Waiters seek Pineau pride
Crazy European traditions have always been a part of good service, but could waiter racing be taking it too far? Pavla Tolonen sneaks a peak at Belgium’s highly anticipated service slander.
Slow service is the plague of any frequent restaurant enthusiast, however your pleas for savvier, speed-zapped waiters could be found in Brussels – the Parc du Cinquantenaire, or Jubel Park, to be exact.
Each year Belgium’s most amazing and atrocious waiters and waitresses flock to the park to hurdle down an obstacle course while delicately dangling trays filled with four full glasses and a tempting bottle of Pineau des Charentes liquor.
Five laps later, or after a few failed metres of trembling arms and lagging feet, the contestants end up drinking some of the deliciously tasty aperitif which consists of unfermented grape must and Cognac.
The two-day event kicks off with some amateur races with an exuberant food selection boasting oysters, cheeses and foie gras, not to mention, birthday cake to celebrate the 21st anniversary of Pineau. Music and animation displays will also be exhibited at the location, as well as, a commemorative concert.
The drink was created by accident in 1589 when a winemaker mistook a fruit brandy barrel for empty, thereafter adding grape must (young fruit wine). He unknowingly produced one of the most popularly associated drinks in the Charente region.
The liquor is now intensely concocted with a variety of six separate grapes, including Montils, Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc, and undergo a gregarious 18 month ageing process in oak barrels. The most prestigious types of Pineau will have matured at least five years. Rosé versions of the drink usually contain grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot and mature for 14 months.
Bottles of Pineau only contain grapes taken from the vines in Charente-Maritime and Charente, with the exception of a few areas in Dordogne. Each batch must receive the Appellation d’origine controlee (AOC) mark before being considered genuine Pineau.
The event will be held from 3.30-7.30pm on Saturday 19 September and ends after the official race on Sunday 20 September. The waiters race begins at 4pm on Sunday.
For more information please visit the Pineau-Club website
Image Credit: Pineau-Club
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