Peter Kippenberger was a former work colleague of mine and this week he died in a house fire. Such a tragedy as he was one of the nicest chaps you could ever wish to meet.
Kip had an appreciation of both wine and food. ..and without any of the snobbery often involved in the wine industry. He was the same guy whether he was dealing with the little old guy in the corner wine store or the sommelier of a top Wellington restaurant.
Kip introduced me to chocolate martinis and always insisted on the martin being stirred, never shaken. James Bond drank his martini shaken as it melted the ice and made a weaker martini.
If you don't have a smoke alarm in your house - get one. If you do - check the batteries - today.
