Bubbles, Bubbles Everywhere

I attended a champagne tasting a few Saturdays ago (yes, drinking in the afternoon is acceptable), and here are my picks for New Year's Eve bubbly:

Bollinger Special Cuvee Champagne--a little pricey, but worth it
Veuve Cliquot La Grande Dame--REALLY pricey
Banfi Rosa Regale (Italy)--an under $20 sparkling rose; probably my favorite of the group

For those Memphians (or visitors) looking for a nice dinner tomorrow night, head to Encore, a new French bistro downtown. The chef from the Peabody Hotel's Chez Philippe is manning the kitchen. The restaurant is offering a three course menu with a glass of champagne. Off the regular menu, I recommend the steak frites with bernaise on the side, butternut squash soup, and bread pudding.