Cabin fever

It’s time to start paying attention to a brilliant puzzle maker from the Netherlands. You may be thinking of a particular Dutch designer of devious delights whom we all know and love, but I’m referring to someone else. Benno de Grote has been tinkering with his puzzling ideas since he was a little boy, and despite limited access to materials and tools, has been able to produce quite a number of puzzle boxes which many will recognize. His early designs include the Dice box, which requires an exact sequence of 29 moves using the dice dots on each side; the Companion box, a clever twist on a classic opening design, and the Answer box, a very complicated box with sliding X’s on each side that requires 42 sequenced moves to open. It’s called the “Answer” box because, well, 42. These three boxes were licensed for production by Zoyo toys, and can be easily found for purchase. Brian Young recognized the ingenuity of the designs but felt the quality of production from Zoyo was subpar and has made quality improvements to these puzzles which can only be purchased at his Mr. Puzzle shop (highly recommended).

These early creations were a hint of things to come from Benno. Since then he has been able to acquire his own 3D printer and laser cutter, which has opened up a new world of possibilities that he has now started to explore. The UFO puzzle was his first foray into non-linear, non “box” shaped puzzle boxes, and his follow up puzzle is his best yet. The Small Cabin puzzle / box is a combination of a few of his favorite styles. Yes, it is a puzzle box, with one (?) main compartment to find, and very handsomely made from walnut, beech and birch woods to resemble a charming small house complete with garage, chimney, shingles, windows and other little details. It is also a sequential discovery puzzle, with well-integrated tools, a complex maze, and a dexterity challenge. There’s something to welcome everyone in this home.

Benno relates that he wanted to create a new Perspex (acrylic) maze puzzle, and thought that a house with a few “windows” would be a perfect way to contain the maze and allow just a few glimpses inside. He found a photo of a charming house online which guided the design sense. The Small Cabin dimensions were dictated by the size of the initial maze, and subsequent aspects of the puzzle came naturally. The dexterity challenge was almost an afterthought, and Benno did not think it would be very difficult. Ha! You have been warned. A few of the design elements in the house went through numerous iterations as he tested them for perfection, and he wracked his brain about one in particular, coming up with over ten different options, until his girlfriend gave him the perfectly obvious solution to that problem. He said, “It felt slightly frustrating for not thinking of it myself. Sometimes someone else's perspective is perfect.” I think that sentiment could go a long way around the world these days.

Small Cabin is a fantastic puzzle. It’s charming to look at and easy to pick up. It has some clever design elements to discover, and many steps to conquer. There are four sections in my estimations – let’s call them “rooms” – to visit before your tour of the house is complete, and many surprises. Benno does not make easy puzzles, but he does make them fair. As challenging as this puzzle can be, it is almost always clear what must be accomplished, and there are just enough clues provided to guide the way. You’re going to want to welcome Benno’s house into your own, and clear some space. There are good things coming from this designer.

A cozy cabin like this, with the chimney on top, make me think of a warm fire blazing on a cold winter night. I’d reach for an old fashioned or hot toddy to accompany such a puzzle. But it’s warming up in these parts, and a seasonable summer drink sounds much more appealing. What kind of fire could we have right now? How about the kind brought on by a jalapeño in a spicy summer cocktail? Now we’re talking.

Andra “AJ” Johnson is Washington, D.C.’s ambassador of diversity in the hospitality and beverage industry of late. She is the managing partner and bar director at Serenata, a popular Latin American cocktail bar inside the La Cosecha Market at Union Square. She relates how in 2018, looking at her city’s recent top 100 restaurants, there were only two black-owned spots on the list, and none on any list from the prior ten years. She set out to change that and decided she would own her own restaurant by the time she turned thirty. She accomplished it, and went on to cofound D.C.’s Black Restaurant Week as well. Her cocktail “Light My Fire” uses a jalapeno infused coconut and cucumber syrup to balance and adjust the chile’s heat while bringing incredibly refreshing summer flavors to the mix. The syrup is so delicious I’ll be using it up pretty quickly, making more of this drink and other variations. The cocktail is essentially a complex margarita, making it a perfect summer drink, although it’s hard to recognize. The Campari float adds a bright pop of flavor as you finish the drink too, and such a vibrant color you’ll want to admire your drink as much as consume it. Fire one up for yourself. Cheers!

Light My Fire by Andra “AJ” Johnson

2 oz blanco tequila

1 oz jalapeno-cucumber coconut water syrup*

¾ oz lemon

½ oz yellow Chartreuse

¼ oz Campari float

*for the syrup, combine 18 oz each of sugar and coconut water to combine in a saucepan. Heat with two cored and seeded jalapenos, plus the seeds from one. After simmering for a few minutes, cool and strain. Once chilled, blend with half a cucumber and strain again for the final syrup. These are the specific instructions provided by Johnson, but I made a smaller and simpler batch of just coconut water – cucumber syrup, and added a few dashes of chili pepper tincture (Bittermen’s Habanero Hellfire Bitters) to my drink for the heat.

Shake first four ingredients with ice and strain into a favorite glass. Float the Campari (it may sink to the bottom as well). Garnish with a lemon wheel and cucumber flame.

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