NOLADrinks Show – 12-3-18 – South African Wine for the Holidays – Réveillon Tradition in NOLA

On this week’s show, we’re talking about the holidays! We chat about how wines from South Africa are ideal for your holiday table and events. We also discuss the tradition and history of réveillon dinners in New Orleans and how you can catch one in its modern iteration this month!

Pictured above from left – Bryan Dias of The NOLADrinks Show and Jim Clarke of Wines of South Africa at Bar Frances in New Orleans.

NOLADrinks Show – 12-3-18 – South African Wine for the Holidays – Réveillon Tradition in NOLA

We start things off letting you know about this week’s show. We also briefly mention a free flu shot drive and wellness event for members of the hospitality industry taking place on December 7 at Courtyard Brewery put on by 504 HealthNet.

Then, we have our first of two featured interviews on this show. We welcome back Jim Clarke of Wines of South Africa. This time around, we discuss how South African wines are a great choice for your holiday meals and events. We mention some pairing ideas, the great value proposition these wines present, and more.

Thanks to our friends at Bar Frances for hosting us for this interview!

In our second featured interview, we head over to the Public Belt bar located in the Hilton Riverside in downtown New Orleans. Our theme for this conversation is the fascinating story of réveillon dinners as they existed in the latter half of 20th and early 21st centuries in New Orleans. We talk about the history of this Creole tradition, overnight dinners on Christmas and New Year’s, that largely disappeared from the landscape in its original form.

However, these days, there is a modern incarnation put on by our friends at French Quarter Festivals, Inc. (FQFI). The tradition was reborn in recent years where you can now enjoy a prix fixe meal at numerous restaurants around town throughout the month of December. There’s also “Réveillon on the Rocks,” which brings a cocktail angle to the fun. We let you know how you can grab a great meal and participate in the (new) réveillon tradition!

We’re joined in this discussion by Louisiana State Museum historian, Dr. Karen Leathem, FQFI food and beverage manager, Heather Twichell, and Hilton Riverside food and beverage director, Randy Piebes.

Pictured at left, from left – Bryan Dias of The NOLADrinks Show, Karen Leathem of the Louisiana State Museum, Heather Twichell of French Quarter Festivals, Inc., and Randy Piebes of the Public Belt and Hilton Riverside, New Orleans.

In our podcast-only portion of the show – “Another Shot with NOLADrinks” – we first continue our chat on the réveillon tradition. We touch on what one might find on the menus and more on the history. Then, Jim of Wines of South Africa rejoins us to talk about how wines from that region work well on restaurant wine lists due to the variety and variation of style and friendly price-points.

We close things out with our “Parting Shot” talking about remembering to take care of those who are taking care of you when you’re dining or drinking out over the holidays.

You can subscribe to, stream, and download The NOLADrinks Show podcast using the player and links at the top of the post. The map below shows the location of Bar Frances and the Public Belt bar in the Hilton Riverside hotel.

Cheers, You All!

~ Bryan