Beaujolais bashes around town Thursday

It's a little outré, we suppose, to celebrate the arrival of beaujolais nouveau. It's a nice but modest wine that's fine for casual sipping or with Thanksgiving turkey, but maybe doesn't merit all the publicity it gets.

In the old days, beaujolais producers in the south of France used every mode of transit possible, from bicyclette to hot-air balloon, racing to reach Paris first with their new wines. Twenty years ago they brought it to Miami on the Concord supersonic jet and had fireworks at the Grand Bay Hotel to celebrate.

This year, wine producer Georges Duboeuf is sending it by ship and motorcycle. On Thursday, you might see 16 local chefs zooming up to South Beach's Casa Casaurina on cycles, carrying the wine; there's a party there, but you're not invited.

Here are some places you can celebrate on Thursday, the official release day for the new beaujolais:

• Pascal's on Ponce, 2611 Ponce de Leon, Coral Gables: Chef-owner Pascal Oudin hosts a Buchon Lyonnais bash with seatings beginning at 6 p.m. featuring his brasserie menu at $55 per person including two glasses of 2008 Domaine Dupeuble Pere et Fils Beaujolais Nouveau.

• George's in the Grove, 3145 Commodore Plaza, Coconut Grove, will pour beaujolais beginning at noon with its regular menu and on Monday will ''celebrate the beaujolais nouveau, heralded by kangaroo'' from 6 to 11 p.m.; 305 444 7878.

• Chez Laurent, 2460 E. Commercial Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, will offer a $25 steak and pommes frites (french fries) special with beaujolais nouveau at $5 a glass beginning at 7 p.m.; 954-772-7108.

• Sage Café, 2378 N. Federal Hwy., Fort Lauderdale, and Sage Bistro & Oyster Bar, 2000 Harrison St., Hollywood, will pour the wine for $5 a glass beginning at 7 p.m.; 954-565-2299, 954-391-9466.