Rum It Up!

Hello Foodies,

Our spirit (the kind in the bottle) expert buddies say that rum is the new vodka. We agree when it comes to Martinique rum. We think it is the best because it is made from sugar cane. We recommend you buy Martinique rum from the historic 18th century Clement distillery and the AOC designated Neisson Distillery.

Sip it, blend it, but better yet, go and drink rum in Martinique. From August 26-31, Tour de Forks offers up a six-day/five-night Martinique Culinary Escapade package providing an in-depth introduction to Martinique’s vibrant gastronomic traditions led by culinary travel writer, Chantal Martineau. To find out more, click here.

For a preview of what you could be drinking on Martinique, mix this cocktail up...

Ti'Punch
In a small glass,
1/4 sugar syrup
3/4 white rum
small piece of lime squeezed

Enjoy,

the Forks

Pig Out at Porchetta NYC

Hello Foodies,

We're going to keep this short and sumptuous - if you are in the mood for the best pork sandwich you could eat in your lifetime...

...Run to Porchetta and this photo could soon be in your stomach.

Here's how Porchetta defines porchetta - roasted pork with crispy skin, highly seasoned with aromatic herbs and spices, garlic, sage, rosemary and wild fennel pollen.

We couldn't talk - we only wanted to savor every mouthful! You will too.

So here's the deets:

110 East 7th Street, between First and Second Avenues
212-777-2151

Enjoy,

the Forks

From Ambonnay to NYC!

Hello Foodies,

Remember this Victorian etiquette!
Over the weekend, the Forks indulged in this beautiful champagne that was a gift. This champagne has a lively, delicate mineral and citrus flavor mix, 40% Chardonnay and 60% Pinot Noir blend with an impressively tiny bead.

The history of this champagne is almost as good as drinking it. The Coutier family has been in the village of Ambonnay, France since 1619, with René Coutier as the current head of the family estate. The Coutiers own nine hectares of vineyards planted with one-third chardonnay and two-thirds pinot noir grapes. In 1946, René Coutier's father was the first vigneron in Ambonnay to plant chardonnay in the village - a successful move.

Run out and find this champagne and buy several bottles because they only produce 25,000 bottles in any given year. If you're in the New York area, you can find this champagne by clicking here.

Enjoy,

the Forks

Auberge and Food with More Personality than Most People!

Hello Foodies,

We were able to snuggle into an amazing Relais & Chateau property in the French Huguenot valley of Franschhoek, in the Cape Winelands called, Le Quartier Francais.

It is an auberge, owned by Susan Huxter (wearing purple with scarf). Susan knows the meaning of service and it is evident with every member of her staff and every service she provides. Her whimsical style playfully influences the decor, menus, and gifts in her gift shop.

Le Quartier Français, comfortably nestled off the main street in the charming town of Franschhoek, enables one to walk through town and visit the quaint shops and galleries. You can also visit any of the 42 active wineries in Franschhoek Valley or choose to be spoiled properly at Le Quartier Francais.

For our tour in 2010, we will be cooking up innovative, hands-on cooking and eating experiences with Susan Huxter.

At Le Quartier Francais, there is an award-winning fine dining restaurant called the Tasting Room. The Head Chef is Margot Janse who was off celebrating her 40th birthday when we visited but her team managed well in her absence.

We did have a tasting with Chef Neil Jewell (pictured here with Chef Anita Lo) who has charge of the sister restaurant called Bread & Wine. He makes farm cured charcuterie. Divine! They promote this restaurant by saying, "Food with more personality than some people!"

We can't wait to bring you to this magical area when TDF returns in 2010!

Enjoy,

the Forks

No Whining in South Africa’s Cape Winelands

Hello Foodies,

One of the delights of this trip was exploring and tasting our way through a few wineries in the Cape Winelands of South Africa. South Africa is the ninth largest wine producing country in the world. To quote Chef Anita Lo, “South Africa's viticulture is as vibrant as any other wine-making region in the world.”

Only 45 minutes outside of Cape Town, we found our favorite areas – Stellenbosch & Franschhoek. However, I have a feeling if we had visited others, they would have been our favorites too.

In Stellenbosch, we visited Waterford Estate. We met Celler master, Kevin Arnold, and he personally guided us through a unique tasting experience of Waterford’s reserve red and dessert wines paired with custom-made chocolate. This tasting features Waterford’s flagship wine, called The Jem. Kevin’s winemaking expertise and passion was quite evident in how he talked about wine and the winery he co-founded.

If you can find the Jem anywhere in the States, buy it because it truly is!

Enjoy,

the Forks