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Southern Comfort's Third Annual 'Tales of the Cocktail'Edited by Madelyn Miller, the TravelLadyIn the city known worldwide for its attention to cuisine, cocktails and unique culture, Southern Comfort announces the third annual Tales of the Cocktail, a three-day event celebrating dining, drinking and the history of the cocktail, on August 18,19 and 20, at various locations in the New Orleans French Quarter.
In the third year, this spirited event promises more than previous years. “Southern Comfort’s Tales of the Cocktail has brought together the top names in mixology in the city that boasts the creation of the cocktail,” said Dale DeGroff, author of The Craft of the Cocktail. DeGroff ran New York’s legendary Rainbow Room bar and was at the forefront of the cocktail revival of the 90s. “This year’s cast of authors, bartenders and chefs is more impressive than ever. I don’t think there is another event in the country that will leave patrons so full – of knowledge and of great food and drink!”
Just as the Southern Comfort Cocktail Tour explores history… with a twist, Southern Comfort’s Tales of the Cocktail celebrates food, drink, culture and history in one of the most fascinating cities in the world. Tales of the Cocktail features six major components:
Spirited Dinners. Seventeen of New Orleans’ oldest and most renowned restaurants will feature a variety of special menus created by an author and chef that complement selected cocktails and spirits. Spirited Dinners will take place on the evening of Thursday, August 18. Film Screening and Discussion. On Friday, August 19, filmmaker Peter Moody will lead a discussion on Hollywood and its fascination with cocktails. Following, a screening of his film, “An Olive And Twist,” will be shown at Antoine’s Restaurant, a popular restaurant for celebrities while in New Orleans.
Mix It Up on Magazine. Mix It Up on Magazine will be free and open to the public, featuring Southern Comfort drinks, shopping and music. This Saturday night event will be the culmination of the three-day celebration.
Restaurants offering Spirited Dinners on Thursday, August 18, include Antoine’s, Arnaud’s, Brennan’s, Broussard’s, Café Giovanni, Cobalt, Court of Two Sisters, Galatoire’s, GW Fins, Girod’s Bistro at Napoleon House, Hunt Room at Hotel Monteleone, La Cote Brasserie, La Louisiane, Louis XVI, Mr. B’s, Muriel’s Jackson Square, Rene Bistro, Tujaque’s and Wolfe’s. The historic Hotel Monteleone will feature a package for guests interested in attending Tales of the Cocktail. The package includes three days/two nights deluxe accommodations, a welcome cocktail (the award-winning Southern Comfortini) at the world famous Carousel Bar, reservations for a Spirited Dinner in the Monteleone’s Hunt Room, and passes to Cocktail Hour. For reservations visit www.hotelmonteleone.com or www.talesofthecocktail.com or call 800-535-9595 and ask for or enter the code COMFORT. For updated information on Southern Comfort’s Tales of the Cocktail 2005, or details on hotel accommodations for the event, visit www.TalesoftheCocktail.com. The Southern Comfort Cocktail Tour explores the famous “spirits” of New Orleans by visiting bars and restaurants such as Galatoire’s, Antoine’s, the Napoleon House and the Carousel Bar in the French Quarter. One of those famous “spirits” is Southern Comfort, which was created in 1874, by M. W. Heron at McCauley’s Tavern on the corner of St. Peter and Richard Streets in the French Quarter. The Southern Comfort Cocktail Tour is inspired by the 2001 book about New Orleans drinking establishments – “Obituary Cocktail,” by Kerri McCaffety. For more information on the Southern Comfort Cocktail Tour, call 504-299-0404 or visit www.southerncomfortcocktailtour.com. Contact Gray Line Tours to reserve a spot on the Southern Comfort Cocktail Tour at 1-800-535-7786 or 504-569-1401 or www.graylineneworleans.com. The Southern Comfort Cocktail tour begins daily at 4 p.m. at the Gray Line Lighthouse. Admission is $24 for adults. Click here to view the 2005 Tales of the Cocktail Schedule of Events For More InformationHELPFUL WEBSITE WHERE TO STAY http://www.sonesta.com/neworleans_chateau/ http://www.travellady.com/Issues/April05/1391WheretoStay.htm Renaissance Arts Hotel WHAT I WISH I HAD KNOWN BEFORE I WENT TO NEW ORLEANS I stayed at a to-be-nameless hotel (not in either of the two hotels recommended above) in the quarter and called down to the front desk because of all the noise. They were prepared. They sent up earplugs. That was not enough. Two sleeping pills and six hours later, I learned there was a long list of people who wanted to change rooms. I waited (and slept) all day in my room waiting for another room, wanting to be sure not to loose my place on that special list. The helpful front desk person told me that more people than usual had called down to complain the night before. BEST PLACES TO EAT Restaurant August (I had to put this at the top of the
list, even though officially the name starts with R because it was my very
favorite. The rest of the restaurants are listed alphabetically) Bacco Cobalt Galatoire’s Herbsaint La Côte Brasserie Muriel’s Ralph’s on the Park Rene Bistrot Red Fish Grill Upperline MOST LITERARY TIME TO PLAN YOUR VISIT BEST FICTIONAL BOOK ABOUT NEW ORLEANS RESTAURANT SCENE BEST PLACE TO GET ONLINE FOR FREE BEST SHOPPING ADVICE BEST LOCAL PLACE TO SHOP Bywater Art Market BEST SPA Several locations and all good for you and the environment.
My manicure lasted for three weeks—a record for this frequent traveler who is
moving luggage constantly and typing on my computer. GREAT GUIDEBOOKS INSIGHT GUIDES NEW ORLEANS ACCESS NEW ORLEANS NEW ORLEANS EATING NEW ORLEANS 2005 NEW ORLEANS RESTAURANTS STORIES IN STONE: A Field Guide to Cemetery Symbolism
and Iconography NEW ORLEANS COOKBOOKS HELPFUL MAP I’ll DRINK TO THAT BEST WALKING TOUR Another Great Tour If you are not familiar with the Segway HT, it is the first self-balancing, electric-powered transporter designed to enhance the productivity of people by increasing the distance they travel and the amount they can carry. The Segway HT uses a breakthrough technology called dynamic stabilization, enabling it to work seamlessly with the body's movements. It operates in any pedestrian environment and is perfect for City Segway Tour purposes. |
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Southern Comfort’s Tales of the Cocktail will welcome
best-selling authors of pop culture, cocktails and cuisine literature to
entertain locals and tourists at a mixture of events, including book signings,
lectures, mixing demonstrations, happy hour and multiple-course dinners at some
of New Orleans most famous bars and restaurants.
“Southern Comfort was created in a French Quarter bar in
1874, and so the brand is committed to exploring this history as well as the
vast amount of history found in the bars and restaurants of New Orleans,” said
Paul Tuell, Vice-President Americas Brand Director for Southern Comfort.
“Southern Comfort’s Tales of the Cocktail is a festive weekend, for the expert
or the amateur, to taste and see an exciting part of New Orleans’ cultural
heritage.”
Panel Discussions, Industry Seminars and Luncheon.
VIP’s of cocktail mixing will lead demonstrations and discussions for the bar
and restaurant industry and the general public. Sessions will include “Spirits
U,” led by Chris Morris of Brown-Forman; a panel discussion on bitters by Phil
Greene, a direct descendant of the 19th century New Orleans pharmacist who
concocted Peychaud's Bitters and is credited with coining the term “cocktail;” a
panel discussion on how to start, run and market a professional bartending
consulting business led by Dale DeGroff; “Shaken Not Stirred,” a lecture by
authors Anistatia Miller and Jared Brown on classic and contemporary cocktails
that anyone can make at home; and “Dine & Design,” a luncheon and demonstration
on party planning and entertaining at Brennan’s Restaurant featuring local
author Beverly Church. The seminars and luncheon will take place on Thursday,
August 18, Friday, August 19, and Saturday, August 20.
Cocktail Hour. Set at the historic Hotel Monteleone
on the evening of Thursday, August 18, Cocktail Hour will be free and open to
the public. Guests can mingle with cocktail book authors; sample signature
cocktails selected by each author and purchase autographed books. Chefs will
mix-up classic dishes using Southern Comfort, and a celebrity bartender will mix
drinks at a specially designed Southern Comfort bar that will be raffled off
during the evening.
VIP Southern Comfort Cocktail Tour. Guests are
invited to take the Southern Comfort Cocktail Tour on Saturday at 4 p.m.,
featuring author Kerri McCaffety, author of “Obituary Cocktail,” the book about
New Orleans drinking establishments on which the tour is inspired; and tour
guide Joe Gendusa. The walking tour takes visitors into the French Quarter to
explore the history of New Orleans’ famous bars and restaurants, the spirits
they are famous for and the stories behind them.
Authors participating in Tales of the Cocktail 2005 include
local authors Beverly Church, John DeMers and Kerri McCaffety. Among others,
authors traveling to New Orleans include Alexandra and Eliot Angle, Jeff Berry,
Ted Breaux, Karen Brooks, Jared Brown, Thomas Connors, Dale DeGroff, Kathy
Hamlin, Ted Haigh, Mittie Helmich, Robert Hess, Marlene & Chuck Koch, Robert
Markel, Anistatia Miller, Robert Plotkin, Chris O’Hara, Adam Rocke, Dianna Seay
and James Waller. Bartender/owner Audrey Saunders of New York, and bitters
historian Phil Greene will also attend to participate in the panel discussions.