Dispatches - News and Notes from Around the World.

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Eats -  Up and Dow(n) Trends.

Farm to Markets and celebrations of same. From rural to metropolis celebrations of this return to fresh local produce has come alive. Does this celebration have its roots in the Parisian and New York "White Dinner"? Where all dressed & party in white, you don't learn the location of the grand dinner til 30 minutes before hand. 

Locally Made Liquor.

You know, speaking of locally made - in this case - liquor, like Tito's Vodka of Austin, or Old Potrero Single Malt Rye, San Francisco -  have you noticed the increase in hand made, local liquor being produced around the country? I was surprised to read in a NYT review of vodkas that most of the mass produced vodka we imbibe is actually produced in the Midwest and this ethanol is sent to the producer for clarification, bottling, etc. Hmmmm. Makes me re-think my brand selections or to more closely know who is producing what. In the future I will be looking for producers that make their vodka "en premises". 

Drinking and Reading.

Reading Rosie Schapp's  Drinking With Men. Her style is admirable. She is becoming my second best author, the first Elaine Sciolino.

 Mergers and Acquisitions.

Bols. Bols, Bols. Expect to see more of this liquor brand as the company has taken over its own marketing in the USA. This Dutch manufacturer of the original gin (genever) and flavored liquors has opened its own marketing office in New York City  for the USA. 

Ins and Outs.
Out of the water is the Costa Concordia. What a fete that was lifting this ship off the granite shelf and "righting" it. Or is the correct nautical term parbuckling. What a visual treat it was to see the ship - on time lapse photo - being righted. More to follow on that. 

Politics.

Angela Merkel of Germany remains in again and her opponent is out, French prime minister Francois Hollande is still in and has been visited again by  IMF leader Christine Lagarde ( of France) - so that's good there is some company. Isn't it ironic that France was our only major partner on the proposed bombing of Syria, and England not!

And what's going on in Havana? 

 

"Later my friend".

Cocktail. The John Hancock from Burger and Lobster of London.
1,5 oz. Chivas                         1 tsp. simple syrup
2/3 oz. lemon juice                  2 dashes Angostura bitters
2/3 oz. vanilla syrup                2 1/2 oz. Sam Adams
shake all but the beer, pour and top with the Sam Adams



PS if you are a UAL traveler you may have noticed that either UAL is using the "Dispatches" or I have plagiarized from UAL magazine.