By Mike Armstrong

Reporter, Carbon County Comet

One of the things I am thankful for is that while in Taiwan, I went to a lot of tea shops. I never thought there could be so many types of tea to choose from. One of the first places I visited in Taichung was The Frog. It was a tea shop that had a bar. They had a staff that could speak English, which was great for me because I was at a loss when going out in public.

By Mike Armstrong

Reporter, Carbon County Comet

Thanksgiving was a huge commercial success for my restaurant in Taichung, Taiwan. We were an American expat bar and although we served many customers from all over the world, and also locals, we definitely had much of our cuisine rooted in American dishes. 

By Mike Armstrong

Reporter, Carbon County Comet

When I was consulting for a Bai Jui (Chinese Liquor) liquor company, I played around with infusions and macerations to make this very strong tasting spirit palatable to the Western taste.

This company was a joint venture with Diageo (a huge British company that owns Crown Royal, Baileys, Jonny Walker, to name a few) and a Chinese spirits company.

Compiled by Dick Perue

GATT Correspondent

The ‘good news’ is that health-wise the chief cook and bottle washer have returned to good health, putting “Gather at the Table” free meals and fellowship back on schedule.

By Mike Armstrong

Reporter, Carbon County Comet

I drank hot tea often enough growing up. My mother and stepfather had it at breakfast every morning I ate with them.

I could take it or leave it. As long as I got my orange juice, I was a happy guy.

My father and stepmother only had coffee and I did not really start drinking that beverage until I was in college.

By Mike Armstrong

Reporter, Carbon County Comet

I am blessed with a memory that can go back to when I was around two years old. No kidding. I am not saying I have tons of memories from three and younger, but it is surprising how much I can recall.

Definitely one of my favorite memories was my mother making me Apple Dumplings for dinner.

Yes, dinner and not dessert.

By Mike Armstrong

Reporter, Carbon County Comet

Since the Spanish Gin and Tonic was mentioned in the Carbon County Travel column this week; it certainly makes sense to feature the recipe in this edition.

A regular gin and tonic known to most Americans is a basic cocktail created in a highball glass. 

Fill the highball glass (usually 12 ounces) with ice.

Put in 2 ounces of gin.

By Mike Armstrong

Reporter, Carbon County Comet

By Mike Armstrong

Reporter, Carbon County Comet

The Gimlet has been mentioned before but I have never really delved into its history, and it does have a cool history.

I used to make this drink for my father as a kid and it was the one drink that my parents drank that I sort of liked.

Because of an early episode of overdrinking at an early age, I never attacked my parents’ liquor cabinet, which was quite vast.

By Mike Armstrong

Reporter, Carbon County Comet

By Mike Armstrong

Reporter, Carbon County Comet

Armagnac is a brandy produced in the Armagnac region in Gascony, southwest France. 

By Mike Armstrong

Reporter, Carbon County Comet

By Mike Armstrong

Reporter, Carbon County Comet

I will always remember the Manhattan.

It was one of the first cocktails I made for my father when I was about seven years old.

I often joke that I was destined to be a bartender because my father had me and my sister make his cocktails on Saturday as he was grilling steaks for dinner.

By Mike Armstrong

Reporter, Carbon Count Comet

Ham entrees were some of my best selling dishes when I had my restaurant in Laramie. Lost and Found had a concept of offering a very limited selection of entrees when customers came to eat there. We would have a choice of three dishes that would be available until they sold out and then a new dish would be offered.

By Mike Armstrong

Reporter, Carbon County Comet

I didn’t really know a lot about scotch when I first started bartending. I did know it was one of the brown liquors that I had mixed together at my step-brother’s bachelor party when I was 15.