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It’s that time of year again! The French love to hate Beaujolais wine but they love to celebrate the Beaujolais nouveau, which is the bottle of choice to be consumed in large quantities in the name of celebrating the grape harvest — in spite of the fact that no one seems to like it very much. The Beaujolais feast tends to fall right around Thanksgiving and is not too different than our American holiday when you consider that both turkey and wine tend to make people excited, then happy, then very sleepy.
Below you’ll find some recommended places to celebrate this boozy event in NYC, California and Texas. Have another suggestion? Tell us about it in the comments section and maybe next year we’ll add it to our list!
CALIFORNIA:
Beaujolais Passions 2014
The Castaway restaurant in Burbank has partnered with the famous maker of Beaujolais nouveau Georges Duboeuf to bring you the total package: French food, a cabaret show, dancing and, of course, drinks. For $20 participants can enjoy a glass of the wine in question with a plate of hors d’oeuvres, check out the show and stroll a French marketplace. $50 gets you the VIP deal: a full meal and reserved seats. It all goes down on Friday, november 21st from 7pm-midnight.
The Castaway
1250 Harvard Rd.
Burbank, CA, 91501
The Alliance Française of Pasadena
Want to celebrate the Beaujolais nouveau in a more subdued atmosphere? Stop by the Alliance Française in Pasadena for a screening and lecture as part of an Alain Resnais retrospective and enjoy wine and hors d’oeuvres provided by Georges Duboeuf. $10 per person or free for members.
7pm-9pm, Sunday, November 23rd
Alliance Française de Pasadena
34 E Union Street
Pasadena, CA 91103
To reserve a seat email [email protected]
Café Beaujolais
When it comes to this Eagle Rock haunt the name says it all. Get the menu — trust us. And reserve your seat ASAP as seats are limited.
5pm-9:30pm, Thursday, November 20
Café Beaujolais
1712 Colorado Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90041
For reservations call: 323-255-5111
The Wine Country
Stuck in traffic? The wine bar The Wine Country is right up your alley with a new commuter tasting. For $10 per person you can taste 5 wines in addition to the Beaujolais nouveau and relax until traffic clears up (in moderation of course).
4:30pm-6:45pm, Thursday, November 20
2301 Redondo Ave.
Signal Hill, CA 90755
L’Arlequin
This wine seller in San Francisco has organized a tasting of no fewer than 24 different Beaujolais wines. $35 per person.
6pm-8pm, Thursday, November 20
384 Hayes Street
San Francisco
(415) 863 1104
Le P’tit Laurent
Don’t forget to eat! This delightful French restaurant has a fantastic menu paired with Beaujolais nouveau for the occasion. A little jazz concert beginning at 6:30 and you’re in business.
5:30pm-10pm, Thursday, November 20
699 Chenery Street, San Francisco
(415) 334-3235 – Reservations
San Francisco Wine Trading Company
Try Beaujolais Nouveau from three different domaines (and then take some home?) at this wine store on Taraval Street.
San Francisco Wine Trading Company
250 Taraval Street
San Francisco
(415) 731 6222
Alliance Française of Sillicon Valley
Sillicon Valley wine fans patient enough to wait until December 5th can try offerings from three French producers who will present their wines from 6pm-8pm, followed by a screening of Bottle Shock, a film that tells the story of how California wine outshone French wine during a blind taste test in 1979.
December 5th at 6pm
555 Waverly Street
Palo Alto, CA
(408) 445 2095 – Tickets
Alliance Française of Berkeley
The Berkeley Alliance Française offers conversation and Beaujolais over potluck. Don’t forget to bring a bottle and/or a dish to share! All Francophones and Francophiles are welcome!
6:30pm-8:30pm, Friday 21
Alliance Française de Berkeley
2004 Woolsey Street
Berkeley
Free! – More info here
(510) 548 7481
Showcase Café at Sonoma County Fairgrounds
Just north of San Francisco you can celebrate the Beaujolais Nouveau with a buffet, dessert and especially dancing. You can even start your Christmas shopping since gift baskets will be available for purchase.
6pm-11pm, Friday, November 21st
Showcase Café at Sonoma County Fairgrounds
1350 Bennett Valley Rd.
Santa Rosa
$55 per single entry, $600 for a VIP table
Alliance Française of Napa Valley
For $20-$30 the Napa Valley Alliance Française is offering wine casting and jazz with charcuterie and chefs also on the menu. de la Napa Valley organise une soirée jazz et dégustation, le 22 novembre de 19 à 21h, au Napa Yacht Club.
Napa Yacht Club
7pm-9pm, Saturday November 22nd
100 Riverside Dr
Napa – Tickets Here
TEXAS:
The Alliance Française of Austin
This festival has become an essential event for celebrating the Beaujolais nouveau. For $45 ($38 for members) you can taste the 2014 edition and eat a delicious meal while listening to Chico Chico, a jazz band whose specialty is Django Reinhardt standards and popular 30s Parisian hits.
9pm-10pm, Thursday, November 20
Flour and Vine Restaurant
300 S Lamar Blvd.
Austin, TX
***SOLD OUT!***
French American Chamber of Commerce of Houston
The Beaujolais and Red Carpet even will give your the chance to taste dishes from 15 different Houston restaurants prepared be renowned chefs and accompanied by French wine, bien sûr.
Houston Hilton Post Oak
2001 Post Oak Blvd.
Houston, TX
Online reservations $69, $49 for members; $104 for a VIP room
Prices at the door are $80, $60 for members and $115 for a VIP room
The French American Chamber of Commerce of Dallas/Fort Worth
The Beaujolais and Beyond Wine Festival has food, wine, and even artisanal beer, but the best part is that you get to play dress-up. That’s right: you are hereby required to slip on a sexy dress or a dapper suit and become Brigitte Bardot or Cary Grant for a night (or just dig up a beret).
7pm-9:30pm, Friday, November 21
Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas
500 West Las Colinas Blvd.
Irving, TX
$65 per person, or $60 per person for a group of more than 4 people
$55 for members of the FACC
Tickets at the door: $70
NEW YORK:
An Evening with Franck Duboeuf
In case you were wondering where the New York Beaujolais nouveau festivities officially begin, it’s at the TriBeCa Rooftop where the Georges Duboeuf brand along with Second Glass will do a ceremony midnight opening of numerous bottles. $50 per person.
It all begins at 7pm and ends at 1am the following morning.
TriBeCa Rooftop
2 Desbrosses Street
New York, NY
French American Chamber of Commerce
The French American Chamber of Commerce New York is celebrating Beaujolais with not one but two évents. First, a tasting at Clarkson restaurant and then a meal (yes, there’ll be more wine) at Cercle Rouge. $40 for members, $65 for non-members. Tickets here: http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?ca=d06ae93a-eecd-4edf-9a86-1e89541223ea&c=f6099a10-51e2-11e3-af0b-d4ae52754055&ch=f66cc8b0-51e2-11e3-af5b-d4ae52754055
6pm-8pm, Thursday November 20
225 Varick Street
7pm
241 West Broadway
Beaujolais and Diplomacy
Here is where all the French diplomate will be hanging out over a glass of red. But for $10 you can comme too.
6pm at the World Bar
1st Ave between 47th and 48th
New York
Other restaurants celebrating in the Big Apple
– OCabanon This French restaurant in Chelsea will be celebrating from the 20th until the 23 of November with pétanque, dance, and a wheel of fortune.
– Carroll Gardens’ (Brooklyn) favorite French eatery Provence en boîte will feature a special menu to go with the Beaujolais
– The legendary Tout Va Bien always fills up so be sure to make a reservation
– The Vin sur Vingt at the Nomad Hotel is also offering a spécial menu with jazz on Thursday November 20th from 8pm until 9pm
