Serge the Concierge

Drinking Outside the Box takes the Snob out of the Wine

At a recent wine tasting I was more than a bit turned off by a fellow attendee who did not seem to know a technical detail she would not like to mention.

Have we forgotten that good food and good wine is supposed to be fun, pleasurable not a doctoral pursuit?

Simon Woods of Drinking Outside the Box ('Wine for people who have a life) understands that and takes the snob out of the wine.

He also has the good taste to reference 'New Order' (one of my favorite bands) in his latest ditty Everything's gone green - the whites (and reds) of Galicia (July 16).

Makes me wonder why I have not mentioned Rías Baixas (old map above from region's site) and the lovely whites from the area, Albariños, not to forget the Celtic connection.

I have to correct that and share my tasting notes on Adega Eidos for example.

Cheers Simon!

15 Days Motorcycle Wine Tour de France, Naps Included?

My friends at Kermit Lynch have been posting their Tour de France Wine of the Day when the inspiration comes.

On July 15, they picked a 2008 Cheverny Rosé, Domaine du Salvard by Delaille from the Loire Valley (pictured below) for Stage 11.



Out of curiousity, I went to check if anyone else was matching wines with the Tour de France stages.

Nothing came up, instead I unearthed a 15 Days Motorcycle Wine Tour de France (by AdMo-Tours) taking place from September 2 to September 16.

Intriguing

Are naps included?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How do you handle it?

July 14, It's Bastille Day, Velo Solex, DS and 2CV cruised New York Streets (July 12)

July 14, it's Bastille Day.

2 days ago, the weather was perfect for the annual Solex and Citroen ride around New York (video, part 7 below).

On Sunday, July 12, a flock of VeloSolex, classic Citroen DS and 2CV cruised the streets of the Big Apple.

Even Catherine Deneuve rode a Solex as the 1973 picture below (courtesy of Velosolex America) shows (it was part of my July 2008, Besides Petanque Bastille Day story).

More than nostalgia, good clean fun!

118 Minutes to Book Rooms from $18 to $118 at Copley Square, Boston, July 14 Only

No this is not a Bastille Day Special.

It is not everyday that someone gives you a present on their birthday.

In this case, this is not a person but an hotel Copley Square in Boston turning 118 years young.

Here's the details (below) as featured on their website:

So Joyeux Anniversaire, Happy Birthday Copley Square!

Found out about this great deal thanks to Wendy Perrin of The Perrin Post (via Twitter)

Will Top Rated Wines Move Me at 'Sud de France' Tasting, New York, July 13?

Well even if some of the wines getting the top ratings from US wine critics at the Sud de France Tasting on July 13 fail to move me on the eve of Bastille Day, no heads will roll under the guillotine.

The master of ceremony will be wine critic slash aspiring novelist Jamal Rayyis (pictured below) responsible for five editions (or is it 6) of Food & Wine Magazine's Wine Guide.



In any case, I will be sipping and spitting for you from 2 pm to 6 pm at the Maison de la Région Languedoc-Roussillon in New York ans surely discover new favorites of my own.

Douce France, Joli Pays de Mon Enfance!

No Hunger, Ask Al Gore to Make this Film that does not Exist Yet, See the Trailer

Rather than send him a script, Action Against Hunger put together a trailer for No Hunger , a film they would like Al Gore to be involved with since he was so successful getting the message across with An Inconvenient Truth.

64, 422 people have already signed the petition.

Will you join them?

Related: CauseWired in Action: Daniella's Apartment Fund by David Armano

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

It barely started an hour ago.

Check Brooklyn Boule for details on the Petanque tournament.

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

 

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

Show me the Pastis!

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

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

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

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

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

Send them in...

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

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

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

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

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

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

A little appreciation and ego boost soothes the soul.

Merci beaucoup

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

(*just kidding)