St Germain Liqueur

One of my new favorite things...St Germain liqueur. I am buying a bottle on my next trip to Paris. I tasted this lovely elderflower liqueur mixed with Champagne and lemon juice at the Viceroy Hotel Bar in Palm Springs this past weekend. Love at first sip! Kind of like a Margarita but not as sour and a touch of flowery flavor. Hard to describe, just give me another round!

By the way, I highly recommend a drink at the swanky bar of the Viceroy in Palm Springs. Diego, the GM of the hotel, runs a beautiful place.

CHAMPAGNE CHAMPAGNE CHAMPAGNE!!!

J'adore le champagne! I love champagne...

And I'm a stickler for making sure when I ask for champagne, I am not being served sparkling wine. There is a difference. I also love all the different type of glasses this fabulous beverage is served in...that aside.

As you know, champagne is only made in France and since I'll be spending my birthday in France this year, I've already asked my friends to order me a case from a local producer to be chilled and ready for consumption upon my arrival. I can't wait! Fresh baguettes, beurre au fleur de sel, jambon de bayonne

( more on all that later! ). This article is a fun description of what I am talking about:

http://www.foodandwine.com/articles/triumph-of-small-champagne-growers

A LITTLE HISTORY AND INTERESTING FACTS ON CHAMPAGNE and THE WORD 'CHAMPAGNE'

There are many sparkling wines produced worldwide, yet most legal structures reserve the term champagne exclusively for sparkling wines from the Champagne region, made in accordance with Comité Interprofessionel du Vin de Champagne regulations. In the European Union and many other countries, the name champagne is legally protected by the Treaty of Madrid (1891) designating only the sparkling wine produced in the eponymous region and adhering to the standards defined for it as an Appellation d'origine contrôlée; the right was reaffirmed in the Treaty of Versailles after World War I. This legal protection has been accepted by numerous other countries worldwide.

Assez!!! Let's toast to health, love and wealth !