Every year on the first Thursday in June – officially designated six years ago by the French Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries and SOPEXA – revelers from more than 19 countries around the world have come together to celebrate French Cocktail Hour day, or Aperitif i la francaise. Over cocktails and small bites, old friends and new raise their glasses to toast the French joie de vivre, a philosophy towards life celebrating good friends, good food, good spirits and good conversation. To get the festivities going stateside this year on June 3rd, French Cocktail Hour partnered again with HOUSE PARTY (www.houseparty.com), a company that executes consumer in-home experiential events. As a result, 10,414 excited Francophiles across the U.S.-from which 1,000 finalists have been selected, representing 22 states and 591 cities-registered to host their own Do-It-Yourself’ French Cocktail Hour House Party.And, since no celebration i la francaise would be complete without the essentials, the 1,000 selected hosts are receiving a free French Cocktail Hour party pack with goodies such as a cocktail shaker, swizzle sticks, a cheese & wine board/ knife set, Tefal cooking pan, Party Planner loaded with great party tips, and money-saving coupons for J.P. Chenet wines and Ile de France cheese.
To further assist the hosts in planning their ultimate fiªte francaise, Wally’s Wine & Spirits in Los Angeles is offering 10% discounts and free shipping on all French Cocktail Hour-sponsored drinks at www.wallywine.com including J.P. Chenet wines, Noilly Prat Original French Dry Vermouth, Benedictine liqueur and Kronenbourg 1664 beer. Simply Gourmand (at www.simplygourmand.com) has also created a basket of hard-to-find edible French delicacies for the party.
To make the experience even more authentic, and thanks to the France Tourism Development Agency, a French Cocktail Hour Sweepstakes is offering one lucky winner the chance to win two round-trip tickets on Air France, one night in a three-star luxurious French hotel, and two Rail Europe passes to discover La Belle France on their own. To register, simply visit www.franceguide.com/FrenchCocktailHour by June 30, 2010.
So, vite, vite! There’s no time to waste. Celebrate French Cocktail Hour day with your nearest and dearest on June 3, 2010 and register for the French Cocktail Hour Sweepstakes by June 30, 2010. The opportunity to experience in France a truly authentic Aperitif i la francaise, could be yours!
For more information on French Cocktail Hour, visit www.FrenchCocktailHourUSA.com and to register for the sweepstakes, visit www.franceguide.com/FrenchCocktailHour.
Posted on 5/27/10.
