Serge the Concierge

Drinking Outside the Box takes the Snob out of the Wine

At a recent wine tasting I was more than a bit turned off by a fellow attendee who did not seem to know a technical detail she would not like to mention.

Have we forgotten that good food and good wine is supposed to be fun, pleasurable not a doctoral pursuit?

Simon Woods of Drinking Outside the Box ('Wine for people who have a life) understands that and takes the snob out of the wine.

He also has the good taste to reference 'New Order' (one of my favorite bands) in his latest ditty Everything's gone green - the whites (and reds) of Galicia (July 16).

Makes me wonder why I have not mentioned Rías Baixas (old map above from region's site) and the lovely whites from the area, Albariños, not to forget the Celtic connection.

I have to correct that and share my tasting notes on Adega Eidos for example.

Cheers Simon!

Station to Station, Must See Tokyo all Mapped out by Tokyo Metro

Sometimes your visit to a city or a country is very short and you don't want to waste your time finding your way around.

If Tokyo is part of your travel plans, Tokyo Metro does the legwork for you.

The Tokyo subway system offers 6 Sightseeing Plans, each with around 10 attractions, station to station all mapped out.

Option Number 1 is Must See Tokyo (below):

 

Each attraction comes with a short description and a photo as well as the line you must take and the corresponding stop and travel time to the next sight.

Here's what comes up for Tokyo Tower for example:

"At 333 meters tall, the steel structure of Tokyo Tower has spectacular views from its observation deck, 150 meters above the city below. The tower features several other attractions, including an aquarium. more

Hibiya Line (H) 3 mins."

I also learned from today's expedition that Tokyo Tower (opened in 1958) is 13m taller at 333m than the Eiffel Tower.

Traveling with the crowds for Tokyo Thursdays # 96

Previously on Tokyo Thursdays:
Young Person's Guide to Tanabata, Star Festival at Japan Society, NY, July 12

15 Days Motorcycle Wine Tour de France, Naps Included?

My friends at Kermit Lynch have been posting their Tour de France Wine of the Day when the inspiration comes.

On July 15, they picked a 2008 Cheverny Rosé, Domaine du Salvard by Delaille from the Loire Valley (pictured below) for Stage 11.



Out of curiousity, I went to check if anyone else was matching wines with the Tour de France stages.

Nothing came up, instead I unearthed a 15 Days Motorcycle Wine Tour de France (by AdMo-Tours) taking place from September 2 to September 16.

Intriguing

Are naps included?

Sweet Tooth, Can't Get No Gluten or Dairy, Sweet Alternative Saves the Day

Don't get mad at me if you think this is old news.

OK the book originally came out in 2006.

Some might have missed it and its content is as relevant as ever.

For those of us with a sweet tooth who can't get no gluten or dairy (or soy) or choose not to, Sweet Alternative by Ariana Bundy saves the day.

Ariana shows us how to make caramel with fructose, pancakes with (?) chestnut flour plus deep chocolate muffins made from rice flour, creamy vanilla-studded pastry creams made with rice or almond milk, chewy chocolate chip cookies without gluten...

As Sweet Alternative is coming out in paperback (cover, my illustration) in the UK (Conran Octopus Publishing) on August 3, 2009, it gave me an opportunity to share it with you.

Doesn't it look yummy?

Pants to Poverty, Underwear turns Fair Trade and Organic, Greening our Drawers

Underwear inspired by Live Aid and Nelson Mandela, that's what the Pants Story from Pants to Poverty sounds like.

Their Fair Trade and Organic Underwear is now sold in 16 countries.

Social entrepreneurs greening our drawers for a light touch Green Day # 85

Previously on Green Day:
Gourmet Raw Food to L.A.T.E Ride, an All Night Bike Ride, July 09 Green Events in Chicago

July 14, It's Bastille Day, Velo Solex, DS and 2CV cruised New York Streets (July 12)

July 14, it's Bastille Day.

2 days ago, the weather was perfect for the annual Solex and Citroen ride around New York (video, part 7 below).

On Sunday, July 12, a flock of VeloSolex, classic Citroen DS and 2CV cruised the streets of the Big Apple.

Even Catherine Deneuve rode a Solex as the 1973 picture below (courtesy of Velosolex America) shows (it was part of my July 2008, Besides Petanque Bastille Day story).

More than nostalgia, good clean fun!

Felines Picpoul, Poujol Pico, White Wines that Taste like Love in the Afternoon

Long and exotic (like love on a summer afternoon?) is how they describe the finish on Domaine Felines Jourdan 'Picpoul de Pinet' (2007)...good structure and acidity.

In the words of The Wine Society, Pinet near Mèze and Sète, "has been planted with vines for over 2000 years. The vineyards lie just inland of the Mediterranean. The grape picpoul, or piquepoule, lives up to its French name: 'pique' (sharp and lively) and 'poule' (soft and maternal)."

Another off the beaten path white wine I tasted today was the Domaine du Poujol 'Pico' (2008) an unusual threesome of Rolle, Carignan Blanc, Roussanne.

This Vin de Pays de l'Herault is just like honey as Jesus and Mary Chain once sang, fresh, perfect for summer.

Domaine du Poujol is situated to the North West of Montpellier in the South of France

I tried both for the first time at Sud de France Top Rated Tasting in New York on July 13. They should retail for around $14 in the US Sante!

118 Minutes to Book Rooms from $18 to $118 at Copley Square, Boston, July 14 Only

No this is not a Bastille Day Special.

It is not everyday that someone gives you a present on their birthday.

In this case, this is not a person but an hotel Copley Square in Boston turning 118 years young.

Here's the details (below) as featured on their website:

So Joyeux Anniversaire, Happy Birthday Copley Square!

Found out about this great deal thanks to Wendy Perrin of The Perrin Post (via Twitter)

Will Top Rated Wines Move Me at 'Sud de France' Tasting, New York, July 13?

Well even if some of the wines getting the top ratings from US wine critics at the Sud de France Tasting on July 13 fail to move me on the eve of Bastille Day, no heads will roll under the guillotine.

The master of ceremony will be wine critic slash aspiring novelist Jamal Rayyis (pictured below) responsible for five editions (or is it 6) of Food & Wine Magazine's Wine Guide.



In any case, I will be sipping and spitting for you from 2 pm to 6 pm at the Maison de la Région Languedoc-Roussillon in New York ans surely discover new favorites of my own.

Douce France, Joli Pays de Mon Enfance!

No Hunger, Ask Al Gore to Make this Film that does not Exist Yet, See the Trailer

Rather than send him a script, Action Against Hunger put together a trailer for No Hunger , a film they would like Al Gore to be involved with since he was so successful getting the message across with An Inconvenient Truth.

64, 422 people have already signed the petition.

Will you join them?

Related: CauseWired in Action: Daniella's Apartment Fund by David Armano