Serge the Concierge

Brunello, Chianti Classico, Nobile and Prosecco Superiore 2012 U.S Tour Opens February 7 in NY

I will not be in Italy for Preview of Vino Nobile beginning on February, 18 at the Fortress of Montepulciano. 

I will make up for it in a small way by attending the Italian Wine Masters tasting in New York on February 7 which opens their 2012 U.S Tour.

20 wineries who belong to Consorzio del Vino Nobile di Montepulciano will be amongst the 100 or so producers at the event.

The other 3 members of this quartet of top Italian wine producing regions present are Brunello, Chianti Classico and Prosecco Superiore (for the bubbly).

One of the producers I will meet is Terre di Melazzano which besides making Chianti Classico wines invites visitors to stay for Farmhouse Vacation.

If you are interested in wine technical poetry check Winemaking Glossary shared by Consorzio.

The music of words like 'Acescenza' which stands for Volatility (When a wine assumes an altered, vinegary, acidic odour and flavour to excessive acetic acid) don't make you think of anything offensive.

(* Photo above from Terre di Melazzano website)

Digestive Walk in Campo Grande after Eating Lechazo, Valladolid 10 Do's and Don'ts

After taking a vacation, the 10 do's and don'ts return thanks to Spanish food blogger SandeeA who offers her 10 Do's and Don'ts on Valladolid.

Before her 10 's and Don'ts, here's a quick introduction to the world of SandeeA (by Sandra):

"Sandra Mangas Hernandez (SandeeA), 36-year-old mom and food blogger based in Spain, I am nothing if not an inventive cook. I was once a disaster in the kitchen, but started improving my skills after my sons were born. In 2008, I started my food blog La Receta de la Felicidad (translated to The Recipe for Happiness) where I prepare recipes for the kid we all have inside."

Do's First:

DO come to Valladolid during Easter to have the chance to see one of our Holy Week processions, declared of international touristic interest. Differently to other places in Spain, the main sign of identity of Holy Week in Valladolid is silence, and it is a cultural and religious experience you should not miss. My favorite is the Sermón de las Siete Palabras (Sermon of Seven Words) which is held, after being announced in verse at different points around the city by a group of fraternity members on horseback.

DO have a walk in Valladolid central park, the Campo Grande, which is a lovely place to go for a walk in all seasons. There is a lake full of ducks, and if you are lucky you might be able to see a red squirrel running through the trees. After a nice walk, make a stop to recover one’s strength at the terrace bar, and there it is typical to have a beer and some calamares fritos (fried calamari)

DO try one our Ribera del Duero wines. The Spanish wine region of Ribera del Duero is one of the most prestigious wine producing areas in the world. Mythical wines made here incluye Vega Sicilia, Pingus, Pesquera, Emilio Moro, Carmelo Rodero, Pago de Carrovejas, just to name a few. You can visit some of these wineries and some you´ll have the opportunity to taste many of these wines and see where they are made.

DO have some tapas! Although in Valladolid you have to pay for them (There are many cities in Spain where the tapas are for free with your drink), they are worth of it. I suggest you having a Roquefort-pork loin sandwich at La Tasquita II, and anything at the Jero: you can just point to the tapas you want and they heat them up for you. They have really creative and yummy tapas. Also if you are in Valladolid in November, you will be lucky to see the International Tapas Competition, the most important tapas´event worldwide. During this week many tapas bars of the city offer the participants´ tapas to the regular customers.

DO have some “lechazo”. In Valladolid, the suckling lamb is famous, and there are restaurants where you go exclusively to eat lamb and the waiters ask you just for the drinks.

Now don’ts:

DO not rent a car. Train station is near the center of Valladolid, you can use public transport, have a nice walk, or hire a bike, and don’t miss the wonderful buildings such as the Academia de Caballeria (Cavalry Academy)

DO not miss one of the most interesting things you can do in Valladolid is attending the Seminci
(Semana Internacional de Cine), the International Film Festival.

DO not believe Valladolid has a true beach when you hear talking about “Las Moreras” beach. It is just an artificial beach near the river Pisuerga, where people try to get a good tan in summer, have a bath in the river, and where you may take a boat which offers a 12-kilometer excursion through the river.

DO not forget to visit San Pablo, and la Antigua churches, which are my favorites… I even wanted to get married in La Antigua, but it was too small.

DO not visit Belaria bakery unless you are ready to gain weight… everything they have is just delicious, my favourites are: tarta aniversario and pastel ruso.

Previously: Let Time Go By, Sunset at Saigon Saigon Bar, Saigon 10 Do's and Don'ts by Linh Le

In Vienna, Urbanauts turns Empty Stores like Die Schneiderin into Hotel Rooms

In Vienna (Austria), Urbanauts turns empty stores into hotel rooms.

"Viennese architects Kohlmayr Lutter Knapp have come up with a new use for empty retail spaces. The disused stores, mostly around 250 square feet in size, are being converted to hotel rooms. Guests can decide how much of the view outwards - and inwards - to reveal, using a clever blind system. As part of the emphasis on locality, artists from the immediate environs are invited to design the rooms. The Urbanaut room rate includes, among other extras, use of two bicycles for duration of your stay. The first of these "Vienna Street Lofts" was opened in 2011, near the fashionable Freihausviertel in Vienna's fourth district. Further locations will open for bookings in 2012."

One of them is DIE SCHNEIDERIN | STREET LOFT THE35 (pictured above).

"DIE SCHNEIDERIN (eng. Tailoress) is a former tailor shop. Refurbished as a loft its king size bed and customised architecture assure an absolute quiet and comfortable sleep. Energy breakfast or hammam treat around the corner. Just between Karlsplatz, Naschmarkt and Belvedere castle. 7 walking minutes to the 1st district, 3min to the metro and with your free bikes within a second in the heart of Vienna.

SIZE: 25 sq.m.
FREE FOR YOU: multimedia, TV, music, internet, minibar, coffeebar, mini grocery package, rain shower, organic body care products, safe, 2 bikes, final cleaning
UPGRADE: vespa, work out, customised jeans, daily cleaning

PRICE: € 120 per night per loft
Opening special! Book two nights and get the third for free! Valid until Feb. 2012 It´s the easiest check in! Click BOOK NOW - get your private code – type it in at our key safe – get your key and be independent!"

I hope guests are not turned into window displays, unless they request it.

(* Photo Credit: Julian Mullan — with Sabine Kuchelbacher from Urbanauts Facebook Page)

Chewing and Spitting Out Rice Was Key in Making Kuchikami Sake

Nosing applies to whisky and tequila tasting it works as well for Sake according to Nosing around Nada, the nation's sake-brewing mecca (Japan Times, January 8) by Alon Adika.

The author starts by mentioning that "chewing and spitting out rice, unseemly as it sounds, is a key step in making kuchikami (literally, "mouth-chew") sake, an early form of the now world-famous drink."

The 'chewing and spitting' part reminded me of being told that in my native Brittany, there used to be signs in local bars advising customers not to spit or speak Breton.

Alon Adika notes that Nada has been known as a Sake production area since 17th century.

Spitting is not involved anymore, one of the main ingredients is Miyamizu water.

Nosing around for Tokyo Thursdays # 218

Previously: Nengajo Postcards Contest from Embassy of Japan in Washington D.C, Year of Dragon Flavors

(* Illustration is Kiku-Masamune Sake Brewery Museum from pages of Official Kobe Tourism Site, Feel Kobe)

G'Day USA: Merino Wool, Mudfest, Australia in 80 Sips, Australia Week, January 11-29

The variety of topics featured during G'Day USA- Australia Week (January 11-29) is quite large.

Closest stop for me is New York (most events on January 19).  Topics will run the gamut from Australia's contribution to Green Building to putting wool on our backs by being the largest world producer of Merino wool.

This last part will be highlighted in The Australian Five (January 23 to 25, 2012)

"The Woolmark Company and Australians In New York Fashion Foundation are pleased to bring the best of Australian Merino wool and Australian Fashion will blend with THE AUSTRALIAN FIVE – five designers working innovatively with the highest quality Merino wool will be on show in NYC."

Food and wine of course are part of the mix.

Highlight is dinner at Craft co-hosted by Tom Colichio and Australian chef Neil Perry who created meal with best meat, seafood and wines from Australia.

Most of the program is for trade and media.

General public can attend Around Australia in 80 Sips organized by Bottlenotes.

Other Around Australia in 80 Sips events will take place at stops in Chicago (January 26) and Los Angeles (January 12)

Warm up session was in Dallas (January 10). Australia Week 2012 really opens in San Francisco on January 11 followed by by Los Angeles where I would pick 'Nature and Adventure Forum' and 'Digital Down Under'.

Check the Full Calendar as programs on occasion take place only in some cities.

Amongst what organizers call Satellite Events are Australia Day Dinner in Boston (January 24) and Mudfest Film Festival featuring Short Film Program at Egyptian Theater on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles (January 17).

The tour concludes with BBQ, Cricket and Netball in Houston on January 29.

Nosing Suggested at Spirit of Stirling Whisky Festival, Scotland, May 12

After It's All in the Nose, Whisky Tasting Advice by Charles MacLean from Malt Whisky, I follow the whisky trail with a quick mention of Spirit of Stirling Whisky Festival in Scotland on May 12, 2012.

I counted 17 producers on exhibitors list from ancnoc to Tullibardine via Isle of Jura.

The Tomatin Distillery located in the Monadhliath Mountains just south of Inverness also piqued my interest.

Event takes place at imposing Albert Hall (pictured above).

This is inaugural edition of Spirit of Stirling Whisky Festival.

Days of Bordeaux, Wine and Roses at 1st Saint-Emilion Jazz Festival, July 20-22

The first ever Saint-Emilion Jazz Festival invites us to three days of Bordeaux, wine, roses and music too from July 20 to July 22, 2012.

So far the event site is short on details as to who will be on stage.

I hope this first vintage will be a great one.

Add to your 2012 vacation ideas if you are both a wine buff and a jazz fan.

Too bad my plans for a European visit are leaning towards second half of August.

London Sights as Sweet Treat courtesy of Biscuiteers Book of Iced Cookies

I did get the galley for this book by Harriet Hastings, cofounder of UK cookie company Biscuiteers, and creative director Sarah Moore yet it fell off my radar maybe because of its mid-August publication.

The book, Biscuiteers Book of Iced Cookies (Kyle Books, U.S publication, August 2011) lays out all the basics from dough to piping and decorating as well as DIY gift ideas for holidays, baby showers, fashion events.

Armchair travelers can dream of vacations with cities as treats.

I selected their take on London.

London

This is home ground for Biscuiteers. We have cherrypicked our favorite London icons and iced them just for you. Add a few of your own landmarks, too. Buildings are particularly good as you can just ice them onto easy-to-cut squares and rectangles.

Cutters
circle (for Tube sign)
taxi
telephone booth
mailbox
Big Ben
London Bridge
oval (for London Eye)

Recipes
1 quantity Super Chocolatey Cookies dough (see page 34); makes at least 15 cookies
1 quantity Basic Royal Icing (see page 21)

Line icing
bright yellow
white
black
gray
red
teddy brown
donkey brown
gentian blue

Flooding icing
gentian blue
white
red
black
teddy brown

Tube sign
Ice yellow line around rectangular nameplate and outer circle. Ice around inner circle in white. Allow to dry for 5 minutes. * Flood nameplate in blue, inner circle in white, and outer circle in red. Leave to set. * Pipe name in black.

Taxi
Pipe outline of bodywork and windows in black line, leaving space to ice on wheels later. Leave to dry for 5 minutes. * Flood with black. * Add wheels in black line icing. Leave to set. * Fill windows and add a radiator cover with gray line icing. Use line icing to add all other details.

Telephone booth
Pipe all red line details and pipe base outline in black. Allow to dry for 5 minutes. * Flood top of box with red and base with black. Flood light at top with white. (Leave windows uniced.)

Mailbox
Ice top of box in red line and base in black line and lines in between. * When dry flood top with red and
base with black. Allow to dry. * Use red, black, and white line icings to add details.

Big Ben
Outline whole shape in white line and leave to set. * Flood with white runny icing and, when dry, use teddy and donkey brown and gray line icing to add bricks and clock face.

London Bridge
Look carefully at a picture of the bridge before you ice it. Use donkey brown line to add all outlines for stone sections, including line down center of each pillar that divides teddy brown and white flooding icing. Leave a gap for walkway. Leave to dry for about 5 minutes.
Flood base of pillars and left-hand side in teddy brown and right in white.Allow to dry. * Use brown line to add detail to pillars. * Add all blue and white line details that make up remainder of bridge.

London Eye
Use white line icing to pipe frame and wheel. * Add spokes and inner frame in gray line. * Ice tiny capsules in black and gray line icing.

(* Image and Excerpt from Biscuiteers Book of Iced Cookies by Harriet Hastings and Sarah Moore-Kyle Books, U.S publication, August 2011- all rights reserved)

Will Z Hotel in Long Island City-Queens Fill Up with 100 Dollar Night Deal for NYC Hotel Week, Jan 6-15

Visitors to New York (including some of my family members) want to do so many things while they are in town that they often turn down offers to stay in the burbs.

Will they make the trek to Z Hotel, a new boutique hotel in Long Island City, Queens to take advantage of their $100 a night Deal during NY Hotel Week running from January 6-15.

Hotels in Manhattan offering the $100 promo include budget option the Hotel @ Times Square.

Other offers are priced at $200 and $250.

I wish New York Hotel Week had a proper site with full details.

I had to rely on NYC 'Hotel Week' rates as low as $100 a night (Hotel check In, USA Today) by Barbara De Lollis for real details on the promo.

As with any deals, she advises those interested to read the fine print.

January treats in Big Apple for the flexible traveler.

(* Image of Z Hotel lobby from hotel website, by Reuben Negron Photography)

Night Train to Venice from Paris with Thello, Starts at 100 Euros One Way for Travel this Week

Happen to be in Paris and want to spend a couple days in Italy, Thello invites you aboard its night train to Venice.

Train leaves Paris (Gare de Lyon) at 7:34 PM and arrives in Venice (Santa Lucia) next morning at 9:34 AM.

Prices start at 100 Euros for a couchette in 6 passenger compartment is you were to leave on December 14, 2011.

Booking the same trip for January 14, 2012 today, couchettes in 4 passenger compartment are still available for 55 Euros.

Other destinations offered by Thelo from Paris include Milan and Verona with prices starting at 35 Euros (one way, subject to availability) with advance booking.

(* Thello website is in French only)