French Kiss

“All confined things die” – Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

Moulin Rouge by Stephan Baumegger

With a stroke of his pencil and paintbrush, the famous French painter released his art on the world so that it might live. His philosophy might also give insight into the driving force behind the desire to solve a puzzle box – as an inherent act of life itself, perhaps.

We find ourselves on the Boulevard de Clichy, in the Parisian district of Pigalle, close to Montmarte, staring up at a windmill adorned on its top by a set of famous red blades. This red windmill, the Moulin Rouge, was the home of the original French can-can dance and the site where cabaret was born in 1889. It epitomized the Belle Epoque, the period of optimism and prosperity during the turn of the nineteenth century immortalized by artists such as Toulouse-Lautrec.

I know you can-can do it!

Austrian social worker and highly regarded wood craftsman Stephan Baumegger has now immortalized the famous landmark in his own way, by creating a fabulous puzzle homage. Baumegger began making wooden puzzles at a young age, having seen one during a school trip and deciding to make it himself when he got home. His puzzle making has been a journey of self-motivation ever since, and he has gone on to create many well recognized, challenging and iconing interlocking puzzle designs. For the 37th International Puzzle Party he was commissioned to create an exchange for one of the participants. The result, his Moulin Rouge, is a tiny replica of the original, made from Amarant, Merbau and Beech woods. He entered a special version into the 17th International Puzzle Design Competition, where it won a Top Ten Vote award. The lovely windmill comes with an explanation from Baumegger, that "Colette, one of the beautiful dancers at Moulin Rouge was trapped at night when the theater closed. Please help her to escape as quickly as you can." Should you be wise (and sober) enough to navigate the hidden alleyways of Pigalle, you will ultimately be met by a tiny, colorful, zinc figurine dancer. If you’re lucky, she might even give you a kick. Colette was crafted especially for this puzzle, and in the design competition versions she is brightly hand painted in the classic French colors of red, white and blue. I'm partial to those colors as well in my neck of the woods.

Moulin Rouge c. 1930

“Of course, one should not drink much, but often” – Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

For the toast, we don’t need to ponder about a pairing very hard, as it turns out there is a classic, if obscure, cocktail already, called the Moulin Rouge. The earliest record of it exists in Harry Craddock’s famous and swanky Art Deco offering from 1930, The Savoy Cocktail Book. The originator is unknown, so it can best be ascribed now to Craddock who set it down in print. It may well have existed a few decades earlier, perhaps even known to those original patrons of the dance hall. One of the main ingredients, “orange gin”, was no longer produced after a time, suggesting a likely explanation for the cocktails subsequent obscurity. But no matter, these details are elementary to today’s intrepid mixologists, who are just an orange peel away from such delicacies.

A few simple ingredients make a timeless classic

I’ve gotten to the point where I no longer rush out to procure a specific bottle of something unusual, such as orange gin (Tanqueray and Malfy make nice ones now), if I can simply make it myself. A little infusion of various orange peels, from sweet to bitter, and some spices, overnight, does the trick quite nicely. The other homemade ingredient which is an absolute must is grenadine, no matter how easy it seems to purchase. There is simply no substitute for homemade in this category, so you will only ever be getting close if you purchase something good. Grenadine, from the French word “grenade”, is pomegranate. It is not the bright red sugar syrup in a Shirley Temple. To make it properly at home, you need a pomegranate, some sugar, and if you want it really fancy, some pomegranate molasses and orange flower water. I use Jeff Morganthaler’s recipe, it is the best in the world. Try it, and you will never use anything else again. Here’s to homegrown inspiration, setting pencil to paper, and keeping up that can-can do attitude. Cheers!

I get a kick out of this pair

Moulin Rouge from The Savoy Cocktail Book c. 1930

1 ½ oz Apricot Brandy

¾ oz orange gin

¾ oz lemon juice

¼ oz homemade grenadine

Shake ingredients together with ice five times and strain into a favorite glass. Can-Can Garnish.

For Jeff Morganthaler’s grenadine recipe:

https://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/how-to-make-your-own-grenadine/

For more from this artist:

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