Serge the Concierge

Pepy makes you thirsty for an Avocado Shake with her Jus Alpukat snapshot

2010-02-09T16:02:56-05:00

I have no idea which ingredients are needed to make an Indonesian Avocado Shake yet Pepy Nasution snapshot below makes me thirsty for one.

Until I saw it, I would never have thought that I would crave one.

Even looking at this Jus Alpukat is pleasurable.

Pepy also writes The Art and Science of Food which covers Indonesian and Asian Fusion Cooking

(* picture copyright Pepy Nasution)

Wine is a Woman, Wine is a Mystery, What Makes a Wine Great?

2010-02-09T15:31:46-05:00

There must be as many opinions on what makes a wine great as there are French cheeses.

The online guide to 'France's best wines' Le Guide Vindicateur asks "le meilleur vin du monde... Selon vous, est-ce le meilleur selon le plus grand critique du monde, ou le meilleur selon le plus grand nombre d'inconnus?".

In the English translation:

The best wine in the world, according to you, is it the best because the best known wine critic declared it was or because a number of everyday people chose it to be?

Crowdsourcing as applied to wine I guess.

My take would be that there are many great wines, for everyday, for special occasions, bubbly and still and from all corners of the globe.

The photo above picked by Le Guide Vindicateur to illustrate their questions brought another thought to my mind: Wine is a Woman, Wine is a Mystery.

In 2010, A Flood of Green Valentine Day Gifts Ideas

2010-02-09T11:47:59-05:00

Yes, Valentine's Day 2010 is fast approaching.

Date is Sunday, February 14, in case you did not mark your calendar.

One thing for sure, there is a flood of Green Valentine's Day gift ideas being floated.

The Huffington Post goes for Organic Flowers (January 29).

They list California Organic Flowers as one of their picks. I have reservations as to how Green these are if flown to my East Coast corner.

Their Anemone Bouquet above is beautiful.

Inhabitat lists 13 Gifts from Sweet to Kinky.

Listing Bonterra as their organic wine choice shows a lack of imagination.

On the other hand, I like the playful Me So Thorny candle from A Scent of Scandal. The line happens to be vegan and cruelty free and its founders grew up in my home state of New Jersey.

Seattles' s animal lovers can head to the Woodland Park Zoo on Saturday February 13 (10 AM to 3 PM) for a Valentine's Day Enrichment Celebration:

The program:

"Enjoy a day of animals being treated to herbal bouquets, heart-shaped steaks, heart-shaped ice pops made of fruit juice, honey, strawberries and cranberries, and more. The special treats are part of the zookeepers' ongoing efforts to help enrich the lives of the zoo's animals, promote natural animal behavior, keep animals mentally stimulated and engage zoo visitors."

Found out about this event thanks to Amy Duncan of My Green Lake, a local blog.

In London, take your loved one to Tropical Extravaganza 2010 in Kew Gardens (maybe not that green with all the energy used to warm up place unless they use biomass).

Greening Valentine's Day for Green Day # 114

Previously: Saladin Magic in Ardeche, Organic Wines by Marie-Laurence and Elizabeth

In March, Send me to New Orleans for James Beard Awards Nominees Hoopla

2010-02-08T17:52:02-05:00

Blame it on David Katz of Meme Restaurant in Philadelphia for planting the idea of a trip to La Nouvelle Orleans in my head.

David was reminding us of his upcoming Rustic New American dinner at the James Beard Foundation on March 23rd ($125 a head).

Visiting the James Beard Foundation site for more details, I finally noticed (I might be the last one to) that this year James Beard Foundation Awards Nominees will be announced during a grand Hoopla in New Orleans on March 22nd.

It will be preceded by a Friends of James Beard Benefit on Sunday, March 21, 2010 also in New Orleans. This walk around tasting brings 20 plus chefs from the area under one roof.

From sweet treats by Tariq Hanna of Sucre, home of the Mardi Gras Macaroons (pictured above) to Donald Link of Herbsaint Restaurant and Cochon fame, you will have your pick of bounty.

New Orleans has more than The Saints Superbowl victory to celebrate.

Send me there and I will taste everything.

I promise I will share my impressions with all of you.

All it takes is a plane ticket or should I get on the train and take it slow?

The Art of Napping at Work, a Touch of Zen for Monday

2010-02-08T07:45:00-05:00

After 2 hectic weeks of work, tastings, writing plus all the daily chores, I will take this new week nice and slow, at least I will try.

In that spirit, what could be better than mention The Art of Napping at Work (Larsen Publications) a 6 year old book (2004) by Camille and Bill Anthony.

I have not read it yet thought that just their byline 'The no-cost, natural way to increase productivity and satisfaction' justified mentioning the tome.

Camille and Bill Anthony make suggestions about Favorite Workplace Napping Places and offer rules of the road on Developing a Napping Policy—It's Easier than You Think...

Studies on this topic are shared in Napping Enhances Worker Productivity (Napping News from eFuse)

Taking a break for Monday Work Etiquette # 128

Previously: Kudos, Special Treats, Money, Status, What Drives You?