The SXSW of Hooch: Tales of the Cocktail
Tales of the Cocktail, held each July in New Orleans, is a must-attend festival for professional foodies and mixologists
By Kate X Messer, Fri., June 6, 2008
Writing about drinking? I'd rather be drinking about writing. But this event is worth writing about. So here goes:
Tales of the Cocktail? Why, it's the South by Southwest of hooch.
"That's a perfect analogy!" says festival founder Ann Tuennerman. "South by Southwest is a must-attend festival for music professionals, with a lot to offer the average music enthusiast," and likewise, the five-day culinary and cocktail party held each July in New Orleans is a must-attend festival for foodie professionals, with a lot to offer the average foodie enthusiast. "This is our showcase, our bloodline in drink and dining history."
This midsummer gala of grog plays host to a plethora of potability pundits, including mixologists such as "King Cocktail" Dale DeGroff, Bellagio legend Bridget Albert, and Barbados rum master Chesterfield Browne; celebrity chefs such as New Orleans' John Besh and Atlanta's Chef and the Fatman; Tiki tastemakers such as Jeff "Beachbum" Berry and Hukilau founder Christie White, plus dozens more experts than you can shake your proverbial swizzle stick at.
As with Austin's own Cuisine de Cocktail held at the Peacock, Tales of the Cocktail features special dinner pairings, with courses complemented by tasty cocktails. The festival also features plenty of New Orleans' other main export, music – like the Rum and All That Jazz night, with proceeds benefiting Preservation Hall's Renew our Music Fund.
This cavalcade of quaff – like the stiff, fancy drinks it honors – is prime mixing ground for masters and newbies to meet and compare taste buds. Tuennerman tells the tale of noted Toronto foodies beer authority Stephen Beaumont and TV personality Kevin Brauch, who had never met until they stumbled upon each other at the New Orleans fete.
Speaking of stumbling: The festival urges responsible drinking. "This is not a five-day pub crawl," emphasizes Tuennerman. "We serve small 5-ounce tastes of well-crafted cocktails. We encourage quality over quantity.
"The best advice I can give newbies is the same thing I say for Mardi Gras: Pace yourself," she says. "Some folks come to the city for the first time and go a little crazy. They are used to last call. In New Orleans, there is no last call."
Tales of the Cocktail ticket packages ($175-625) and single-event tickets ($25-85) are available at www.talesofthecocktail.com. Many festival events are free to the public. Wednesday-Sunday, July 16-20. 888/299-0404.
Cuisine de Cocktail is held the second Tuesday of every month at the Peacock. See www.peacock-austin.com/specialevents for details about the upcoming Italian-themed June 10 event. 515 Pedernales, 276-8979. $60.
