Punt e Mes
Punt e Mes, one of the classic vermouths from Italy, is a restaurant critic’s -- and the intrepid foodie’s -- best friend. I’d forgotten that until one night recently when I was confronted with an Italian feast and a queasy stomach. Someone handed me a glass of Punt e Mes on the rocks with a twist of orange as an aperitif. I sipped. I immediately began to feel better. And by the time I finished the drink, I was actually feeling hungry -- something that had seemed impossible when I left the house -- ready to tackle what turned out to be a wonderful Italian meal that had been all day in the making. I think it’s the dose of bitters and all the secret herbs in the recipe (which dates from 1870) that does the trick. And it’s nothing like medicine: It’s quite delicious, sweet and bitter at the same time. It also makes a terrific Negroni cocktail.
Finding Carpano Punt e Mes around here, though, is sometimes tough. When I ran out last month, I think I had to try at least 10 wine shops and liquor stores before I turned up two bottles at Wally’s in West L.A. I bought both. Let’s hope they’ve re-ordered by now. Or if not, give them a nudge.
Punt e Mes, $21.95. Wally’s Wine & Spirits, 2107 Westwood Blvd., Los Angeles; (310) 475-0606.
-- S. Irene Virbila
Photo by S. Irene Virbila
My recent purchase of Punt e Mes just like the foto above does not bear the name of the family who developed the recipe - Carpano. Are these "knock-offs"?
Posted by: daniel windham | June 01, 2008 at 09:43 AM
My recent purchase of Punt e Mes just like the foto above does not bear the name of the family who developed the recipe - Carpano. Are these "knock-offs"?
Posted by: daniel windham | June 01, 2008 at 09:41 AM
I'm italian and punt e mes is my favourite aperifitif. If you're searching for more information about punt e mes please visit my blog page (in italian)
Posted by: Il Coach | May 31, 2008 at 11:39 AM
Topline carries it.
Posted by: Desiree | July 13, 2007 at 01:26 PM
Thanks for catching the error, David. We fixed it.
Posted by: Leslie Brenner | July 12, 2007 at 06:34 PM
There is no accent mark: "Punt e mes." It means "point and a half," not "point is a half," as the writer would have it.
Posted by: David Grosz | July 12, 2007 at 05:47 PM