Blog Scribbles

Dimitri Lezinska's 3-day gig at Bed Supperclub was a breath of fresh air that changed from the line-up of international DJs we are known for. First of all, because he is not a DJ but a creator of cocktails. Secondly, by the way he looks. If James Blond was black, look no further, that would be him. The man has a perfectly shaved scalp, trimmed beard and he is tall, towering above 6 foot. He has quite a stature, he looks like a character from the movie American Gangster, with the allure of a dandy, well groomed and well spoken. Actually he could have been a member of the French national football team with his French Carribean descent, just like Thierry Henry (although Dimitri is allowed to work with his hands). His name is a heritage from the Polish princess Marie Leczinska, who, after being Queen of France, exiled in Martinique and, as she freed a slave during her stay, it was the tradition that she gave him her patronyme.

So yes, that is his real name. But that is not why he is called the King of Cocktails. As I had the opportunity to meet him during his 3-day passage at Bed Supperclub, I discovered a very knowledgeable, experienced and charming fellow citizen.

To become Global Brand Ambassador for Grey Goose, a brand that puts excellence and quality at the core of their values, must have required some skills and obviously, a lot of charisma. As I mentioned earlier, the man looks impeccable and very stylish. Presentation aside, as a French, he has a very good command of English, something he owes to the decade he spent perfecting his skills in the London bar scene. It must have eliminated scores of other candidates – we all know all French don't speak English. But those weren't the only reasons why he reached the top. Dimi, as he likes to be called, is really passionate about his work and one can feel this passion when he talks about the challenges of pairing food and cocktails or with the enthusiasm he shares when it comes to crystal Martini glasses. I was fascinated to see the alignment of different crystal glasses he has prepared before him. Some had simple shapes whilst others were hand cut with diamond motives. "What is inside is as important as what is outside" he says with a smile before adding "and it's a great topic of conversation at a party". A unique lifestyle experience indeed. Another ustensil that really made me curious was his 500 ml. Yarai Mixing Glass. A relatively tall and wide glass with a spout and ornate thick masculine diamond cuts. Nothing says 'party' more than such a mixing glass with a twisted stirring spoon next to it. Looking at Dimi's working station is also very distinctive of what an accomplished craftsman he is.

For, the man not only has a bright mind – his motto is 'drink better, not more'- but is also extremely skilled and is a perfectionist. As a such he has requested Bed Supperclub outsourced the best Pomegranate juice available. All his fruit juices are as fresh as they can be and that is the reason why his cocktails are so refreshing, perfectly balanced in flavors and look absolutely gorgeous.

One of my favorite was 'La Grande Parade de Paris'. It was grand indeed. Using the pomegranate juice and white egg amongst other ingredients and of course Grey Goose vodka. Simply delicious, fresh, fruity with the right degree of bitterness. It had a deep thick burgundy color and was topped with a impeccable layer of equally thick purple foam. It really was a contemporary experience by its sheer simplicity. A modern cocktail, not by its complexity, or the way it was made, but just by the fact that it was very seductive to the eye and the palate. It didn't require any molecular technique to make it nor any acquired taste to drink it. Needless to say it will be in Bed's cocktail list (probably renamed 'Pour Le Plaisir').

Talk about simplicity, I ask Dimi what is his favorite cocktail. Not surprinsingly he says 'the classic Martini'. Just vodka and dry vermouth, ganished with one olive and a large peel of lemon. Beautiful. He also shares with me that he likes to have the drink without garnish inside the glass, but have 3 olives on the side, one with anchovy, one with red pepper and the last one with blue cheese, all laid on a small rectangular silver tray, naturellement.

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Stumbled over an article about cocktail guys who age their spirits to make vintage cocktails. Pretty popular in Portland, Oregon.

http://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/01/case-study-vintage-cocktails/?src=tmcolum

Cocktails bars in Paris are rare. Good cocktail bars are an exception in a city known for cafés and wine drinkers. Parisians are not very unconventional either, to say the least, when it comes to drinking habits. Proud as they are of their wine, they consider that the sheer simplicity, of only choosing wine, is masking the complexity of the variety of wines to chose from. For, Parisians need to know where the product is coming from before they delectably throw it down their throat. Choosing a wine being the national sport, choosing a cocktail is pure exploration (and full of risks). God knows Parisians are not explorers. So what is left for them is simply to copy those of their peers who dared exploring. That explains why the cocktail du jour is the Mojito. So yes, Parisians do drink cocktails but that would be just Mojitos. There is a real Mojito mania in town: every café and restaurant are now introducing their own recipe. I predict this trend is here for at least another quarter of a century, undoubtedly. Not really a revolution per se but definitely a great cultural leap forward: They drink cocktails!

That is probably the reason why Paris is now seeing the emergeance of a few good cocktail bars in town. Make no mistake, we're talking about less than there can be fingers in one hand. And there are even fewer good cocktail guys. I am talking about real, passionate fantastic technicians and creators. They're all very young and prolific for they belong to a new breed of bartenders. Even fewer of them are entrepreneurs who have decided to risk opening a cocktail bar in a city where new food and beverage concepts are abhorred. Such is the case of the people behind the PRESCRIPTION cocktail bar located in rue Mazarine a few steps away from the iconic ALCAZAR cabaret, in the posh and arty Saint-Germain area.

Like any good Parisian bar, the place is tiny and there is no sign in the street. The facade is pitch black and the only design element is a brown and beige striped marquee above the door. The theme of the design is a kind of Sherlock Holmes library meets cabinet of curiosity, with old-fashioned wallpapers, dark brown velvet sofas and there is even a bordeaux brick stone wall (the ultimate New York bar signature) at the lounge on the ground floor. Every thing there is old-fashioned (risk-free so to speak in innovation allergic Paris). The drinklist is printed in a single sheet of beige paper and the fonts used are a mix of edwardian scripture and engraver's lettering. There is also a nice finger food selection printed on a separate menu. Cool detail: the champagne bucket is an oversized stainless steel derby hat. Although the cocktail list has all the classics, I wish there were more creamy selections to balance the all sweet and sour direction.

Now the ambiance. The best time to catch the real buzz of the bar is to go on the weekend obviously. There is a bouncer at the door which means you could be told "private party" if you are not well-groom and dressed chic. The ealry evening crowd is made of a preppy anglo-saxon crowd – expect the best looking american women in Paris to sip a drink there, most certainly hailing from NYC (is it the brick wall?). Although I suspect the decor partially explains their presence, but on top of great cocktails there are also a very good selection of young Parisians to look at. As the clock goes past midnight, the bar is filled with more locals since the NYC girls left  to catch the last metro. Such crowd in a small place is also not very convenient to get a drink swiflty. So you have to order at the bar, and wait which is a great way to break the ice with your neighbour. The atmosphere is very casual and intimate and a DJ on the first floor is laying down a good party vibe. All the waitresses are styled similarly in a chic creamy rock glam attitude and the garcons wear a white shirt with black tie and black vest. Although I wished the debit was faster (complex cocktails are not as profitable to make as a standard drink since they are very labor intensive) those who are impatient can chose directly from the vast worldwide selections of single malts and whiskeys on the shelves.

Do not expect to meet the owners on the weekend they are probably busy at their other cocktail joint, THE EXPERIMENTAL. But that's the subject of another blog. The bar closes at 2 am.

One of the things I wish we had is a permanent outdoor lounging deck. The thought of seeing dazzling looking men & women mingling and chillin' to the sound of chill out music, sipping a glass of cocktail simply excites me.

What can I say, I'm a big fan of all things outdoor and lucky for me, 'Moet & Chandon Champagne Garden,' is right at our regular parking lot. (more…)

I personally feel that what makes Bed Supperclub the way it is has to do with people that are both behind the scene and well in front of the scene. Let's have a look at some of the staff that you've seen around Bed Supperclub but might not know who they are yet. (more…)

Google, google, google, if I could I would love to take Google, plant it in my brain and maybe have a little button on my fingertip where I can press search and everything can just magically synchronized in my somewhat lazy Sunday brain. I was half way through with the invitation list for this Thursday's party when Google drove me from one site to another and I couldn't help but to be distracted by a shiny all-about-cocktails blog called, 'Intoxicated Zodiac.'

Recipes for all Astrological Signs, now that's something fun, interesting, and it's totally something I can relate to! (more…)