Archived Article By Tom Fitzmorris Originally published November 15, 2007 First French Wine Of The 2007 Vintage Beaujolais Nouveau Arrives Today The Thursday before Thanksgiving is the traditional date for the worldwide release of Beaujolais Nouveau, the fun little wine whose appearance every fall marks the premiere of the new vintage of French wine. For the past eleven years, the Louisiana chapter of the French-American Chamber of Commerce has held a big party on Beaujolais Nouveau day. Not only do you get a chance to taste a number of the new wines, but almost every French chef in the city shows up with food to go along with it. This year's Le Beaujolais Wine and Food Festival is tonight from six till nine p.m. at The Foundry, Chef Horst Pfeifer's great party room in the Warehouse District (333 St. Joseph Street). Here are the restaurants who'll be there serving food: Bayona Château du Lac La Côte Brasserie Café Degas Flaming Torch Bistro 38 Dominique’s The Pelican Club Riche Eleven 79 Begue’s Maurice French Pastries Croissant d’Or St. James Cheese Company There's music (by a band called "Vavavoom!") and a few short speeches (of course), and a live auction of about six items, including a couple of hotel and meal packages in France. I'm the master of ceremonies this year, so I'll try to keep all this short. The price is $80 per person. You can buy tickets at the door. Beaujolais Nouveau is not a great wine, but it is fun to welcome it. (More about it later in the newsletter.) Let's toast the new vintage together, shall we? © 2007 Tom Fitzmorris. All rights reserved. news@nomenu.com