Eye Prefer Paris- An Insiders Guide to Paris

Monday night at the last minute, a friend of mine invited me to a fete for the winner of the best Paris wine bar/ bistro 2006- Bouteille d'or, given by Jean Lapoujade. Jean Lapoujade wrote the bestselling comprehensive wine bar book Le guide des bistrots à vin de Parisand is also the general director for Poilane bread.
I arrived at about 8:30pm to a lively and bustling crowd spilling out to the street at Au Reveil Samaritain on Boulevard St. Jacques. There were wood barrels outside on the sidewalk topped with a large variety of Beaujolais and good looking waiters in colorful T-shirts served sample glasses. I had 3 or 4 and was impressed with the quality.
I later learned that Beaujolais Nouveau is the worst of the Beaujolais wines and has given it a bad name. It was used as a marketing tool by a wine company to boost sales and at it's best, is considered mediocre. Many people don't know that Beaujolais boasts 10 varieties of the finest wine including Chinon and Brouilly and includes rosé and white.
Trays of delicious hearty pâté, rich cheeses, and of course Poilane bread were passed around and I force fed myself enough to make it dinner.
There were a number of jolly older men dressed in festive costumes with black cotton jackets, Kelly green aprons and black hats with the same color green ribbons. They also had a long red & green silk cord with a silver wine tasting cup attached at the end. I'm not sure what the costume signifies, so if anyone knows, please tell me in the comments box.
The most entertaining part of the evening was the organ grinder, Jean Pierre Laurant, a jovial fellow who literally grinded out upbeat, mostly French tunes on his authentic street organ. His version of New York, New York cracked me up and Frank/Ol' Blue Eyes better watch out- there's a new star on the horizon stealing his signature song. He later switched to the guitar to sing some rousing melodies.
Cindy Adams says " Only in New York", but I can now say " Only in Paris" can you go to a féte like this.

Au Reveil Samaritain
3 Boulevard St. Jacques, 750014
Tel. 01 45 65 22 17