A rugged coastline reminiscent of Cornwall, maybe Ireland, even Galicia: I’m resigned to the fact that I’m a wee bit obsessed with the place. I’ve just returned from my second visit. It was whirlwind tour of only three days, into which we managed to pack visits to wineries in three sub-regions; enjoy a smorgasbord [...]
Smoke & Oak overlooks this dramatic panorama Last week—on yet another glorious Okanagan summer’s day—we found ourselves on the patio at Wild Goose. Nothing unusual about that. But this was the first time I had managed to get back to check out Smoke & Oak Bistro, which they launched late last year. Some [...]
One of those few I consider a Vancouver ‘original, ’ Montri didn’t just ride the wave of Thai cuisine in the 1980s, he was a key player in bringing it into the mainstream.
Provence Food and Wine ... some pretty irresistible dishes Yes, it’s a none-too thinly-veiled promo for Provence. Never mind! I love this cookbook that was doing the rounds at about the same time as the recent B.C. Wines from Provence spotlight. Provence Food and Wine: The Art of Living (by François Millo and [...]
Riesling is very much on our radar this summer. Well it always is, but even more so thanks to Wines of Germany’s ’31 Days of German Riesling’ promo, now on across Canada. Drop by any participating resto* and you might just win yourself an all expense paid trip to Berlin—and likely a few slurps of [...]
Dr. Martin Tesch A multi dimensional tasting They say that wine always tastes better with the winemaker. I’m inclined to agree, especially when it comes to someone like Martin Tesch, who dropped by Vancouver last week. Then again, I happen to know they show just as well without him. It’s not hard to [...]
Portugal's stunning Douro Valley. These days, though, there's a whole lot more to Portugal than Port. Portugal is back in the table wine game with a vengeance. No better proof of that than a recent Vancouver visit by a couple of score of key producers. Judging by the excitement in the room the [...]
Osoyoos beach from the Watermark Resort The Osoyoos ‘Oyster’ Festival? Seriously? I must admit, I was just a tad surprised when I first heard of the idea. After all, burgeoning bivalves is maybe not the first thing that come to mind when you consider the sandy (rock free), shores of the South Okanagan’s [...]
A ground-breaking collaboration: Marc du Soleil, made by Long Table Distillery, TP photo The Hired Belly has attended more than few winemaker dinners. But some remain etched in my memory. The very first was when Howard Soon (now Peller Estates’ chief winemaker, then Calona Vineyards’) dropped by the original Raintree, in [...]
Joe Fortes scallop ceviche, with Nautilus Twin Islands Sauvignon Blanc Vintners Brunch, to the lucky crowd who book it soon enough, is one fun party. And why not? After all, it’s the major closing event of the Vancouver International Wine Festival; and a laid-back wrap-up for many of the wine industry people who [...]
