Sidra House Rules

I saw Yogi Bear for a few moments yesterday, not in the flesh of course but on the big screen. Or more accurately on the small-to-middle-ish screen for Señor Gato Gringo and I had gone to the movies and this was a cineplex theatre. And there nestled between the Coming Attractions and the Feature Presentation was el Oso Yogui - as he is known in these parts - the spokesbear for tourism in the Principado de Asturias. And in case you didn't know and in the unlikely situation that you care, Asturias is an autonomous community, situated on the north coast of Spain facing the Cantabrian Sea (a.k.a. the Bay of Biscay). Not exactly Jellystone Park but with a few more perks.

But wait! This isn't the Yogi of my childhood. Where's the picnic basket he's just stolen from some gormless campers? And what's that in his hands? It would seem that Yogui is pouring - rather deftly I might add - a glass of sidra (or cider) in the Asturian fashion, known as El Escanciado. Note how Yogui holds the bottle above his head and aerates the cider with a long skillful vertical pour. As the sidra splashes into the glass - always held at hip level - it is imbued with bubbles and its characteristic zippy taste. It should come as no surprise that the Principado de Asturias has given Yogui the moniker the maestro escanciador - the master cider pourer.

So maybe Hanna-Barbera Studios was right after all: he is smarter than the average bear. Or more precisely, perhaps Yogui is smarter than the average Yogi .

Nonetheless, I couldn't help thinking of the unlikelihood, in Canada at least, of a cartoon character demonstrating the proper pouring technique of the local tipple to promote tourism. I just can't see the 'perfect pour' - or Daffy Duck hawking Baby Duck - used as the trailer at a Saturday matinée. But then again, today's Feature Presentation was sponsored by Mahou, Madrid's brew of choice. And had we not just laid plunder to the concession stand on the way into our micro-theatre where we had bought a mondo-sized popcorn and beer? Oh happy day! The man behind the counter apologized for having to pour the cans of Amstel into paper cups but otherwise we couldn't bring them it into the movie with us. We were outraged. We found it in our hearts to forgive him.

We really had no choice but to order a beer with our popcorn. It was less expensive than the kiddie-size pop and Señor G.G. and I always strive for fiscal responsibility. It was the right thing to do.

We like this country.