February is the month of love and romance,
and Americans look forward to celebrate Valentines Day each year.
It is for them a day that is highly symbolic, as the official
day to express love to one another: newly weds or 50 year husband
and wife, high school sweet hearts, children, parents, teachers,
and even friends. The restaurant scene is entirely transformed
to accommodate twosomes, and it is ìde bon tonî to
be taken out to dinner by your significant other, or to treat
each other with sweet foods close to the fireplace.
In Beaujolais, they have our own way to celebrate: They open a
bottle of Saint Amour. This cru may not be one of the most famous,
but it is described as charming with delicious berry flavors and
is as light and frilly as the name. Just what we like to hear
when it comes to love.. In France, they refresh a bottle in the
cooler, then pop open the cork for a simple and intimate candlelight
dinner.
In New York, Michel Rougier uncorked quite a few bottles at a
tasting gathering the Best Beaujolais Bistros, Beaujolais importers
and wine reporters on February 5th. The dinner was organized at
Café Centro, one of 2001 entries into the group of BBB.
The evening started with the most recent vintage of Beaujolais
Nouveau courtesy of Mommessin, then, when everyone had arrived,
continued with a few crus of Saint Amour. Not many importers get
this particular cru, because it comes in fairly small quantities
and has to be hand sold. But specialty restaurants and savvy wine
store owners bring some for the month of February, linking the
wine to its best consumption occasion.
The wines from Beaujolais Saint Amour were available at all the
Best Beaujolais Bistros for Valentines Day and also at key retail
stores throughout the City: Garnet, Sherry Lehman, Astor Place
amongst others.
Francis Lorenzini, President of the
Best Beaujolais Bistro Jury announced the three 2001 winners of
the Best Beaujolais Bistro Cup at a dinner and Beaujolais Cru
tasting hosted by 2000 cup winner Le Monde on October 22,
2001. Café Centro, owned and operated by Restaurant
Associates, Le Pere Pinard, a sun filled wine bar complete
with garden in the Lower East Side and Le Tableau, opened
to great acclaim by Egyptian chef owner Sami Kader in late 1997
were all nominated to become part of the Best Beaujolais Bistros.
In the pure tradition of conviviality that characterizes this
fine group of New York bistros, the Best Beaujolais Bistro Cup
also passed from Le Tout Va Bien to Le Monde in fanfare,
and will continue passing among the three new winners throughout
2002.
The Best Beaujolais Bistro Cup started in New York in 1995 with
such restaurateurs as Jacques Capsouto of Capsouto FrËres
and Jose des Mereilles of Les Halles, at the instigation
of UIVB Delegate General Michel Rougier who wanted to transplant
his winner concept from Lyon and Paris to other cities in the
world. "I consider these restaurateurs my fellow Beaujolais
citizens says Michel Rougier. "I see them as Beaujolais ambassadors
and treat them with that much respect The Bistros are chosen by
a six member jury, primarily for the quality of the food they
serve and for the friendly atmosphere they offer their patrons.
Selling and promoting Beaujolais wines is of course part of the
equation. As part of the perks to becoming a member, the Bistro
owners and chefs are invited to visit the Beaujolais region every
few years. Their last trip was in the Spring of 2000 when they
inaugurated the first New York ñ Lyon flight from Air France
and came back full of fond memories.
Today, what is most important to the Best Beaujolais Bistros is
to regroup around common goals and to unite their means to promote
their restaurants. The group teamed up again this year for an
ad campaign in the New York Times and in France Amerique, to associate
their image to the simplicity and authenticity of traditional
French Bistros serving heart warming fare in a friendly ambiance.
2588 Broadway (97-98th Street)
Tel: (212) 222 6808
Metlife Building (45th street between Lexington and Park Avenues)
Tel: (212) 818-1222
105 West 13th Street (6thAvenue)
Tel: (212) 255 4746
451 Washington Street (1 block south of Canal)
Tel: (212) 966 4900
358 West 23rd Street (9th Avenue)
Tel: (212) 727 2026
414 West 42nd Street (10thñ11th Avenue)
Tel: (212) 594 1925
340 West Broadway (Grand Street)
Tel: (212) 431 0021
1008 Second Avenue (bet 53-54th Street)
Tel: (212) 759 7086
403 West 43rd Street (9th Avenue)
Tel: (212) 246 2993
2885 Broadway (bet 112-113th Streets)
tel: 212 531 3939
175 Ludlow Street (South of Houston Street)
Tel: 212 777-4917
411 Park Avenue South (28th ñ29th Street)
Tel: (212) 679 4111
568 Amsterdam Avenue (between 87th 88th Street)
Tel: (212) 874 2742
511 East 5th Street (Bet Avenue A and B)
tel: 212 260-1333
249 Park Avenue South (20th Street)
Tel: (212) 254 5858
414 Park Avenue South (bet 28th ñ 29th Street)
Tel: (212) 689 1360
9 East 16th Street (bet Union Square ñ 5th Avenue)
Tel: (212) 463 7101
18- Tout Va Bien ë00
311 West 51st Street (bet 8th ñ 9th Avenue)
Tel: (212) 974 9051
J. Walman's and Nancy Preiser's reviews
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