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It's actually a classic combination, if you think about it.Learning how to balance the five elements of flavor — umami/salt, bitter, sweet, sour and spice — is one of the fundamental tenets of both cooking and mixology. For many cocktail lovers on Instagram, seeing a reel of a drinks influencer cheekily sprinkling microplaned parmesan cheese atop an Espresso Martini may seem like pure chaos, but it is, in fact, the opposite: It’s a quintessential example of umami from the cheese balancing the bitterness of coffee. Despite the sticker shock one might feel about this combination, coffee and cheese historically do...

From Ukraine to Rome, the Confusion Is Great. Notes on the Decline of a PontificatePope Francis is furious with those who are lumping him together with Putin. “Slanderers” and “coprophiles” is what he called them in a handwritten letter to an Argentine journalist friend of his. But then, on receiving at Santa Marta on June 8th a trio of Ukrainians presented to him by another Argentine friend of his (see photo), he took flak from one of them too, Myroslav Marynovych, vice-rector of the Catholic University of Lviv, to the effect that yes, “in the Vatican Ukraine has been seen...

Do you prefer it dry, dirty, shaken, or not stirred? That’s the question we’re all asking on National Martini Day, a special occasion to enjoy your favorite version of the classic martini cocktail. The martini was originally called “The Martinez,” named after the California Gold Rush for the town of Martinez, where it was invented. Early martinis were made with wine, gin, and an olive. But since have expanded to many exciting flavors! So this June 19 take a moment to relax while sipping on a new type of martini after your long day and start feeling like the international...

The Shake Shack chain has become synonymous with smashed burgers, crinkle-cut fries, and Martin's Potato Rolls. But the latter has become a cause for concern among customers after local Pennsylvania news site Billy Penn reported that the people behind the bun company have donated thousands of dollars to the front-running Republican candidate for Pennsylvania governor, Sen. Doug Mastriano. Mastriano is regarded as a far-right Republican and recently received President Trump's backing in the race for governor, according to NBC News. Billy Penn reported that he gained popularity as a Trump-supporting election denier with Christian nationalist beliefs. Mastriano was also subpoenaed...

[Catholic Caucus] Cardinal Martini was a ‘Prophet,’ Says Vatican CardinalCardinal Czerny’s remarks were reported by Vatican News, the Holy See’s online news portal, which said that the Canadian Jesuit spoke at the launch of the sixth volume of Cardinal Martini’s complete works.Vatican Cardinal Michael Czerny on Monday described the late Italian Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini as a “prophet.”The prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development said that the controversial Jesuit theologian anticipated recent developments in the Catholic Church.Cardinal Martini, a renowned biblical scholar, was described by the New York Times as one of the Catholic Church’s “most influential...

Before his death in 2012, Cardinal Carlo Martini eerily called himself an “ante-pope,” a “precursor and preparer for the Holy Father.” Martini was the leading antagonist to Popes John Paul II and Benedict—a Jesuit famous for groaning that the Church was “200 years behind.” In Night Conversations with Cardinal Martini, he cringed at the “major damage” caused by Humanae Vitae. The Church spoke “too much” about the sixth commandment and sin. He said legal abortion was, ultimately, “positive.” For Martini saw himself as a dreamer who kept us “open to the surprises of the Holy Spirit.” Hadn’t the prophet Joel said that your sons and daughters...

The Man Who Was “Ante-Pope” Before his death in 2012, Cardinal Carlo Martini eerily called himself an “ante-pope,” a “precursor and preparer for the Holy Father.”Martini was the leading antagonist to Popes John Paul II and Benedict—a Jesuit famous for groaning that the Church was “200 years behind.” In Night Conversations with Cardinal Martini, he cringed at the “major damage” caused by Humanae Vitae. The Church spoke “too much” about the sixth commandment and sin. He said legal abortion was, ultimately, “positive.”For Martini saw himself as a dreamer who kept us “open to the surprises of the Holy Spirit.” Hadn’t...

Delectable Martini to celebrate draining the swamp. This is a serious drink and perfectly named for the times.

Personal chastity habits of sexual-freedom endorsing clerics are covered under privacy rights, but does anyone in their right mind imagine there's no relation to how they confidentially live their personal lives? The St. Gallen self-avowed "mafia" isn't disturbed when Pope Francis temporarily feints right to make traditional-conservative remarks about authentic Catholic Church teaching. Because their goal has already been met: Destabilization of Papal authority. Future Pontiffs' solemn declarations will have minimal public importance because Francis' verbal intemperance has met the goal of delegitimizing the office itself. Anticipate especially the Truffle Kardinals of the German Bishops' Conference working behind the scenes...

The election of Jorge Bergoglio was the fruit of secret meetings that cardinals and bishops, organized by Carlo Maria Martini, held for years at St. Gall in Switzerland. This is what is claimed by Jürgen Mettepenningen and Karim Schelkens, the authors of a just published biography of the Belgian Cardinal Godfried Danneels, who refer to the group of cardinals and bishops as the “Mafia-club”. Danneels, according to the authors, had worked for years in preparation for the election of Pope Francis, which happened in 2013. He himself, however, in a video recorded during the presentation of the book admits that...

"STUNNING ADMISSION: Hyper-Progressive Cardinal Danneels Admits Being in Mafia Dedicated to Unseat PBXVI" Pride goeth before the fall. The modernists are apparently feeling very powerful and secure, because they are starting to open their mouths and crow about both their opposition to Pope Benedict XVI, dropping hints they played a role in his abdication, as well as quite possibly illicitly organizing to elect Pope Francis. Further serious concerns are being raised about Cardinal Godfried Danneels, one of the papal delegates chosen to attend the upcoming Ordinary Synod on the Family, after the archbishop emeritus of Brussels confessed this week to...

This pricey drink is "here to troll us all," SFist proclaims.The World's Best Martini has arrived in San Francisco. And it's yours for a mere $125. Bring the company credit card to that three-martini lunch. SFist reports that the Ame Restaurant bar at the St. Regis hotel and residences in San Francisco's South of Market has crafted "the World's Greatest Martini." The drink, "San Francisco's most luxurious cocktail," is for a "spirits aficionado" who "has tried everything," according to to PR person pushing the drink. 2 Days-Old Kittens Survive Accidentally Being Mailed What could possibly be worth $125? Well --...

Three initial areas where Pope Francis seems to echo Martini are his treatment of homosexuality, his claim that God should not be considered a “Catholic God,” and the present discussion to possibly permit divorced and remarried Catholics to receive the Eucharist.

Italian Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini, a renowned biblical scholar and former Archbishop of Milan, died today aged 85 after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. Pope Benedict XVI met the cardinal privately during a visit to Milan in June and had been informed of his failing health, the Vatican press office said. The cardinal was a prolific author whose books were bestsellers in Italy and included everything from scholarly biblical exegesis to poetry and prayer guides. He retired as Archbishop of Milan in 2002, where he was known as a strong pastor and administrator, and as a very careful, thoughtful...

Italian Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini has described the Roman Catholic Church as being "200 years behind" the times. The cardinal died on Friday, aged 85. Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera has published his last interview, recorded in August, in which he said: "The Church is tired... our prayer rooms are empty." Martini, once tipped as a future pope, urged the Church to recognise its errors and to embark on a radical path of change, beginning with the Pope. Thousands of people have been filing past his coffin at Milan's cathedral, where he was archbishop for more than 20 years. The...

In my last post, I noted how Cardinal Carlo Martini says [in his new book], "I disagree with the position of those in the Church, that take issue with civil unions..It is not bad, instead of casual sex between men, that two people have a certain stability..." Besides demonstrating his personal loss of faith, the retired Cardinal provides us with further evidence that the homosexual agenda has made significant inroads within the Church. But that hardly comes as news. Back in 1995, reporter Edwin Thomas of Micromega magazine carried out an unusual survey. Every evening for several weeks, Mr. Thomas...

You want to show your patriotism this weekend? Take a tip from Jessica Simpson and Lady Gaga: Do it with a bikini! Here are 20 styles for sale online right now. Skirts, ruffles, string - you name it. Check 'em out and see if any of these patriotic styles are for you....

Mmm Bacon...Flavored Vodka? By Richard Goldsmith - FOXNews.com America's favorite straight stuff gets an injection of flavor. Once upon a time, vodka was popular for being virtually tasteless, delivering all the punch of alcohol without all of that annoying flavor. It was the ultimate blank canvas, melding with pretty much any mixer a bartender could pair it with. As vodka popularity grew in the ‘80s and ‘90s, liquor distillers realized there was money to be made through product extensions, so companies dove in head first. Thus, the tidal wave of flavored vodkas was unleashed. Flavored vodkas have actually been around...

On the Rocks - The Martini Girl Sold in to Sex Slavery by VICTORIA MOORE Last updated at 11:32am on 2nd June 2007 As the Martini Girl, she embodied the sexual promise of the 1970s. Then she vanished. Only now, can Deborah Jackson's incredible story of sexual enslavement be told... She was the face of the racy advert that promised: "Any time, any place, anywhere." And stretched out in a red swimsuit beside a pool, hair tousled in the breeze and a cluster of iced drinks glasses beaded with condensation beside her, the Martini Girl seemed to embody the new...

Joseph Ratzinger and Carlo Maria Martini were once considered the two great heavyweights of the College of Cardinals. Ratzinger has, of course, gone on to become Benedict XVI while Martini has long since stepped down as Archbishop of Milan. But their sometimes clashing views on doctrine are more relevant than ever to the future of the Catholic Church. The Pope has confirmed the Vatican's strictly traditional party line on questions of doctrine and moral theology. But his more progressive counterpart, the former Archbishop, has hardly disappeared. Officially, having stepped down from his Milan post in 2003 after reaching the prescribed...