Celebrate Beaujolais Nouveau

It’s the third Thursday in November and that means -- ta-da!-- Beaujolais Nouveau hot off the plane from France. It’s the first wine of the vintage and all over France and rest of the world folks are celebrating with the new arrival. We’re doing it in Los Angeles, too. Here’s a sampling of Beaujolais Nouveau events:

• Celebrate Beaujolais Nouveau 2012 at Thomas Keller’s Bar Bouchon on Thursday through Sunday. With that glass of juicy Gamay wine, you can feast on charcuterie, Beaujolais Nouveau-braised chicken, steak tartare and an artisanal cheese plate followed by the lovely poire Belle Hélène (pears with chocolate sauce) or a wedge of Tarte Tatin. Reservations only for groups of eight or more. Bar Bouchon, 235 N. Canon Drive, Beverly Hills, (310) 271-9910.
• Savvy boutique wine shop Domaine LA has scheduled a Beaujolais Nouveau tasting for Sunday featuring “three of our favorite Nouveaux and many other truly awesome Beaujolais.” Chef Kris Yenbamroong of Night+Market tweeted that he’ll be doing the food (small bites) for the event. Sounds like a great combination. The shop’s website has a full listing of Beaujolais in the tasting. Domaine LA, 6801 Melrose Avenue (between N. Orange Drive and N. Mansfield Ave.), Los Angeles, (323) 932-0280.
• Brasserie Pascal in Newport Beach celebrates with a Beaujolais Nouveau dinner through Wednesday. A three-course Lyonnaise-style menu with a half-bottle of Beaujolais Nouveau is included in the $45 per person tariff. You get several choices for first course (charcuterie, warm garlic sausage or poached farm eggs in Beaujolais bacon sauce on country toast, salade Lyonnaise) and main course (Beaujolais coq au vin, white fish quenelle dumpling in lobster sauce, or beef onglet with shallot sauce). Dessert is a sampling of isle flottante (floating island), chocolate mousse and apple tart. Brasserie Pascal, Fashion Island, 327 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, (949)640-2700.
• Thursday night, owner/sommelier Santos Uy at Papilles bistro will be pouring Domaine Dupeuble with a special three-course menu ($37) from chef Tim Carey anchored by his blanquette de veau with parsnips, leeks, mushrooms and celery. First course? Butternut squash velouté or pork belly with persimmon compote and pea tendrils. Hmm. Better bring a friend. And better make a reservation. Papilles, 6221 Franklin Ave., Los Angeles, (323)871-2026.
• The Wine Country in Long Beach celebrates with a commuter tasting of Beaujolais on Thursday only from 4:30 to 6:45 p.m. $10 per person. What a smart way to wait out the traffic. The Wine Country, 2301 Redondo Ave, Signal Hill, (800) 505-5564 or (562)597-8303.

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