 2:39 PM
it's generic? yeesh. this stuff is sounding better and better...
Posted by moira | Link to this comment | 04-17-06 2:44 PM
No, no, all I meant by 'generic' is that 'slivovitz' is a word like 'cognac', not a brand like 'Henessey'. I was drinking some kind of slivovitz, but I don't know what kind -- the label was partially in Polish and partially in Hebrew, neither of which I read, and I couldn't pick out a transliterable brand-name.
Posted by LizardBreath | Link to this comment | 04-17-06 2:46 PM
I've had two (2) slivovitzes, neither of which had anything approaching a strong plum flavor. Each had vague hints of plumminess (and were suitable for, say, rinsing a glass before filling it with something else, which actually resulted in a pleasing plum aftertaste). Neither tasted just plain "alcoholic", but what flavor there was was quite subtle. I can't remember the brands.
I also have a French, IIRC, plum eau de vie that's quite plummy.
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 04-17-06 2:49 PM
But, LB, you should find out what it was, and then tell us, or at least me.
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 04-17-06 2:53 PM
Maybe I'll scan the label. The question is moot, though, because it's no longer being made (although if I happened to be running a distillery, I'd be calling Polant for the recipe now.)
Posted by LizardBreath | Link to this comment | 04-17-06 2:54 PM
I've had my fair share of slivovice (the Czech version) and it certainly puts the hair on your chest. Or something like that. But I recommend checking out the Hungarian version--I think the name is palinka. Much tastier in my experience, with equally mind-reeling amounts of alcohol.
Posted by some dude | Link to this comment | 04-17-06 3:41 PM
slivovitz is also serbian/croatian.
in germany you can drink different varieties of plum, like mirabellgeist or zwetschkenwasser. mmm.
the french learned that from the alsatians, i believe.
Posted by mmf! | Link to this comment | 04-17-06 4:40 PM
also, what's up with knocking slavic words for things?
slivovitz... it's even a punch-line word in the Merry Widow!
Posted by mmf! | Link to this comment | 04-17-06 4:45 PM
For everyone that missed Easter, you can still celebrate the Orthodox one in a couple weeks. Get some Serbian slivoviz too!
Posted by Mo MacArbie | Link to this comment | 04-17-06 6:08 PM
One year my Dad brought home a Ukrainian egg dyeing kit. It had all kinds of wax, but I didn't prgress very far. Ideally you were supposed to be able to build complicaed patterns of mult-colors. All that I could manage was dyed and undyed waxed white. More than that, and it was just mud.
Posted by Bostoniangirl | Link to this comment | 04-17-06 10:28 PM
My dad brought home the same kit -- you have to read the manual; there are rules about which colors may be layered on which, mostly that lighter colors have to come first. We got to the point of making recognizably Ukranian looking, but still very kindergartenish and lame, eggs with it.
Posted by LizardBreath | Link to this comment | 04-18-06 7:57 AM