Serge the Concierge

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?

Elbowing your Way to the Spit Bucket, Spitting with Elegance, Wine Tastings

Things can get crowded at Wine Tastings, so it can be as much of a challenge to get to the Spit Bucket as it is to find a spot at the table itself.

I noticed a few individuals who carry their own spitit cup.
At least they stare only at their own leftovers.

You might find the whole spitting thing gross but who can drink if only a bit of anywhere from 50 to 200 wines at a tasting without getting sloppy drunk.
Can you do it with elegance, I am not sure.
It helps if the buckets are cleared quickly so the level in them is low, prevents accidents.

In How to Spit Wine (Chow, June 27, 2009), all around wine guy Matt Skinner practices the pursed method (see video below) and suggests you keep (swallow) one quarter of each wine for a real sense of taste and texture and spit the rest.

Before I leave the scene, I might get some food and a second helping of a wine I particularly enjoyed that day.

I did just that at the Top Rated Sud de France Wine Tasting on July 13 with cheese, charcuterie and La Coume du Roy 'Maury' (2004, 100% Grenache).

How do you handle it?

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!

Celebrate the Roaring Twenties at Bastille Day Ball, July 13, New York

Could not make it to the New York street festivals for Bastille Day on July 12, here's a second chance to be part of the festivities.

On Monday, July 13, you can dance the night away to the sound of the roaring twenties at the Bastille Day Ball.

Where: The China Club

When: 7pm to 2 am

Get some rest and put on your dancing shoes.

Related: No Guillotine: Pastis, Pate, Patisseries, Petit Basque, Ratatouille on Bastille Day menu

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!

Milwaukee Brat and Gentle Elves, Hot Dogs as America, at American Museum of Natural History in 2002

Getting aboard my time machine, I realized that the Hot Dogs as America at National Portrait Gallery in Washington DC echoes a 2002 exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History titled Baseball as America which (I quote) "offered a selection of ten of the most tempting hot dogs from ballparks and cities around the country, in celebration of Baseball As America, the first major exhibition to examine the relationship between baseball and American culture" and that "hot dogs are as much a fixture of baseball stadiums as the bleachers, pennants, scoreboards, and organ music."

Besides the 3 choices offered at National Portrait Gallery, the 7 other Hot Dogs on the menu in 2002 were the New York Street Cart Dog, the Dodger Dog, the Rochester White Hot, the Milwaukee Brat, the Cincinnati Cheese Coney, the Texas Corn Dog and the museum's own creation, the Natural.

Based on names, my 2 favorites would be "the White Hot from Rochester's own Zweigle's Meats, made of pork, has a widespread following in western New York. It is neither cured nor smoked. The resulting dog is off-white in color with a spicy taste and smooth texture. Split and griddled, this dog is served on a toasted bun and topped with a hot sauce (a meat chili made from a secret Rochester recipe), chopped onions, and any one of a variety of mustards" and the Milwaukee Brat which as its name suggests is not a hot dog "but a bratwurst, the Milwaukee Brat represents this baseball town's favorite sausage. Made by Usinger's, one of the country's best sausage makers, the pork and beef brat is grilled and dipped in "Secret Stadium Sauce" and served on a crusty roll, topped with sauerkraut and spicy brown mustard."

I give extra points to Usinger's for their Fritzie the Elf (above) who they say continues the "long-standing tradition in Germany has always had elves working at night to finish the work of the cobblers, bakers, coopers, sausage makers etc. When the craftsmen couldn't get their work finished..."

Elves have been the company's mascot since the 1950's...

Food, sport, regional taste, history and good stories...

Which one is your favorite?

What beer would you drink with it?

Related: Hot Dogs as America in DC from Fenway Frank and Chicago Red Hot to NY Deli Dog

On 60th Street or Brooklyn's Fete du Skateboard? Bastille Day 09 in New York

OK, it's two days early since Bastille Day is really on July 14 but I guess they might have a hard time closing 60th Street to traffic on a Tuesday and in our No Vacation Nation who would take the afternoon off to celebrate?

No guillotines on display, food, music, a lazy Sunday lunch at the terrace of a Cafe on 60th Street could be an option that is if you find a free table for the Bastille Day on 60th Street festivities.

They run from 12:00 Noon to 6:00 PM so it is not too late to join the fun if you are in or near New York City on July 12.

A bit more neighborly and laid back maybe is the 7th annual Bastille Day on Smith Street fest in Brooklyn with Bar Tabac’s annual petanque tournament, "where 80 teams with players from around the world will take place in the largest North American petanque tournament" according to a piece by Diana Rosenthal for Cobble Hill Blog (July 8).

I borrowed Cobble Hill Blog's picture of Smith Street (above) as an illustration.

Brooklyn's Bastille Day bash also started at 12:00Noon but runs until 8:00 pm so you still have time to join in the fun.

It barely started an hour ago.

Check Brooklyn Boule for details on the Petanque tournament.

The younger crowd while muchin on frites and frogs legs can hit the ground rolling at the Fete du Skateboard which I scouted on Rad Collector.

 

Takes place at same location, just started at 1pm and runs until 7pm.

Show me the Pastis!

Related: Celebrating Bastille Day, Gourmet Food and Wine in Franschhoek, South Africa

Hot Dogs as America in DC from Fenway Frank and Chicago Red Hot to NY Deli Dog

I was looking up details on an exhibit of a British Icon from the 60's and came up with a slice (a bun) of Americana.

Call it food as history if you will, the Courtyard Cafe at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington DC picked as its summer feature, Hot Dogs as America.

Here is what's it's all about:

"As a special tribute to America's favorite pastime and a warm up to Nationals Baseball Family Day, Saturday, July 18, the Courtyard Café will feature three authentic hot dogs from baseball cities across the country during the month of July from 11:30am–3pm daily. Specialty dogs are $5.95, a plain dog is $4.95."

• New York Deli Dog-- New York City's delicatessen tradition brings us this great natural-casing beef frank topped off with sauerkraut and deli mustard.


• Chicago Red Hot-- a jumbo Vienna Beef frank on a poppy seed bun, is "dragged through the garden," topped with mustard, relish, onion, tomato, dill pickle, peppers, and a dash of celery salt.


• Fenway Frank-- boiled and grilled Fenway-style, a beef hot dog served on a New England-style bun and covered with mustard and relish.

Will the Chicago Red Hot look and taste like those offered by Red Hot Chicago (picture below)?

Are they pairing them with New York, Boston and Chicago beers?

Another reason to visit DC this summer...