February 2004 Archives

Always a thrill, it's lunch at Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin in the heart of Champagne. Our host is the every-gracious Roselyne de Castéja.

The guests were the Dears, from Mississippi, and the Morgensterns, from Michigan. We had a reunion recently with lots of Veuve Clicquot ...

Félicitations to Michel and Maryse Trama, the inventive chef and talented designer whose celebrated restaurant, l'Aubergade, has just been promoted to three stars in the new Michelin guide. They're located in Puymirol, a tiny hilltop bastide, midway between Bordeaux and Toulouse.

Cornichon & guests have visited l'Aubergade several times over the past two or three years, and we can attest to this master's skill, vision, and sheer culinary brilliance. Our most recent trip was with the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, when we ate our way across southwestern France in a frenzy of champagne, foie gras, truffles.

Cornichon goes looking for wine bars and appetizers ... and can't find what he's looking for in Seattle. So it's off to Portland. Read the whole story as a PDF.

You know Mario Batali, right ? Molto Mario ? Well, he got his love of food from his dad, Armandino, right here in Seattle. And now that Armandino has retired from Boeing and has all the time in the world [just kidding], what better task than a deli, Salumi, a real Italian salumeria. Right in Seattle's Pioneer Square.

.
More pictures in this album.

Seattle is now officially the newest branch of the International Wine & Food Society!

The inaugural dinner was held at The Rainier Club over the last week in January; click here for a peek at all the photos.

The impetus for the event came from Sherry Knott, a member of the IWFS's Board of Governors for the Americas, who remitted the organization's provisional charter to Michael de Maar, whom she'd enlisted to serve as branch president.

In turn, Michael had volunteered The Rainier Club as the venue, and program chair Jan Stimach had worked out the menu with the club's energetic and creative executive chef, Bill Morris.

A terrific trip to Bordeaux, visiting some of the leading estates, including Chateau Margaux, Chateau Haut Brion and Chateau Yquem.

Click here for more photos from Bordeaux trip led by Cornichon on behalf of The Rainier Club.

Now let's switch gears ... to a weekend reunion with the Dears and the Morgensterns. This non-stop, two-day eating & drinking binge on the Dear's 800-acre ranch in Edwards, Mississippi, had a bit of everything ... and a lot of excellent wine.

The Mediterranean comes to Seattle's Pioneer Square. Lunch at the new Bandol restaurant includes a delicious croque monsieur. The frites are particularly yummy.