Are you an Athlete of Excellence?

Loic Le Roy PhD Spanish version: link Are you an Athlete of Excellence? The cliché conveyed by urban legends and ancients (or modern) movies about the Butler’s functions very loosely translate the reality of this profession in the XXIst Century. The image of the butler wearing ancient style white gloves and classical penguin suit while

The eight iteration of the Rolls-Royce Phantom just revealed

92 years after the first Phantom got introduced (1925), Rolls-Royce came out with its eight iteration of its flagship car. Persistent Would you say? No, a relentless continuum of Excellence spanning ninety-two years so far…

Château des Bachelards, Le Clos 2014, Fleurie, France

In Focus, by Richard Sagala Château des Bachelards, (Magnum), Le Clos 2014 Above is a 19th century print showing a French wine growing property, Les Bachelards, located in Burgundy, more specifically in Fleurie, one of the ten Beaujolais Crus (first growths). One can see the wall connected to the main house behind which vines were grown and
Tagged under: , , ,

Partnership announcement between ALFRED Sommelier and CEWECM-IMBA

Montréal, July 5th 2017: Partnership announcement between ALFRED Sommelier and CEWECM-IMBA. CEWECM-IMBA, the Centre of Excellence in Wine Education and Cellar Management of the International Montreal Butler Academy will be partnering this Fall with ALFRED Sommelier, an Expert Software System and cellar management company. CEWECM-IMBA was created  in 2017 by Richard Sagala Wine MBA, the owner of the International Montreal Butler Academy.  Richard Sagala and
Tagged under: , , , ,

IMBA Kitchen Essentials

Inspired by Nature…the Butler did it! Kitchen Essentials: We will post one menu by season that can be easily prepared by anybody (a butler is not a Chef), but pleases the palate of our discriminating clientele… Find the 3 courses Summer 0f 2017 menu here: link The IMBA cookbook is in preparation and will become

Pol Roger cuvée Winston Churchill 2004

In Focus, by Richard Sagala 2nd of July 2017 A quality champagne, powerful and from a good vintage to boot. Surprisingly, the wine shows signs of evolution (oxydative character). It has the pastry shop aromatics but, where is the fruit? I am questioning the storage conditions of the retailer. So I reserve my judgement and

53 pictures of Darlington Manor, at what number do they mention and show the wine cellar?

10! link PS: Would you apply for a butler posting @ Darlington not knowing about cellar management ?  

Sabrage of a Dom Pérignon

  The special shape (the thick lip) of a Dom Pérignon bottle makes it somewhat easier for the Sabrage aficionado …

Butler grooming: strive for quality, hold the gold

Example of a quality Butler watch: Rolex Explorer, stainless steel, leather strap, c.1953

Coravin, indispensable to probe your wine cellar

Do you want to know when your wine collection reach its apogee? Coravin is the solution. Indispensable to the butler to probe the wine cellar. Great tool!

IMBA kitchen essentials: 3-Strawberry shortcake

The Butler did it! Perfect in June when the strawberries are back… (in French) Recette de Génoise « shortcake » aux fraises Génoise : 8 œufs 250 g de sucre 240 g de farine 80 g de beurre non salé, fondu et tiède Beurre pommade pour les moules à gâteau 1) Préchauffer le four à 180°C (355°F) (th.

IMBA kitchen essentials: 2-Pork ribs

The butler did it, with a smoking gun…(in the kitchen) Ingredients: -2 kg pork ribs (baby back ribs or St-Louis style), about 18 ribs Sauce: -1 clove of garlic – crushed 2 tbsp tomato paste -6 tbsp soya sauce -3 tbsp honey -2 tbsp red wine vinegar -1/2 tsp salt 1/2 pepper -1/2 tsp paprika

IMBA kitchen essentials: 1-Gaspacho

The butler did it! What is better in the summer than a refreshing Gaspacho? Here is IMBA take on it: Gaspacho 6 servings -1 kg (about 3 to 4) large sized tomato -1 red pepper 1/2 English cucumber -peeled 4 Tbsp onion -The flesh of 1 avocado -1/2 clove of garlic 4 Tbsp olive oil

Home baked, a good start in the morning…

Easy to do with good quality frozen croissants. The trick is: after baking @ 375 for 25 minutes, leave the croissants to rest on top of the stove for ten minutes to allow the heat inside to cook the remaining layers of “pâte feuilletée” and fluff the texture (otherwise they might be a bit like

Schioppettino 2011 Ronchi di Cialla

In Focus, by Richard Sagala In Schioppettino Veritas! Have you ever wondered how much harm politicians can do (yes, even in the vineyards)? Imagine this: the Schioppettino grape in the Italian region of Friuli Venezia Giulia as recently as 1976 was an outlaw… To counter this, an emergency town meeting was held a year later in