The following article was written by Local Chef, Andrew Dunbar
I think most of us—well, most of us old enough to still read a newspaper—have very fond memories of fresh pitchers of lemonade and lemonade stands. Hot summer days and cool iced roadside drinks. Is this sort of refreshment a thing of the past? Is it, like so many other nostalgically-pleasurable things in this world, something that just didn’t make it to the next generation?
Well, I am here to make sure that the tradition of that particular delicious drink stays alive!
In the upcoming “Juice Boss Teen Lock-In,” I’ll be instructing the group of teenagers attending this Library’s Lock-In not only how to make a delicious batch of the Perfect Lemonade, but also how to spice it up and make it into something altogether uniquely different. We’ll use the skills that we started to train-in during last September’s “Sauce Boss” class (don’t worry if you missed that one; these are easy-to-acquire skills) to pick out flavors that pair well with each other and use those tastes to punch up the lemonade.
It’s a fun and interesting process. Finding flavors that enhance and improve one another doesn’t necessarily mean unifying flavors that we categorize as “going together.” Every so often—as is the case with colors on a color wheel—going in the opposite direction can make magic happen. And that’s what we are going to do!
Andrew Dunbar
Naturally, we’ll take look at “The Classics,” such as adding some fresh strawberries and perhaps taking a shot at making our own blackberry mash to add to the mix. However, the real fun part of “Juice Boss” is what’s going to happen when we take these Teens out of their comfort zones. Let’s see how they like their juice when we add a touch of basil to the strawberry lemonade. Or when we add the jalapenos to the blackberry mash! Taking a flavor and pairing it with something that is complimentary—but not necessarily from the anticipated flavor group—is when amazing (odd, but amazing) flavor pairings are going to come out.
While basil and jalapeno are not the only enhancers we’ll be calling into play the night of “Juice Boss,” I hope that those examples help to paint a picture that we’re just not going to be dumping scoops of powder into some water and calling it lemonade.
No. No, we are not.
From the fresh squeezed lemons all the way down to the fresh glacier water that has been blessed by a medicine man . . . okay, so maybe that last part wasn’t exactly accurate, but Manitowoc public water is still pretty good. This will not only be a fun-filled night, but it’ll also be something that I hope helps to develop the taste, independence, and desire for adventure in our Teens when it comes to their culinary minds.
So, Teens, if you’re between the ages of 11 and 17, and are in the mood for a bit of taste-filled adventure, why not join me from 6:30-7:30 PM on Friday, April 14, in Manitowoc Public Library’s Balkansky Community Room for the “Juice Boss Teen Lock-In” event! I hope to see as many people there as possible and remember to always keep your food interesting!
Registration is required and is open now! A signed permission form is required for entry into these after-hours programs. Call 920-686-3030 or stop by the Youth Services Desk to sign up! Participants are asked to arrive no earlier than 6:30 PM the evening of “Juice Boss.” Space is limited!
