The twist is perhaps the most elegant garnish, at once sinuous and vibrant.  However, the twist is a classic for good reason, relied upon to add both depth and character to a cocktail.  This secret of this feat is in essential oils that reside in the fruit’s skin.  These celebrated oils are known for their complex aromas and flavors.  When expressed by the action of twisting, citrus oil cast a potent mist over the surface of a cocktail.   Even before the glass touches the lips there is a drift of the lingering citrus cloud, inviting the first sip and all those that follow.  In order to take full advantage of the twist’s potential it is important that it be properly prepared and implemented.  When it comes to preparing twists there are many methods.  I feel that the two most successful are the oval twist and the spiral twist.

The Oval

The oval twist is prepared with a paring knife and should produce and oblong disk of about an inch in length.  It is preferable to include as little of the white pith as possible since it can be bitter in flavor.  Held with the index finger and thumb at the poles of the fruit, the knife if carefully drawn from the center of the fruit toward the bottom.  Due to its greater surface area, the oval twist is the best choice if you are looking to extract the greatest amount of essential oils.  In order to express these oils the twist is grasped gently at its edges, pith side up.  With the twist positioned several inches above the cocktail, the edges are pressed inward.  This action compresses the cells of the citrus skin releasing the oils within.  Next, rub the twist around the rim of the glass to further incorporate its flavors and aromas.  Finally, the twist is dropped into the cocktail, pith side down.

The Spiral

The spiral twist utilizes the specialized channel knife to achieve its characteristically dramatic shape.  Holding the citrus horizontally by its poles, the channel knife is drawn upward around the fruit’s equator.  This should be done with the fruit positioned above the cocktail so that the essential oils released during this process are deposited on the surface of the liquid.  The resulting twist should be about three inches long in order to have the desired visual effect.  As with the oval twist the spiral twist is rubbed around the rim of the glass to enhance the experience of citrus aromatics.  In order to create its spiral shape the twist is then wrapped around the index finger.  Grasping the twist at either end the spiral is stretched over the top of the cocktail.  This action compresses the cells of the citrus peel and releasing the oils within.  The twist is then released into the drink.

In addition to being both visually appealing and useful, the twist is a surprisingly efficient garnish.  Since a twist utilizes only the skin of the citrus, the remaining fruit can be used for juicing purposes.  Less waste, with a lovely outcome!

Hard to believe, but Bite is coming up on its fourth birthday! And what a wonderful four years it has been. We are so grateful for our loyal customers and for the many wonderful reviews we have garnered from visitors and critics alike. A restaurant's success is measured by the satisfaction of its customers and we hope you will all continue to enjoy Bite for many years to come.

As you might expect, the first few years of a restaurant's life are full of activity - from the frenzy of opening, to the somewhat sobering task of setting up systems for long-term success. Having weathered these first few years, we are excited to engage some new areas of focus. Bite's new website is the first expression of this expanding focus. We hope that this website provides a virtual home for all the Bite fans out there - to learn more about our story and to create a forum for the ideas and values upon which Bite was founded.

At the end of the day, every restaurant is about its community of passionate diners - from near and far. We hope to build that community both in the "bricks and mortar" Bite but also here as we begin our adventures in blogging, Facebooking, and even Tweeting! Check back as we chronicle all things Bite: delicious food, amazing wine, and tempting cocktails.  And, of course, those who love a bargain should keep an eye out for deals - we will be posting discounts both on our website and on Facebook & Twitter. If you aren't following us yet, now's the time!

So welcome to the latest addition to Bite - the website! Have a look around, tell us what you think and make some suggestions. As always, we want to hear from you!

Here's to more snow and good times ahead!

Catlyn Turmelle, Editor-in-Chief, The Bite Blog