Food Wine Travel

Grower Champagne...Great Taste and Better Buys?

Grower Champagne, great taste and better buys? That is at least what Amy Cortese suggests in Champagne Beyond the Big Names (Business Section, NY Times Sunday).

One good point she makes is that many of the main Champagne houses are anything but exclusive.
The element of luxury they convey is mostly due to mucho marketing.

Related: In Champagne, Single Vineyards offer rare pleasures...Lap of Luxury 2

Long Island had Pat Benatar before Wine...Good or Bad?

Cheese or cheesy, I am not sure if there are any Cheese makers in Long Island, one thing for sure as I realized this evening is that besides wine Long Island had Pat Benatar.
My sons vote it as cheesy while my wife knows every word.
I guess it is a matter of taste like New Jersey and Bonjovi girls.

Beyond cliches...Good Food Ireland shows the country rich palette

Before you hop on the plane for a trip to Ireland, it might be wise to visit Good Food Ireland.
They go beyond the cliches and show us the country rich palette from restaurants to markets to local talent such as artisan chocolatier ChocOneill of Kildare County.
If you cannot get over there, try their recipes.

From 'Red White and Drunk' to 'Woodstock Buddha'...All my Menu for Hope Prizes

Want a quick look at my Menu For Hope 4 prizes, visit the following pages:

Cupid's got a secret...An Edible Chocolate Box...A Menu for Hope 4 Prize

Macarons, 'The French Connection', MadMac, another sweet for Menu for Hope 4

Let's Get Spiritual with Mr. Kita's Woodstock Buddha...My First delivery for Menu For Hope 4

Wine by the Book 'Red, White and Drunk All Over' By Natalie McLean (Signed Copy)

Last: Get your Kicks with Berkshire Bark Chocolate Bars...2 treats for Menu for Hope 4

Pick your favorite, get the prize code, open your heart and your wallet, Visit the Donation Page.

Beating the Dollar Blues in Paris...Let's Do Lunch!

Most US travelers coming back from Europe can't help but commiserate on how much less you get for your greenback these days.
One way to beat the dollar blues in Paris... Let's do Lunch is what Coping with weak dollars: Paris dining strategies (Globespotters) suggests.
Having dinner or lunch with a French family as your host thanks to Meeting the French might also be an option. Any other suggestions, share them.

Related piece: Get Real...In Paris...with 'Meeting the French'...Travel with a Twist

Get your Kicks with Berkshire Bark Chocolate Bars...2 treats for Menu for Hope 4

Hey! it starts to feel like Marathon Writing but at least I am sweating for a great cause.

I already offered 3 other prizes on Serge the Concierge, the elder statesman of my blogging constellation.

Here come my 4th (Prize Code: UE 34) and 5th treat (Prize Code: UE 35) for for my second participation in Menu for Hope 4, a December Fundraising Event which involves bloggers the world over. It benefits the UN Food Programme.

The 2006 Edition raised $62,925 (US). Help us top that this year!

Treat 4 and 5 are actually identical twins.

Each goodie consists of a selection of 4 bars by our friends at Berkshire Bark which they kindly gave us.

The surprising and delicious flavors are: Tropical Heat, Mocha Buzz, White Lightning and Midnight Harvest.

Berkshire Bark is a tad over 1 year old.

I fell in love with their treats at the Chocolate Show 2006, read From the Sky to the Mountains for my first impressions.

Want it? Remember Prize Code: UE 34 for one, Prize Code UE 35 for the other.

PLEASE NOTE: Since this is a food item, we will take bids only from people in the US as we are not familiar with rules and regulations of other countries.

Next Step: Go to the Menu for Hope 4 Donation Page hosted by First Giving.

Then Make a Donation of at least $10 (US). Each $10 donation gives you one raffle ticket towards the prize you chose.

For US donors, if your company has agreed to match your charitable donation, please remember to select that option and fill in the necessary information so we may claim the corporate match.

Do not forget to leave your e-mail address so we can contact all you lucky winners.

For all other East Coast (US) Options visit Serious Eats.

Thanks to Helen of Grab Your Fork in Sidney for writing her guidelines ahead of us.

Check her Roundup of Prizes for the Asia Pacific Region.

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

Beyond 060608, '10 Things to Do in Rome When You Tire of Monuments and Churches'

If you are not satisfied with the Travel Tips on Rome offered by 060608, read what Charles Anderson, The Offbeat Traveler suggests other than churches and museums.

Absinthe Verte (via NY Times) and 'All about Absinthe' (San Francisco Chronicle)

Pete Wells gives us a behind the scene look at the launch of Absinthe Verte by St George Spirits (Hanger 1) in A Liquor of Legend Makes a Comeback (NY Times, December 5th).

Want to know the basics on this mythic drink, read All About Absinthe (SF Chronicle, December 5th).

On Serge the Concierge: Absinthe...Aperitif...Myth, Madness and the Dead Poets Society

So you want a Yoga Christmas...Check Lotus Journeys

Maybe all you want during the holidays is stretch your body and rest your mind.
UK Travel agent, Lotus Journeys might be a good place to start your trek.

On of the many things listed on The Good Web Guide.

From New York's Meat Packing District to Ojai, Eric Goode

After visiting the Maritime Hotel for the first time, I found out that one of its owners, Eric Goode, balances his fast paced life in New York with the serenity of Ojai, California which also counts David Allen of Getting Things Done not Gong fame as one of its residents.
All this according to Ojai tries to stay grounded (NY Times).

Related: Taking a Friday look at Hiro Ballroom