Serge the Concierge

$330.000 Truffle sold at London Auction, Benefits 3 Charities

On December 1st in London, an auction hosted by Giorgio Locatelli at his restaurant Refettorio saw the sale of a 1,5 kg Truffle (a little over 3 pounds in US parlance) for $330.000.

Thanks to Truffle goes for a trifling $330,000 by Rebecca Seal on Word of Mouth for landing this sale on my map.

She describes the truffle in question as a monstrous warty creature.

The auction was simultaneously taking place in Florence and Macao, the new top gambling spot in the world before Las Vegas.

If you think it's crazy to spend that king of money on a food item, don't worry it was all for a good cause.
The auction raised funds for 3 charities, Telethon in Italy (helps to find cures for all human genetic diseases), Consortium for Street Children in London, and Caritas in Macao (again I quote Rebecca's piece).

I doubt we will land such a pricey item for Menu for Hope 4 , starting December 10, raising funds for the UN Food Programme.

Related piece: Giving Time...With 'Menu for Hope 4' Help us Raise Funds for UN Food Program

'60 Great Value Reds' for the Holidays: the Jancis Robinson Selection

It might be one of these days when there are only 24 hours and you have 50 things to do.
You walk into a wine store either to grab a few bottles of good juice for your holiday party or bring some to some get together you are invited to, not wanting to show up empty handed.

Feeling a tad harried you walk into the wine store and are faced by a multitude of wines, most of whom you have never heard of.

I thought this Wine fit for a celebration by Jancis Robinson would help with its selection of 60 great value reds.

All prices are in British Pounds. To get the dollar price multiply by 2.1. Prices might be different though depending on shipping costs and other factors.
Her picks range from $12 to $63 so there is something for everyone.

On December 8, she will offer...60 great value whites.

Another option: Wine Gift Shopping Guide by Tony Cha (SF Chronicle) via Food Wine Travel.

My last wine piece: Sangiovese by another Name, Morellino di Scansano

Pop Art!1956-1968, On Display at Quirinale Museum in Rome

Planning to escape the daily grind for a week-end in Rome and interested in Pop Art beyond Campbell Soup cans and Norma Jean, the Scuderie del Quirinale museum offers Pop Art! 1956-1968 until January 27, 2008.

It is not all about Andy. 100 works by 50 artists are on display, not just American but also British, French, German, Spanish and Italian such as Mimmo Rotella and his 'Viva America' from 1963 (my illustration).

For a little history on the Museum itself let me quote their notes: "The Scuderie stands next to the Colonna gardens and on top of the archeological remains of the great Roman Temple of Serapide – some of which are still visible. The building covers approximately 3000 square meters, over several floors. Wide-open spaces on the second and third floors house the exhibitions."

Read What Henry James Said about the Colonna gardens.

Sounds like A Room with a View as a Bonus.

My last Italian fare: Only Oiks order Cappuccino after Lunch when in Rome, Pizza with Beer is fine, Dinner only

Taking a Friday look at Hiro Ballroom (Maritime Hotel, New York) for PhizzPop Design Event

This evening, I am not going to New York for a restaurant opening.

I will attend the PhizzPop Design Challenge and see creative teams from the area duke it out to get the regional crown.

It takes place at the Maritime Hotel, in the Hiro Ballroom to be specific.

I know the place is also known for its club and the DJ's it attracts.

I am more interested in checking the Hotel and Food offerings while I am there to be truthful.

Most recent Big Apple event: Hotel Argentina...4 months of Tango, Food and Wine Therapy at select Omni Hotels

Buy Gifts from 'Wola Nani' in Cape Town...Create Income for Women with HIV

Looking for Holiday Gifts with a South African flair, the Wola Nani craft shop offers great choices.

Besides opening your eyes on different looks, this Cape Town project allows Women with Aids to make a living and regain hope.

I discovered their 'Fish Bowls' pictured here via the Guardian Interactive Christmas Guide.

Choose any part of the House or Garden and hunt for ideas.

You can purchase their goods online and in select stores in Japan, the US and Europe. Check the full list of shopping options on the Wola Nani Website.

You can also download their Catalogue from the same place.

Related stories: It's Beautiful Here: Hang your Coat onto Heath Nash's words

Thought of Living (and Working) in Japan...Check Gaijinpot...

For those of you toying with the idea or seriously planning to live and work in Tokyo or other areas of Japan, I decided to serve a second helping of Tokyo Thursdays.

Gaijinpot was established to help foreigners navigate the various aspects of living and working in Japan from jobs to real estate to food, language, administrative tasks and you name it...

Pay them a visit.

And check the Tokyo Thursdays Page.

A short Tokyo Thursdays # 16

Are we moving our Clutter online with 'Tripit' and other services? Backpack will do!

In the past 24 hours only, I read about Tripit and a couple of other services that offer to help you manage things online instead of on paper.

Tripit as you might guess offers to be the online repository for all details of your business or leisure travel.

Another site I noticed (whose name I cannot remember, I apologize) wants to do the same for your family schedule and activities, keeping everyone on the same page.

Both services are well designed and well intentioned.

The only issue is I can already do most of these things using my Backpack account.

Should I slice all my activities like cold cuts and use a different place for each of them which in turns requires additional login, profile and the whole nine yards.

Are we creating a new clutter, online this time?

Related bits: Taming the Brain and Office Clutter: Online and with Simple Forms

Meet the 'Sobalier', Cooking Classes in Tokyo: Soba Making

Thanks to Experience Tokyo, I found out that on Saturday afternoons you can Discover the Secrets of Soba Making from a local Edo master 'sobalier' at  “Soba Shonin” in Asakusa, Tokyo.

Besides preparing Soba you will also learn how to eat it as the way you eat them changes their taste.

The class is limited to a maximum of 6 people so reservations are needed.
Be warned that ingredients used might stain your clothes.

If you cannot make it to Tokyo, Japan Guide shares all the steps and ingredients that make great Soba Noodles.

Let's make 'Sobalier' our Job Idea Number 6.

Before wrapping up this Tokyo Thursdays # 15, note that the Japan National Tourist Organization (JNTO) offers Local Websites catering to visitors from many locations around the world.

Previous Week: 20th Century Japanese Artists, Step by Step, National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo

Somehow related: Job Idea Number 3: Master Tea Taster

Alleluya! I can finally access 'Capital One' on Firefox

Of all the companies whose services I use, I could not quite fathom why Capital One could not be accessed online via Firefox.
I am glad to see that with the revamp of their online services and site, Capital One finally saw the light and is not Internet Explorer only.
Someone got smart I guess.

Merci Beaucoup!

Related: Tired of ATM Fees in the US or Abroad: Open a Simply Free Checking account with TD BankNorth

Words of Wisdom: 'Decicions are temporary so make the call and move on'

Some words of wisdom:

"Decisions are temporary so make the call and move on Done.
Start to think of it as a magical word. When you get to done it means something has been accomplished. A decision has been made and you can move on. Done means you're building momentum."

"Value the importance of moving on and moving forward. Get in the rhythm of making decisions. Make a quick, simple call and then go back and change that decision if it doesn't work out."

"Accept that decisions are temporary. Accept that mistakes will happen and realize it's no big deal as long as you can correct them quickly."

I don't think my own words could add much to it.

From Getting Real, I thought it was worth mentioning even though this book's topic is writing software.
Got to it via Breaking a stalemate by Jason on 37 Signals.

Also on things being temporary, In times of panic, count to Zen by James Altucher.

Related: On 'Staying Motivated'...Prescription: First Get on your Horse

A 'La Verticale' (Hanoi), Chef Didier Corlou, A Fellow Breton, blends France and Vietnam

While I settled in New Jersey, Chef Didier Corlou, a fellow Breton after traveling the world cooking and discovering a wealth of flavors, ingredients and cultures, settled down in Hanoi, Vietnam.

I discovered that we were born the same year in the same part of Brittany, Morbihan.

He arrived in Vietnam in 1992 and put his talent to work at Hotel Metropole.
His current restaurant La Verticale opened in 2007.
He blends French and Vietnamese ingredients  and influence.

Here are a few examples gleaned from La Verticale site of dishes he created:
"Grilled duck foie gras with lemongrass, Spring roll with truffles, « banh cuon » with caviar and salmon roes, crab cannelloni with sea urchin nectar, rock lobster in fish bladder, pork nougat with caramel"
(photo from 'La Verticale' site).

Check his Christmas Night and New Year's Eve Menus.

The restaurant counts a 'spice shop'  in its offerings.

Didier penned 3 books, most recently A La Verticale des Epices, and offers cooking classes.

Related stories: Would love a few bites of this Cool Vietnamese Salad at 'Bun' Grand Opening Bash in Soho (Oct 22) and Tuesday Morning 'Pho Fever'

Giving Time...With 'Menu for Hope 4' Help us Raise Funds for UN Food Program

I was glad to be one of the many who took part in Menu for Hope 3 in December 2006. We raised $62,925.12 to support the UN World Food Programme.

In a couple of weeks from now, Menu for Hope 4 will hopefully do as well or better for the same cause.

The driving force behind this good deed is Pim of Chez Pim fame. Read Menu for Hope 4, it's that time of year again for the details.

We will list our prizes right here.

Related: Gift Ideas #2. the Crisis Cookbook

Polluters with a Conscience: Business Travel and Conferences

Should 'Polluters with a Conscience' become a new category?

In When Green Meetings Pollute, Elisabeth Rosenthal (Business of Green) reminds us that people with good intentions can be the worst offenders, leaving behind a trail of paper and other waste.

Besides relying on the efforts of the organizers of these events, should we say no to short meetings involving a long trip?

How can we reduce our individual impact?

If the distance permits should we skip the plane for the train or say carpool?

Since I just learned that I will be speaking at South by Southwest in March 2008. I checked their Sustainability Page which details changes they made starting with their offices and staff.

I don't think the train is an option to go to Texas unless I plan stops along the way and turn it into a road trip.

What baby steps are you taking in your daily work?

That is all for Tuesday is Green Day #7

Related pieces: In Europe, Drop Plane for Train with 'The Man in Seat 61'...Cut Down on Your Emissions
and Take the Test, are you Green for Telework

We did it...Our 'Just Over 50 and Not Dead Yet' Panel will be featured at 'South by Southwest' 2008

Thanks to all those of you, notorious and lesser known who gave their vote to our Just Over 50 and Not Dead Yet panel.

We got the great news  yesterday that it had been selected as one of the themes to be featured at South by Southwest Interactive (March 2008).

They liked the fact that "this idea focuses on a portion of the audience traditionally ignored by the hipper-than-thou new media types."

In case you are scratching your head wondering what this 'Just over 50...' thing is all about, let me try to put it in a nutshell.

Online Participation is not just about 20 somethings.

A bunch of people Just Over 50 have planted their tent online either as actors or consumers.

They buy books, music, watch movies, travel and eat out, have money and brains.

Marketers and publishers of any size and stripe should not forget about them.

I will keep you in the loop as to what day and time slot we will get.

We are still going through the process of selecting the rest of the panel. It will be diverse.

Not 5 white guys on stage.

Feel free to share your ideas and suggestions on content and speakers.

Related topics: Just Over 50...Online and Not Ready for AARP...Matt Richtel (New York Times)

Without Fados, Groval 'Touriga Nacional', Simply Red Wine

Wanting to expand my horizons and since this Groval, Touriga Nacional (2005) was in the under $10 category , I thought I should give it a chance.
Touriga Nacional is the best known of all the Portuguese varieties.

Coming from Beiras one of the 6 wine growing regions of Portugal, this Groval is produced by Caves Primavera in Aguedia.

Best way to describe it is as a great red table wine displaying good balance with soft tannins, a touch of spice and not anis but something similar, could not quite put my finger on the right word.

The Beiras Region is also a great place to visit with its combination of mountain and sea.
A must see city is Coimbra rich in history and located midway between Porto and Lisbon.

Learn more about Beiras and Portuguese wines on Vinogusto, a self described Guide to Wine and Oenotourism based in Brussels.

Additionally you might want to read In Portugal, a new stop on the global wine trail by Gisella Williams (IHT, New York Times).

Sante!

Previously from the Iberian Peninsula: Dao not Douro, Duque De Viseu Tinto (Red) 2002 for Wine Blogging Wednesday

Beds of the Rich and Famous: Buy one at London's Savoy Hotel auction, Gift Ideas #3

Believe it or not as London's Savoy Hotel is closing its doors on December 15 for an extensive renovation, it will offer some of the furnishings for sale in an auction by Bonhams.
The bidding will take place from December 18 to 20th.

Amongst the items some of you might want to pick are beds of the rich and famous.

"For around 500 pounds ($1100 depending on the exchange rate), you can chose from over 200 “celebrity” beds (Maria Callas, Elizabeth Taylor, Winston Churchill, The Beatles, Noel Coward, Bob Dylan stayed here!) complete with laundered bed linen and mattresses" quotes Pam Kent in London’s Savoy: Own a Piece of Hotel History (Globespotters).

If your giant dining room begs for an eye catching piece, one of the 24 chandeliers might do.

For a look at prices and a detailed list of what's on offer, check Bonhams, the Savoy Sale and get your travel plans ready.

If you do not have time to attend, we would be glad to represent you.

Just fly us there!

Does this qualify as Luxurious Sensible?

Count it as Gift Ideas #3

Previous Luxurious Item: Gift Ideas that Save Energy and Turn your Garbage into Garden Gold

With 'Dark Angels' help, show Management Speak the Door

Ever met a 'mission statement' full of platitudes and jargon or worse even you were one of the guilty parties who wrote it, hope is on the way.

Thanks to Keeping Jargon at Bay by Emma Jacobs (Financial Times), I learned of the existence of Dark Angels. This is not a club for motorcycle or science fiction fans.

They teach 'creative writing in business' not the kind that was used at Enron and others, rather they help communication professionals learn again to communicate.
It comes down to being able to share the story behind your business.
I would not go so far as mentioning 'creating emotional connections' with your customers but at least meaning what you say and first of all, dropping the jargon.

I even find boredom and repetition in wine notes and reviews for example.
Maybe it all boils down to being yourself, showing some personality or what the Why Dark Angels page calls 'the spark'...Faire des etincelles!

The Dark Angels writing courses take place in 4 locations, Finca el Tornero (Andalucia, Spain), Lumb Bank (West Yorkshire), Toftcombs (Scotland) and Totleigh Barton (Devon). Check their Recipe for a successful session.

Time to close Monday Work Etiquette #14.

Previously: Own Your Comments and Criticism...Be Specific

Gift Ideas #2: 'The Crisis Cookbook': A Recipe Book that Feed the Homeless

One of my favorite restaurant reviewers, Nicholas Lander helped bring together chefs the world over for The Crisis Cookbook.

It offers 84 recipes by talented men and women including Ferran Adria, Alain Ducasse, Sally Clarke, Alice Waters, Paul Bocuse, Mario Batali.
The second part of this group effort has 10 wine essays by Jancis Robinson.

The book is available in the UK for 5 Pounds (about $11) with 3 Pounds a Copy going to Crisis a UK homeless no profit group.

You can find it at Marks and Spencer and online through Amazon.com UK.

Previous Gift Ideas: Luxurious Sensible, Gift Ideas


Related stories: 'No good chef would put on anything he could not eat' ...Bruce Poole and Menu Writing

Luxurious Sensible, Gift Ideas that Save Energy and Turn your Garbage into Garden Gold

Let's start with a Smart Power Strip that doubles up as a Surge Protector. It can reduce the energy use of your electronics (Computer, TV, Game Players, you name it) by up to 72% or so they claim.
Here is the rationale behind it:

"Even when they’re off, today’s electronics continue to draw electricity we pay for but don’t use. This revolutionary power strip prevents that waste. Plug your main device (computer, TV, etc.) into the primary outlet and its peripherals printer/scanner or VCR/cable box, etc.) into the others. High-tech sensors know when you shut down the main device, and they cut off everything else. Saves up to 72% of the energy your systems use and offers state-of-the art surge protection too. With 6' cord, six no-idle outlets, and three always-on outlets."

It is available through Gaiam (a self described lifestyle company) based in Boulder (Colorado).

They offer a wide range of  'green' products from basic linen to a Spinning Composter for the Gardener/ Recycler in you (pictured here). Best of all it claims to be odorless.

That's it for Luxurious Sensible #1

Luxurious Sensible was inspired by a 'Big Idea' from ad man with a conscience Jelly Helm in Good Magazine.

Related stories: Wanna Compost? The 'Daily Dump' can help

 

'1000 albums to hear before you die'...Gift Shopping Help on Black Friday

Just in case you know some people on your list who still buy music in compact-disc form, here is a little Gift Shopping Help on Black Friday...and beyond (I do not want to make this a US centric exercise).

Our friends at The Guardian compiled a list of 1000 albums to hear before you die.

It is broken down by letter so you can mine the information leisurely.

Letter A, Louis Armstrong is a known quantity as for A Certain Ratio (new wave funk) and Aztec Camera (happy pop), let me know. Letter D counts DAF (Deutsche Amerikanische Freundschaft) , B has Brandy...
I will let you find out about the rest of the alphabet.

Related: 5 Things to eat before you die

Music Bits: Sounds of Silence...No Music Day 
and Imagine Traveling with '20 Ways to Float through Walls' 

20th Century Japanese Artists, Step by Step, National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo

A quick Tokyo stop on Thanksgiving Day at the National Museum of Modern Art.

The start of the Japanese modern period can be dated to 1907 with works shown at the annual Bunten which this year celebrates its centenary.

After a Humanist period, surrealism made its mark with artists such as Koga Harue (born in Kurume) and his Sea (1929) shown here.

Explore and enjoy!

Previously on Tokyo Thursdays: Senses, Perception, Reality? Media Opera...Tokyo...November 17-18

Starting Today find a Digest of Short News on companion site 'Food, Wine, Travel'

Starting today, in addition to 'Serge the Concierge', we will post a digest of short news about our usual topics on companion site Food, Wine, Travel.
It should be about this long...short.

Let's Talk About 'A Gluten Free Thanksgiving' via the Gluten Free Girl

  Shauna James Ahern aka The Gluten Free Girl shares some best practices, dishes and personal notes on How to have a Great Gluten Free Thanksgiving.

Want to dig some more, check her book titled, surprise, The Gluten Free Girl.

On the same topic check Jules Shepard baking tips via A Mighty Appetite.

Not satisfied yet visit Gluten Free which besides the Holiday Tips throws in A Wheat Free Wedding Cake Recipe as a bonus.

I hope all this helps.

Bon Appetit!

Some tips from 2006: Thanksgiving Help...Gluten and Dairy Free Recipes

5 Quick Wine Picking Tips for Thanksgiving courtesy of Natalie MacLean

If you are still scrambling to decide what to serve with your Thanksgiving Dinner, here are 5 Quick and Easy Tips courtesy of wine writer Natalie MacLean.

1. Start with bubbly
Sparkling wine is a great aperitif to sip while you wait for the turkey to finish cooking. It adds a celebratory note to the meal and goes well with starters like soup and salad.

2. Consider the turkey
Unlike most poultry and game birds, turkey meat is very dry in texture. So you need a mouth-watering wine to complement it. Good options are crisp whites like Riesling and Pinot Grigio. And yes you can drink red wine with white meat: Pinot Noir, Beaujolais and (Red) Zinfandel all have juicy, berry-ripe flavors that go well with turkey.

3. Look beyond the bird
The range of side dishes means that you don’t have to match your wine just to the turkey. Since Thanksgiving dinner is often a banquet-style meal, with everyone choosing the trimmings, why not do the same with your wines? Offer both red and white, and possibly more than one depending on the size of your group.

4. Complement or contrast
A big, buttery chardonnay from California or Chile can complement the roasted, smoky flavors of squash, chestnuts and pecan stuffing. But if you’d rather have a contrast to the richness of cream sauces and dressings, try a crisp New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.

5. End on a sweet note
If anyone still has room left when it’s time for pumpkin or pecan pie, offer a late harvest wine or icewine. If you’re a chocolate fan, try serving a liqueur with complementary flavors such as raspberry or blackcurrant.

Natalie was kind enough to send me these useful notes a while back.

I thought the time was ripe on Thanksgiving  Eve to share these with you.

Sante!

Some of my own picks from around the world: 3 Wines that Might Stick with your Thanksgiving Turkey or Not   

Sounds of Silence, No Music Day...In the UK

Let me state two things.
First, I am a music fan.
Second, I do not need music everywhere, every minute.
I do not like it to drown the conversation or prevent it.
I should not have to raise my voice to be heard because it is too loud.
I definitely do not need music in the bathroom.

The lack of it, the Sounds of Silence, makes me appreciate it when I desire it.

Like the seasons bring a contrast, sound and silence need each other.

November 21 is No Music Day, a UK thing launched by Musician/Producer Bill Drummond.

It was launched in 2005.

As an example, the BBC Scotland will not broadcast any music all day on November 21 (as illustrated).

Michael White elaborates on the details behind this event in Who'll  Stop the Ringtones?  (New York Times).

Why was November 21 chosen?

Saint Cecilia's Day also happens to be Thanksgiving.

To be honest, I might be playing some music today but in moderation.

Most recent sounds: Imagine Traveling with '20 Ways to Float through Walls'

Related: Noise Annoys...Loud Restaurants and Stores

3 Wines that Might Stick with your Thanksgiving Turkey or Not

Even though Zinfandel (Red not the Pinkish stuff) is often considered the natural match for the annual Thanksgiving Turkey, I decided to mention 3 recent wine buys, all Red, none from the US, all in the $10 to $12 range.

First one is the Carchelo 'Monastrell' (2006) from Bodegas Agapito Rico in Jumilla.
Grapes come from the 'Casas de la Hoya' organic vineyards in high altitude, on arid terrain.
Displays jammy, concentrated flavors.
Some Syrah and Merlot adds balance to the Monastrell (Mourvedre).

" Tart and taut, with good focus" states Thomas Matthews, Wine Spectator (2007-11-01)

Second is Casa Silva Reserva "Carmenere" (2005) from Chile it was a Trophy Winner at Chile's first annual Carmenere competition. Kudos from The Telegraph (UK) remind us that Carmenere was thought to have been decimated by disease in the 1800's in France only to resurface in Chile.

Similar ruby red colors as the Monastrell, rich but with soft tannins.

Let's go back to Europe with Castello Monaci Negroamaro, Maru, 2006.

The winery is located near the town of Salice Salentino in Apulia.

Made entirely from the native grape variety Negroamaro, Maru which means “severe, dark” in the local Salentino dialect. The producer describes it as a wine which evokes a land that breathes.

Tasting Notes from West Side Wines (Connecticut) describe it as "rich and sumptuous yet balanced with a slightly bitter finish. With the Maru, some of Negroamaro’s darker elements are toned down with the result a deeply colored medium-bodied red with lush black cherry and spice flavor".

Related story: Staying Alive...Eat a Guilt Free Fish for Thanksgiving

Wine and Turkey: Will my wine for 'Thanksgiving' be a California Zinfandel or a Red Burgundy..Not sure yet

Known for your Belated Birthday and Holiday Wishes, with Jack Cards be Early instead

We all tend to suffer from information overload and as consequence let birthdays and holiday wishes slip by.

A Boston based service, Jack Cards gives us a chance to go from Belated to Be Early.

First you have to sign up for the service, membership is free.
Second step will be the most time consuming, enter all the occasions for which you need cards and the people who they will be for. You also need to choose the cards.
They obviously need a credit card on file so they can bill you.

For shipping, you have then 2 options having all the cards sent at once or the default which I think works better of getting the cards one week prior to each occasion which leaves you ample time to add your personal message, mail it and get it delivered on time.

If you are pressed for time, Jack Cards can add either stamps or addresses to the envelopes or both.

As for variety, Jack Cards showcases a number of designers, not  your run of the mill ...blah, blah  cards. As an example, I picked this 'Warm Wishes' card by Masha D'Yans.

Nothing earth shattering here, just a very useful service, what we need!

It is too late to use it for Thanksgiving of course but could give a boost to your end of the year wishes.

In our era of electronic communications, an old fashioned card or letter makes an impression.

Got wind of Jack Cards on Springwise.

Loosely related: Party at the Junkyard, your ACE card in San Francisco

Instead of Beaujolais Nouveau, a glass of Gaillac Primeur

As many Americans get caught up in the Beaujolais Nouveau thing, our friend Betty of Cuisine Quotidienne in Aveyron suggests that many in France go for the local Vin Primeur instead.

In her case it is a Gaillac Primeur (Site in French Only) which was released this year on November 16.

What did you pick in your corner of the world?

Short and sweet!

Faces full of Fruits and Vegetables...Arcimboldo...Musee du Luxembourg...Paris

On my way to the Future of Web Design conference, 2 weeks ago, I was browsing through the paper until I was stopped in my tracks by the sight of L' Automne part of 4 portraits illustrating the seasons.

The Face on this Automne was composed of Fruits and Vegetables.

It is one of the creations of Giuseppe Arcimboldo born in Milan in 1526.

According to In your face fruit and vegetables by Robin Blake (the article that got my attention on this topic), these paintings were so successful at the time that the artist then illustrated the 4 Elements and let his imagination run wild by creating portraits of librarians composed with books and other oddities.

Arcimboldo was admired by Salvador Dali and the Surrealists.

My choice of illustration is L' Homme Potager which could be loosely translated as the Vegetable Garden Man (picture courtesy of Agence Observatoire, thank you Celine).
This painting is not dated and can be looked at upside down or downside up.

If you live in Paris or plan a visit, take the time to stop at the Musee du Luxembourg for this Arcimboldo exhibit.
It was curated by Sylvia Ferino.

The Museum is open 7 days a week and the exhibit runs until January 13, 2008.

Funny enough,the first person to present at the conference I was going to that day, graphic artist Joshua Davis offered his computer generated version of a Chuck Close portrait with flowers.

Other Parisian Attractions: Cine Aqua...Not just Fish and Child's Play in Paris

Staying Alive...Eat a Guilt Free Fish for Thanksgiving

Not everything we should do to be greener needs to be government mandated.

Eating fish and seafood that is good for our health without depleting the stock or damaging their eco- system is an individual choice.

A simple way to give thanks for Thanksgiving is by visiting sites such as Oceans Alive, check their Best and Worst List and jot down notes as to what we should (or not) purchase in a store or order in a restaurant.

Some such as Halibut can be Worst if from the Atlantic and Best if caught in the Pacific (Alaska to be specific).

In need of recipes for the holidays, check these Sustainable Seafood Recipes from the 2004 book of the same name, includes Mussels with Lime and Basil  by Chef David Waltuck of Chanterelle fame.

For meat eaters with a conscience, read what Tree Hugger had to say about The River Cottage Meat Book.

I hope this helps you have a guilt free meal for Thanksgiving.

La queue du poisson for Green Day #6

Previous Green Day: In Europe, Drop Plane for Train with 'The Man in Seat 61'...Cut Down on Your Emissions

'World Toilet Day', November 19, Did you know about it?

We in the developed world take toilets for granted but World Toilet Day (November 19, no joke) reminds us that 2.6 billion people around the world have to do without.

British Think Tank Ekklesia suggests that those Feeling flush? Give a toilet on World Toilet Day.

See what the Travel Blog at Lonely Planet has to say about the effects that lack of toilets can have on those wandering the world.

Check these suggestions from Water Aid UK.

Related: For 'World Water Day', a few dry numbers

Stress Free Turkey in Frisco: 'The No-Cook Thanksgiving Dinner'

I rarely pick a story from another writer and put it down on the table as is but I could not pass on the chance to excerpt The No-Cook Thanksgiving Dinner by Stefania Pomponi Butler, the City Mama.

Here is her recipe for a Stress Free Turkey:

"When we were younger, Thanksgiving was all about being together at home. We’d spend the day tending to the turkey while watching football or just hanging out. My mom would bust out the nosh around noon patés, dips, crudités, chilled seafood—and we’d nibble the afternoon away as guests arrived until it was time for dinner which we always ate at dinner time. Now that we’re all grown and live in different places, we’ve embraced the new tradition of going out for our Thanksgiving dinner when we are together.

The upside to going out is not having to spend all day cooking and polishing silver, and not having to scrub any greasy roasting pans or crusty mashed potato bowls. The downside to going out is not having any tasty leftovers, so we always cook a Thanksgiving dinner as well, but we usually do it on the Saturday or Sunday after Thanksgiving."

As for her favorite places where to have a Thanksgiving Family Meal in San Francisco, Read her Original Piece.

By the way, it was published on the Kango Blog.

Kango is a travel planning site that wants to help you "Find what you like wherever you go"

I personally kinda feel funny going out on a holiday like Thanksgiving or Christmas. I don't think people should work on these days but that's me.

More Thanksgiving Tips and Treats: 120 Wineries...On Black Friday 'Wine Country Thanksgiving' in Oregon

Recent Food Bit: Onion Day, Second Edition, November 26 and Peeling Onions without Crying

Hotel Argentina...4 months of Tango, Food and Wine Therapy at select Omni Hotels

A week ago (already), I escaped my corner of New Jersey for the evening to feel the heart of Argentina beating at the Omni Berkshire Place in New York city.

From November 2007 to February 2008, 12 Omni locations in the US offer the Sumptuous Flavors of Argentina.

Upon our arrival, we took a quick glance at the wine room and I tasted a couple of whites.

The wine program has been set up in collaboration with Wines of Argentina.

Nora Favelukes of QW Wine Experts was kind enough to introduce me to the main players.
We conversed in French which might have been a plus for her recent induction in Les Dames d'Escoffier.

Food wise, we were treated to Blood Sausage, Sweet Bread, Chorizo, juicy Lamb Chops as well as Sashimi Tuna , Crabmeat and Chicken Empanadas and delicious Grilled Meats served with the traditional Chimichuri sauce, some of them cooked right in front of us.

Buenos Aires chef Danny Bramson made sure the real Argentinian touch was there.

To make the evening a complete success dancers from Repertorio Espanol dazzled us with a number of Tango pieces to the sound of piano and bandoneon.

This program is not just about food and wine as you can see. It is as much a cultural experience, a way to connect with the spirit of Argentina.

Omni Hotels sent the key players to Argentina so they could taste and feel this spirit as their Travel Journal attests.

So treat yourself, a colleague, a friend, a client to the Special Menu or get the full treatment with the Culinary Package (certain week-ends only, check for availability).

The program is available in the following US locations:
Boston- Omni Parker House, Omni Chicago, Dallas - Omni Mandalay Hotel at Las Colinas, Denver- Omni Interlocken Resort, Omni Jacksonville, Omni Los Angeles, Omni Royal Orleans, New York- Omni Berkshire Place, Omni Orlando Resort, Pittsburgh- Omni William Penn, San Antonio- Omni La Mansion del Rio, Washington, D.C. - Omni Shoreham Hotel

I will cover the wines tasted that evening in a separate piece.

More from Argentina: Tango and Wine, Tamari Reserva Malbec 2005

Onion Day, Second Edition, November 26 and Peeling Onions without Crying

For the love of cooking, Zorra of Kochtopf all the way in Switzerland invites Foodies of the World to Unite and celebrate Onion Day for the second year in a row, on November 26.

Their theme prompted me to explore ways to peel onions without crying.

A scientific take is offered by Cook It Quick!

Here is one of the suggestions:  "The tearjerker in onions is a compound called propanethial-s-oxide, which is released in a vapor when onions are cut" according to Cheryl Forberg when the vapor comes in contact with the eye, it is converted to a form of sulfuric acid, which produces the stinging sensation and subsequent tears. Cutting onions under water or chilling them before cutting, will retard the enzymes that generate the noxious chemicals".

In the odd choices department someone on wikiHow mentions that "Grandma always held a silver spoon in her mouth while peeling onions. I tried it and it worked!"   

In the UK, Lindsey Bareham penned a whole book Onions without Tears (Penguin) on the topic.

To conclude my Onion Festival, you might want to give a try to this Onion Soup without Tears Recipe (via 101 Cookbooks).

Recent food bites: Bear, Snake or Monkey: the perfect wine pairing

Own Your Comments and Criticism...Be Specific...Monday Work Etiquette

A good way not to solve a problem or get your point across clearly is to make a broad statement to a group of people, most of whom might have nothing to do with the issue at hand.
This fuzziness will irritate all those not responsible for it who have to listen to your diatribe.

So whether you have an issue you need to address at work or make a comment online, own your criticism by signing it, address it to the right person and be specific.

A brief Monday Work Etiquette #13

Previously: Only Oiks order Cappuccino after Lunch when in Rome

Bear, Snake or Monkey...the Perfect Wine Pairings (via 'Word of Mouth')

I don't think that this theme will make it on the Wine Blogging Wednesday list but just in case, I wanted to mention this Bear Necessities piece by mystery writer Gwladys Fouché.

Wondering what the best pairing is for that polar bear steak, the people at Huset restaurant in Svalbard suggest a big bad Bordeaux.

As for Snake or Monkey, your guess is as good as mine.

Must see movie with your meal, Babette's Feast for its Turtle Soup.

Other food picks: From Alligator (Sub Sandwich) to Rabbit (Stew): New Orleans Summer Restaurant Guide

Ready, Set, Go! China Clocks Records Second by Second

With the Get it Louder (or rather clearer) exhibit tagged TIME TO SHOP, People's Architecture gives us clear snapshots of records being set Second by Second in China.

Here is a large Omelet, no Chicken bit to illustrate the topic.

As they point out Shopping Malls do not have Clocks.

More time, more money spent, I guess.

This Get it louder does makes statistics clear and almost appealing.

More on Get it Louder exhibits past  and present via Life of Guangzhou.

From the same source: Adventures in 'Legoland'...Building Asia Brick by Brick

4 Star Pick from the Guardian...Chocolala Pralines: Tasty and Fair Trade too

Algerian born chef Mourad Mazouz, behind the famed restaurant Momo (a taste of the Casbah in London) offers his Choc and Awe notes on Chocolates for Christmas (as seen from the UK) in Observer Food Monthly .

I could not help but notice that he sings the praise of a Chocolala creation, the Chocolate Pralines, they "break wonderfully - the centre is rich and gooey and it's very delicate. Just the right size, too", they get 4 stars.

Feeling zesty, try their Lala Lemon filled bites.

Chocolala offers Fair Trade Chocolates, Crafted by Hand.

Want to treat your fiends or colleagues to a special holiday gift, check what Bespoke can do for you as illustrated with this bouquet.

Chocolala is based in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire.

Related piece: On the Map this Morning...Camposampiero, Novi Iskur, Walsden

A Mano a Mano with Chocolate, Amano Hand Crafted Bars...from Utah

I could have missed them last Sunday at the Chocolate Show in New York, it would have been my loss.
Amano Artisan Chocolate does not go for the flashy. Being subdued their rich flavors catch you almost by surprise. They are based in Orem, Utah.

Their creations reflect the patient work, craft and love that goes into them.
Only 3 choices in their Portfolio.
I tasted 2 of them.

First the Ocumare Grand Cru (pictured here) is sourced from Ocumare de la Costa, on the central coast of Venezuela.
The Criollo beans from this area have been cultivated since the 1700's.
Amano selected them for their fruity and floral flavors.

Second is Madagascar, not the movie mind you. History says that about a century ago, Cocoa trees were brought from Venezuela to the island.
The cocoa used in the Madagascar bar come from the descendants of these original plantings.
Credits include citrus flavor and a milder style.

I am glad I took a couple of minutes to talk with Art Pollard, Amano's founder. Note that he uses a vintage roaster to bring all the flavors to life.

So do them a favor, pick up one of their bars if you see them or order them online.

Want to digg more, the BBC spills the beans on Venezuela's Chocolate Revolution.

Related piece: A Whirlwind Tour of the Chocolate Show 2007, New York

Adventures in 'Legoland'...Building Asia Brick by Brick

The architectural landscape in Asia has change quite a bit in the past 25 years.

Some decided to illustrate the changes and offer ideas or should I say models for the future by Building Asia Brick by Brick, we are talking Lego here.

The results of this joint project by Art Asia Pacific magazine and the People's Architecture Foundation are currently touring China and will be displayed in New York in 2008.

I chose as an illustration these 'Oriental Pearl Towers' part of "My Ideal Shanghai" Models built up by students from School of Architecture of Shanghai Tongji University.

You can see other works in progress on  the  People's Architecture Blog where I found the 'Oriental Pearl Towers'.

Lego Education on PigMag tells you more about this topic.

It inspired me to mention this project.

Related somehow: A Vertical Garden

120 Wineries...On Black Friday 'Wine Country Thanksgiving' in Oregon

Instead of spending Black Friday at the mall, if you are in Oregon for Thanksgiving, I suggest you head for Willamette Valley where some 120 wineries will kick off Wine Country Thanksgiving on November 23rd.
The event lasts all week-end.
For details on what each winery is offering visit the Willamette Valley Wineries Event Page.

For Foodies, Travel Oregon stages Oregon Bounty which runs until November 30th.

Micro Brew Fans are not forgotten. In the Gorge area, the Full Sail Brewing Company offers a 4 Course Brewers Beer and Food Pairing on November 29.   

For those who cannot make the trip, the consolation prize is a Free Autumn Recipes Cookbook (Download, 100 page PDF) by some of Oregon top Chefs.

Related stories: Thanksgiving Help...Gluten and Dairy Free Recipes and No need to Panic, Thanksgiving Recipes from 360 eats, Simply Recipes and Daily Olive

Imagine Traveling with '20 Ways to Float through Walls'

Feeling the need for a change of scenery and unable to take a vacation, treat your ears to a globe trotting musical experience with these 20 tracks from Crammed Discs called 20 Ways to Float through Walls.

It starts with Apollo Nove and his mellow Brazilian grooves. Heard about the Festival au Desert, the Tuareg band Tartit deliver their take of the blues from the sand dunes.

One of my real favorites is Taraf de Haidouks from Romania with accordions and violins stirring up the rhythm. Listen to their Concert at Carnegie Hall on NPR for a real taste.

Better known, the sensuous Cibelle in a bossa tinged duet with Devendra Banhart recorded in London.

Another rootsy and danceable track is Usti, Usti Baba from Kocani Orkestar (Macedonia)...Horns and Clarinet dominate. One of their songs made it to the soundtrack of Borat.

Not to neglect the rhythms of Africa, the Kasai All Stars from Congo (pictured here).

On the jazzy side, get a big band feel with Flat Earth Society and 'Psychoscout'.

My last pick is Think of One (Belgium). The intro of 'Disciplinador' would not have been out of place on a Kid Creole tune, the song then segues into very Brazilian accents.

Enjoy the trip!

Recent exotic musical flavors: Camembert & Sushi...No Cheesy Music...Paris-Tokyo

Senses, Perception, Reality? Media Opera...Tokyo...November 17-18

In our daily lives we experience what can feel sometimes like an audio and visual assault.
On November 17 and 18, a group of artists will present Media Opera at Asahi Art Square in Tokyo.

Here is how Tokyo Art Beat (my source for this event) describes the performance:
     "As we stride further into a world defined by digital technologies, with an increasingly rapid flow of information, our sense and perception of reality is also undergoing change. What is it that we really see? What sights are we blind to? What are we listening to? Are there sounds and voices that we choose not to hear? Where are we now? Where aren't we? Our vision changes with the passing of time, with every hour. Within the blink of an eye. Are we at the brink?"

Unfortunately the Asahi Art Square site is only in Japanese. Read the rest of the Event Notes on TAB.

Their building architecture is quite interesting so I used it as an illustration.

This was Tokyo Thursdays #13

Previous snapshot: $2000 'Cardboard Home' by Ryuji Miyamoto has New Order loose its cover

Not a single wine, rather a 'Maison' Jacques Depagneux for Wine Blogging Wednesday #39

Life throws you a wrench sometimes.
My car died on me this evening so instead of opening a couple of bottles from the Maconnais or Cotes Chalonnaises, I stood there waiting for the AAA guy.
Since the battery was not the issue, I had to get the car towed to my trusted mechanic some 20 miles away.
11 pm was here and I barely stepped through the door.
So I decided that for this Wine Blogging Wednesday #39 instead of praising a single wine, I would choose a maison, domaine, negociant (pick your term) from this area.

Let's tip our hat to Jacques Depagneux who offers great things starting with the Domaine du Roure Pouilly-Fuisse for the whites (Chardonnay grapes, bien sur).

Add to that the Clos du Chapitre 'Vire Clesse tracing its origins back to the monks of Cluny plus Domaine des Gatilles Chiroubles.

Thanks to The Brooklyn Guy for challenging us.

La Fin!

Related pieces: From Beaujolais to Umbria

$6 and a 24 Hour Ride: Pushpak Express, a Train and the Great Indian Migration

After writing about the launch of the new Eurostar service from London, Riding the train of dreams by Anand Giridharadas (IHT) looks at the other side of train travel.

The Pushpak Express starts in Lucknow Junction station in Uttar Pradesh and takes peasants from   from Central India to Mumbai, the city  where they hope their dreams will come to life in a $6, 24 hour ride.

The accompanying video says more than words could express.

Do passengers celebrate Diwali aboard?

I did learn (according to India 9) that  Pushpak is the flying chariot of Ravana in Hindu mythology.

Recent Train Spotting: In Europe, Drop Plane for Train with 'The Man in Seat 61'...Cut Down on Your Emissions

Also from India: Is 'Om Shanti Om' the Hot Diwali Film Release?

Lunch on the Slopes with 'Picnics on the Piste', Alps Only

After a few runs on the slopes, you might not be too keen on standing in line at one of the ski resorts restaurants.

If you visit the French Alps, Picnics on the Piste can deliver your meal to a snow spot near you. They set the stage (the table I mean) for you in  Val d'Isere, Courchevel, Meribel, Tignes and a few other places.

4 Menu Options are available it seems from the basic Green (15 Euros per perso) to the more luxurious Black (69 Euros per person) which includes (I quote): Fresh Hot Soup, Fresh Baguette, Foie Gras, Smoked Salmon, Charcuterie, Salad Nicoise, Cheese Plate, Quiche Fruit, Patisserie, Chocolate Truffles, Water.

They also offer a wine list and Bollinger Champagne to toast your ski holiday.

This is what you call living well.

As a bonus, check these latest Snowfall News via Natives, a UK site, their motto: 'knowledge is powder'.

Want to treat yourself to Lunch with a bottle of a great Bordeaux or say, Domaine de la Romanee Conti, read Vive la Difference by Ann Morrison on high end options in the Alps.

Thanks to Springwise for putting Picnics on the piste on my radar.

Other lap of luxury stories: Jet Girl, Shopping by Private Jet

Parents to Be in and near Toronto, check 'Baby Ready'

Getting ready for the arrival  of a child especially a first one can be stressful. If you live in Canada, in or near Toronto, 2 young mothers and entrepreneurs launched recently Baby Ready.
Sam and Kristin offer educational, planning and support services to expecting parents as well as help planning baby showers.
You can read about their first hand experience on In Our Own Words.

I found out about Baby Ready through an e-mail from one of its founders, Kristin.

Has any of you used their services?
Do you know of similar ones in your area, in the US or abroad?

Bonne chance to this newborn from Toronto!

Related bits: Expecting! Hire a Baby Planner and A 'Mommy Mixer', Networking for Moms and their Prospective Sitters

In Europe, Drop Plane for Train with 'The Man in Seat 61'...Cut Down on Your Emissions

In case you missed it, November 14 is a milestone for train travel, from London to the Continent with the launch of the Eurostar service from its new home of St Pancras.

Roger Blitz (Financial Times) thinks that this new High-speed link may be the dawn of new era for rail. It will shave off time on trips to Brussels and Paris and with congested airports make the switch from plane to train more attractive to both leisure and business travelers.

Sarah Turner in The Guardian calls this new line The fast track to Europe's hotspots and quotes Mark Smith, The Man in Seat 61 as saying that 'More and more people seem to be trying out train travel to Europe as a low-carbon, low-stress alternative to the hassle of flying.'

Also in The Guardian, Benji Lanyado offers a Blog by blog guide to …Brussels and Paris including the Paris City Guide de Clotilde (Chocolate & Zucchini) while Angelique Chrisafis lists her Top 10 Paris hotels.

Getting back to the topic of Green Solutions, The Man in Seat Sixty One shares some numbers in a Train versus Plane comparison chart for a few European trips.
If his numbers are accurate, a London to Paris train passenger generates one 10th the emissions that taking the plane would create on the same route.

Add to that the hassle of going to airports from city centers, security check and the like, on short distances, the train makes sense.

Besides the utilitarian aspect, rail travel has a romantic side to it and a rhythm too.

That's it for Green Day #5

Previous Green Day: Take your Bike to Work Day? Fold that Puma Urban Mobility

Related: A Ride on the 'Little Yellow Train'

A Whirlwind Tour of the Chocolate Show 2007, New York

In this whirlwind tour of the Chocolate Show 2007, I will give you an overview mostly of Chocolatiers new to me.

My first stop was at Comptoir du Cacao, family owned and based in Gatinais (center France). With my roots in Brittany , I could not help but like the Caramels d'Isigny and Crepes Dentelles blend. Also worth mentioning is their use of rose petals and spices such as Sichuan peppers in other creations.
Unfortunately they are not yet distributed in the US.

Let's jump to the West Coast (of the US) with Theo Chocolates which actually offers 2 lines, one is Theo (vegan and soy free) including Theo Origin Bars and 3400 Phinney with 2 oz Flavored Bars named after their location in Seattle. Colorful packaging is a plus.
Their claim to fame is that they are the only bean to bean maker of organic, fair trade chocolate in the US.

From Philadelphia, John and Kira  use only the real thing from fruits to nuts and local sources whenever they can, such as the Honey in their Honey Lavender offering.

The Bay Area sent Charles Chocolates our way. This is the result of Chuck Siegel's love story with Cocoa.
The accent is on freshness and being as eatable as can be. It culminates with the Edible Boxes.
I just realized that he also offers Pate de Fruit, one of my favorite sweets.

Next visit was to Oliver Kita which proves that the Hudson Valley offers more than Foie Gras and Pates.
His 1 year old company combines passion, a sense of color and great creativity. My wife thought of him as a real life Willy Wonka.
Spirituality matters to you, his Tao of Cacao embraces the daily appreciation of chocolate. Mindful tasting for self awareness and joy without regret and offers a Woodstock Buddha and The Virgin Mary.He gets extra points for his fluent French.

I conversed some more en francais with the French Duo of MadMac. We are almost neighbors in New Jersey and they specialize in Macarons and Madeleines.
They came up with an unbreakable box for the fragile macarons so they do not turn to dust on their way to your table.
Know anything more soothing than dipping a Madeleine in a cup of hot chocolate on a cold day?

Joan Coukos of Chocolat Moderne gets her inspiration from places as varied as Italy, Greece and Japan.
The common thread is everything is made with Dark chocolate.

My last tasting was at the Rhum Clement counter, the nec plus ultra. I tried Liqueur Creole last.

I will comment on them more in detail as well as review new offerings by 2 of last year's picks, Donna Toscana and Berkshire Bark in the next two weeks, in chunks so you do not get an indigestion.

Related Stories: Greatest Eats, Best of Chocolate Show 2006 and Chocolate Week, Beyond New York, London and Paris

Is 'Om Shanti Om' the Hot Diwali Film Release?

While Hollywood is under the spell of the writers strike, Bollywood is offering a slew of new releases for Diwali.

I am not a specialist of the genre so I turned to the Movie Page of online Indian community site Sulekha to get the temperature of the holiday.
Even though 'Om Shanti Om' is heavily promoted, Jab We Met gets the most favorable crowd reviews.

Want less frivolous background info on Diwali, Boloji.com offers an 18 days guide from Dhan Teras to Deva Diwali and for your library of words and sounds New York University's Graduate School of Art and Science delivers The Diwali Story in Hindi.

If Holidays prompt you to give to those less fortunate than you Give India based in Mumbai allows you to do so.

Pick the area of your choice be it children, education, health...When you donate, you will be sent a report on how your money was used.

Related stories: The 5 Days of Diwali, from India with Love

Only Oiks order Cappuccino after Lunch when in Rome, Pizza with Beer is fine, Dinner only

I always get going when anyone asks for a lemon peel with their espresso or worse offers me one.
This is part of these American habits some know why it started (originally the coffee available in the US for this strong cup of Java was not bitter enough), few could explain why it is still done.

In many countries including Europe, there are strong feelings as to what is proper and not to eat, drink and do with each type of meal.

Adrian Michaels expresses that perfectly in Vongole? Hold the Cheese on Etiquette the Italian Way in today's Global Traveler (Financial Times).

British custom of ordering cappuccino, or the American way of ordering it anytime of the day is anathema to Italians.
It would classify you as what Adrian Michaels calls an Oik (crude, nitwit).
Cappuccino is Breakfast only.

Thanks to the piece, I learned that arrivederci is better used upon leaving (than ciao) if you do not know the other party well.

A certain formality also extends to the way you address your interlocutor so knowing their 'title' matters.

Dressing the part and complementing others on their appearance goes down well.
Clean shoes are a must.

As for a Parmesan cheese on risotto or pasta with fish or seafood, the article quotes this real life event: "I know someone who ordered spaghetti alle vongole [clams]," says one Milanese businessman. "It arrived, he put parmesan on it and the rest of the table made him send it back and order another."

Only wine or water are considered should be ordered with you meal except for beer with pizza. Do not order Pizza for Lunch though, Dinner only.

These useful tips in Adrian Michaels piece will surely prevent turning an Italian business trip or a Roman holiday into a fiasco.

As a bonus check this Spaghetti Alla Vongole Recipe from the BBC Food Section.

Il Fine for Monday Work Etiquette #12

Previous Monday Work Etiquette: Should Business Process trample Customer Service?

Related: When in Rome, visit 'Obika' Mozzarella Bar

Greatest Eats, Best of Chocolate Show 2006

Before I head for the Big Apple to taste new flavors at the 1Oth Edition of the Chocolate Show, I thought I should share with those of you who might have missed them, my Greatest Eats of the 2006 Vintage.

The 3rd Episode was Chocolate and Wine: Debunking the Myths where besides wine I mentioned how not to get all gooey because of a bad choice of water.

Second Installment, Fun, Fun Fun! offered Cocoa flavored Party and Gift Ideas.

First take, From the Sky to the Mountains explored exotic flavors from Tuscany to Wasabi.

I hope I can dig new and possibly better bites today.

Related stories: On my Chocolate Show Munching List...New York (Nov 9-11)

Are you faking it and other thought bites gleaned at 'Future of Web Design', New York

I am not going to rasp poetic about seeing the Future of Web Design and its name is...

After browsing through notes I jotted down while attending this Carsonified event on Wednesday, I picked a few thoughts worth highlighting.

On the work front, it seems that embellishing your resume or abilities is not just the province of executives and academics, a survey of designers conducted by A List Apart shows that one third of them Are faking their Skills to get the job Jeffrey Zeldman stated.

The West Coast was represented by amongst others Brian Fling of Blue Flavor.  They designed Tipped a  UK Travel Guide  which we mentioned recently.
For him the new frontier is the Mobile Web. It will change the way we gather information and interact with it, Brian said.
The revolution will be mobilized...

On stage from the windy city Jeffrey Kalmikoff of Skinny Corp. You might know them for their Threadless T-Shirts.
His take on facilitating the conversation and building online communities is you find out "You are not as talented as you think you are" and on the other hand "You might become more 'important' than you think you are".

Think Visual suggested Cindy Li of San Francisco.
She feels that "Illustration makes for better connection".

What's your take on all that?
What will prove to be wishful thinking?
Time will tell.

Related stories: Traveling to / in the UK, Get 'Tipped' on Restaurants, Hotels, Shopping

Surfing on the Coat Tails of 'National Novel Writing Month'...

I forgot about the yearly November Novel Writing Month event or should we call it a marathon until Burstblog mentioned it today in step with National Blog Posting Month, another motivational undertaking.

Is exhaustion the main result of these contests?

It reminds me of the Fables of La Fontaine. I am more a practitioner of slow and steady.
40 of these fables are available in English translation thanks to Beasts and Citizens, the labor of love by Craig Hill.

Most popular topics right now on Serge the Concierge are Diwali (the Indian holiday) and the Chocolate Show in New York which both start today.

Related bits: The 5 days of Diwali and  On my Chocolate Show Munching List

Related story

2006 Red from Spain, 'Vina do Burato' on the Sacred Banks of Galicia

Why would you need a wine store for if you never got suggestions from those running it?

Sharon of Amanti Vino put a bottle of this Viña do Burato (2006) in my hands a week ago and praised it.
It comes from the Ribeira Sacra area of Galicia.

Vineyards can be found on the mountainsides of the Miño river and the Sil.

The Viña do Burato is produced by the D.Ventura family from grapes grown in a small (three hectares) property (Vina de Balboa) made of steep slate terraces on 80 year old vines.

The grape is Mencia. Fermentation is in stainless steel and the wine is unfiltered so you might find sediment in the last pour.

Taste wise, this red has floral scents, light to medium body and contrary to many reds nowadays is only 12,5% alcohol which is a plus.

D. Ventura practices sustainable farming.

Ramon shares his winemaking philosophy in the following video.

The wine retails for around $16.

Recently on Spain:  '1080 Recipes' The Spanish Home Cooking Bible according to Jose Manuel Pizarro

$2000 'Cardboard Home' by Ryuji Miyamoto has New Order loose its cover

We all have seen these cardboard homes on the streets of one city or another?

Japanese photographer Ryuji Miyamoto documented some of them in 1995 Tokyo.

When British band New Order released a DVD Collection whose cover (pictured left) bared more than a resemblance with his original composition except for color versus black and white he let the band know his unhappiness about the resemblance.

New Order lost its cover as Ashley Rawlings reports in The New Order/Ryuji Miyamoto saga comes to an end on Tokyo Art Beat.

Digging for additional info on Ryuji Miyamoto and his work, I found more of it listed on Take Art Gallery which calls itself the Internet Gallery for Japanese Contemporary Art.

'Cardboard Homes' is listed at $2000.

James Kelly offers Post Earthquake photos of Kobe by the same artist taken the same year (1995).

There is sometimes a fine line between homage and plagiarism.

End of the picture for Tokyo Thursdays # 12

Previous Episode: Shiny Happy Veggies...

2 New New York Restaurants and a Fireside Tango on my Must Check List

After digesting the Chocolate Show, I will put my explorer hat back on and pay a visit to 3 New York eateries.

First I will treat myself to tango, steak and sweet pastries if not the pampas with an introduction to the Discover Argentina program offered by the Fireside restaurant and its home, the Omni Berkshire Place hotel.

I will also try to play nice at Nizza, a trip to Italy offered by Chef Andy d'Amico and Robert Guarino. Pick items from the 9 sections of the menu (or just one of them) and you should come up with an interesting palette.
Here what the NY Times' Off the Menu column says about it: "NIZZA The Italian name for Nice, on the Riviera, gives a strong hint about the cuisine in this place. France is represented by duck liver mousse, pain bagnat and panisses (chickpea fries), which share the menu with panini, fritto misto, pizzas and pasta".

Staying on the Mediterranean side of things, I have to check Lunetta (Flatiron district) and see what type of Italian-American home cooking inspired fare Adam Shepard and Jim Heckler brought from the original Lunetta way out there in Brooklyn. It seems they keep the small plate format.

All this makes me hungry, time for a lunch break maybe!

Recently on restaurants: Would love a few bites of this cool salad

Related: On my Munching List for New York's Chocolate Show and Comfort Food a la Francaise

At 'Future of Web Design' New York Event all day...So Light Posting

On Wednesday, November 7, I will spend most of the day at the Future of Web Design Conference in New York so my writing schedule on 'Serge the Concierge' will probably shift towards the evening.

I don't consider myself a techie but there are always things to learn from people who build sites and even better those who create them with an eye on the visual.

I will share a few things I learned later this week.

I will even go to the post conference party taking place at Rebel, a club of all things.
Do not expect to see me dancing wildly though.
Dancing is definitely not my strength.

The event is organized by the good people at Carsonified.

Related: Spiderman was  not at Gotham Hall

Take your Bike to Work Day? Fold that Puma Urban Mobility

What could be greener than riding your bike to work?
How about riding in style with the Puma 8 Speed Urban Mobility, a folding bike?

Instead of stuffing your pockets with keys, wallet, cell phone and the like, the 'basket case' (actually a nylon bag that fits on the handle bar) will house them.
I don't care much for the name, unless it is intended to prevent you from being a basket case as you misplaced your keys or wallet.

Another accessory worth mentioning is the light weight rack. It can carry up to 20 pounds and mounts directly on the seat pole.

Safety wise, this Urban Delight is equipped with Disc Brakes no less for extra stopping power.

In the Anti-Theft department a chain wire lock is part and parcel of the Puma Bike.

The thing that really allows the Puma Urban Mobility to claim its name is the fact that it folds.

Leave your house or office and depending on your destination and location fold it and hop on the Bus, the Ferry, the Train, a Car Trunk or the Elevator.

Nice, isn't!

Check The BIKE SPECS for detailed technical specs.

It is not your run of the mill bicycle obviously at 800 British Pounds or $1600 US.

I do not have the Chart on Carbon Emissions and Green Bills saved.

Maybe Jim Robb of Pedal Economics has the answer.

I borrowed his photo of the 2 wheeler to illustrate this story.

Check The Archives for previous Green Day.

Related stories: Oil prices rise, Walk or Ride the Bike and How about a bike ride and dejeuner sur l'herbe

British Invasion Part 2, on the Food front with 'Fresh and Easy'

Heard about the British Invasion, many British musical waves washed ashore in the US over the years.
Will Food be next?
You might be lost in the supermarket or the warehouse club and would not mind getting back to a more human sized store format.
If you can walk to a convenient location it is a plus.

It seems that these are a few of the elements that new kid on the block Fresh & Easy wants to offer the American customer starting with the West of the country.
Think of it as a cross between 7 Eleven and Whole Foods.

Since I am on the East Coast, I have not visited their first store which opened last week.
Seven more should be opened in California by November 8.
After reading New hybrid tries to woo US Shoppers (Financial Times) one element in their store that I really liked was The Kitchen Table where you can sample food and get recipes.

They are smart enough to give customers a chance to start a conversation with them by launching a blog Talking Fresh and Easy right off the bat.
The trade mark sign after the blog title could have been left out though, too corporate.
Will some people talk fresh to them?

With rising oil prices, being closer to where people live and work might turn out to be their biggest advantage.

I am curious to know what the Wine Selection will be as most major British food merchants have turned out to be quite savvy in that area.

Backed by the deep pockets of parent Tesco, Fresh and Easy will not be a fly by night.

Recent Food Stories: Map your Fine Food Buying in the UK and On my Chocolate Show Munching List

At ATT Wireless...Customer Service does not do E-Mail? What about follow up?

A week after my most recent phone call to customer service at ATT Wireless, I still have not heard back from them.

Should we really call this 'customer service' considering  the fact that it was my 3rd or 4th call to them regarding billing issues and that my forceful complaint got a manager to take my call?

Besides the fact that I still have not received a follow up call, I was baffled to be told that a customer service manager at ATT Wireless could not correspond with clients via e-mail.
What could be the reason behind it?

Is it time for me to consider changing Cellular Phone provider?

Any suggestions?

Related topics: Giving customers the runaround and Cell Phone becomes your travel guide (in Paris)

Should Business Process trample Customer Service?

Are there moments when business processes trample good customer service?

Are processes in that case a way to rationalize shortcomings in the way a business is run?

If it takes 15 steps to solve a minor issue, isn't it time to rethink the way you operate.

Do customers have to suffer from business snafus or should something called flexibility be used?

Shortcuts make sense sometime.

This Monday Work Etiquette #11 is based on a true story.

Visit the Monday Work Etiquette page for previous musings.

Related Stories: 5 ways to tick off customers and Ian Urbina writes about Life's Little Annoyances

On my Chocolate Show Munching List...New York (Nov 9-11)

A week from now at this time, I might be suffering from a slight indigestion and a caffeinated condition after spending some time meeting known and unknown talents at New York's Chocolate Show.

I started drafting my Munching List.

Not to be navel gazing or chauvinistic but I did notice tasty offerings from the New Jersey-New York area.
Amongst them I will definitely have to try the Wine Truffles by J.Emmanuel .

Straying a bit from the general theme is Mad Mac which offers French Madeleines and Macarons thanks to the duo of Florian Bellanger, and Ludovic Augendre. Their creation illustrates this piece

Another Garden State presence (with a Belgian twist) is Rose City which came up with a No Sugar Added Collection.

From Pennsylvania John and Kira's get my vote for their good taste and good deeds.

I also took note already of Oliver Kita (il parle Francais) thanks to his chocolate ghost.

So that's the starter list for my adventures in chocolate land.

I will be at the Chocolate Show on November 9.

Chocolate Week New York kicks off on November 5th.

Related: Swimming in Chocolate and Chocolate Week beyond New York

Map your Fine Food Buying in the UK with Guardian's Food Directory

Moving to the UK, already living there or planning a visit you might want to get a clue about the places big and small and in between where your basic food supplies and fantaisies might be satisfied.

The Guardian released November 3rd its Food Directory. This is the second edition.

Using the Interactive Map, I clicked on Scotland and chose Wine and Beer as a category.
One of the first options offered was Great Grog with 2 locations in Edinburgh described in the guide as a  "Small independent outlet selling more than 400 wines and champagnes. Currently selling well is a top-quality French rosé, the Bois de Chapipre, which Great Grog is selling for under a fiver."

I picked them as their name reminded me of grogs and warm wine with cloves served on very cold days in my native Brittany.

You can also navigate the guide by categories such as bread , organic shops and deli.

This last option showcases in its introduction, Pride at the Counter, the Duroses, a couple selling England by the pound or less. You can get local produce in any quantity you like starting with a slice or an egg.

Named The English Grocer, their shop is located in Buntingford, a small town of 6,000 in Hertfordshire (their storefront illustrates this piece). Their site offers recipes, a bit of poetry and obviously a list of some food and sandwiches available.

I remember as a kid being sent to the store by my grandmother to buy a slice of butter and being given a taste of something or other.

So enjoy the exploration of this neat offering by The Guardian.

You might get hungry!

Related stories: Tea time, biscuits and boiled meat plus Fair Trade Wines, Good Juice and Its Benefits...Manchester Tasting and Traveling to the UK get 'Tipped'

Bad Recipes, Gordon Ramsay and Gum Chewing Waiters

I am not that much into reality shows and in your face takes on business but What Gordon Ramsay can teach Software Developers by David (on Signal vs Noise) distills a few truths we often do not want to hear.

David's take is inspired by Kitchen Nightmares (the TV show). I will focus on the cooking side of things.

On trying to please everyone and running the risk of standing for nothing:
"Everything to no one: Almost all Ramsay’s cases feature an overstuffed menu derived from a misguided notion that more choice is always better and that making every dish under the sun will broaden the appeal of the restaurant. The first order for the cuisine is to trim the choices and go from thirty-some dishes to ten or twelve."

Cook what eat (love what you cook):
"Cook what you know
British chefs slicing Japanese Sushi or Indian chefs cooking traditional American cuisine are two examples that Ramsay cracked down on under the banner of Cook What You Know. If you don’t have a strong history of eating and living with certain ingredients and styles of cuisine, it’s much, much harder to reach the upper echelon’s of taste. And why bother? Pick your native ingredients, those in season, and make what you know and can personally appreciate."

As for the show, one thing that did stick with me on Episode 5 was 'Is it normal for waiters to chew gun' which I find to be the epitome of rudeness.

Related stories: Ragout or why some American chefs want to call a cat a dog? and 'No good chef would put on anything he could not eat' ...Bruce Poole and Menu Writing

Wine Cow...A New Breed for Washington Wine Lovers

Sometimes my e-mail inbox once I cut out the junk leads me to good leads and discoveries.
It just happened this morning with WineCOW...a new breed for Washington wine lovers.
By Washington I do not mean the Capitol but Washington State.

WineCOW stands for Wine Connection of Washington and is the brainchild of                                       Josh Clark & Marcus Pape.

Check their Wine Myths Busted section, fun to read and you might even learn a thing or two.

The Local Section offers practical bits on Washington State wines including its 9 American Viticultural Areas (AVA's), the latest addition (March 2006) being Rattlesnake Hills.

The Label Art pages are worth a visit mixing big names and little houses, not all from the state mind you.
I decided to use the sober label for Naked Riesling from Snoqualmie Vineyards in Prosser as an illustration.

Need help picking a wine for the week-end, dinner or a special occasion their Wine Guide offers an Under $15 section and on the Party Planning side unusual takes such as a Poker and Wine pairing.

As you can see, these guys are not wine snobs. Their site is accessible without being condescending.

Only suggestion I would have for them is to refresh the Home Page which is still Summery.

What is the connection with my e-mail inbox you might wonder?

Well, I found WineCOW thanks to an e-mail newsletter from WineCHATr a networking and recommendation site for Wine Lovers which I might cover in another piece.

One of the occasions when I wrote about Washington State wines was for Wine Blogging Wednesday.

Other Washington and Wine stories: No 'Walla Walla' Dance, Ex Libris, A Washington Cabernet from the Library and No Baseball, No Vocal Prowess...Pitch...A Cabernet

Cherie Blair on the Bonfire for Guy Fawkes Day (her effigy that is)

Will the revelers in Edenbridge (Kent) see Cherie Blair go up in flame (her effigy that is) for its celebration of Guy Fawkes Day (Bonfire Night) on November 3rd?
This is what the well informed Pam Kent of Globespotters suggests in This Year: Guy Fawkes and Cherie Blair?!
The BBC confirms the news in Cherie becomes second Blair guy.

The Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival is said to be the oldest running celebration (since 1861) of this distinctly British event according to the Guy Fawkes and Bonfire Night site. It takes place this year on November 9.

Related story: From 'Eat Well, Be Well' to 'Bonfire Night'

The 5 Days of Diwali...From India with Love...Starting November 9 (in 2007)

Another year, another Diwali, as November approached I could see a piece from last year on this Indian holiday getting a second life.

This year actually the holiday starts on November 9 as the Diwali Festival site informed me.

It offers details on The Five Days of Diwali, Dantheras, Choti Diwali, Lakshmi Puja, Govardhan Puja and Bhai Duj.
Learn about the legends associated to it such as Rama Return to Ayodhya and find out where festivals are taking place.

If you want to look at the light side of things check the Diwali Songs or maybe you just want to get cooking with these Diwali Recipes.

Related: November 1st marks the begining of the festival of lights (2005)

Shiny Happy Vegies...Smiling Faces in the Japanese Supermarket

From Boxing Pumpkins to cheerful Satsumas, a trip down the produce aisle in a Tokyo supermarket can put a smile on your face as Japanese Supermarket Stars: Veggie Characters! on PingMag shows.

Satsumas as I learned are mandarins (originally grown in Japan and China). They are resistant to cold.  Trees produce white blossoms in March/April and their skin turns bright orange in October when they are ripe. As far as taste goes the fruit is juicy and very sweet, low in acid, and almost seedless, with an average of only 1.5 seeds per orange versus as many as 30 in other varieties.

I gathered most of these Satsuma facts thanks to a paper from Texas University.

Even creators of Anime get a shot at having kids eat their vegetables as displayed in the piece with 'Nako-chan' the cheerful aubergine (eggplant) from Kochi Hyakusai.

I picked the Japanese version of Mr Potato Head as an illustration though.

PingMag also mentions Myoga (also known as myoga ginger), a perennial used in Japanese cooking as the inspiration for the most popular character. Beware of its carcinogenic properties.

Read the Myoga Tasting Notes by Santos on The Scent of Green Bananas.

La Faim...Tokyo Thursday #11

Previous Tokyo Thursday: Kiku is already taken...An Animal for your Family Emblem

Mega Pumpkin Sculptor: Job Idea Number 5

Halloween Night

My wife once took a job for a local florist painting a multitude of pumpkins for not as many dollars.

I suggested that her designs would have been less time consuming and more profitable had she offered them instead as themes for t-shirts or that type of things.

I did not think until reading For These Sculptors, The Medium Is Big, Orange and Stinky (Susan Warren, Wall Street Journal) that Mega Pumpkin Sculptor could be a job worth considering.

In our age of bigger is better, these monsters can weigh as much as 1600 pounds says the article.

It is a stinky job according to Patrick Moser (see Video) one of the Pros featured in the piece (some 20 years of experience).

Even if all this was just my imagination, it would be wild enough to make it Job Idea Number 5.

Related bits: This watermelon is almost human

Job Idea Number 4: Bath Master, Bath Sommelier

Halloween 2007, the Last Hurrah! Ghoulish Food Creations

Our friend Graham of Noodlepie shares some Ghoulish Grub from squirming octopus to cheesy maggots, Graham Holliday finds some truly terrifying grub on Word of Mouth from his observatory in the UK.

Be scared...

Related: Sweet Soup and Sweet Sticky Rice...Vietnamese Treats
and Touching 'Halloween' note by Jim Coudal on Holidays and People we cherish

Touching 'Halloween' note by Jim Coudal on Holidays and People we cherish

In All Hallows, a well written trip down memory lane, Jim Coudal reminds us in a touching way how holidays and people we cherish are indelibly linked.
Which shows that there is more than commerce at work in Halloween.

Read the piece or listen to it.

Related: Halloween a la Chow: Passing the Bar and the Punching Bowl

Treats no Tricks on New York's Chocolate Week website...Now Live

If you want to find out the details of what's on offer in stores, online and in restaurants around the Big Apple for New York first ever Chocolate Week, check the Program Page on Chocolate Week NYC, their newly launched website.

I think the London Chocolate Week site is easier to read and navigate and I wish the Interactive Map for New York event was available instead of being 'under construction'.

If you do not have the patience to browse from A to Z online, the Chocolate Week New York program is also available as an insert in the current issue of Time Out New York.

A companion blog for quick updates on the event plus video and slides would have been nice.
They will surely do better next year.

Find my most recent picks for Chocolate Week New York in Swimming in Chocolate.

Sweet Soup and Sweet Sticky Rice...Vietnamese Treats...Via Noodlepie

I have mentioned Pho Soup and Vietnamese Food a few times but cannot pretend having real knowledge of the cuisine itself.
I realized that even more after going to the Bun Restaurant opening party in Soho.
For once, a restaurant threw a party to celebrate its arrival on the New York restaurant scene and actually had you taste some of the menu.
I enjoyed most items but could not put a name on most of the dishes or the sauces that came with them.
I will have to make a follow up visit to fill these gaps.

All this leads me to the topic at hand, sites from 2 Vietnamese Americans.

First, Viet World Kitchen by Andrea Nguyen who treats us in her most recent piece to a Jackfruit, Toddy Palm, Pomegranate and Coconut Sweet Soup known as Che Thai.

She is also the author of Into the Vietnamese Kitchen (Ten Speed Press, 2006).

I should add her book to my must read list.

Second, is Gas.tro.no.my currently written from Saigon.

Today gastronomy girl about town Cathy Quynh Nhu shares her secret weapon to start the day in Taste the Rainbow. For breakfast she gets her sugar kick from Sweet Sticky Rice.

I borrowed Cathy's picture of the treat as a second illustration.

So my day is not a complete loss. I did learn a thing or two about Vietnamese food and maybe you did as well.

I found both of them via Noodlepie by Graham Holliday whose food world stretches from the UK to Vietnam, not to forget Toulouse.

Related: Pho Restaurants in Hong Kong and Would love a few bites of this Cool Vietnamese Salad at 'Bun' Grand Opening Bash

Maconnais and Cote Chalonnaise on Tasting Block for Wine Blogging Wednesday #39

On the Tasting Block for Wine Blogging Wednesday #39 (November Edition) is what our host Brooklynguy's Wine and Food Blog calls Silver Burgundy.
By that he means the less pricey ($12 to $25 a bottle) Cote Chalonnaise and Mâconnais.

Eric Asimov wrote Mâconnais: A reasonably priced wine of quality back in July.

This South of Burgundy wine region is known for whites such as Pouilly Fuisse or a staple like Macon Lugny Les Charmes.

As for the Cote Chalonnaise, David Downie offers a good overview as part of Burgundy: The Ultimate Wine Lover's Trip. Maybe the names Rully and Mercurey ring a bell with you, Bouzeron less so.

Check back here on November 14 and see what got us salivating.

Related: From Beaujolais to Umbria, traveling through wine

JuBus and Atheists alike put their faith in St Joseph to sell Ze House

OK, I am kinda straying from my fare of food, wine, travel and the usual bit. 
I just could not resist mentioning When It Takes a Miracle To Sell Your House By Sara Schaefer Munoz (Wall Street Journal).

According to her piece, out of superstition, shaken nerves or despair, house sellers from Bujews (or JuBus) to Atheists put their faith in St Joseph to help them take the weight off their shoulders and sell their home.

If you see someone digging their garden with a 'House for Sale' sign close by, they might be burying a statue of this patron saint of 'home-related' issues.

You can even buy online Home Sales Kits of St Joseph.

Amazing isn't it?

Reminds me of when one of my relatives made me throw peas in a well to help get rid of a skin disease in my early childhood.

Finding Beauty in Clutter with Chris Kirby...Getting Things Down

Now that Getting Things Done and productivity pornography as Marc Andreessen calls it has almost become a religion, I thought the Clutter Shelf by Chris Kirby had to be mentioned.

When things or people get too serious or fossilized in their ways, it is time to inject a little humor.

Chris Kirby is a Canadian Designer based in Japan.

Besides these shelves, Chris designs many things such as lamps, vases, pepper mills and more and creates some of them with recycled materials such as this Petal Vase made with metal waste from a local shop.

I discovered him while browsing through the pages of DesignTide which opens in Tokyo on October 31st.

Related story: It's Beautiful Here: Hang your Coat onto Heath Nash's words

An Organic Spring In New Zealand..(Via Destination Organic)

Yes Spring is in full swing down under.

Located in a barn like building , Destination Organic opened its doors earlier this year in Queenstown, New Zealand. The stone walls add warmth to the store (as pictured here).

I have not had the chance to visit Queenstown or New Zealand yet so after taking a look at the store's offerings, I turned my attention to local resources in the natural field.

Let's start with Organic Explorer with gives intriguing lodging suggestions such as Ruatuna, a motel like Straw Bale home in the Bay of Plenty. They also open a window on the Maori Culture amongst other things.

For those of us with kids, Organic Baby offers, events, tips and guides.

If you suffer from Celiac disease, Gluten Free Living by Teresa Urquhart shares practical information on the topic including recipes.

Surely I only touched the tip of the iceberg. Take it from there and keep exploring.

Your suggestions are welcome.

Tuesday is Green Day #3

Last week: The Green Cook...Save Recipes Online with 'Taste Book'

Halloween a la Chow: Passing the Bar and the Punching Bowl

Instead of getting cheap, discounted candies and other sweet fare why not make your own Sugar Loaded Bars.

You might be inviting the whole neighborhood to listen to your best selection of Halloween music such as Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Dead Kennedys, the Flaming Lips or in a mellow tone Norah Jones.

Are you getting the Full Moon Punch Bowl ready.

In both cases the to do list comes to you courtesy of Chow...

Earlier Halloween Bits: Five Bites...No Blood

Comfort Food a la Francaise via Cuisine Quotidienne, Kate Hill and Banlieue Blog (in English)

Home cooking of the Spanish kind put me in touch with an Olympia (Washington) native now living (not la vida locca) the country life in La France Profonde or to be more precise Aveyron, in the South of France.

On Sunday, she offered a Jardiniere de Legumes as her Dinner Recipe on Cuisine Quotidienne where she offers her take on French Home Cooking.

To continue with English language sites from France, Melissa of Banlieue Blog ('Suburbia' Blog) has a report card on a Macaroon Class she took a week ago at Lenotre.

In Gascony, Kate Hill who planted her tent in Gascony is planning a Camp Cassoulet for coming Saturday.
I could taste one of these with the weather finally getting cooler if not cold.

Kate Hill also penned A Culinary Adventure in Gascony (Ten Speed Press, 2004) and gives cooking classes when not roaming the land.

Here is how she introduces her recipe for Brochettes of Prunes and Merguez Sausage: "Prunes are to Agen  as apples are to  Normandy, olives to Provence, and walnuts to the Périgord.  They are regional fruit and one of the prime agricultural products of the Lot-et-Garonne département of France. Merguez are slim, spicy sausages originally from North Africa and usually made from lamb and flavored and colored with pomegranate juice and peppers. The bite of the spicy-hot sausage complements the sweet jam taste of the prunes as they cook together over the grill. I serve a morsel of each on a toothpick with a pot of strong Dijon mustard for dipping."

Weathervanes such as one above (borrowed  from Kate Hill's cassoulet story) are a fixture of French villages.

Pruneaux d'Agen used to be a main ingredient in my Roast Beef with Carrots and Pruneaux back in the days.

Related stories: Your very own Vintage of Armagnac

Five Bites...No Blood...Halloween is Almost Here

A couple of days to go and Halloween will be upon us.

I went digging in my treasure trove of stories and took 5 of them out of their restful place.

Let's start with Sinister Hand a wine Boris Karloff would like.

While following the cocoa trail I was Bewitched by Venezuelan Chocolate from Chuao!

I caught Witches and Wizards in the sunny hills of Roussillon with Les Sorcieres, a bloody good wine.

As for mystery and legend, pay a Visit to Broceliande, the magic forest.

More recently, you might have read Dining in the Dark for Halloween...An Option in San Francisco, no sharp tools on the table...

I had to add new tricks and treats to this collection of old stories.

What could be better than the Chocolate Ghost by Oliver Kita to illustrate this brief piece.

Oliver Kita is one of the chocolatiers on my Must Meet list at the upcoming 10th Anniversary of  New York's Chocolate Show.

Related: Swimming in Chocolate , Chocolate Week, New York

Apple Day has nothing to do with the Release of Leopard

The more you know the less you know, that saying hit me when I became aware of an event now in its 18th year, Apple Day.

It took Apple Day Comes of Age this week-end in the Financial Times (by Philippa Davenport) to get me hooked on the topic
A distinctively British happening, Apple Day was brought to life by Sue Clifford and Angela King of Common Ground  who celebrate what they brand Local Distinctiveness.

This Apple Day has nothing to do with Steve Jobs or the release of Leopard.

For this 18th Edition, the founders with a little help from Philippa Davenport published The Apple Source Book which reminds us of the many uses for the nearly 3000 species of apples that can be grown in the British Isles.

According to England in Particular-What's In Season on Common Ground here are some of the varieties that can be found in October: Allington Pippin, Arthur Turner, Bloody Ploughman, Bramleys, Catshead, Charles Ross, Cox’s Orange Pippins, Egremont Russett, Gascoynes Scarlet, Hoary Morning, Howgate Wonder, King of the Pippins, Lord Lambourne, Michaelmas Red, Norfolk Beauty, Ribston Pippin, Queen, Sunset, Tom Putt, Worcester Pearmain.

How many of these have you tasted?

I did not know until I read Philippa Davenport's piece that this favorite fruit originally came from the mountains of Tien Shan on the Kazakhstan-China border.

Some call Tien Shan, the Heaven's Mountains and it is a favorite with trekkers and mountain climbers.

Take a bite, croquez la pomme!

Related stories: Jazz from New Zealand and Honeycrisp Apple, The Farmer's Market

From Beaujolais to Umbria, traveling through wine

I just wanted to share a couple of recent wine picks I made.
From Beaujolais. a Julienas, Clos de Haute Combe (2005), I was growing tired of American Pinot Noirs so I decided to go Gamay.
If you pay a visit to the vineyard (after contacting owners Danielle and Vincent Audras) you will have a chance to enjoy the view from the valley of the Saone to the Alps in the distance (according to Viafrance).

They actually also offer a Gite , Bed and Breakfast at the farm (pictured here) on site if you want to experience life in the slow lane for a few days and/or tour the area in this spartan and very affordable  (around $600 a week) setting. Information is in French only.

Umbria delivered a young Sangiovese (2006) from Falesco. Winemaker Riccardo Cotarella describes it as ripe on the nose and the palate with soft tannins.

This is only the second vintage and the grapes were harvested in September. It is a great value for around $12.

Enjoy both wines and maybe you just got a vacation idea.

C'est tout.

Other wine bits: Wine goes Hybrid, any 'Traminette' in your Cellar

'1080 Recipes' The Spanish Home Cooking Bible according to Jose Manuel Pizarro

Each country has a few home cooking bibles that guide your hand while you are learning the ropes.

For Spanish born chef Jose Manuel Pizarro, the reference book in question on Spanish Home Cooking is 1080 Recipes by Simone and Inés Ortega (Phaidon), a mother-daughter writing team. Simone, the mother, has been a food writer for some 50 years.
1080 Recipes was originally published in 1972 and the first English Edition (US and UK) only this year in 2007.
The book offers over a thousand ideas as the title suggests.

Jose Manuel Pizarro explains why 1080 Recipes is so important to him in Cooking at home and away (on Word of Mouth).

As he states, when you move to another country as he did 5 years ago when coming to London to cook at Tapas Brindisa, you might have to tweak the recipes depending on what ingredients you can and cannot find. With years passing by, you have fond memories of how you discovered various food staples even if at the time it might not have been love at first sight.

I can relate to that. I have a weathered paperback version of French home cooking recipes with me ever since I moved to the US.

As for adapting recipes, when I make a Croque Monsieur, the French ham comes from Canada, the cheese is sometimes provolone or asiago.

Getting back to 1080 Recipes, you can Download A Few Recipes such as Grilled Melon with Sesame and Honey or Galician Stew and get a taste of it.

I guess I will have to get my hands on a copy.

Related stories: The Green Cook...Save Recipes Online with 'Taste Book' and A 'Swede' on my Plate...Tis' the season for...

Chocolate Week...Beyond New York...London and Paris

New York is The Big Apple. Nevertheless Chocolate Week which is 10 days away here already took place in London from October 15 to 21 with maybe 100 Different Events to choose from.

Worth mentioning was On the olive trail - olive oil, balsamic and chocolate ganache presented by  Seventypercent who also shared Cocoa Notes on their Event Blog.

In Piccadilly Gaucho Restaurant offered a tasting of Malamado (a fortified Argentinian wine that they compare to Port) and homemade chocolates.

Keith Hurdman of Melt Chocolate was at Petersham Nurseries to talk about his collaboration with Chefs on new creations.

Going back further in time, Chocolate Week Paris took place in May and pastry chef David Lebovitz shares What was on his plate during that week.

Related: Swimming in Chocolate, Chocolate Week, New York and Be Ready to Ooze during New York's First Ever Chocolate Week

From Brussels with Love...All about Belgian Beers...175 of them and counting

Call it a niche, great focus or whatever else you want, Andreea shares her passion and knowledge and hard work tasting 175 brews so far on the aptly named Belgian Beer from Brussels with love.

No 175 is named Procureur (prosecutor in English).

She also offers a recipe for Sabayon with Premium Kriek Beer which I thought I should share with you:

3 egg yolks
3 half egg shell
(?) sugar
3 half egg shell (?)
Premium Kriek
vanilla ice cream
red berries
Beat the egg yolks, sugar and Kriek together.
Continue beating the egg mixture over low heat, till you get a smooth texture.
Avoid cooking it over high heat as the eggs will scramble.
Fill a glass with vanilla ice cream, fruits and then pour the sabayon over.
Add more fruit on top.

She is a Fan not a Critic in case you wonder.

Her site was listed by the Thirsty on Friday crew at Coudal who also mention All Belgian Beers a new bible on you know what by Madame Hilde Deweer.

The book clocks in at 1568 pages with some 750 illustrations including this chemist like take on Kwak beer which I had to use for this post.

in case you are musically inclined and with eclectic taste you might want to check From Brussels with Love if you can put your hands on it.

Related: Trappist Monks, Beer, Belgium and  Just Baking, from Belgium to Illinois

A 'Swede' on my Plate...Tis' the season for...

Even though here in the New York area, October has been almost summery, I am trying to get ready for chillier days and nights.
I could start to see a change in what produce was offered at the Farmer's Market in the past couple of weeks.

The BBC Food Section suggests that we feel upbeat about the approaching November as "with the arrival of cranberries and chestnuts, you'll rub your hands with glee not cold".

Their November Seasonal Picks also list Goose and Parsnips.

I did learn one thing from their piece about parsnips, it is that "they actually improve with a frost as the effect of freezing the living root converts some of the starch into sugar".

Where does the Swede fits in you might ask?

Well they list it in additional choices of fare. I was puzzled as to what Swede was and after looking it up learned that it is the common word used for Rutabaga in many parts of the British world.

In the Fruit department, Quince is enjoying a new popularity.

My grandmother used to make preserves with these Coings along many other choices.

Virginie Pean of Absolutely Green (in French with English version of recipe) has an interesting take on them with a Mashed Quince & Potatoes with Ginger, not sure I would like it but worth a try.

Carolyn of 18th Century Cuisine mentions Pate de Coings, one of my favorite sweet treats.

There is even a San Francisco restaurant named Quince. Has anyone been there? The photo of their dining room provides the perfect illustration for this piece.

To complete this Fall flavors roundup, The Fruits of Fall on Chow is worth reading.

Related: Food Memories, 'A Taste of my Life', Nigel Slater

Kiku is already taken...An Animal for your Family Emblem..Kamon for Japanese

If you were to choose an image to represent your family and turn it into an emblem, what would you choose, plant, abstract symbol, creature?

Japan is said to count some 20.000 of these family crests and our friends at PingMag explore those graced with animals in Joyous Kamon: Japanese Animal Crests.

According to Family Crest here is what KA-MON stands for: KA means "family with own genealogical trees" and MON means "crest" or "emblem".

Over time, what were originally pretty formal emblems become more abstract or symbolic tells us Ryoko (PingMag).

One could display their family 'coat of arms' on lampshades for example.

Ryoko outlines the very interesting reasons why she chose the animal designs over the others:
"Why an animal as design in the first place? They have a propitious meaning: For example, a crane and a turtle represent long life since we say cranes live for a thousand years and turtles live for ten thousand years. Similarly, a shrimp is considered a symbol of long life as its long barb and bent over figure look like an aged person. Moreover, a clam is used for the crest design because of the fact that when it’s a bivalve, its both sides stick together, which makes it resemble one harmonious married couple… Next time you have shrimp or clams for dinner, think of that!"

Back in 2005, Watashi to Tokyo wrote about the same topic and reminded us that Kiku is the Japanese Emperor emblem.

The New York Botanical Garden just opened Kiku: The Art of the Japanese Chrysanthemum, the show runs until November 18.

Of all the illustrations she offers, I picked the (moody?) Crab Kamon (from the Crest Japan collection) to illustrate this Tokyo Thursday #10...already!

Last Tokyo Thursday: Camembert & Sushi...No Cheesy Music...Paris-Tokyo

On the Map this Morning...Camposampiero, Novi Iskur, Walsden, IJsselstein...Rings a bell?

Ever since I began to look at where my readers come from, I have seen names of cities I did not know of.
To illustrate my point, this morning Camposanpiero (near Padua, Italy) topped the list followed by Novi Iskur (or Novi Iskar, Bulgaria).
At number 4, I found Walsden(West Yorkshire, England) and number 6 belonged to IJsselstein (near Utrecht, Holland).

Villanova di Camposampiero is the birthplace of GT Race Car Driver Fabrizio Golin and St Anthony of Padua moved there at the end of his life way back in the 13th century.

Novi Iskar is considered a suburb of Sofia.

Besides information on its Rail Service, I found Nostalgic Photos and Memories of Walsden via Francis Frith Books and learned that the town sits by the Rochdale Canal.

As for IJsselstein, the city origins date back to the 14th century, I could not find much more about it except that it offers quite a few places where you can enjoy a morning or afternoon run.

For those of us in the US who Don't know much about geography, I hope this helped.

A photo of Camposampiero's city hall graces this piece.

Related: Around the World in a few clicks with CityDailyPhoto

Swimming in Chocolate...Chocolate Week, New York (November 4 to 11)

In less than 2 weeks, Chocolate Lovers of the world will be swimming in chocolate for a week of Heavenly Delights with New York's first ever Chocolate Week ( November 4th to 11).

Let me give you my pick of events worth checking.

If you want a quiet moment visit Alice's Tea Cup for a Tea and Chocolate Pairing on Wednesday, November 7, 2007 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm.
Cost is $35 per person and you will be guided and entertained by Clay Gordon, author of Discover Chocolate.

The Michel Cluizel Store at ABC Carpet and Home will offer an evening 'sommelier guided chocolate tasting'  from November 4th to  8. Sorry but I do not have any details on hours and prices yet.

Restaurant P*Ong on West 10th Street came up with a Chocolate accented Menu:

• Duck braised in Pinot Noir and chocolate with Kabocha squash tapioca
• Foie gras pastrami, ginger, concord grape, and cocoa caramel
• Smoked trout caviar, white chocolate-miso parfait, lemon & chive biscuit
• Chocolate marquis with shaved melons, Aleppo pepper, hazelnuts, and honey

I will surely get a few more chocolate bites to share with you next week.
I am definitely going to show up for a couple events and give you my first impressions.

Chocolate Week concludes over the week-end with the Chocolate Show  celebrating its 10th Anniversary in New York.

Related:  On last year's Chocolate Show: Chocolate and Wine, Debunking the Myths

The Green Cook...Save Recipes Online with 'Taste Book'...Green Day #2

Being Green, Earth and Energy Friendly can often be achieved by taking small steps.

Rather than fire up your printer and run through tons of paper, why not create your own cook book online by saving your very own creations and those of others too.

The newly launched Taste Book offers a way to do it.

Get past the somehow bland introduction videos.

Taste Book partnered with Epicurious and you have access to thousands of recipes from Bon Appetit and Gourmet Magazine to start what they call your collections.

Collections could be best described as a way to organize your recipes around themes such as holidays, seasons, type of foods (grilled meats, vegetarian, Asian influenced or anything else that might inspire you) and I could go on and on.

As for your own creations or recipes from friends, you will have to type the all thing in once.

Think at least that you won't be chasing your notes around the house the next time that special dish is on your mind or you want to share it with friends (via e-mail of course).

It could also be a real time saver when you draft a Menu for the Week and its companion, the dreaded Shopping List.

You could pull everything you need for these scrumptious meals in a few clicks of the mouse.

Taste Book offers a deal to have your own 100 recipe Cookbook printed (for a fee) but what's the point if you want to be a Green Cook.

That will be all for Tuesday is Green Day #2

Previous installment: Tuesday is 'Green Day': Walk to Fresh Beats with 'Green Thing'

London Calling, Donors Choose and my Fundraising Project for an African Classroom

Through my contacts with Will of Journeys by Design I learned of the existence of the Trusts for African Schools based in Richmond, Surrey (UK).

I liked the fact that they stand for No expenses, No overheads, No administration fees and offer very practical examples of costs for various needs.
For example a daily hot meal for a child for a year can be supplied for $100.
This is what one calls breaking things into little pieces.

After reading the Trusts for African Schools brochure, I learned of the Bloggers Challenge offered by Donors Choose which allows sites big and small to raise funds for education.

I chose to start with an African School Project of 30 Desks and Chairs.

Cost is $700.

Let us see how long it takes us to get there.

Related stories: Oh! No, September 15 and already a PTA Fundraiser

Speakeasy in Paris...The Hidden Kitchen...Find your way there!

Prior to my visit to The Whisk and Ladle in Williamsburg (New York), I never stepped into a home that sometimes became a restaurant even though that day I was there only for a CoWorking session.
It reminded me of what a Speakeasy might have been back in the days of prohibition.

I knew that such establishments existed in Italy and Asia.

It just happens that The Whisk and Ladle has a cousin in Paris, The Hidden Kitchen.

I might be late to the dance as I just read about them thanks to Stealthy dining: James Bond haute cuisine by Katrin Bennhold on Globespotters.

No loft here, this culinary adventure takes place in a sixth floor apartment and is run by two American graduates. Are they playing cat and mouse avec la police?

Same principles apply than those used by our friends in New York.

Request a seat by e-mail. They set the stage and the menu. If the food they serve tastes as good as the few shots they offer on their website (as the 'ravioli at work' illustrates here), it must be succulent.

You can bring your own wine. Only a limited number of Happy Few get selected.

The suggested contribution to culinary cause is 60 Euros per person.

They are not really underground as besides Globespotters and yours truly, our friend Clotilde of Chocolate and Zucchini showcased them.

Meg Zimbeck offered a detailed review of the Hidden Kitchen in words and pictures via Gridskipper in August.

A vos fourchettes!

Related Stories: Small is the New Big for 'Restaurants' like 'The Whisk and Ladle'

Another American Culinary Outpost in the City of Light: An American Chef in Paris, Chef Daniel Rose got Spring

Giving Customers the Runaround, Is it your company practice? Monday Work Ethicette

Are you been given the runaround over billing issues or is your company asking you to do it?

Have you ever become so frustrated with Customer Service issues in your dealings with a company that you started seriously contemplating charging them for the lost time these bad practices caused.

A few months back, I started noticing a $9.99 charge ($10.69) for downloads (that I did not make) on my cell phone bill.
Poring over older bills from then Cingular Wireless, I realized that this charge had been added to my bill for many months.

I called the now ATT Wireless Customer Service in late July, early August.
The otherwise friendly and helpful customer service rep told me that they would put a stop on these charges and credit me for 3 months of charges.
I was told that they could not give me credit for charges made during the Cingular Wireless era.

The next invoice came and the charge was there again.
Another call and I was told that this was one of the 3 that had been credited to me and given confirmation that subsequent charges would be blocked.
I then received my most recent invoice and what was there but the same charge.

Besides calling ATT Wireless I also had contacted as recommended Mqube now part of Verisign to request a stop to this as they were blamed for the problem.
I did so both by e-mail and voice-mail.

I wonder if ATT Wireless is doing it on purpose.

I know that charges and fees are a way to fatten the bottom line.

Is it the right way to do business?

Should I have to spend one to two hours to have a simple billing issue resolved?

A project of Consumers Union named Hear Us Now helps inform consumers of what is going wrong in the communications sphere.

Their companion blog Now Hear This sheds the light on bad and worse practices in that area.

Are you working for a company that gives customers the runaround or out of negligence and bad practice does not fix these type of issues?

That's it for Monday Work Etiquette #9

Maybe I should have subtitled it Monday Work Ethics.

Now it is time for another call to ATT Wireless.

Should I also call the Federal Communications Commission?

Previously in this Serie: Meeting from Hell, What went Bad, Agenda, Time or Location?

Related: 5 Ways to tick off customers

Would love a few bites of this Cool Vietnamese Salad at 'Bun' Grand Opening Bash in Soho (Oct 22)?

Not sure what Bun stood for in the Vietnamese food world, I tried to find out and the consensus seems to be that Bun is an essential ingredient in a Cool Vietnamese Noodle Salad for Warm Days as described in a very detailed recipe by Mai Pham (via Fine Cooking).

Bun is a vermicelli like rice noodle.

I will see if they appear on the tasting menu tomorrow at BUN Restaurant in Soho, New  York when I pop in for the opening party.

By the way, can anyone tell me what the correct pronunciation is for BUN.

We'll see if I can approximate it.

Merci beaucoup!

Related: Tasting 'Bun' on Monday...Vietnamese Food with a Zappa/ Missing Persons connection   

Hot Summer Nights in October: Scouted 'Campfire Cuisine'

Weirdly enough in my corner of the Northeastern US, it was warm enough to sport summer clothing and thinking of going for a picnic or even to the shore (the beach in New Jersey parlance) today.

Last Wednesday, it was steamy hot in New York City and it had nothing to do with Bruce the Boss playing The Garden.

So for these Hot Summer Nights and Days of October, I scouted Campfire Cuisine (Quirkbooks), a cookbook for your outdoors adventures.

Recipes include Bourbon-glazed salmon and Cinnamon baked bananas.

The book was penned by Robin Donovan, a San Francisco writer who shares some of her camping, food and cooking secrets on Gourmets Gone Wild.

Related stories: Pitch a Tent...Camping outside the Big Cities
and Discover the Freedom to Sleep Around