Last week I posted a two-part series on red wines.  On this nostalgic Tuesday, I will make it a five-part series with a visit I made in 2019 to France, where we tasted champagne and Bordeaux wine and cognac.  Parts 4 and 5 will be posted on subsequent Tuesdays. But first, a few newsworthy items. As my  blog expressed yesterday , President Donald Trump has transformed himself from dud to hero. Looks like that  fragile ceasefire for the Israel-USA vs Iran War is holding.   Lot of questions about where those 880 pounds of enriched uranium might be  to  future role on how the International Atomic Energy Agency can check on Iran  to  how long the ailing 85-year old Ayatollah can hang in there  to  a million others.  However, give Trump credit for solving this war in less than two weeks.  Israel still has that Gaza Strip problem, and there continues the Ukraine-Russia war, but the world today is in a safer place than yesterday. ...

Have you ever had a 5-hour dinner for two with a view of Diamond Head and a Waikiki sunset that cost a thousand dollars?  We did last night at La Mer, which is on the second floor above Orchids. The evening began with a gin martini on ice with olives at House Without a Key. We went on to be served Heidsieck Champagne at La Mer, which once was free...but no more. After being kept away from fine cuisine for more than 2.5 years by the pandemic, we splurged on Malossol Caviar.  The roe came from  U.S. aquacultured sturgeon .  Caviar prices are absurd, but  China  is entering the picture, and prices could drop. We selected the $300 version. Sunset at Waikiki. We selected the following Menu Dégustation. First the amusement, of more caviar in a soup sauce. Foie gras paté, beets, onions and popcorn, with a Justin Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles. Then a roasted scallop/lobster consommé with cuttlefish. Followed by a plate of chorizo, lobster and squid ink gnocci...