LOL!

We seem to have turned this into a "help Scarlett find Lillet in America" thread!

Sorry Moldy!

Gramere- Great idea- If we must, we must.

BTW Scarlett, are you coming to Portland soon? Weren't you here last fall? Not that it isn't a lovey enough place to visit in all seasons!

Yes, Thank you and Sorry Moldy!
We should all go to Paris soon and do some shopping!

Yes, we are visiting Portland in a week or two then we will be moving there, the first week in August :D

Now back to <b>French Cafe Classics!</b>

Sorry for the mispelling Grandmere. My grandmother always writes &quot;Grama&quot; because that is what I used to call her as a child, so I guess I am just used to spelling it wrong.

What is hot grog?!

I like to drink &quot;bitter lemon&quot; in England, and I think I remember having it in Paris. It's a tart, not too sweet lemon soda.

Oh, and all apologies accepted. :)

I'm surprised to see that no one has mentioned a drink that friends ordered while we were travelling. I was positively repulsed by it! A Monaco is part beer, part lemon-lime soda and grenadine. I guess I was right with my impression of it!

Without the grenadine, that would be a 'Shandy'.

It's definitely kir royale...cassis and champagne and at the Cafe Flore on Blvd. St.Germain in the 6th district!Their kir royale is as smooth as silk. Happy Travels!

Absolutely loved the citron and orange presses especially when I felt hot and icky. After my thirst was quenched, it was back to Kir Royales.

Picon with white wine or beer (my husband prefers the beer version)
Pousse Rapiere mixed with white wine
the a la menthe fraiche
Pineau de Charentes

I'm looking forward to drinking a nice Belgian or Alsatian beer while in Paris b/c (I know this is sacrilege) I'm not a big wine drinker. Are there any beer drinkers out there and, if so, any recommendations? I really like Belgian Leffe. Is this commonly available at cafes? On tap or in bottles?

Kate

Kronenbourg is made in Alsace and is considered to be a good beer. Lots of advertisements over there for Stella Artois, but not sure where it is made. Quick Google should do it!

Indygirl,
My daughter has had some Cherry Beer in Belgium this past week, she wants to bring it home for us to try!
Cherry beer?

I'm a fan of the presse's as well

Then a cool white wine in a clay pichet (?), one of those heavy wine glasses and a little dish of olives.
Sigh....

Since I have never been able to add enough sugar to a citron presse to make it drinkable, I discovered a pamplemousse presse at Cafe Bonaparte last time I was there. Delicious!

&gt;&gt;Author: BTilke
Date: 06/07/2005, 10:38 am
Picon with white wine or beer (my husband prefers the beer version)
Pousse Rapiere mixed with white wine
the a la menthe fraiche
Pineau de Charentes&lt;&lt;

The only one in the list that I know is the mint tea. Is someone able to describe the other items?

Picon -- wow I haven't had that in years...it is sort of like Campari only sweeter. You mix it with soda or sparkling water or wine or beer (hmmm sounds interesting!) Kind of in the same class as Pimm's cup, also...

Pineau des Charentes is an apertif of Cognac and grape juice, from the Cognac region. Fruity and dry and is unusual in apertifs in having an Appellation Controllee. I learned this from a poster here called cigale.

Hi, machin, hope your wife is better :)
You described pineau very well.
Picon is a gention based digestif like my favorite apertif, suze.
I have not seen it sold here.The Pousse Repiere is from the Ger area and is an armagnec topped with the local sparkling wine called a vin sauvage supposedly to to give strength to a swordsman to withdraw his blade after he had spitted his opponent. A strong drink,!!!