Serge the Concierge

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

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

Scan 800 Barcodes Per Hour, Give 500 Thank You A Day, Ready for Checkout

What started as a way to pay your way through college might have turned into a dead end, that's the feeling one gets from reading Kiss and till: What the checkout girl saw (The Independent, July 13).

I learned from this bittersweet piece that the top three questions asked at the till (the cash register here in the US) are:

Where are the loos?

Don't you have any bags?

Are you open?"

As for the answers, here is a sample of possibilities offered in the piece:

Customer: "Are you open?"

Polite checkout girl: "I'm not but my till is."

Sarcastic checkout girl: "Beeeeeep!"

Or if the Customer is good-looking: "Try me and see."

Checkout girl with her best smile: "Are you?"

The Independent piece found its inspiration in Checkout - A Life on the Tills (Gallic Books) by French caissiere Anna Sam (to be published in the UK on July 31).

I will let you read the rest of Kiss and Till for more insight on the life of a Checkout Girl or Guy

Let's not be sexist for Monday Work Etiquette # 98

Previously: Is Vagabond Life the Answer to No Vacation Nation Conundrum?

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

3 Cities, 3 Hot Dogs, What Beers Would you Drink With It? Hot Dogs as America 2

What could be more American than having  a backyard barbecue on a summer week-end?

Of course Hot Dogs and Beer are part of the program.

As a follow up to my Hot Dogs as America story, I thought it would be fun to ask for everyone suggestions as to what beers you would drink with these 3 Hot Dogs, Fenway Frank, Chicago Red Hot and NY Deli Dog.

Send them in...

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...

Are We Award Winning Material? Rank Sixth in Tripbase Travel Food Sites

We were unaware of being in the run for an award in Travel and Food, one of the 20 categories selected by Tripbase for its Travel Blog Awards 2009.

Not the gold medal, we came up 6th which is not bad especially when the winner Eating Asia takes an elephant ride to work* as illustration from Take A Hard Left From Penang (July 7) shows. 

Our faraway friends from Traveler's Lunchbox came in 4th so we are in good company.

So thanks Tripbase for the kind words and our 6th place.

Not as great as finishing 6th in the Tour de France but it would take more effort.

A little appreciation and ego boost soothes the soul.

Merci beaucoup

Loosely related: Merci, Do-Good Haute Shopping in Paris, Opened March 5th

(*just kidding)