Author: THE HOBBLEDEHOY

Michael Stevenson, aka Dai Bando, Johnny Foreigner, Monsieur Pas De Merde, is a blogger of French and British culture. His blogs "Pas De Merde" and "The Hobbledehoy" have been called "marvelous" by some, and "meh" by others.

Chanson Du Jour: l’Ouverture du Barbier de Séville

Chanson Du Jour 12/16/2016: es Quatre Barbus chantent l’Ouverture du Barbier de Séville 1954 

Les Quatre Barbus, founded in 1938 recorded thirty albums including sea chanties, children’s songs, popular songs, bawdy songs and even an album of anarchist songs in 1969.

Among the members was the photographer Pierre Jamet, who sang tenor. Jamet was the son of a butcher, born on rue Mouffetard in Paris in 1910. Jamet’s daughter has written that her father had two passions: singing and photography.

Jamet’s brilliant photographs are featured at the top of the pages of my blog.

Rossini’s Barber of Seville has proven to be one of the greatest masterpieces of comedy within music. Below is a cartoon treatment by Woody Woodpecker.

French furor over frog romance

A court in France is set to rule on whether 20 frogs in the Dordogne region should have their pond filled in. The pond-owners hope the court will overturn the judgment of the regional appeal court, which followed a complaint from their neighbor that the frogs mate too loudly. The case highlights a common clash that occurs when city folk move to the countryside in search of a quiet life.

Listen to these noisy frogs at: Living Planet: French furor over frog romance | All media content | DW.COM | 08.12.2016

Beaujolais Nouveau is available for a limited time every year for the holiday season

Every year on the third Thursday of November the historical Province of Beaujolais, a French wine producing region, releases its seasonal Beaujolais Nouveau that finds itself to the lips of most wine drinkers during the holiday season.This tradition dates to the 1980s when Georges Duboeuf, the founder of France’s Les Vins Georges Duboeuf, began a marketing campaign that popularized its production.

“Duboeuf came up with the idea to have the first wine of the harvest on the entire planet,” said Bryan Della Volpe, the wine and cigar manager at Continue reading “Beaujolais Nouveau is available for a limited time every year for the holiday season” →

Whole Foods Market Kicks Off ’12 Days of Cheese’ Promo 

These distinctive, single-source cheeses were chosen by Whole Foods Market’s global cheese buyer, Cathy Strange, with help from the company’s American Cheese Society’ Certified Cheese Professionals. These experts have been certified by the American Cheese Society for cheese storage and handling, nutrition, distribution, raw materials, the ripening process, the making process, and on categories and types of cheeses.

“Whether folks are putting together an elegant cheese board, hosting a brunch, or craving a nibble while curling up with a good book, these 12 selections will make delicious additions to any holiday tradition,” Strange said. “We’re thrilled to offer these exciting cheeses at a great value, so customers can enjoy these special items while stretching their dollar.”

The cheeses featured on each day include[ . . . ]

Full Story: Whole Foods Market Kicks Off ’12 Days of Cheese’ Promo – Cheese, Dairy & Deli – Gourmet Retailer Magazine | Gourmet Retailers | Specialty Retail | Specialty Food News and Research

This Caviar Hotspot From Paris is Hidden in TriBeCa

On a recent evening spent previewing a new downtown eatery, a crowd of jetset fashion folk packed into an all-but-hidden boîte inside Spring Place TriBeCa. It was not entirely new though, they knew the menu like the back of their hand.For the likes of former Brioni designer Justin O’Shea, models Anja Rubik & Constance Jablonski, Princess Deena Abdelaziz of Saudi Arabia, and artist Tom Sachs and wife Sarah Hoover, all of whom were spotted on the opening night, Caviar Kaspia is the site of many a fashion dinner while abroad in Paris, and now it has finally arrived stateside [ . . .  ]

Read Full Story: This Caviar Hotspot From Paris is Hidden in TriBeCa