Red Is Life

Cochon

Roast the pork - pull the pork - re-construct as a thick paddy - pan fry - serve atop turnips, cabbage & cracklins - smile - exactly what my wife did at Cochon - the second - less formal restaurant of Chef Donald Link aka Herbsaint -

Until recently - a previously unreachable dining destination -

Three years ago - pre Katrina - it had just opened - only a rumored greatness - second attempt - a year ago - tried for a "same night" reservation - not a good idea - third attempt - overruled by obligation to group dinner at a "voted best..." - heart of the french quarter - large format -  restaurant - i.e. - had to cancel again - this time - made the reservation from New York - two weeks in advance - "told" my dining partners - "we are going to Cochon" - i.e - success - well worth the effort -

Tasting A Few

Regular bi-weekly tasting - Germany - California - New York - France - and - Bolivia - yes - Bolivia -

Screams For Champagne

Just ate a sandwich that - Screams for Champagne - not Persecco - not Blanc de Blanc - real -  tight - Brut Champagne - and not just for the flavor - or the cut necessary to balance the sandwich's decadent richness - but expensive champagne - to come up to - what has to be the most expensive "grilled cheese" sandwich I've ever made -

Up From The Country Club

When the "salesperson" at LeNell's suggested Four Roses - I laughed - Four Roses was the bottom shelf bourbon of the country club circuit - bread and butter - would never touch it - let alone go all the way to Brooklyn to buy a bottle -

Tasting Quickie

Wandered into a local shop - Saturday tasting -