thirstythong

“But the most significant derivation from the meaning of as ‘water’ is the concept of people who have gathered near a body of water to grow rice for one another, and founding a stable community, sharing rain and drought, plenty and famine, peace and war: from ‘water,’ its basic meaning, has come to designate ‘the homeland, the country, the nation.’ It is in this ultimate exception that the monosyllable nuoc reverberates throught the deepest and farthest recesses of the Vietnamese collective unconscious and stirs there the most potent feelings. The nation’s fateful course, marked by ups and downs, is figuratively rendered as a ‘tide of water’ (van nuoc) with its ebb and flow. The highest virtue demanded of a Vietnamese is that he or she ‘love the nuoc‘ (yeu nuoc).” –Huynh Sanh Thong (no relation)

Planning the Alcohol Budget for 50 guests

AMENDMENT: After some experimentation, add a squeeze of lime with each and every cup, it works to balance out the sweetness of the Rasberry + 7-Up combination. A quarter of a lime should do the trick. So, in the case of 100 cups, obtain 25 limes.

A departing friend is having a farewell party for approximately 50 expected guests. Last night, I had one of the best mixers I’ve had in a while (Absolut Rasberry Vodka + 7-Up).

Rasberry Vodka + 7-Up Mixer:
60% ice
2 parts 7-Up (66%)
1 part Absolut Rasberry Vodka (33%)
1% air to let that baby breathe (u need some space from the lip of the cup to begin the sipping, but of course)

For the fun of it, I drafted a plan so that her party-goers could enjoy the wonder that is this mixer plus beer, but of course.

Feel free to use this as a alcohol budget for any future parties you may have.

> Budget: $200 (~4.500.00 VND)
> Alcohol Menu: Beer and Rasberry Vodka/7-Up mixers (aka “Tammies”)
> > Estimates through some research and experience, but haven’t checked the actual market price as of today so take the prices with a grain of salt.
> > CALCULATIONS:
> Beer components:
> Saigon Do (Red) (recommended)
> -Price of 1 bottle of Saigon Do: 8.000 VND (.40 cents)
> -Price of 100 bottles of Saigon Do: 800.000 VND ($40)
> WILL SERVE: 200 cups of beer (as 1 bottle of Saigon Do is 2 drinks)
> > Rasberry Vodka/7-Up mixers (aka “Tammies”) components:
> -Absolut Rasberry Vodka
> -Price of 1 bottle of Absolut Rasberry Vodka: 500.000 VND ($25)
> -Price of 5 bottles of Absolut Rasberry Vodka: 2.500.000 VND ($125)
> 7-Up
> Price of 1 can of 7-Up: 10.000 VND (.50 cents)
> -Price of 50 cans of 7-Up: 500.000 VND ($25)
> WILL SERVE: 100 cups of Tammies
> > The estimation is 10 cans of 7-Up for every 1 bottle of Absolut Rasberry Vodka
> > Total cups of beer + Tammies to serve: 300 cups of alcohol
> > You will also need to buy:
> 100 Cups (buy something a bit sturdy, so names can be written on them, so people can reuse them) + ice = $10 
> > TOTAL ALCOHOL: $40 (beer) + 150 (Tammies) + 10 (cups/ice) = $200 
> > BUDGET MET? Yes.
> > WHERE TO BUY:
> Recommended place to buy Saigon Do: local market vendor, that can deliver it in bulk
> Recommended place to buy 7-Up: local market vendor, that can deliver it in bulk OR local Citi-Mart (or any other Supermarket - if you order more than 200.000 VND in merchandise, they can deliver it to your place within the hour, you have to ask them at the counter)
> Recommended place to buy Rasberry Vodka: Annam Gourmet (you should be able to negotiate a delivery since you’ll be spending over 2 million VND in product)
> Recommended place to buy cups: local market vendor, that can deliver it in bulk
> > The most problematic thing I foresee is having to buy the Rasberry Vodka from different sources as I don’t see one single vendor stocking multiple bottles of Rasberry Vodka.
> > Your concern may be some people don’t drink: that’s fine as that is what the 7-Up is for - if you are concerned about this, you can exceed the budget and buy Coca-Cola, up to your discretion.
> > Let me know if you have any questions.