Foodies: Do you order an aperitif? If so, what?
 

Ok, we're leaving for Paris for the umpteenth time, and I have decided this trip that I'm going full French. We usually don't get an aperitif because we're not big drinkers. We usually order our meal and ask for help in choosing our wine.<BR><BR>Well, this time, I'd like to do it "their" way. I know I can order a Kir, but I don't really like that. What are the variety of things we could order?

If they have it, try a vin de noix or a vin de p&ecirc;che. I never used to order ap&eacute;ritifs, or if I did it was a kir also, but these regional vins have changed my habits. No more kirs for me...

Ooh, St. Cirq, that sounds good. Tell, do some people over there just order a glass of wine wine or a glass of champagne to start?

Amy: There's an incredible variety of ap&eacute;ritifs, and by all means try them all. There are things like Lillet, which is an herbal alcoholic drink which is subtle and delicious. There are the various wines I spoke of. And of course you can order champagne by the glass. They will all be listed in the menu - go for it!

Campari (which I know is Italian) is good with soda water for a refreshing drink, especially in warm weather.

Oh la la! I love lillet.

What does Lillet taste like? StCirq described it as herbal. Is there something comparable in US?

Amy: NO, I've never encountered anything like it in the USA. You just have to try it (like the rest of the ap&eacute;ritifs in France - go for it). It's a bit licoricey, but mostly like white wine with an herbal taste, not a harsh herbal taste but a mild one.<BR>Just peruse the menu and pick out some exotic ap&eacute;ritif and order it. I finally got around to doing this after years of traveling in France and discovered that I absolutely LOVED to start my meal with a vin de p&ecirc;che or vin de noix. It's like infusions - the French have a zillion of them, and they are all absolutely delicious.

Amy, you can get Lillet in the US. I've had it at Chez Panisse in Berkeley and at Mixx in Santa Rosa. Haven't tried other places, but it's not unknown here. I would love to buy some!

Beverages & More used to carry Lillet. I haven't been in there for a while, so I don't know if they still do. It's lovely.

Thanks, Barb. Will check out our local BevMo.

Me again. I checked their web site and not only do they have Lillet, but they will send it to you! www.bevmo.com, then type Lillet in the advanced search box. It's $14.99 a bottle.

I just last week had a lovely kir in Paris made with Apricot liqueur (vin blanc avec abricot liqueur), and it is delicious.<BR><BR>I also buy Lillet here in the states Iit's wonderful over ice with a twist), and while the ingredients are different, Lillet blanc reminds me of Dubonnet blanc.<BR><BR>A votre sante!<BR>Denyse

Martini bianco or Cardinal melone<BR><BR>Try them..

Pastis: it has an aniseed (licorice) flavor, similar to greek ouzo, but light green or amber colored. Cheap and refreshing. Try it at least once. Some love it, some can't even stand the smell.<BR>Or Picon au vin blanc. <BR>You do not need to be "a big drinker " to enjoy an ap&eacute;ritif. A good one does exactly what the word means: it "opens", i.e. enhances your appetite.

Here's one: <BR>Pineau de Charentes. It is sweet, served chilled, and makes an interesting aperitif.<BR><BR>If you live in a city with a good liquor store, you can buy a bottle and try it--in New York it goes for $12-$14 per large bottle.

We love Prosecco. A dry Italian sparkling white wine. Similar to champagne, just a little lighter. Bon Appetite

Gin martini on the rocks with olives.<BR><BR>

My drink of choice is a SUZE, a gentian drink tasting like Campari. Suze is not available in the USA.

To start lunch or sinner: un coup de champagne, of course. Gives one time to consider the wine list and get that started, with some decent glasses delivered. Probably at better places, an amusee bouche to nibble on while perusing the menu or board. But certainly champagne to start.

Whoops, not sinner, dinner. Getting ahead of myself, but both do come after champagne, and go very nicely with it. Hmmm, maybe I got it right the first time! If you're with that special someone and wine doesn't send them napping.

Perol or Campari and soda. Aperol is a little sweeter, less bitter than Campari.

Sorry..not Perol it's Aperol! In Venice and Florence they called it a "spritz".

Outside of Paris, I always ask what the local or house apertif is and always order it.

Un coup de champagne ... I don't think I would like that! (un coup = a slap)<BR>OK if you make it une coupe de champagne.

My partner does the ordering, and she prefers the male version. Un coup, une coupe, je l'aime tout le meme (circumflex, of course!).

Amy,<BR><BR>Definatly try Lillet, my friend drinks it all the time here at home and it is very unusual. <BR><BR>I also like a Kir royal which uses champagne instead of wine.<BR><BR>Others to try would be Dubonnet and Pernod.<BR><BR>Why not try a different one each night? I'm jealous!

Pernod before dinner, well, if you love the risk, and you can endure the looks from that waiter of yours. One writer used to say Pernod would lift you fast and drop you farther twice as fast. Better leave it for Deux Magots or La Flore, and you can duplicate the 20's, with a pitcher of ice and water to make it milky. Late at night may be best, the last thing before you toddle home to recover for the next day. Just a suggestion from a long timer on the Pernod road.

Pastis or a 'demi' (1/2 carafe) of cold house white wine.<BR><BR>

Depends what country I am in, of course, but my faves so far were the Kir and the Prosecco.

RnR , no, you are so wrong, on a hot summer day there is nothing like a pastis, better yet drunk in Provence. My favorite brand is Henri Bardouin, a little more pricy but I like the taste. This is something we drink all summer.<BR>In Provence they also serve it mixed with almond syrup.

Champagne cocktails, always my darlings.

You guys sound like a bunch of snoots (especially RnR). Jesus, just drink what you like and quit trying to impress the waiter and whomever is seated around you! It doesn't matter "what they" think is an appropriate aperitif.

That's "whoever," OinK, not "whomever." Back to school for you....

Oh, don't worry, Oink. I, the original poster, am truly enjoying this. Especially since I know squat about aperitifs. Hope I get more suggestions.<BR><BR>

GrammarMaven.....I can just see you now, sipping your aperitifs, smug attitude and continually correcting your table mates. I bet you're a real pleasure to have as a friend - NOT !!!!<BR><BR>LMAO

Oink, please be nice to GrammarMaven. I think it would be very nice to have enough knowledge (although wardrobe might be a problem) of the proper aperitif and proper French grammar to sit at Fouquet's and look snooty. <BR><BR>I'm just hoping that after the aperitif I can still pronounce "whoever."<BR><BR>My new question is: What isn't overpoweringly sweet out of these suggestions? Be gentle with me...remember that out of all these suggestions, I only know champagne, Kir, Kir Royale, and of course, the various whites. My original post declaimed my ignorance; this follow-up is determined to maintain it!<BR><BR>I'm looking for the least sweet.<BR><BR>(Yes, there is a Le Fouquet's story. Can you believe that first time I took kids to Paris, I stupidly and unknowingly chose that place for a snack so we could use the restroom. Let's just say the staff was amused. When I win lottery, have perfect command of the French language, know all my aperitifs, and am on speaking terms with French elite, plan to drop in again).

Here are a few suggestions and some that I love:<BR><BR>-Anis<BR>-Pernod (Aniseed liquor)<BR>-Ricard(Pastis)<BR>-Byrrh