Veuve Clicquot vs. Mumm Champagne Tour, Reims

During a sleepy winter day in Reims we got to experience the allure of a tasting and tour at Veuve Clicquot and Mumm. It's so hard to pick which champagne house to taste with when you are visiting the region and hope this article will help a bit in deciding between the two houses! If you want a driver and english speaking guide for the day then check out http://www.tastysidetolifetours.com.

Ally with a gigantic bottle of Veuve

Both Mumm and Veuve Clicquot are two "Grands Maisons" de Champagne in Reims. Visting both houses while in Reims is fun and you will have a tasting and tour of two very old and prestigious houses in Reims with history of nearly 250 years of champagne making! (This history is awesome but keep in mind that its always nice to do a mix of these huge corporate giants and small charming local spots. I'd personal like a mix of Veuve and following the locals secrets ie driving out 15 minutes outside Reims to taste with small producers, loung in cozy tasting rooms, get dirty in the fields around vineyards and chateaus. It's hard to do on your own b/c these houses don't speak english but hire a driver from a company like ours.

To American's Veuve Clicquot is a mainstay name. From popping a cork for a celebratory promotion to the clinking of newlywed glasses, Champagne and Veuve in general has engrained itself in American society! The story of how Veuve Clicquot pioneered a Champagne movement is a fascinating story of a determined widow who at the age of 27 lost her husband, Francois Clicquot and thus was thrown in charge of her family's wine business. She took over reins amid totally chaos, during the Napoleonic wars. During this time she became a prominent female leader in a hugely male dominated industry and has grown her small family business to what it is today.

Mumm I think for many Americans is regarded, unfortunately, as a cheap bottle of California sparkling wine. While yes this is true, their real deal Reims originated Champagne dates back centuries and lies inside a beautiful old Chateau. I've been to a party in a private cave here and let me tell you it was incredible and is a tasting and tour in champagne not to be missed. Mumm was founded by 3 brother winemakers in 1827 and is famous for it's red ribbon or the Cordon Rouge which is a replica of the ribbon given for a legion of honor.

The blanc de blanc was really nice. Love the shape of this bottle.

The bottle rotation process explained at Mumm

Tasting at Mumm with some new random friends

While both houses are unique and memorable, it certainty was tasting at Veuve Clicquot who blew us away. Our tour guide seriously might have a career in Hollywood, no joke. She was like a little actress, in her own little cinema and painted the most amazing picture of Madame Clicquot, her life, her struggles and her passion. It was inspiring and we honestly somehow hung on to every word, making that final moment ie the tasting even more anticipated. The only downside is that the tour is a bit expensive compared to others (26 Euro compared to 10 euro at Mumm) BUT you only taste the highest quality Champagne while at other houses you have the choice between quality.

Veuve Clicquot does not only purchase juice but also owns land on some of the best "terroirs" in the region in Bouzy, Ambonnay and by Trepail France

And the tasting begins

Champagne Louis Roederer-owner of the famous Cristal

Champagne Jacquart

Deleans Chocolate Atelier, Reims

Buying huge bars of chocolate before our second tasting

Veuve Clicquot-1 Place des Droits de l'Homme, 51100 Reims, France

+33 3 26 89 54 41 . Definitely call about 2 weeks before for a booking. Tasting and Tour is 30 euro per person and last about 1.5 hours. House is located walking distance to Pommery and Les Crayeres so an easy combo to combine the two tours

Mumm- 34 Rue du Champ de Mars, 51100 Reims. Call a few days before for an appt. Tour and Tasting is 10 euro but varies with Champagne choice. A bit hard to walk to from center of town. Grab a taxi or add this onto a tour with http://www.tastysidetolifetours.com

Tasty Side To Life Tours for a private driver/ guide can be contacted here:

tastysidetolifetours@gmail.com

Sydney Krueger

USA +1 510 590 0943 

france +33 (0)688151255

Email: tastysidetolifetours@gmail.com

website: www.Tastysidetolifetours.com

Laisse Tomber Les Filles-France Gall

A little french music for your Saturday evening. Just maybe a trip to Paris is in order....

Champagne Quotes

"One of the world's most expensive bottles of Champagne, 1907 Heidsieck Monopole was recovered from the Baltic Sea in 1997 and sold by the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Moscow to a Russian collector for $35,000"

"Champagne, if you are seeking the truth, is better than a lie detector" - Graham Greene

"One night at the Ritz, Tallulah Bankhead drank Champagne from her own slipper"

"Too much of anything is bad, but too much of Champagne is just right" F Scott Fitzgerald

"Champagne is full of polyphenols, the plant chemical which scientists believe expands the blood vessels-great for boosting brain and heart power"

"Champagne is the only wine that leaves a woman beautiful after drinking it"- Madame de Pompadour

"A Champagne cork is said to pop at around 38-40 mph, 100mph is the fastest recorded pop"

" As symbols go, Champagne is extraordinarily powerful, it makes you feel like it's Sunday and better days are just around the corner- Marlene Dietrich

"There are about 25o million bubbles in a bottle of Champagne"

Paris Fashion Week-Smoky Eyes

It's Fashion week in Paris and I think the smoky eye is simple, classic and beautiful. It creates a mesmerizing and smoldering look and I'm dying to give it a try!

The Smokey Eye Shadow Tools: Estee Lauder Pure Color Eye Shadow in Black Crystals, $20, available at Estee Lauder; NARS Velvet Matte Lipstick in Madere, $25, available at NARS; Dolce & GabbanaSmooth Eye Colour Duo in Romance, $36, available in March at Saks Fifth Avenue.

http://www.refinery29.com/

La Bigarrade, Paris- A Serious Hands Down Culinary Gem

The Paris contemporary restaurant scene is a blaze in fire. It has been taken over by a series of artist like chefs whose imagination and unique flavor combinations are not only creative but also exquisitely prepared. Daniel Rose at Spring might have started the stir but chefs like Sven Chartier from Saturne, Chef Sato at Passage 53 and Christophe Pelé from La Bigarrade, are creating a full-blown movement. This upsurge includes cooking with michael jackson like gloves, 10th grade chemistry blowtorches and petri dishes filled with unusual condensations of carrot powder. Let me tell you the results are just short of magic. I am crossing my fingers that the new food explosion of provocative, inventive, but most importantly, delicious, food is still just on the brinks of it's full depth in Paris.

One of these gems, La Bigarrade, I had the pleasure of eating lunch at last week. La Bigarrade is really the epitome of the Franco-Zen movement, with a precession in terms of texture and perfectly balanced flavors. Dinner is booked solid for 4 months but lunch is possible. I was quite frankly blown away. The space is in the tranquil 17th and is quite small, about 9 tables and is filled with an airy, light and whimsical feeling. Cherry blossom trees are softly painted on the walls and the chairs are covered in comfy bright colors with cushions leaving you feeling like you could quite possibly be doing Yoga while devouring a exquisitely prepared meal from 2 geniuses.

Chef Christophe Pelé and Guiliano Sperandio offer 2 menus to choose from with either 8 or 12 courses. In reality the 8 ends up being more like 16 so I assume the 12 is more like 25. Chef Pele impresses while incorporating some next-level cooking techniques aimed at flawless continuity of flavor, born from dishes like scallops topped with almond butter, raw slivers of cauliflower, a thin piece of anchovy, capers and lemons, and sole with a huge slice of black truffle swimming in a sea of a soy accompanied with a light airy celery root puree, torched balanced almonds and fennel. I'm pretty sure La Bigarrade has taken Joel Robuchons place as my favorite Parisian restaurant. I mean 16 tiny dishes that leaves you perfectly satisfied and not too full for 45 euro?!

My opening course: A light, bright and airy palate opener. Oven hot focaccia topped with fleur de sel and a clean and fruity olive oil from Sicily

2nd Amuse Bouche. Lightly fried soft shelled crab served along side a pinch of sea salt and a grilled lime wedge. The result was a juicy lime that when squeezed over the fried crab brightened the dish and let the flavors of the crab shine.

Crab and scallions with a dollop of tabigo served rolled in a lemon vermicelli

A sliver of beer with a salty sliver of dried tuna. Beautiful + simple. A nice flavor combination of rich and buttery beef with a hit of salt in the dried fish.

St Jacques or scallop lightly cooked with a hand held torch served with a cascading display of slivers of fresh raw cauliflower, lemon, parsley, capers, almond butter and anchovy. This dish was springing with flavor. The raw cauliflower had a certain soft bite to it. The torching of the scallop created a soft caramelization flavor and the almond butter was nutty and divine.

Soft squares of butter jump out in this photo

Sole sitting on a sliver of black truffle and soy sauce accompanied with sweet, savory celery root puree, torched blanched almonds, fennel leaf. This dish was a bit of a meaty fish which I usually is not my preference yet was savory and sweet.

Mackerel slow cooked and finished with a crispy skin served with sweet roasted pumpkin seeds, a dollop of bright green chili, watercress and a citrus bergamot mousse
A very zen/ japanese influenced palate cleanser. A quick shot of sake, quail egg, seaweed and scallions.

Chevre, Asparagus dusted in sweet miso powder, a pinch of cumin and a cube of grapefruit confit. Simple yet my favorite dish of the night. The spice of cumin with the brightness of grapefruit, creaminess of chevre and bright crunch of seasonal veggie.

Trio of 3 desserts to start the final courses.

Passion fruit with a dusting of coffee

Pineapple topped with beets, passion fruit seeds and floating on a sweet bed of caramel sauce

Lemon mousse topped with a coffee bean.

Sweet vanilla custard with gingerbread crackers.

Icecream dusted with green tea and sesame seeds.

A chocolate course of homemade fudge with a Macadamia nut and a slice of chocolate and chocolate mouse cake with banana and a soft dusting.

A vanilla macaroon. The perfect french finish.

La Bigarrade, 106 Rue Nollet, 75017 Paris, France. Metro: Brochant. 01 42 26 01 02. Reserve well in advance.

Puerto Rico Travels- Top 5 Things to Do

After spending a few quality days doing research of some new small and big Champagne producers to add to my business I was off to Puerto Rico for a week long wedding!

Here are five things that I think you should throw into your next Puerto Rican Adventure:

1. Lots of beach time and a few blended Mango Mojitos while lounging on your beach chair in San Juan.

2. La Concha - For Dinner and Drinks outside on the patio

3. Gambling at the Ritz if that is your thing.

4. Morning Yoga at the Hotel

5. A day or multi-day trip to Culebra or Vieques for some serious relaxation, white sand beaches, wild horses and bright blue water.

Vieques is known as "La Isla Verde" or the Green island and is a 20 min flight or 3 hrs ferry from San Juan. It is home to the largest wildlife Sanctuary in the Caribbean, Over 70% of the islands is protected. You have to check out the W hotel (maybe stop for lunch).

Culebra is the little island a bit closer to San Juan and is famous for Flamenco Beach, Culebrita (largest cay), Dakity Bay-by boat, canoe, Malena (quiet beach part of the Nature Reserve).

Best way to get to either is fly through Capeair or flamenco Air for about $120 roundtrip.

View of the W's private beach

The little jet that takes you to Vieques

Pork Dim Sum roll with White Truffle oil at Buddha Bar on Condado Avenue

The beach outside ESJ hotel

The blue waters of Vieques
W lunch spot

W pool