Walkabout 2014 Day 9: Reims and Biking

For those wondering, day 8 was spent traveling from Berlin to the ‘dorf and then from the ‘dorf to Reims.  So, not much worth taking pictures.

On to Day 9.  We headed out from the hotel on bicycle to Mailly, then Chigny and finally Rilly.

 

Champagne Houses Visited

• Charles de Cazanove – Near our hotel in Reims.  It was ok.  A good way to start the day.
• Christian Muller – Friendly with some very nice champagnes.  The better choice of the two houses across from each other in Mailly.
• Mailly Grand Cru – Another Ok champagne.  The tasting room was so quiet you could hear a cork drop.  Go to Muller across the street for better experience and wine.
• Pascal Mazet – The major find of the day.  Family run house.  So friendly and spoke virtually no English.  Excellent champagne.  But they only make 16,000 bottles a year.
• Michel Fagot – With Alain Suisse, the pinnacle of craft Champagne.  So far.

Walkabout 2013 Day 5: Reims back to Düsseldorf

There was not much left to do in Reims before heading back to Düsseldorf but swing by the Cathedral and wonder how it was possible to build such a thing in the 1200s.  Oh, and Germany has funny city names.

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Walkabout 2013 Day 4: Reims, Épernay and Cumières

I believe it is safe to say I have never had more Champagne than I had today.  With visits to three more Champagneries and two Champagne bars, it’s doubtful I’ll ever come close to drinking this much bubbly for the rest of my mortal days.

Champagneries* visited.

• Domaine Pommery (OK)
• Champagne Daniel Etienne (OK)
• Champagne Alain Suisse (Excellent)

Alas, today was the last day of Champagnerie visits.  If everyone promises no to alert US Customs, I’ll tell you that I’ll be bringing back seven bottles of Champagne and one bottle of Ritafia.  So I hope everyone is thirsty.

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* I’m making it a thing.

Eating Reims: Côté Cousine

The first official dinner of Walkabout 2013 was at Côté Cousine in Reims.  Dinner there was strong to quite strong.

An amuse bouche of salmon soufflé and avocado.

 

My Starter: Duck foie gras.  While it was very good, it was but the second best foie gras of the weekend.

To continue with my desire to maximize the cruelty in my meal, I went with the veal chop.  Sorry Lindsay.

Dessert: Gormand Café

Walkabout 2013 Day 2: Düsseldorf to Reims

After flying into the dorf at 6am, there was not much that happened on day 1 besides napping, so there was no report.  Although I did have a very tasty bahn mi.

So on to day 2.

Apparently the town is pronounced Rans.  WTF.  The French don’t pronounce half their letters and the other half they don’t even pronounce correctly.  The day was highlighted by a great meal at Cote Cousine and drinking followed by more drinking and then more drinking.

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