Most New Yorkers are surely familiar with Simon Oren’s Tour de France group of restaurants, including Nice Matin, Marseille, Le Monde and L’Express. You may not always notice them, but you know they’re there, a part of the fabric of the city like green and white subway lamps, hot dog vendors, or that guy who walks around squawking like a bird. You’ve likely had brunch with an eccentric old aunt at Cafe D’Asace uptown, stopped into Pigalle when you found yourself trapped in midtown for a meeting or some such nonsense, and, of course, you’ve noshed on some late-late-night cheese and charcuterie over a glass or two of wine at one of the 24-hour French Roasts.

Every October the group celebrates two of our favorite things, beer and sausage, with a pairing festival at all nine of its restaurants. This year marks the 14th such festival. For the first time, though, the boîtes will be pouring so-called “large format” (you know, the big bottles topped with corks) — and, in some cases, vintage — beers by the glass, all selected by Gianni Cavicchi, the group’s Beer Sommelier. Cavicchi says he hopes to show off the complexity of the bottle-fermented beers.

So, for instance, a Chimay Grand Reserve 2010 pairs with the roasted pork shank confit sausage at Pigalle, and the Stillwater Saison pairs with the grilled Moroccan merguez at Maison; while at Marseille Chef Andy D’Amico’s sausage tart with crispy sweetbreads pairs with Trois Monts Golden Ale and at Le Monde Chef Regis’s house-made boudin blanc, prepared in the traditional Loire Valley style, pairs with Loriette Biere de Blanche. Like many of the chefs, Chef Regis will be making some of his sausages in-house.

The sausage plates vary in price, but all beers by the glass will be $6 (qu’elle bargain!). The Sausage and Beer Festival runs from October 20–30. Check out the menus here to plan your tour.

Yeah, we know. But given the current mounting hysteria in New York over the snowpocalypse we couldn’t help ourselves. We are wondering which will hit first? The snow emergency or the opening of the Meatball Shop on Stanton on the LES tonight.

Let’s look the numbers, shall we?

The Meatball Shop is planning to open it’s doors at 5 p.m. offering four “naked balls” for $7 (you’d have thought they’d go with two), meatball sliders for $3, or a hero for $9. Ball choices include beef, spicy pork, chicken, salmon, and vegetable.

NOAA gives this insanely detailed account of every weather ill that can possible befall the metropolis. It indicates snowfall will not be significant until after 9 p.m. and the 20–25 mph gusts of winds don’t come until tomorrow. So you’re probably fine. Just fill yourself with plenty of meatballs. They’ll weigh you down when the wind hits.

Rudy’s has always been there for you. Remember when you were sick and Rudy’s stayed up all night next to your bed to make sure you were okay. No, wait, that was your mom. But remember when you really, really needed an entire pitcher of beer and a plate of free hot dogs with little crunchy things inside them. Rudy’s was there.

And now Rudy’s needs your help. It seems some bureaucrat at the DOB (which has likely been hassling Rudy’s since 1933) has it in for the pig. An order closed Rudy’s backyard, and now, the place may close due to lost business. Thank god somebody is doing something to help. Sign the damn petition. Save the pig; save the world.

A fried egg. Pickled beets. Pineapple rings. Chile mayo. Farm-fresh tomatoes. Guest of a Guest’s Rachelle Hruska. What do these things have in common? They all enjoy topping Australian beef. Let’s start with the fried egg (because that is the one that likely had you scratching your head). July’s Gourmet magazine has a recipe for a little-known delicacy called the Aussie Burger. This is not for the faint of heart. It comes topped with all of the above (sans Hruska, of course). Sort of makes a Chicago dog look like sorbet. The Aussies also outdo the Texans who grill up a hangover cure dubbed the Texas burger (though they give New Yorkers the credit-slash-blame for this one), which is basically a bacon egg and cheese sandwich in a hamburger. So now on to Hruska, who when asked by Black Book mag where the good Hamptons parties were, answered: wherever the Australians are. At least she managed to not say Surf Lodge for one answer. Kudos.

Update: Stay tuned for news of this historic summit.