... has changed.
Tea: Vanilla Lapsang
Music: Brian Setzer Orchestra, "Sleepwalk"
Time: Night.
I went to bed last night wondering why "Waltzing Matilda" was in 2/4 time. My son, whose strolling strings broup performed that piece during its recent trip to Australia, enlightened me tonight.
"In Australia," he said, "'waltzing' meant 'walking.' So it's in cut time because it's a walking song."
Fair enough. Now let's see if he can explain this one, which comes in three parts.
Why is the Syrah grape called Shiraz in Australia?
Why is it a Norton grape in Missouri but Cynthiana in Kansas?
And why is Blaufränkisch (my favorite little-known red, by the way) only Blaufränkisch in Austria. In Hungary it's Kékfrankos, and in Germany and the U.S. it's Lemberger (although now some wineries are starting to market it as "Blue Franc," which is what "Blaufränkisch" means in the first freaking place.)
It's enough to make a guy want to steal a sheep (in 2/4 time, of course).
Showing posts with label wine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wine. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Cup XXXV: Variations on a Happy Theme
Tea: Jasmine Pearl
Music: Norah Jones, "One Flight Down"
Time: Night.
Long day. Good day -- in part because there is room at the inn, and there are good people keeping it.
Today's theme, in large part, has been that of happy interactions with good people.
First, I yielded the lunch ordering to friend/collaborator/consummate foodie Seánan Forbes -- who conspired with the server to have amazing homemade noodles (among a meal-long series of perfect bites) delivered to the table. Then, off to reconnect with one winery (and the warm people who run it) and introduce Seánan to another -- and to Concord wine. (Let the purists sniff and call it "jelly in a wine glass." The purists can bite me.)
Oh, and if you live anywhere near Weston, Missouri, and you don't visit at least once ... I shake my head slowly, sadly, pitying you.
Then across the street to dinner -- which, as did lunch, consisted of excellent food served by welcoming people.
It's been a good third day of what's been an odd work trip, a good day for hunting and finding story ideas, a good day for discussions -- both philosophical and practical -- about what good food/travel writing should be.
Would it have been as productive without the interactions along the way? Maybe. But it wouldn't have been nearly as enjoyable.
(That's not counting the encounter with one person who heard, "He wants me to try x" and interpreted it as, "I should disregard that and give them y." Frowny face for him. Gold stars for everyone else.)
Tonight's spooky story:
Willkie Collins, "Miss Jéromette and the Clergyman"
Music: Norah Jones, "One Flight Down"
Time: Night.
Long day. Good day -- in part because there is room at the inn, and there are good people keeping it.
Today's theme, in large part, has been that of happy interactions with good people.
First, I yielded the lunch ordering to friend/collaborator/consummate foodie Seánan Forbes -- who conspired with the server to have amazing homemade noodles (among a meal-long series of perfect bites) delivered to the table. Then, off to reconnect with one winery (and the warm people who run it) and introduce Seánan to another -- and to Concord wine. (Let the purists sniff and call it "jelly in a wine glass." The purists can bite me.)
Oh, and if you live anywhere near Weston, Missouri, and you don't visit at least once ... I shake my head slowly, sadly, pitying you.
Then across the street to dinner -- which, as did lunch, consisted of excellent food served by welcoming people.
It's been a good third day of what's been an odd work trip, a good day for hunting and finding story ideas, a good day for discussions -- both philosophical and practical -- about what good food/travel writing should be.
Would it have been as productive without the interactions along the way? Maybe. But it wouldn't have been nearly as enjoyable.
(That's not counting the encounter with one person who heard, "He wants me to try x" and interpreted it as, "I should disregard that and give them y." Frowny face for him. Gold stars for everyone else.)
Tonight's spooky story:
Willkie Collins, "Miss Jéromette and the Clergyman"
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