Archive for November, 2014

Tasting Greek Wines at Mavrommatis

Tuesday, November 25th, 2014
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Mavrommatis

Mavrommatis Restaurant
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Monique and I were recently invited to a wine tasting at Mavrommatis, a fine-dining restaurant that specializes in Greek cuisine in the 5th arrondissement. When we arrived, we found that eleven vineyard owners from all over Greece were presenting their wines. During the two hours that we were there, we were able to meet five of them.

Petros Markantonatos - Gentilini Estate

Petros Markantonatos – Gentilini Estate
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Our first stop was the table manned by Petros Markantonatos of the Gentilini Estate in Kefalonia, the largest of the Ionian Islands in western Greece. I had blogged about his wine almost two years ago, when I had the opportunity to taste it at the first Mavrommatis wine tasting that I attended.

We tasted the Robola 2013 and the Gentilini Eclipse 2012. The first is a crisp white wine made from Robola grapes that grow in rocky soil on the slopes of Mount Aenos. The second is a red wine made from Mavrodaphine grapes. The wine is matured for at least 12 months in French and American oak barrels. Petros served us two versions of this red — the second one was softer due to the additional time spent in stainless steel vats, mixing of lees, and hand bottling. We preferred the first version, which was more assertive than the second.

Stefanos Georgas - Estate Argyros

Stefanos Georgas – Estate Argyros
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Our next stop was at the table of Stefanos Georgas, who represents the Argyros Estate, a winery on the island of Santorini in the southern Aegean Sea.

We tasted Assyrtiki 2013, made from the variety of the same name. A dry white wine, we found flavors of mineral and iodide with notes of pepper. We also tried Estate Argyros 2010 made from 100% Mavrotragano variety. Aged in French oak barrels, it is a dry red wine with notes of cherry.

Vassilis and Antonia Papagiannakos

Vassilis and Antonia Papagiannakos
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Moving to the other side of the restaurant, we stopped at the table of Vassilis and Antonia Papagiannakos, whose winery is located in the Athens region.

We tasted a Markopoulo 2013 made from Savatiano grapes, a variety that Mr Papagiannakos told us has been growing in the Athens region for over 3000 years. Markopoulo is a dry white wine that has a pear scent with a light touch of anise. We also tasted an Erythros 2011 made from 70% Agiorgitiko and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon. This is a dry red wine with a lovely cherry aroma.

Mr Papagiannakos uses the rooster as an emblem on his wine labels in honor of his father, who would rise every day and go off to the vineyard to work as soon as the roosted crowed.

Christos Aïdarinis - Owner and Michael Michailides - Winemaker

Christos Aïdarinis – Owner and Michael Michailides – Winemaker
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Our next stop was at the table of Aïdarinis Estate, where we met Christos Aïdarinis, the owner, and Michael Michailides, the wine maker. The winery is located in the region of Goumenissa in northern Greece.

We tasted a Rosé Aïdarini, made from Xinomavro grapes. Unlike the rosés that we have tried in France, this one had a forceful attack with flavors of red fruit. Very nice. We also tasted a Goumenissa, a dry red that we enjoyed, made from 70% Xinomavro and 30% Negoska grapes.

George Diamantakos

George Diamantakos
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

At the next table, we met George Diamantakos of the Diamantakos Estate in the Macedonia region of northern Greece.

We tasted Preknadi 2013, made from a grape variety of the same name. Mr. Diamantakos told us that the name means “freckle face,” because the grapes have spots on them. He said that the variety was almost forgotten and that he is trying to revive it. A white wine, it is amazingly soft with a light floral aroma. Although Mr. Diamantakos said that it has a high alcohol content (13%), I didn’t perceive that.

We also tried Naoussa 2010 (Xinomavro grapes), a red wine with green tomato and spicy flavors.

We wrapped up our tasting with dessert wines. We ventured back to the Papagiannakos table and tried their Melia, a sweet white wine that we found particularly mellow, like honey. We then went back to the table for the Argyros Estate and tasted two Vinsantos — sweet wines that are aged for four years in an oak barrel barrel and then an additional year in the bottle. They had a delicious caramel flavor.

Dimitri Sotiropoulos - Waiter at Mavrommatis

Dimitri Sotiropoulos – Waiter at Mavrommatis
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

While guests at the tasting sipped wine, Dimitri, waiter at Mavrommatis, served hors d’œuvres.

Eugenia Stefanidi – Sommelier at Mavrommatis and Monique Y. Wells

Eugenia Stefanidi – Sommelier at Mavrommatis and Monique Y. Wells
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

We also had the opportunity to talk with Eugenia Stefanidi, sommelier at Mavrommatis. She was serving Mercouri, another of the wines that we’ve tasted at previous events. It was every bit as good as we remembered!

We left the restaurant feeling rather satisfied that we had had the opportunity not only to taste some great wine, but to meet the producers who had flown in all the way from Greece to present and pour their fine products.

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Tom’s Close Shave

Thursday, November 13th, 2014
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Alain Explains the Procedure

Alain Explains the Procedure
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

In the last blog (about the cocktail party at Nose, a perfume shop for men and women), we left Tom in the hands of master barber Alain for a shave with a straight-edge razor. In the photograph above, Tom listens to his reassuring words such as, “This won’t hurt a bit.” Spoken in French, they sounded much more comforting than they do in English.

Alain Prepares His Paraphernalia

Alain Prepares His Paraphernalia
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Alain then stepped over to the sink where he prepared a blaireau (shaving brush).

Lathering the Face

Lathering the Face
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

He began carefully lathering Tom’s face. As the old saying goes, Une barbe bien savonnée est une barbe à moitié rasée. (A good soapy beard is a beard half shaved.)

Alain Prepares to Shave

Alain Prepares to Shave
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Then Alain stepped back to admire his work, holding the straight-edge razor in a fighter’s stance. This pose might have sent chills down the spine of lesser men, but Tom put on a brave face!

Alain Begins the Shave

Alain Begins the Shave
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Alain began carefully shaving the three-day old beard. In French, the word for straight edge is “coupe-chou”, which means “cabbage cutter.” It’s not very reassuring!

Tap Dancing in the Front Room

Tap Dancing in the Front Room
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

While this drama was playing out in the back room, a man was gaily tap dancing in the front of the store.

Monique at Nose

Monique at Nose
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Monique was in the front room, too, getting her photograph taken. What were her thoughts about the dangers that her husband might be facing alone in the back room? She doesn’t seem to be showing much concern in this photo.

Alain Applying Alum

Alain Applying Alum
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

In the back room, following the shave, Alain passed an alum block over Tom’s face to sooth skin irritation. He then applied a hydrating lotion.

Final Massage

Final Massage
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

A final massage to the face, and the shave was over. Tom was looking good!

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Cocktail Party at Nose

Sunday, November 9th, 2014
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Nose

Nose
20, rue Bachaumont 75002 Paris

Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Two weeks ago, Monique and I attended a cocktail party at Nose, a perfume shop for men and women.

Made in Movember

The event had been organized to raise money for Movember, a men’s health organization.

A Hip Crowd

A Hip Crowd
Photograph by www.ParisInsights.com

We got there a bit early, just before the hip crowd arrived, and were able to make our way up to the bar almost unimpeded.

Bartender Serving a Souviens-toi d'Acapulco

Bartender Serving a Souviens-toi d’Acapulco?
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

I ordered a beverage called Souviens-toi d’Acapulco? (Do You Remember Acapulco?), a cocktail made with Monkey Shoulder whiskey, for each of us. It was a refreshing drink, and although I couldn’t recall having ever been to Acapulco, I returned to the bar to order another. Might a second one jog my memory?

Monique Sniffing Dr. Vranjes Perfume

Monique Sniffing Dr. Vranjes Perfume
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Then we strolled about sniffing perfume. I had already purchased a bottle of D.R. Harris Arlington Cologne from Nose a few weeks before. That’s how I got an invitation to the event.

Margot from the Marketing Department

Margot from the Marketing Department
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

We met Margot, who works in the Nose marketing department.

Reporter Taking Notes

Man in a Top Hat Taking Notes
Reporter or Poet?

Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

We saw a man who I thought might be portraying a journalist because he was taking notes. I learned later that he was there to recite poetry. We didn’t stay long enough to hear him.

Brice and Régis Abby

Brice and Régis Abby
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

We met Brice and Régis Abby, a pair of twins who seemed to be enjoying life as lookalikes.

Oysters

Oysters
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

A man circulated through the store selling fresh oysters at 2€ each. Proceeds went to the Movember cancer research fund.

Tap Dancing

Tap Dancing
Photograph by DiscoverParis.net

And while Monique went to the front of the store to watch a man tap dancing to the music of Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington…

Preparing for a Shave

Preparing for a Shave
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

…I was in the back, preparing for a shave.

Coming up next: a blog in which I recount my close encounter with a straight-edge razor. (Caution: not for the timid!)

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Santiago Peralta Talks about His Chocolates at Mococha

Friday, November 7th, 2014
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Santiago Peralta, Co-founder of Pacari Chocolate

Santiago Peralta, Co-founder of Pacari Chocolate
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Chocolate maker Santiago Peralta recently paid a visit to Mococha, our favorite chocolate shop on rue Mouffetard, to talk about his chocolates. Mr. Peralta hails from Ecuador, where he works with cacao growers to create fine chocolates—the first single-origin organic chocolate made entirely in Ecuador.

Peralta’s company, Pacari Chocolate, won six gold and three silver medals at the International Chocolate Awards in 2012. In 2013, Pacari won five gold and one silver. Awards for the 2014 World Final have not yet been announced.

During Mr. Peralta’s presentation, we had the opportunity to taste a wide variety of Pacari chocolates. While all of the ones that I tasted had astoundingly rich earthy, fruity, and flowery flavors, the most memorable for me were the Raw 70% Cacao Chocolate Bar (silver winner in 2012 and gold and silver winner in 2013 of the International Chocolate Awards) and the Raw 70% Cacao with Salt and Nibs Chocolate Bar (silver winner in 2012 and 2013). For the latter bar, the crunchy bits of salt that had been incorporated into the chocolate added sparkle that brought out the already intense chocolate flavor.

Marie-Hélène Gantois, proprietor of Mococha, announced that she will be selling fourteen varieties of Pacari chocolate until the end of December. For chocolate lovers living in Paris, this is an occasion for purchasing and tasting what is perhaps the best chocolate in the world.

Pamela Revilla Adams - Santiago Peralta - Marie-Hélène Gantois

Pamela Revilla Adams – Founder of Orga France (Importer of Fine Chocolate)
Santiago Peralta – Co-founder Pacari Chocolate
Marie-Hélène Gantois – Mococha Chocolat

Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

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