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Accidental Delight

by Leslie Hayman
 

About the Author

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Screen Name: Leslie at Jazz Wines

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Hometown: Toronto

Birthplace: Boston MA

Date of Birth: Aug 17, 1959

Joined jazzwines.com: Jun 08, 2007

My Bio

Heart surgery as a teenager shaped my sense that time is precious and quality essential. I pursued various philosophical explorations, entrepreneurial and artistic projects at a young age.

Invested in the creation of a globally and environmentally conscious web-enabled hospitality location including electrobebe bar, and then testing the concept with a digital arts festival in 1998, pre-Internet.

Developed simple, but useful new notions of financial value through exploration of Canadian income trusts investments as a hobby in 2000-2007, and launching iTrustInvestor.com to find thousands of members in that time.

Met wine makers and jazz musicians in the process of developing Jazz Wines.




May
28
1992
Memorable Moment
Wine Tasting Occasion.
Member - Food.
Date & Time
May 28, 1992. 7:00pm
City, State/Region
Dijon France
Location, First Time There?

Billoux, a restaurant in Dijon run by Chef Jean-Pierre Billoux.

Favorite Place or Frequent Hangout?

Not a frequent hangout, but an extroardinary destination, or the spin-off more casual location, Des Halles

What made the moment

I took my partner to France for a 30’th Birthday and to taste the Prix Fixe menu at a reportedly great restaurant. The meal was going to cost me what I thought was a big bundle. I thought I’d buy a reasonably priced bottle of wine with a name I knew. But then I accidentally ordered a Clos de Vougeot 1978 wine for many hundreds of dollars and about the same price as the two meals. The waiter didn’t know that I misread the price list, but let me know how good my wine selection would be with the meal. My mistake was more than worth it. It was as if we were given hours in taste heaven. 

Whose talent made the memory notable

Chef Billoux’s talent was ever present, but the growers and winemaker of that bottle of wine really made the occasion memorable.

Highlight of the experience

It was a romantic location and an occasion motivated by love with the taste experience lasting for hours, both of us absolutely loving the hand-made truffles, the trays of stinky cheese, the tasty appetizers, candle light, delicate sauces, fresh made bread and the chance to be together, speachless except for the repetition of “mmmmm”

Recommendations

When eating food from a great chef or investing in a great meal in or out, don’t go light on wine. Get a recommendation or an informed opinion, go for wine you like or experiment to match wine with food without fear of price. Some people try to save on wine to afford the chance to go all out on food. I discovered by accident the value and delight of balancing food and wine to invest in the total experience, especially to make the occasion memorable.