Sep 16, 2008 Here she is - the new survey. This one is about consumer products. It's not too long, loads of fun, and a delicious way to spend a coffee break.
Click here to access it: Nathalie's Fall Survey
As always, your contribution to my studies and the realm of consumer behaviour research is much appreciated.
Sep 5, 2008 A recent trip to NYC meant not just discovering the sites and dealing with the sounds, but also becoming familiar with the panoply of wine bars rampant in Gotham. Some where focused on specific regional wines (Ino), others were more general (Wine Bar), but none were as cool as Clo.
Having only opened just a few weeks ago, this wine bar is located on the 4th floor of the Time Warner Centre. The space is modern and almost set up like an island in the mezzanine. Once inside the separating walls, you’ll notice that each wall actually encases groupings of wine bottles. None are labeled. Instead, make your way to the table in the center and use your hand to peruse the virtual catalogue of notes and information regarding the options available. Once ready (it took me about a nanosecond), you purchase a card and this allows you to go to the displays, insert the card, select your wine, and receive a half-glass worth to sample. The hardest part of the whole experience at Clo is to balance pacing yourself with the desire to sample all the options.
Prices for the wines range for $3 to $40 – it all depends on what you want to drink. What I found particularly interesting was the variety of options. Not just in terms of regions and vintages but in terms of grapes. As a sucker for weird grapes, I was thrilled to find a few that I had never heard about as they allowed me to continue my quest for my title of Wine Centurion (click here). I sampled a Rotgipfler from Austria which was like Gruner Veltliner but classier, a Kidonitsa from Greece which was like drinking lemony limestone, and a Syrah from the Walla Walla Valley.
Not only was this interactive experience an uber cool way to spend an hour, but it certainly makes wine tasting a more modern experience. It focuses your attention on what’s in the glass as well as allowing you to be a little adventurous without a full bottle commitment or social pressures. Highly recommended, especially before or after a lunch at the Bouchon Bakery on the same floor.
Aug 28, 2008 I'm really not much of a competitive person, especially not when it comes to food and wine. But that doesn't mean that I don't like the idea of measuring my learning and gastronomic progression.
Recently, I learned about the Wine Century Club. This outfit is based in New York and was founded by the husband and wife team of Steven and Deborah De Long. The idea is basically the adult version of the Century Club you played in College. However, instead of downing shots of beer in 100 minutes, you get to see how many distinct grape varietals you've tasted in your lifetime.
Membership requires you to have tasted a minimum of 100 and since most of us probably can't name 20 off the top of our heads, here is a downloadable list to help you enumerate those you are familiar with: http://www.winecentury.com/membership.php. Once you've hit to magic number, simply submit your form to the coordinates provided and voila – something else to add to your epicurean CV.
So far, I'm close but still missing a few. And while I still love my Rhone Syrah, being able to reach that magic number certainly motivates me to keep an eye open for new and diverse products. And in consequence, my palate is not just awakened by so have the pairing possibilities. A total win-win situation.
Aug 22, 2008 I know, I know, technically, making any reference to this type of junk food seems so very out of character for me. However, I cannot negate one half of my heritage, nor pay hommage to a dish that so frequently capped off the debaucherous nights of my early adulthood. It is a comfort food of sorts, and there's honesty in that feature, so it fits on these pages.
On the 29th and 30th of August, the folks in Drummondville will pay hommage to their native dish. While the origins of who made it first are still somewhat up for debate, this town takes poutine seriously enough to organize a music festival and all sorts of other activties around it. There will even be a make-you-own poutine bar.
For more information, check out: www.festivaldelapoutine.com. Attendance costs $17 for one day or $23 for the whole weekend.
Aug 19, 2008 After reading about this program in a magazine, two things crossed my mind: I'm jealous, and I'm looking forward to staying in school forever.
Indiana University is now offering a PhD program in the anthropology of food and while the appeal of Bloomington might not be tremendous, the contents of the program are. Here is a preliminary list of courses offered, all of which I would be likely to sign up for, thus prolonging my stay in the program indefinately:
The truth is, we are because we eat, so the idea of being able to understand that so thoroughly is inspiring. I grant you that it might be because I'm a super nerd that the idea of doing another graduate degree seems like fun, but that's what a passion will do to you! The approach of the program is to integrate all aspects of food, ranging from academic perspectives to market tours and the politics behind what's on our plates and in our fields. Partnering with some exceptional journals and movements, such as Slow Food, this program will surely become the base requirement for any self-respecting foodie. Let's hope they start to offer correspondence classes.
For more information, here is the web site: http://www.indiana.edu/~anthro/food_flash.html
