Today's Femme Fatale

Samourai Arsenal: The H&K P7

Every gun owner has a handful of firearms that are on their dream list. These are those guns that are quirky or rare or expensive or all of the above.


For me, the top slot on my firearm dream list would be the Heckler & Koch P7 9mm. I first heard about this handgun in John Gardner's James Bond novel Icebreaker. After doing a bit of research, I concluded the P7 sounded like an incredible pistol, and a great choice for 007. With its unusual mechanism and authoritative sounding name, it seemed like something Ian Fleming would have approved of. Alas, Bond only carried it in this one book.


The H&K P7 is notable for his trigger set up. From the excellent article at World Guns:

The P7 uses a striker fired mechanism, which is cocked for the first shot by depressing the large cocking lever at the front of the grip; for all subsequent shots, striker is cocked automatically as slide recoils. As soon as the grip and the cocking lever are released, the striker decocks automatically. Because of this, P7 has no manual safeties and designed to be safely carried with round in chamber. To open the fire, one must just grip the gun securely and release the trigger.

The squeeze cocking system offers the best of both worlds. You have the shootablility of a single-action auto with the safety of a double-action. Plus, there is no manual safety to worry about, making the P7 especially easy to operate one-handed. This is one of the reasons Greg Rucka armed his bodyguard character Atticus Kodiak with a P7. Real-life bodyguard Leroy Thompson also carried one as a backup to his main sidearm, a Browning H-Power. The GSG-9—the elite counter- terrorism and special operations unit of the German Federal Police—also have issued them as a backups to their Glock 17s.


Every day people also see the appeal of the P7. I recall reading an article (I believe by Massad Ayoob) about a convenience store owner who had been repeatedly robbed. He decided to buy a pair of pistols to keep at the store. He bought two P7s, operating on the theory that if one of them was taken away from him by force, the thief wouldn't know how to depress the squeeze cocker. As fate would have it, the store owner was robbed and his gun was taken from him. The perp tried to shoot him, but, as predicted, didn't depress the squeeze cocker so the gun was unable to fire. The store owner was able to get to his second P7 and shoot the robber and would-be murderer. He later credited his choice of a P7 with saving his life.


I've only had the chance to fire a P7 on one occasion as a rental at my local indoor range. The first thing I noticed handling the P7 was how flat it was. It's quite slim, especially in comparison to the fat gripped "wondernines" that seem to dominate the market nowadays. It also sits very low in the hand, making it a natural pointer. Depressing the squeeze cocker wasn't difficult at all, and if anything helped to make sure you have a good, solid grip. The trigger was super crisp and light. All in all, the P7 was a joy to shoot and very easy to shoot well. The only drawback? Being a blowback-operated semi-auto, the P7 can get rather hot rather quickly. This isn't really a big deal unless you plan on shooting hundreds of rounds without taking a break.


Sadly, the H&K P7 is no longer produced. It was a very expensive pistol to manufacture. Luckily, used models regularly pop up on the used marker, especially the more common PSP variants. Prices start at about $700 but can climb to over $1,500.


I plan to purchase one someday. After all, I already drive a Saab. This would be just another step in my Le Samourai-as-Gardner's-James Bond fantasies. 

Samourai Soundtrack

This is one of my favorite versions of the James Bond theme. I often listen to it on my way to summer snorkeling expeditions to Shark's Cove on the North Shore of Oahu. Makes me feel like I'm Sean Connery in Dr. No.

Today's Femme Fatale

Recession Booze: Citra Montepulciano d’Abruzzo

I had the pleasure of spending a month touring Italy back in the summer of 2001. Every night at dinner (and often at lunch), my friends and I would enjoy a bottle or two of wine. Most of the restaurants we ate at offered cheap house wines, often made by the restaurant owners themselves. These wines were far from fancy or complex, but they were very tasty and very inexpensive, and the perfect compliment for a casual dinner with congenial companions.


Upon returning to the United States, I tried a variety of budget Italian wines in hopes of finding something similar to the house wines I drank in Italy. My favorite of the bunch is Citra Montepulciano d’Abruzzo. It's a simple red sold in rather large bottles, usually for under $10. Smooth without being too heavy, it easily brings to mind those table wines found in great trattorias. 


Apparently, I'm not the only fan. The Wall Street Journal had this to say about Citra Montepulciano d’Abruzzo in an article they did about jug wines:

We really enjoy this wine, which was a favorite in a tasting of jug reds several years ago and also in a broad, blind tasting of Montepulciano d’Abruzzo (which is a great bet in general, by the way). It has a dark color that looks rich and serious, with some minerals on the nose. The taste is blackberries and blueberries, with good tannins and some body. Too many jug reds seem heavy to us, with unidentifiable tastes and plenty of creamy, vanilla wood stuff. Summer is an uncomplicated time and we like uncomplicated wines that taste like fresh fruit—and this one does. But its extra depth means it’s perfect with a rare burger off the grill or a big, thick steak.

Give this Italian red a try. You certainly can afford to.

Today's Femme Fatale

Travis McGee Fight!

John D. MacDonald's Travis McGee books are among the best mystery series ever written. Yet, unlike other iconic American crime solvers, such as Philip Marlowe and Lew Archer, McGee has never been brought to the screen succesfully. There have been two attempts, neither of which I've seen in its entirety. One was a TV movie starring Sam Elliot as McGee, which just strikes me as weird casting. The other, Darker Than Amber, starred Rod Taylor as Trav. While the film received, at best, mixed reviews and isn't especially loved by MacDonald fans, I'd love to see it someday. I can easily imagine Taylor as MacDonald's cynical knight errant. Alas, it isn't available on video. However, the movie's justifiably famous fight scene is viewable online. It's nasty and brutal, just like a real fight.

As a side note, Darker Than Amber was directed by Robert Clouse. Bruce Lee was apparently so taken with this fight scene, he hired Clouse to direct his martial arts classic, Enter the Dragon.

Recession Booze: Cava

Times are tough, and for many people, money is tight. But that doesn't mean we have to consign ourselves to a teetotaler lifestyle. There are enough booze bargains out there to help us through the recession, drink in hand.

Today's recession booze choice is Cava. 

Cava is a sparkling wine from Spain which has been called "the Spanish champagne," though only informally as the French are quite protective of the term champagne. 

Some blends of Cava can be quite sweet, such as those designated Seco or Dulce, to dry, as in the Bruts and Extra Bruts.

One of my favorites is also one of the cheapest and most ubiquitous: Freixenet Cordon Negro. This is sold at countless supermarkets and liquor stores, and is easily recognizable by the stark black matte bottle. It's a Brut Cava, so it has a nice dryness to it. And, besides being very tasty, Freixenet Cordon Negro is incredibly cheap. I don't think I've ever seen it priced at more than $10 per bottle.

Obviously, Freixenet Cordon Negro isn't going to compete flavor-wise with real French champagnes (like my favorite, Moet Chandon Brut Imperial) costing 5-10 as much money. But not all of us can afford or even want to drink fine champagne on a regular basis. Cava, on the other hand, is wonderfully quaffable, and is the perfect sparkler for a warm evening. It's also a good choice for the holiday season. The Spanish would certainly agree, as they drink lots of Cava during this time of year, especially at Christmas dinner.

Finding Real Life Inspiration from Fictional Heroes, Part Two

The post below originally appeared on my fitness site, Fit Monkey Hawaii. 


I recently wrote about being inspired by fictional heroes. In this post, I'll take a look at some of my own sources of inspiration from films and television.


Caveat: The No-Atticus Rule... Atticus Finch is one of the most inspiring characters in fiction. However, my website is primarily about fitness and martial arts, so for the sake of simplicity I'll be focusing on fictional heroes who inspire physical greatness.

Films

Casino Royale (2006) I've been a James Bond fan since my early teens, but this film in particular had a big influence on me. In my previous post, I mentioned all the people who "Googled 'Daniel Craig workout'” after  Casino Royale inspired them to get into better shape. I was certainly among them. What I found was a short article by Craig's trainer, Simon Waterson. According to Waterson, to get fit enough to be the new 007, Daniel Craig did quite a bit of bodyweight work. Specifically, lots of Dips, Pull-Ups, and Push-Ups. By this point in my life I was pretty much fed up with the whole gym scene, so the idea of getting into shape using mostly my own body was very appealing. I quit the gym and started training outdoors, concentrating on running along with Dips, Pull-Ups, and Push-Ups. It worked, and along with some major changes to my diet, I dropped my body fat by nearly half in 18 months. I should also note that it was nice to see James Bond use some good fighting moves. Check out the great fight in the staircase. BJJ fans will surely note 007 of a rather fatal Rear Naked Choke. He even has his hooks in! 

***

The Bourne Identity, 2002 I was very excited when I first heard about The Bourne Identity. The idea of an old-fashioned thriller directed by Doug Liman (who had already directed the excellent films Swingers and Go) and starring Matt Damon sounded very promising. And then I discovered that Damon would be training in the Filipino art of Kali for the role. That was just the icing on the cake! While I had not trained in Kali myself at that point, I was very interested in the art based not only on what I had read but on some family history. My grandfather--a Marine saber champion--knew some Kali from his time fighting in the Pacific during World War II. He was taught by Filipino rebels working against Japan. Plus, the idea of swinging sticks around just sounded fun. Then when I actually saw Matt Damon's Jason Bourne in action, I knew this was what I wanted to pursue. The mixture of Kali, Boxing, and Jeet Kun Do looked practical, efficient, and (I must admit) cool. After all, the fight scene in Bourne's Paris apartment is far and away my favorite fight scene in any film. 

When I finally got serious about martial arts training, I specifically looked for a school that would incorporate some Filipino martial arts as part of the curriculum. I ended up finding Burton Richardson's JKD Unlimited and Battlefield Kali,  which utilized not only Kali but also kickboxing, grappling, etc. I started training with Burton back in 2002 and haven't looked back. Not only am I still a student of Burton's, but I'm one of his instructors as well. And all in part because of Jason Bourne. No wonder I still sometimes listen to Moby's "Extreme Ways" on the way to train! 

***

Miami Vice (2006) This is sort of a dark horse choice. Not many people seemed to like this film. As a big fan of both the original '80s TV show and of director Michael Mann, I loved it. It terms of inspiration, I really liked how both Jamie Foxx and Colin Farrell--not actors best known for their action roles--both got into top shape to be the new Crockett and Tubbs. Plus, Michael Mann made sure they got realistic training in assorted combat techniques, as can be seen in this video by trainer Mick Gould:  

***

Full Contact (1992) Probably the most obscure film on this list. In all due respect to John Woo and Jackie Chan, Ringo Lam's Full Contact is far and away my favorite Hong Kong flick. If you've seen Lee Marvin on Point Blank or Mel Gibson in Payback, this movie will seem familiar to you. Chow Yun Fat plays a Harley-riding crook out for revenge on those who betrayed him and left him for dead. While there's much I love about this movie--great supporting cast, awesome actions scenes, etc.--what earns Full Contact a place on this list is the short but cool montage showing Chow Yun Fat getting into shape and training himself to go wreak vengeance on his enemies: 

***

The Crow (1994) Lots of people love this film. I'm not one of them. While it has some great scenes, a fantastic soundtrack, and a classic performance by the late Brandon Lee, I just felt the overall movie had some serious flaws. The screenplay in particular could have used some work. So why is it on this list? Simple: As  slender, sensitive guy with Goth tendencies, I loved seeing another slender, sensitive guy with Goth tendencies kick some serious butt. 

And to this day I find Stone Temple Pilot's "Big Empty" a great song to listen to on a rainy night, driving home from a hard evening of training.

 There are no doubt other films I could list, but these are sort of the "Big 5." What are yours?


 In Part Three of this series I’ll look at some of my own sources of fictional inspiration from books.

Today's Femme Fatale

Samourai Soundtrack

A classic tune from a classic album. One of the best songs for a drive through the city on a rainy fall night.

Recession Booze: Gordon's Gin

Times are tough, and for many people, money is tight. But that doesn't mean we have to consign ourselves to a teetotaler lifestyle. There are enough booze bargains out there to help us through the recession, drink in hand.

Today's recession booze choice is Gordon's gin. I've always had a bit of a soft-spot for Gordon's. It was the very first gin I ever had, back when I first tried my hand at making a Martini. Why did I choose Gordon's as my first gin? Well, for one, it's cheap. And two, there's the 007 factor: 

Three measures of Gordon's, one of vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet. Shake it very well until it's ice-cold, then add a large thin slice of lemon peel. Got it?--James Bond, Casino Royale

Of course, the Gordon's of Bond's time and the Gordon's you buy at your local liquor store are not quite the same. As pointed out in Esquire, English Gordon's gin used to be 94 proof; now it's under 80. For those of us who enjoy cocktails but also like sobriety, this isn't necessarily a bad thing.

I still think Gordon's is a very good choice in bargain booze. Apparently, I'm not alone:

You can get a liter of it for about $15 and it's surprisingly good.--TheKitchn.com 

This is my go-to value gin and my personal favorite of the list.--About.com Cocktails

This one is bright and piney, with a nose-crinkling shot of black pepper — a lot like Tanqueray, its imported stablemate.--Esquire

My favorite review comes from GinReviews.com:

In the world of premium luxury gins, it’s often easy to take a sideline seat to the bigger boys. Let’s not forget that Gordon’s Gin is a Diageo product the same as Tanqueray. So although they are different products, they are indeed on the same team.  

Huge aromatics going on here, and Gordon’s Gin can be labeled as being overpowered by some. Not by me, keep them coming. Perfect as a mixer, or all on its own, by my standards.  But be warned, Gordon’s Gin is for the seasoned gin drinker, if you are not ready for it, Gordon’s Gin will devour you. 

I couldn't help but a connection to lemon head, as I sipped Gordon's Gin writing this review. Traditional indeed is what I like. Although I have an affinity toward the classic English bottle design displayed below. Lemon presence but not to the point of sweetness with enough bitterness to let you know you are drinking gin. A true English gentleman, Gordon’s Gin, through and through.  

Sweet like candy soothes my soul, sweet you rock and sweet you roll. 

This is the gin James Bond drinks, and if you want to be a 007 spy, this is where it’s at. If you want a traditional London Dry Gin, this is the Gordon’s Gin for you.

While Gordon's is certainly not as good as some higher priced gins--I still prefer Beefeater--it's a tasty spirit at an appealing price. Gordon's is a perfect choice for a bunch of Gin & Tonics, and contrary to many reviewers, it makes a very serviceable Martini.

Samourai Soundtrack

Samourai Soundtrack

One of my favorite songs from one of my favorite bands from one of my favorite albums. This is the original, pre- House, M.D. version.

Today's Femme Fatale

Today's Femme Fatale

John Rain's Watch

For my money, Barry Eisler's books about half-American/half-Japanese assassin John Rain are the best thrillers since the glory days of Ian Fleming and Adam Hall. I can't help but be enthralled by the adventures of this jazz-loving, Scotch-drinking, neck-breaking killer.

Like Fleming before him, Eisler doesn't shy away from mentioning name-brands in his novels. Some critics deride this sort of thing as gimmicky. I disagree. I think it just roots the series in the real world, and gives me a better connection to the character. I'd prefer to know that Rain drinks Laphroaig and listens to Bill Evans than merely be told he drinks single-malts and listens to jazz.

In the third book of the series, Rain Storm, we learn what type of watch John Rain normally wears: a Traser P5900. As something of a watch enthusiast, this was a key revelation. It was also not an arbitrary decision on Barry Eisler's part. In the book's acknowledgements, he specifically thanks a bunch of real-life operators for inspiring him to issue Rain a Traser wristwatch.

The P5900 is an interesting choice of watch for an international assassin or would-be international man of intrigue. It's black, lightweight, and rather nondescript. The bright lume means it should be readable even in the darkest environments. And it isn't too expensive, so one wouldn't shed tears if it was lost or damaged during a mission. Really, it rather strikes me as the Glock of analog watches.

Would I ever buy one? That's a tough question. It's a nice watch for all the reasons I mentioned above, thought a bit smaller than I'm used to. Also, I am a bit of an automatic purist, and the P5900 is a quartz watch. For the money, I would be tempted to just get an Seiko 5 auto, which are probably the best budget watches on the planet. Still, I don't deny being tempted by the Traser. It would feed into my John Rain fantasies, and whenever I checked the time I would no doubt be tempted to sip some Laphroaig, listen to a bit of Bill Evans, and go practice Jiu-Jitsu.

Finding Real Life Inspiration from Fictional Heroes, Part One

I admit it: I have some geekly fanboy tendencies. I'm not really an SF, fantasy, or superhero kind of guy. No, my passion is for well-done crime and thriller stuff, especially if there is an espionage element involved.

I'm not alone. We spend countless dollars on action films and thriller novels. But here's the question: What do we get out of them besides entertainment?

Personally, I find fictional heroes to be good sources of inspiration. By serving as larger-than-life role models, they help me to focus on what aspects of the characters I like and want to in some way emulate.

Some people may dismiss looking to action heroes for personal inspiration hopelessly pathetic and dorky. These naysayers are all too willing to say "Who do you think you are? You'll never be like [fill-in the blank]." And I will partially concede their point: You never will be just like your favorite fictional character. (Nor should you want to be; you are you!) But how about if you were just a little bit like your favorite fictional character?

Let's say you're a James Bond fan. I certainly am. Face it, you never will be James Bond. But you can be a little bit more Bond-like. Maybe, like me and all the others who Googled "Daniel Craig workout," you watched Casino Royale and got inspired to get into better shape. Perhaps you are impressed with 007's foreign language skills and decide to learn a second language. Or maybe you go back and read Ian Fleming's original novels, learn that Bond trained in Judo, and find a dojo to train at. Getting into shape, learning a new language, and taking up Judo won't turn you into James Bond. But perhaps you'll be about 10 percent Bond, which is better than when you started. Isn't that better than zero percent?

I also think fictional heroes serve as powerful visualization tools. We all know how important it is to use visualization to fuel success. Of course, if you really think about it, visualization is a form of fantasy, just like action movies and thriller novels. I once knew a mixed martial arts coach who told his fighters to imagine themselves as huge samurai, and to visualize cutting their opponents in half with a giant sword. This sort of thing works for all sorts of training, and since there are plenty of fictional heroes just floating around in your brain, why not enlist them to help you? Next time your running sprints, instead of just thinking, "Oh man, sprints are hard!," imagine yourself as James Bond running down a terrorist, or Jason Bourne sprinting along Moroccan rooftops in The Bourne Ultimatum. Going back to martial arts, I wonder how many professional fighters imagine themselves as Bruce Lee before stepping in to the ring.

The only real drawback to finding personal inspiration in fictional heroes are the naysayers I mentioned earlier. Luckily, there's an easy way to deal with them: Keep it to yourself. If someone asks you why you started to train in Keysi, you don't have to answer, "Because that's what Christian Bale used as Batman and I'm a big Batman fan." No, you can just say it looked like it might be fun and leave it at that. And keep in mind that those who would mock you for your source of inspiration might very well have no source of inspiration themselves.

I don't recall who wrote this (I think it was Pavel Tsatsouline), but I once read something along the lines of "Some people watch The Bourne Identity and think 'Kali looks cool... I'm going to find a place that teaches Kali. Others watch The Bourne Identity and think 'Kali looks cool' and grab a cheeseburger and sit down in front of the TV." Which are you?

This post originally appeared on my fitness website, FitMonkeyHawaii.com

Today's Femme Fatale

"Martinis are like breasts, one isn’t enough, and three is too many."--Herb Caen.

Samourai Soundtrack

I had never heard of Lunascape until I stumbled onto some of their songs on the Hooverphonic channel on LastFM. Great band, and I love the paranoid vibe of this song.

Drinks of Summer: Dark and Stormy

Looking through my cupboards, I discovered I had a nearly-full bottle of Myer's Dark Rum. I'd forgotten it I had it, so it was like a mini-Christmas surprise.

I wanted to make something other than the standard, boring Rum & Cola, even though those are delicious. I decided to try something new. Since I love a good ginger beer, I opted for a Dark & Stormy.

I headed across the street to my local Whole Foods and picked-up a Reed's Ginger Beer, one of the true princes among soft drinks. I got home, turned on some bossa nova (Myer's is a Jamaican rum, so reggae or ska would have arguably been more appropriate, but hey... blame it on the bossa nova!), and proceeded to make my concoction. I filled a highball glass with a bunch of ice, added a generous 2 oz. shot of rum, poured in the ginger beer, and topped with a big squeeze of lime.

The verdict? Delicious! The sweetness of the Myer's offered a great contrast to the bite of the Reed's. While I still love a good Negroni, the Dark & Stormy will definitely be added to the roster of Le Samourai drinks of summer.

Le Samourai Returns!

I admit it... I've let this blog fall by the wayside. After all, it's been a few months since I've posted anything new. That awful thing known as "real life" was getting in the way. But no more! Le Samourai has returned! Look for more new posts to pop up regularly in the future.

All Hail Jason King!

Imagine a television show with very questionable plots, a somewhat ineffectual hero, and cinematography that looks as if the cameraman has never bothered to clean his lenses. That, in a nutshell, is Jason King. Sounds awful, doesn't it? Well, it's not... and in fact Jason King is one of my favorite TV programs.


Why? I could mention the bevy of beautiful women, the cool European locations, or the wacky early '70s vibe. But the real draw here is the character of Jason King himself, brilliantly portrayed by the super charismatic Peter Wyngarde.


The show is about a thriller writer who finds himself frequently involved in real-life intrigue. But that doesn't matter. It's all just an excuse for Wyngarde to do his thing, tossing of ad-libbed lines like "A bit too early for coffee; I'll have a Scotch." He is probably the most flamboyant leading man in any TV show ever produced. Jason King is the type to spend several minutes of screen time trying to decide what silk scarf to wear and orders champagne and strawberries for breakfast. He's also whiny, greedy, and often bullied. But he somehow remains cool nonetheless. In one episode, we watch King strolling through Paris (real Paris, not a set) buying items for a dinner he'll prepare later. This should be boring, yet it isn't.


While Jason King enjoyed very good ratings, it didn't last. Peter Wyngarde's career was undone by scandals involving his homosexuality, and his acting roles become fewer and far between. (By the way, he was fantastic as the masked Klytus in 1980's Flash Gordon with future Bond Timothy Dalton.) It's a real shame, because Wyngarde was (is?) a very entertaining, talented actor with real screen presence and a wonderful voice. 

Today's Femme Fatale

Women of Campari, continued...

Samourai Soundtrack

It's hard to think of a genre of music better suited for summer than bossa nova.

Today's Femme Fatale

Continuing with the women of Campari...

Samourai Soundtrack

Siobhan de Maré, post-Mono.

Today's Femme Fatale

A new series... the women of Campari!

The Quest for the Perfect Bathing Suit

It's surprisingly difficult to find a decent men's bathing suit. Let's examine some contenders.

Not a look to emulate.

Board shorts have been the rage seemingly forever, yet they don't really fit the bill. Don't get me wrong: Board shorts are great for working-out, but they aren't particularly good for swimming. They are far too loose and baggy for even a short swim. And their image as the swim suit of choice for frat boys on vacation doesn't speak in their favor.

The traditional American option of a volley-style short with elastic waistband and built-in liner doesn't work either. For one, no one really looks good wearing something with an elastic waistband. Also, this type of swimwear has an annoying tendency to balloon in the water in a very unflattering way.

Competition briefs (erroneously called Speedos by many) are best for just that: competition.

Jammers look too much like the bike shorts popular in the '80s.

So where does that leave us?

There are some companies making men's swimwear in a more traditional vein, such as Parke and Ronen or Baron Wells. The Baron Wells sea pant is quite nice looking, but is rather pricey.

Another option is the square cut or "budgie smuggler" style famously worn by Daniel Craig in Casino Royale. These are perhaps the most classic of all men's swimwear styles, but one must have the right physique to pull it off. Speedo makes some very nice square cuts, especially the ones made for the European market. If you are in good enough shape, these are a great choice, and are perfect for actual swimming.

Le Samourai's choice? Right now I'm a big fan of J. Crew's short, vintage-style board shorts. They are nothing like the oversized, overlong board shorts one finds in a surf shop. The fit is nicely snug without being tight, there is no unsightly elastic, and the leg length is good. I can go on a nice ocean swim without feeling unnecessary drag, and walk along the beach without feeling indecent. All in all, a good men's swimsuit with a classic, traditional appeal.

Samourai Soundtrack

A great song by a band that disappeared far too quickly. The tune is built around a sample from The Ipcress File, perhaps the coolest spy film ever made.

The Joys of Campari

Many Americans have yet to warmed to the joy that is Campari. Perhaps it is our childlike aversion to anything that taste remotely bitter. Maybe would-be John Waynes are put off by a drink that is so gloriously crimson in color, as opposed to the manly brown of whiskey. Whatever the reason, people are missing out on a truly glorious spirit.

Campari is a classic Italian apertivo with a heritage dating back to the 1860s. It's infusion of fruit, herbs, alcohol, and water remains a guarded secret. Like all apertivos, it is traditionally consumed prior to a meal to stimulate the appetite.

Perhaps the simplest, most classic Campari drink is the Campari and Soda, recently hailed by Dappered.com as "The Drink of Summer." Here's their recipe:

• Put ice in a rocks glass (or highball if you’re thirsty)
• Pour Campari over ice to taste (at least half Campari)
• Top off with soda water
• Garnish with orange twist

A close cousin of the Campari and Soda is the Americano, which adds a shot of sweet vermouth to the mix. This was the very first cocktail ordered by Ian Fleming's James Bond in the premier Bond novel, Casino Royale. 007 orders one again in the short story "From a View to a Kill." Remember, Bond's tastes in spirits go far beyond vodka martinis.

Speaking of martinis, another wonderful Campari drink is a Negroni. It involves equal measures of Campari, gin, and sweet vermouth. It's often served on the rocks, but Le Samourai sometimes enjoys serving them shaken over ice and served in a cocktail glass, martini-style.

If you want an extra dose of Vitamin C, another option is Campari and orange juice, which is far more refreshing than you might imagine.

With summer rapidly approaching, I look forward to lounging on the patio, sipping assorted Campari concoctions, bossa nova playing softly in the background.

Samourai Soundtrack

A theme from a James Bond film that exists only in my mind.

Today's Femme Fatale

Ode to Thunderball, Part Three.

Today's Femme Fatale

Ode to Thunderball, Part Two.

Today's Femme Fatale

Ode to Thunderball, Part One.

Johann Sebastian Bach

March 21, 1685,  Johann Sebastian Bach was born. If I could only listen to the music of one artist for the rest of my life, it would be the music of Bach. Thanks, J.S. for bringing such sublime beauty into this sometimes ugly world!

(And thanks to musicians like Glenn Gould, Pablo Casals, Wanda Landowska, Isaac Stern, Trevor Pinnock, Andras Schiff, etc., for being such fantastic interpreters of Bach's music!)