FYI..Wine drinkers of the world , unite...

Author and journalist Christopher Hitchens has launched a scathing attack on restaurants and sommeliers, calling them "barbaric','rude' and 'boors'. Is Hitchens beating the right drum here? Cheers, Rick

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Reply to
Rick
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I agree with his general point, but he seems a little overwrought. Just say "thanks, leave the bottle, I'll handle the pouring."

Reply to
DaleW

Many restaurants and clubs seem to think part of their expensive service is to do everything for you up to, but not including, pre- chewing of your food :-). I do not see as much of this in the US as in earlier times, likely because the added staff needed for such details is too expensive except in the most expensive restaurants. Many years ago it was a bit different and far more common. I well remember a club in Houston that some friends took me to on a trip there over 30 years ago. People still smoked cigarettes at the tables then. The club had two "cigarette" waiters, dressed in tuxedos, that kept a close eye on the room and would rush across the room to light a cigarette if they saw anyone starting to remove a cigarette from a pack.

Reply to
cwdjrxyz

Hitchens makes some good points.

I've met sommeliers who know a lot more about wine than I do and can talk knowledgeably about it and or those who don't know much about wine a good sommelier can be really helpful.

For those who know what they like some sommeliers may appear intrusive and arrogant.

The ones I detest are the intrusive ones described by Hitchens and those typical dudes and dudines whose only job it seems is to flog the pricey bottles and over pour to sell more wine - often with no regard to guests' wallets or sobriety.

Have you ever noticed that sommeliers never recommend inexpensive wines?

PS as for intrusiveness - I've been to restaurants lately where you are still interrupted by wait staff wielding giant pepper grinders and parmesan pots. I though they'd gone out with avocado vinaigrette.

Cheers! Martin

Reply to
Martin Field

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Reply to
DaleW

IanH wrote on Sat, 31 May 2008 19:28:25 +0200:

As others have mentioned, my major objection is over-solicitous waiters who refill glasses without asking. Sometimes you don't notice in time stop them from pouring for people who do not wish any more. It seems a bit crass or distasteful to pour from one glass to another. I suppose a wine waiter or sommelier might wish to bring attention to a noteworthy wine but I prefer not to have advice unless I ask for it.

I guess the restaurants that I frequent are no longer the type but I never really liked the custom of a sommelier trying the wine using a little saucer hanging from a chain around their neck. Has the custom died and if not, what is the correct name for the little dish?

Reply to
James Silverton

We had the exact issue in Santa Fe. So we move the bottle from the edge of the table. They also want to keep refilling the glasses so you will end up drinking faster and buy another bottle.

Reply to
Lawrence Leichtman

It's not just that people may not want any more. We don't all drink at the same rate. If my wife and I share a bottle and I drink faster than she does, such a waiter will end up unfairly dividing the bottle so that I get more than she does.

Reply to
Ken Blake

The little dish is called a "tastevin," here is the Wikipedia article:

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And yes, it has pretty much died out for practical as well as for sanitary reasons.

pavane

Reply to
pavane

pavane wrote on Sun, 1 Jun 2008 17:41:19 -0400:

|> I guess the restaurants that I frequent are no longer the |> type but I never really liked the custom of a sommelier |> trying the wine using a little saucer hanging from a chain |> around their neck. Has the custom died and if not, what is |> the correct name for the little dish?

Well I'll be damned! So that's what is a Tastevin!

Reply to
James Silverton

At the brew pubs in Cologne and Dusseldorf, they don't ask if you want another beer, and will actually replace your glass with a fresh, full one even if you still have a small amount of beer left. Solution? Place the beer mat on top of your glass and they leave it alone. And yes, until you suss this trick, you drink more and faster than you probably intended to.

Dave

Reply to
Dave Devine

Oh, yes. 100%.

Andrew.

Reply to
Andrew Haley

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