What’s on tap in Howard County this fall? Sip into the season with autumn-inspired drinks, Claire Duarte, The Columbia Mom for the Baltimore Banner
I don’t know exactly how these sorts of arrangements work. I don’t think that Claire Duarte works for the Banner in the traditional sense. She’s an independent content creator with an emphasis on advertising and marketing. You can find her on Facebook and Instagram.
Also, she’s not to be confused with Kris Schneider of Howard County Moms which is a Facebook group focused on community. Both women were written up in the Baltimore Sun in April. Alas, I no longer have access to that article. The Columbia Mom page is pushing content out, whereas Howard County Moms engages group members in community-oriented conversations around local opportunities and events. Both share relevant local information; the way they do it and what they are aiming for differs.
Schneider was also written up by the Sun in 2017 if you are able to see that. (So far I don’t regret cancelling my subscription to the Sun when it comes to their current coverage. I do miss having access to past material.)
But I digress: the topic was cocktails, yes? Duarte’s piece reminded me of the time I was fortunate enough to attend a media evening introducing Cured/18th and 21st. One of the restauranteurs who spoke to us talked about the evolution of the new restaurant concept, and how he had carried around an idea for a new cocktail specifically for 18th and 21st “in his back pocket” for a very long time. It was the first time I had thought about the creative process as it pertained to beverages.
And it is creative. Possibly even an art.
Reading this piece in the Banner brought to mind an article I’d like to read: what are the local establishments that have the best alcohol-free options: creative mocktails, NA beers and wines? That would be strong selling point for me, as most visits I make to restaurants include a mix of drinkers and non-drinkers. When I choose a location for a family gathering or birthday meal, I want to be confident that the options for everyone in the party are equally appealing and imaginative.
To be honest, most places we’ve been consider themselves accommodating if they offer one alcohol-free beer.
More and more people are choosing to live sober or to choose alcohol-free options from time to time for any number of reasons. Hopscotch Bottle Shop in Fells Point/Baltimore opened in response to the growing sober and sober-curious market. Here in Howard County local nonprofit Sobar has brought appealing alcohol-free options into the mainstream at area events and festivals.
So where are HoCo commercial establishments promoting their Fall mocktails? Seasonal NA brews? Alcohol-free wines that pair perfectly with their new seasonal menu?
I wonder if the hospitality industry is operating under the assumption that alcohol is for everyone, alcohol-free is for a small, specialized group. Who are you going to pitch to? Not the small, specialized group, I guess.
There’s also a financial aspect. There’s a huge markup on alcohol and that’s where a lot of businesses really make their money. Customers are used to the idea that it’s the alcohol in the drink that makes it expensive, so they balk at an alcohol-free beverage carrying the same price tag. But when those drinks are made with creativity, care, and high quality ingredients, they aren’t cheap to produce. Asking restaurants to willingly lose money is a hard sell.
Asking restaurant patrons to change their mindsets about the cost of their drinks can be, too.
Questions of the day:
1. Do you have any favorite fall drinks of any variety?
2. Have you had any exceptionally good alcohol-free beverages in Howard County? Downtown Columbia, even?
Let me know.
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