Connecting the dots.........

David Kinch of Manresa Restaurant in Los Gatos "blew away" Iron Chef America's Bobby Flay in a recent broadcast - I saw it late last night. David is a great fan of Chef Andoni Aduriz of Mugaritz, near San Sebastian. Today we published an article about Andoni and 3 other famous and brilliant Basque Chefs. Juan Mari & Elena Arzak & Martin Berasategui, who we interviewed for On the Menu last fall. We subsequently discovered that Chef Kinch is a huge fan of Chef Aduriz. We were already in the process of trying to arrange a visit to Manresa & an interview with David. More to come.... In the meantime our article is on-line at www.onthemenuradio.com under OTM in Print.

What was Perrier-Jouet thinking?

We love Perrier-Jouet as much as the next Champagne lover. BUT in these days of global financial crisis, collapsing economies AND the focus on GREEN concepts in food & drink, P-J's latest publicity stunt seems so far out of step, we feel compelled to comment. A recent tasting designed to promote a new P-J vintage involved gathering experts from around the world to taste 12 historic champagnes including the legendary "world's oldest surviving" 1825. Does this exercise in conspicious consumption, and rejection of "Carbon footprint" principles seem as out of step with current mores to you as it does to On the Menu. We'd love to know what you think......