Serge the Concierge

Wine by the Glass Chalk Board and Dry Sausage, J'Go Paris, September 2012

Of the almost 2 weeks I spent in France only a little more than 1 day was in Paris, early September.

I paid a short visit to J'Go bistro and restaurant on Rue Drouot where I captured this image of their wine by the glass offerings at the time.

The dry sausages hanging in the background add a rustic touch.

I have many more photos to share some intended to illustrate stories I gathered during my stay in and around Toulouse.

Unfortunately, Paris was also the place where a pickpocket cleaned my pockets of loose change and most important a small notebook containing most of my notes.

Working life has been a bit of a marathon since my return to the USA and i still have to fill in the blanks on many memories of places and foods.

 

Moliere would like La Comedie des Vins, French Wine Bar in Nantes

There is poetry in naming your wine bar, La Comedie des Vins and I am sure Moliere would have liked it.

French wine connoisseur Emmanuel Delmas calls this French wine bar located in Nantes on a pedestrian street (4, rue Suffren, near Place Graslin) IN-CON-TOUR-NA-BLE (un-skippable).

His reasons, a superb wine list by the bottle and by the glass as well as tasty charcuterie plates.

La Comedie des Vins is opened all day from Tuesday through Saturday.

(* Photo of La Comedie des Vins courtesy of Emmanuel Delmas, from his Facebook page in French mostly...La Comedie des Vins site in French)

Champagne and Fromage proves there's More to Covent Garden than Opera

I don't want to mislead you into thinking that I just had a light lunch of bubbly and cheese.

The Champagne + Fromage in question is a shop/ bistro that proves that there's more to Covent Garden than Opera.

This Gallic outpost is the creation of French Bubbles a UK importer of Grower Champagnes.

At Champagne + Fromage, 25 grower Champagnes including Champagne Waris Larmandier 'Cuvée Sensation' can be enjoyed in the bistro with cheese and charcuterie, bread of course, as well as from time to time frogs legs and escargots (snails).

The thirtysomething cheese selection comes from Une Normande a Londres.

After sampling Champagne + Fromage offerings, you can of course take your favorites home or purchase them as a gift for a lover of 'bonne chair' and bubbly.

Champagne + Fromage is located at 22 Wellington St WC2 in Covent Garden, London.

Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday - 11am -11pm / Sunday from 11am – 8pm

Too bad my European trek does not include London.

Champagne Waris Larmandier is as passionate about creating arts and crafts as they are about Champagne.

(* Champagne + Fromage image comes from French Bubbles Facebook page)

Italian Riesling from Cabanon, Chicago's Webster Wine Bar Pick for Summer of Riesling 2012

As July rolls in wine bars and restaurants across the USA join forces to celebrate Summer of Riesling an event brought to the fore by Terroir NYC.

One of the hundreds of participants is Webster Wine Bar in Chicago who rounds up 4 dry selections for its first batch for Summer of Riesling 2012 with an Italian Riesling, Cabanon 2010 Oltrepo Pavese from organic producer from Piedmont.

Their Tasting Notes (I have not had a chance to try it):

"Showing fresh spearmint and just-ripe peach, fringed with shades of cream and jasmine, this succulent, summer-ready Riesling from Elena Mercandelli’s estate near the Piedmont border in the far northwest takes the prize for my favorite Riesling from Italy."

Sante!

Last Call, Nectar Wine Bar in Harlem is Closing its Doors on Leap Day 2012

A pioneer in Harlem, 4 years ago when they opened their doors, Nectar Wine Bar is giving its last call on Leap Day 2012.



If you are in New York, you can join them to say adieu and thanks for their good work from 8 pm to 12 am on Wednesday, February 29, 2012.

Miss Piggy and Animal Spirits, Chez Francois, Avignon Wine Bar-Restaurant

Wine bar, restaurant Chez Francois in Avignon shows its animal spirits ans shares its story in pictures and words.

They fell in my basket of places worth mentioning.

I neglected them until today as image above resurfaced.

Green Tea IPA, a Japanese Beer Favorite or just a Dry Dock Favorite?

After receiving samples of Tamales and Chilli from Texas, I have beer (as a pairing) on my mind.

Funny coincidence or not, Robbie Swinnerton of Tokyo Food File visited the Dry Dock located under the railway tracks just outside Shinbashi Station in Tokyo and shares his Green Tea IPA take 2 (August 11).

One of the beers he sipped is Baird/ Ishii/ Stone Japanese Green Tea IPA which doubles as a fundraising tool for Tsunami relief programs.

It is part of Stone Collaborations, a jamming session of sorts for brewers at Stone Brewing Co.

I would be curious to try their Cherry Chocolate Stout as well.

Is Green Tea IPA a Japanese Beer Favorite or just a Dry Dock favorite?

I wonder if you get seasick after getting one draught too many from draught wheel (above) at Dry Dock.

Are Marine Girls part of the soundtrack?

On a practical note, Beer in Japan in its 2009 review of Dry Dock notes that 'Sato-san who runs the bar is passionate about beer and speaks English'. Establishment is closed on Sundays and Holidays and the 3rd Saturday of each month. This might have changed since then.

Green Tea in my beer for Tokyo Thursdays # 203

Previously: Dipping my Toes into Sake thanks to Momokawa

(* Dry Dock website is in Japanese only...Photo of Stone Green Tea IPa from Stone Brewing Facebook page, Photo of Sato-san at draught wheel by Robbie Swinnerton)

Boudin Noir, Rillettes, Dorset Clams for Pescadarians, Brawn, London Wine Bar, Liqueur and Goutte Too

With pig trotters, boudin noir, rillette and similar fare on the menu Slow Food London supper at Brawn which just got under way on July 19 as I am writing this sounds like a warm up gig to Meatopia, the NY event on July 23.

Set in the wine bar mold, Brawn was launched recently by the people who run Terroirs near Charing Cross Station.

Opened 7 days a week (closed evenings on Sundays), Brawn is 'serving cloudy reds, murky whites and loads of pig' (their own words).

If you don't eat meat, check the Plancha options:

Lemon Sole, Samphire, Lemon & Brown Butter £15
Cornish Sardines, Spiced Aubergine & Harissa £6
Dorset Clams, Chilli, Coriander & Spring Onions £8.50

The wine list offers many choices by the glass, mostly from small growers who adopted organic and natural ways.

There are quite a few Loire Valley wines, some ciders and more offbeat Liqueurs and Gouttes selection from Distillerie Artisanale, Maison Laurent Cazottes (below):

50ml

2003 Apéritif aux Noix Vertes (Green walnuts) 4.00

2007 Apéritif du Fleurs de Sureau (Elderflower) 4.40

2004 Liqueur de Coing Sauvage (Wild quince) 4.70

2006 Liqueur de Prunelle (Sloe) 6.95

2006 Liqueurs des Guignes et Guins (Cherries & wild cherries) 7.35

25ml

2006 Goutte de Poire Williams Passerillé (Williams pear) 6.00

2007 Goutte de Mauzac Rosé 6.00

2006 Goutte de Reine-­‐Claude Dorée (Golden plum) 6.00

Eat honest food, drink natural for Green Day # 186

Previously: Cheerful Eco City of Namyangju, Korea, Home of Organic Museum, Opens August 2011

(* Prices in British Pounds...illustration from Brawn site)

Just in Time for Bastille Day, French Restaurant Week, New York, July 10-17

There is no Bastille to take in New York.

No guillotines either.

One thing that will be cut to the bone during French Restaurant Week is the price of your meal at a selection of French restaurants in the Big Apple.

The week long event (July 10-17, 2011) aims to promote French cuisine in New York City by offering a price fixe menu and/or a Brunch/Special at $17.89.

From Artisanal to Robin des Bois via Financier Patisserie, here's your chance for a French meal a day for 7 days. Check Full Listing...

One of the restaurants actually borrowed my first name, Serge, much better than their former Cafe Creme.

French Restaurant Week, a revolution for your pocketbook.

Thanks to Jules Bistro on St Mark's Place for sharing the news with me. Will their Jazz tinged site convince me to pay them a visit.

Postcards from the Web, Chez Francois, Restaurant-Wine Bar in Avignon

We used to get postcards in the mail, now we get them from the web.

Whether they are sent by close or long lost friends or inconnus, some resonate more than others.

I had good moments in Avignon while spending time around Theatre du Chene Noir in the 70's.

I was drawn first to Chez Francois, a restaurant and wine bar in Avignon by the happy pig gracing its logo.

Reasonably priced food and wine that makes you want to dance the jig is right by me.

Time to pay a new visit to la Cite des Papes?