Bulletin Board 7

Tackling some common summer myths, the best cocktail for winding down, and a killer new sandwich shop in Bordeaux

DON’T BOTHER

I like life hacks as much as the next guy, but there’s a ton of generally-accepted wisdom out there that’s always left me scratching my head. Ahead of summer adventures, I called in a few expert friends to help me set some records straight. With renewed confidence, I can now say: Don’t bother…

Waiting to swim after a heavy meal

I spent my whole childhood and adolescence surrounded by Italian aunts telling me that I could never get in the pool or sea after eating, because I’d get a terrible cramp / drown. Truthfully, I think they just didn’t want the hard work of watching a bunch of kids after lunch, when they could just sit around with their coffee and cigarettes instead. My good friend, board certified general surgeon Dr. Ravi Kapadia — President of the Premier Surgical Institute in California — confirmed my hunch: “It’s kind of an old wives tale,” Ravi says. “When you look at the real science behind it, the only thing is that after consuming a meal, blood flow increases to your belly to help you digest. As a result, you might feel a little weaker in the water than when you’re at peak performance—and maybe get a minor stomach ache—but it’s kind of a myth. I jumped into the pool after a recent barbecue, so… It’s definitely no reason to miss out on anything.”

Putting a wet watch in rice (at first)

During a recent trip, I looked down at the Cartier on my wrist and experienced that sinking feeling: the glass had fogged up. Water of any kind, be it freshwater or saltwater, is corrosive to the inside of a watch — the delicate metals used within just tend to rust especially quickly. Knowing the watch had been compromised, I threw it into a bag of rice, but it didn’t do enough. According to my friend Greg Petronzi of True Patina, there are two other things I should have done instead. “The first thing you want to do once you spot water damage is pull out or unscrew your crown, bring the watch over to a hairdryer, and just heat that sucker up, keeping the dryer about 12 inches away until the fogging disappears. Next, or if you don’t have a hairdryer, put it underneath a lamp for a while, which will warm it also. You can then put it in a bed of rice until it gets to your watchmaker, who should open it up as soon as possible and start truly cleaning it.”

Urine and a jellyfish sting

In another water-based misadventure this year, I was stung by a jellyfish. Aware (but afraid) of the best-known “solution”, I instead Googled what else might possibly help, and read that peeing on it could even release more toxins! White wine vinegar was the recommendation — I grabbed some from the restaurant next door, and it actually brought me a lot of relief. Eros, an Italian coast guard captain in Pantelleria, gave me even more tips when I spoke to him this week. “First,” he says, “scrape the sting with a dull knife—or credit card—to remove the stinging tentacles. Then treat it with vinegar, if you can get it to hand, and hydrocortisone once home.”

HAPPY HOUR

There comes a time during every night of drinking when you know you’ve hit your limit. Slowing down, however, is easier said than done. Maybe you’re only halfway through your meal, or the friends you’re with want to stay out and keep the good times rolling. My solution? Quietly transitioning to a low-key cocktail that isn’t just a drop in alcohol content, but actually gives me a true head start in curing my hangover: a Cynar and soda.

All amaros have digestive properties, but the artichoke root of Italian amaro Cynar is especially restorative. That’s thanks to the minerals and high fiber content of the vegetable, all of which lead to a happier gut. (The soda water helps settle a happy stomach, too.) But it’s also just an exotic, different drink to order when everyone else is staying on the spritzes. Below, my recipe for the best drink when you want to wind down for the evening without the rest of your crew noticing.

The Cynar and Soda

1 ounce Cynar

Soda 

Combine both ingredients in a highball glass full of ice, filling to the top. Garnish with a lemon twist. That’s it.

DISPATCH

I’ve always loved stores that do two things well at once. Like Saturdays in NYC, a favorite because I could always stop in for great coffee and feel like a part of the gang, even when I wasn’t necessarily about to buy a custom Japanese wetsuit. So I was thrilled to learn that my buddy Clément Tafflet has just expanded his Bordeaux bike shop, Retro Bicicletta, in order to sell some serious sandwiches under the name Fringale.

I first met Clément completely by chance. Yolanda and I were wandering down the street in Bordeaux, and I noticed this shop that was just filled with European steel vintage bicycles. As a kid of the 80s, Peugeot bikes are about the coolest thing to me, but I could never afford one, especially with the import fees. Chatting to Clément inside, I learned that he drives all over Western France, sourcing and fixing up iconic models. I loved his whole upcycling philosophy, and soon after we became friends, I learned he was really interested in food. So it was no surprise when he told me that he was going to open Fringale. Right now, they offer three to four daily sandwiches that are epic (just check out this picture.) Note: This is not your granddad’s Jambon Beurre — more like a French take on the hoagie. Next time you’re in Bordeaux, say hey from me.

NEXT UP

That’s all for this week, but next week’s newsletter is going to feature a full roster of the summer fits I’m currently rotating through. (There may be a couple of special guests, too…) It’ll only be for our paid readers: Be sure to subscribe here so you don’t miss it.

Enjoy your week.