The Malaysian Insider :: Food

French whisky makers take on the competition

Posted: 02 Nov 2012 09:40 PM PDT

PARIS, Nov 3 — France is the world's biggest consumer of Scotch whisky per capita, but there are still only a handful of whisky producers. The first, a distillery in Brittany, decided 20 years ago that it would take on the Celtic competition with "Le Whisky".

France did not produce any whisky of its own until Yves Leizour came along.

Twenty years ago, facing falling demand for his traditional liqueurs, Leizour decided to launch France's first whisky distillery.

"Why whisky? It's simple," said Leizour, founder of Warenghem Distillery. "Brittany is part of the Celtic nations. You have whisky in Scotland and in Ireland, so why not in Brittany. That idea is now well-established."

Whisky production in Brittany is really no different from its northern neighbours. But the French challengers say their milder weather gives them the edge.

Said David Roussier, managing director of Warenghem Distillery: "The main difference we have is the climate. We have the sea nearby.

"The humidity is almost like the humidity in Scotland. But we usually get two or three degrees more than in Scotland so the whisky tends to mature a little faster."

And faster maturation means a higher alcohol content when it's time to drink the brew. An undeniable strength.

Said one person of the Warenghem whisky in a vox populi: "It's got character and taste and it's a little... I wouldn't exactly say oily but it's smooth and strong at the same time and it slides down easily."

Said another: "Compared to the whiskies I've known, this one holds its own."

With hundreds of thousands of bottles produced in a year, the Warenghem distillery also holds its own. It may still be tiny compared with the Scottish competition. But Bretons are known for being tenacious. They hope that one day "Le Whisky" will become a global household name. — AFP/Relaxnews

The Gunton Arms named pub of the year

Posted: 02 Nov 2012 07:25 PM PDT

LONDON, Nov 3 — The Gunton Arms, in the village of Thorpe Market in Norfolk county, was crowned "Pub of the Year" by the Michelin Eating out in Pubs 2013 guide, released yesterday.

The pub, which has undergone extensive renovations since 2009, is also a restaurant and an eight-suite luxury hotel.

With traditional British fare as its main inspiration, the menu contains dishes that use seasonal ingredients.

Among them are deep-fried cod cheeks with caper mayonnaise, slow-roast shoulder of lamb with dauphinoise potatoes, Aberdeen Angus beef hung for 28 days, and sausages made from Gunton Estate venison cooked over the fire.

The guide is now available in bookshops and online for £13.99 (RM69). — AFP/Relaxnews

Kredit: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com

Jumaat, 2 November 2012

The Malaysian Insider :: Food

The Malaysian Insider :: Food

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