Interlude

Obituary Cocktail.  Sazerac Bar, Roosevelt Hotel, New Orleans.  One of the greatest bars in the world.  And a fine drink.  The mood is definitely taking a turn for the positive!

Highway Run

Because at certain times, only a road trip to New Orleans will do.

G.W.

Tall. Fearless. Charismatic. Bad tempered. Honorable. With a view to the future. Indispensable.

Happy Birthday, Mr. Washington.

Epic Cookery: Smoked Salmon CHOWDAH!!!

I love chowder, but I have never attempted making it myself.  Until tonight.  To celebrate a visit from my mom I thought I would try making this smoked salmon chowder from the New York Times Magazine [February 17 number]. The only thing I changed was that I added a couple of chopped slices of pre-cooked bacon.  Also, I skipped adding flour to the initial saute of vegetables for fear that I would scorch it.  In place of the flour I dissolved two tablespoons of corn starch in a little cold water and stirred it in.  I worked fine.  The result of this easy recipe was a super-luxurious, silky chowder which got rave reviews. Use of smoked salmon really elevates this chowder above others I have tried. In fact,  I may not make any other sort of chowder in the future.  I may open a chowder truck.  In short, I loved this dish and I think you will too.

The wine I used to make the chowder was a ten dollar bottle of Elki Sauvignon Blanc...

...a Chilean label which was new to me but which was nice and crisp and perfect for not only making the chowder, but for sipping while cooking and drinking along with the finished product.  Add a nice crunchy baguette and you have the perfect winter meal.  Even my French sous-chefs agreed...

Try this fantastic chowder for a date, or for an indulgent solo meal.  You will be glad you did.

Fuzzy Photos From Great Bars

Sylvain. New Orleans. A few weeks ago, before the madness. Cute outdoor courtyard, fantastic food, great little bar. And you haven't been here, because.....

Paris: Friday in Montmarte

I woke up a little late after my tremendous meal at Taillevent on Thursday evening.  But I had to get up to Montmarte at a certain time in order to meet my walking tour guide from Paris By Mouth.  If you love food, and you get a chance to go to Paris, you really should buy a spot on one of the PBM tours. My guide was lovely and she knew all about the architecture and history of the Montmarte area in addition to where all of the best food could be had.

I arrived early and found the church where we were supposed to meet...

The large ceramic plaques on either side of the door are some of the many heartbreaking Parisian memorials to those lost in World War I...

The interior of the church was also very interesting and pretty...

After exploring the church, I waited outside until a young lady asked if I were waiting for a food tour.  She turned out to be our delightful guide.  There were two other people on the tour, both very nice and well traveled young Americans, and the fellow wrote about the tour on his blog and took many really nice photos.  You can read that post here.   We started at a boulangerie where we were taught how to distinguish a good baguette from a substandard one. 

Then a fromagerie for cheese education, a butcher shop for pates and terrines, a chocolate shop for an amazing selection of candies, a cafe for a glass of wine and a breather, and a patisserie for the latest and greatest in dessert food.  Oh, we ate at each stop, did I mention that?  It was all I could do to wobble up the slopes of Montmarte to get a cab back to my hotel...

By the time I did get back home, I was full of great food, new information, new friends, and another great Parisian day.  It didn't even rain while I was on the tour!! A minor miracle for my week abroad.

That evening, I felt recovered enough from the food tour to stroll a block from my hotel to have a light dinner of avocado terrine, steak Rossini, and apple tart with a bottle of modestly priced Cote-Rotie.  A stroll [in the rain] through St. Germain des Pres and a Calvados [or two] at a couple of  famous spots...

 

 

I actually saw people writing in notebooks at Les Deux Magots.  All drinkers at the Old Navy.  A fine end to another fine day. 

From The Epic Cellar: Bogle "Essential Red" and "Phantom"

I am on a roll lately with wonderful, reasonably priced wines.  This "Essential" is a blend of Old Vines Zin, Cabernet, Syrah, and Petite Syrah which seems at first glance to be a "left overs" sort of wine.  Not true.  The Bogle web site describes it as "Rich, Ripe, Luscious, Fruity" and that is exactly what this wine is.  It is surprisingly complex for the price and has a lovely nose, dark ruby color and fine flavor.  TWELVE DOLLARS!!!  My advice is to buy a case now before you can't find it any longer.

Completely enthused by Essential red, I also bought a bottle of Bogle "Phantom" for $19.00.  It is also a blend founded upon Old Vines Zin and Syrah but it substitutes Mourvedre for the Cabernet found in Essential.  I liked it when I first poured it, and then I got distracted cooking something and about 20 minutes later it was REALLY good.  More peppery/spicy and maybe cedary [if that is a valid wine term] than Essential, I loved this bottle also.  The Bogle web site says it has flavors of Boysenberry and although I couldn't have determined this on my own, I agree whole heartedly. 

My first two Bogle purchases have made me a great fan of this vineyard.  I am confident you will be as well.