Serge the Concierge

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

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

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

Here is what's it's all about:

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

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


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


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

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

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

Another reason to visit DC this summer...

London cheaper than Caracas according to The Guardian

I wrote recently about various ways to find Freebies in London.

The Guardian goes one step further in Bargain London by Benji Lanyado and claims that London is cheaper than Caracas.

I bet Hugo C. will protest.

Married with children, they suggest London's City Farms such as Hackney City Farm (sheep, pigs, chickens, ducks, rabbits, calves and bees).

Need competitively priced accomodations, he mentions the youth hostel YHA London St Pancras (pictured above, from their site) with prices from: Adult: £21.95 Under 18: £16.50 (british pound is the currency quoted).

The place had a recent thorough makeover.

What Size and Shape is your Cucumber? European Union Lets Love Rule

Should Greek cucumbers be identical twins to Irish ones or strawberries from Brittany be the same as those from Catalonia?

The European Union decided to take the corset off its regulations as to what shape of form 36 categories of fruits and vegetables should be size and look wize.

Here's what changed on July 1, 2009 according to Knobbles and curves are back for fruit and veg by Geoff Meade (Independent, June 30):

"26 items (restrictions on shape and size repealed without qualification) - apricots, artichokes, asparagus, aubergines, avocados, beans, Brussels sprouts, carrots, cauliflower, cherries, courgettes, cucumbers, cultivated mushrooms, garlic, hazelnuts in shell, headed cabbage, leeks, melons, onions, peas, plums, ribbed celery, spinach, walnuts in shell, water melons, and witloof/chicory.

10 items (restrictions lifted subject to labelling to distinguish them from "class 1" produce) - apples, citrus fruit, kiwi fruit, lettuces, peaches/nectarines, pears, strawberries, sweet peppers, table grapes and tomatoes."

God knows what happened to the unevenly shaped produce before the Brussels crowd as voiced by agriculture commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel (pictured above) got wisdom.

What a waste as Ian Dury would have sung?

Happy Canada Day to Our Friends Up North, Should I Visit Toronto this Summer?

It's July 1st and Canada Day festivities are either happening or ready to roll across the land up North.

While driving up the New York Thruway a few weeks ago, the distance to Toronto showed up on a sign which prompted the question of whether a summer visit to Toronto should be considered.

The program for Canada Day in Toronto seems top heavy with country and bluegrass which I am not sure fits my present mood.

On the other hand, the city Summerlicious 2009 which kicks off on July 3rd and runs until July 19 sounds appetizing:

Each restaurant will offer a special 3-course prix fixe menu where patrons can sample the establishment’s delicious fare. The prix fixe menus are available at lunch and dinner at the following price points (some restrictions may apply):

$15, $20 or $30 lunch menus*

$25, $35 or $45 dinner menus*

Amongst the Top 25 Menu Picks for the Event is Mildred’s Temple Kitchen with its lean and clean decor (see below).

As for museums, cheese shops and patisseries, shops and wine stores I should check if make it to Toronto, I should trust your advice on that as I start with a blank slate.

Happy Canada Day!

Grand Fooding D' Ete 2009, Last Stop Toulouse on Sunday, June 28

If not for a last minute look, I would have failed mentioning it, the Grand Fooding D'Ete 2009 (Summer 2009) makes its last stop in Toulouse on Sunday, June 28.

Where: Les Abattoirs

What Time: 6pm to 10pm

Price: 10 Euros (goes to Action against Hunger)

Here's what's on the menu (in French):

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APÉRITIF
Cocktail « ricardito »
+ PAR MAURO COLAGRECO Le Mirazur, Menton

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UN PEU DE FROMAGE
Abricot au fondant de brebis
+ Par François Bourgon
Fromagerie Xavier, Toulouse

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MENU BARBECUNOMIQUE
La salade de riz frit à l'indonésienne, magret de canard laqué aux arachides et oignons croustillants
+ Par Michel Sarran
Restaurant Michel Sarran, Toulouse

Eau de poivron, émulsion de yaourt de brebis, légumes et herbes de la ferme Quyvie, poitrine de veau snackée
+ Par Patrice Gelbart
Aux Berges du Cérou, Salles

Marinade de poulpe au pimentón de
la Vera et vierge de vraie tomate
+ Par Christophe Comes
La Galinette, Perpignan

Langoustine fumée au thym citron, mousse de mangue et fruit de la passion, fine gelée au gingembre
et à l'orange sanguine
+ Par Frank ReNiMel
En marge, Toulouse

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DESSERTS « regarde-toi dans la glace »
Parfums : Justaholique, Egotique
ou Angélique
+ PAR jULIE ROTHHAHN
Avec les crèmes glacées HÄAGEN-DAZS®

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S.PELLEGRINO PRÉSENTE
Le Clandestino
+ PAR YANNICK DELPECH
L'Amphitryon, Colomiers

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VINS DU SUD-OUEST

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ATELIER ŒNONAUTES®
+ par Jérôme Navarre Chez Navarre, Toulouse

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Worth every penny if you are in the area.

Psst! The Grand Fooding is coming to New York on September 26 and 27, 2009.

Bonfires, Let me add Hogueras-Fogueres de San Juan in Spain to the list, June 23?

Right after I wrote about Fete de la Saint Jean and its bonfires, I noticed that a friend of one of my sons who now lives in Spain was planning on attending a San Juan Fiesta in Valencia and bonfires were part of the program.

It took place at the beach from Tuesday the 23rd at 5pm to Wednesday the 24th at 2pm.
One long party.

Other cities in Spain such as Alicante  with Fogueres de San Juan according to Spain Info "celebrate this great homage to fire for several days, a relation of the “Fallas” in Valencia, where the main characters are genuine works of impermanent art: the bonfires and the large cardboard and wooden figures which go up in flames on the night of San Juan."

A sign of our impermanent existence?

Just wondering

Related: June 24, Bonfires and Festive Night, La Fete de la St Jean

Battle of the Bridge sees Strong Men of Pisa in Action on Night of June 27

It is not just the French who kick off the summer season with a bunch of festivities, so do Italians.

June is a busy month in Pisa with Giugno Pisano (Pisan June).

Tradition will be on show in the evening of June 27 with the Battle of the Bridge (Gioco del Ponte) on the Ponte di Mezzo.

Here's what's on the program according to TuscanyPass (picture below from their site):

"This year the battle will run by night: at 8 pm the historical pageant, at 9.30 pm the race.

The Battle consists of two distinct moments: the historical pageant along the Arno river (a huge military parade with over 700 participants) and the Battle on the Ponte di Mezzo, during which the two opposing teams give proof of their physical strenght in a strongly competitive atmosphere.

The Mezzogiorno (Midday or South) and Tramontana (North) sides march separately but at the same time anticlockwise along the four streets running along the Arno river close to the Ponte di Mezzo. There is also a third parade composed by the Judges, that is 81 more partecipants.

Victory goes to the team that conquers the Bridge by pushing a cart and all the opponents to the opposite end of the sliding rail."

Giugno Pisano also offers culinary delights with Degustando Pisa which runs until June 30.

Restaurants such as Osteria dei Cavalieri (The Knights Tavern, pictured below) offer Local Cuisine with Prix Fixe Lunch and Dinner.

The Degustando Pisa site shares that "Tuscan cuisine is very simple and generally use local products, avoiding spices and expensive or refined products. That's why you could find oil instead of lard, not so much salt, and plenty of soups made by bread and vegetables."

Here are some of the most popular dishes according to them:

Starter:
Bruschetta, Crostini, Tuscan Panzanella, Cecina

First Course:
Bread Soup, Green Tagliatelle with Pecorino Cheese, Pappa col pomodoro, Pisan style rice with truffle

Main course:
"Tagliata" Sliced Steak, Pisan style wild boar, Tuscan style duck, Marinated wild boar, Pisan style mullets, "Mucco pisano" steak

Side dishes:
Tuscan Tomatoey Beans, Kale, Fricassee Mushrooms

Dessert:
Cantuccini biscuits, Bischeri cake

Makes me want to hop on the next plane to Pisa.

Thanks to Gloria of At Home in Tuscany for putting this festive month on my radar.

Related: Telescope and Paintbrush, Science and Art in Age of Galileo, Palazzo Blu, Pisa

My Little Paris, A Local Guide that Says it Softly

As I was looking for updates on Merci, a Parisian shop, I stumbled upon My Little Paris.

No brash, flashy statements here, what makes this guide to shopping, foodie things, culture and other things local stand out is that they say it softly.

Credit this soft touch in no small part to the charming illustrations of Kanako like her tip of the hat to the song by Jacques Dutronc 'Paris s'eveille' (below) for the Culture pages.

Want to leave categories behind, check the Unusual section whose latest suggestion is Lunch at the Market (June 4) featuring Le Marché des Enfants Rouges,39 rue de Bretagne, in 3rd Arrondissement, Metro Arts-et-Métiers.

I did notice that it is even open on Sunday from 8:30 am to 2pm.

Cecile Debise in Le Marche des Enfants Rouges (L'internaute, in French) notes that people visit this small indoor market (only 20 merchants) as much to have lunch as to do their food shopping.

She writes that this is the oldest market in Paris and that its name has its origins to the previous occupants of the site, an orphanage founded in the 16th century where abandonned children were dressed in red.

This market counts a wine shop as you can see in the slides accompanying her piece.

On a closing note, want to brush up on your French, try the French Version of My Little Paris which seems to be updated more often.

There in P'tits Luxes (June 23), if you are looking for something more than the usual restaurant experience, they suggest Art-Home a table d'hote with a view for 12 on the rooftop of the Palais de Tokyo.

Actually an unusual eaterie, Art-Home (or 'arome' in French) is a collaborative project between Electrolux and the Palais de Tokyo...

An exciting tour around Paris

I hope you enjoyed.

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

DJ's and Tartes Flammees, Fete de la Musique in Kaysersberg, June 21

Never heard of Flammes and Co, a restaurant and happening place in Kaysersberg, Eastern France until today.

For Fete de la Musique 2009 (Sunday, June 21) they will offer Tartes Flammees and DJ's, should be a fun night.

As for Tarte Flammee (not Flambee), Schnaeckele-Slow Food Alsace (in French only) traces its origins to the Kochersberg where it was the food staple for farmers on busy days in the fields.

Here's what a Flammee looks like (picture from Schnaeckele's story).

Found out about the event thanks to Domaine Albert Mann (Alsatian wines)

Have fun!

Snap a Seat for June 18 Dinner at the Wild Kitchen, A Scavengers Club, San Francisco

In San Francisco and still trying to decide what to do for dinner on June 18, seems like you could get a last minute seat at the table of the Wild Kitchen, A Scavengers Club as reservations are still  available on Brown Paper Tickets.

Sarah Rich shares her dinner experience with Wild Kitchen in Secret Suppers: Report from the West Coast (on Civil Eats, June 2).

I gathered from it that this speakeasy eaterie is an offshoot of ForageSF.

Related: Food Gone Wild, Hunters or rather Gatherers like Forage San Francisco