World’s 50 Best Bars 2012 - the crème de la crème of the industry

Every bar aspires to be exceptional, have something unique that clients desire and seek. Be it an amazing hospitality and service, cocktail menu, décor or a seducing atmosphere. This year’s awards ceremony of the World’s 50 Best Bars once again honoured those who made it reality.

It took place on the 10^th of October and was one of the highlights of the London Cocktail Week, an excellent opportunity to see and taste through what is new in the drinks industry. 

The Sommelier’s Commandments

Tastevin

Even if sommeliers have been around for a very long time, this profession is often misunderstood. The truth is that sommeliers guarantee the quality of wine served in the restaurants and perhaps even more importantly, encourage customers to leave their gastronomic comfort zones, try new pairings and indulge in new sensory experiences. And this is not only wine but also spirits, beer, tea, coffee, olive oil, water and more that a good sommelier can advise on.

The key issues affecting the drinks industry today and into the near future

The drinks industry is a very dynamic one; it evolves constantly in order to satisfy the ever-increasing expectations of consumers while facing multiple challenges along the way.
Given the enormous variety of products and socioeconomic factors around the world, the issues at heart of the drinks industry may vary by region or product.

A visit to the World’s Best Cocktail Bar

Only those who aim high can triumph. This concept is very appropriate for the Connaught Bar. When it was reopened in 2008, after almost two years of restoration work, their goal was to become the world’s best cocktail bar. They achieved it in just four years. In 2012 they were awarded the title of the World's Best Cocktail Bar at the Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans. Unparalleled elegance and refinement in the world’s capital city of mixology, bars and cocktails.

(Scroll down to view the original text in Spanish)

Shortlisted for the Wines of Portugal Sommelier Challenge!

Source: imbibe.com

I’m very happy to announce that in the recent challenge organized by Wines of Portugal in association with Imbibe magazine, my Portuguese food and wine pairing was among the ten finalists.

Many thanks to the judging panel and congratulations to all the shortlisted!

Below, the pairing (complete version) and some images along with an extract from the magazine.

Natural wine – a quest for balance

For a while now organic and biodynamic wines have been gradually gaining ground shoulder to shoulder with slow food and healthy lifestyle.

Even though this trend may be perceived as a novelty, only few decades back there was practically no need to look for an organic shop or market where one could get groceries that not only, though not necessarily, looked good but also tasted great.

Gradual changes in agriculture and food processing and switching from traditional to science based approach have lead to substantial reduction of nature’s control over the process. It’s safe to say though that using latest scientific achievements in this area is justified as long as it doesn’t translate into poor quality and tasteless commercial mass production.

But let’s stick to wine.

Fruit, coffee and chocolate – a versatile autumn wine selection from South Africa

Six wines from three different regions of SA in a late summer garden tasting.