Daddy-A

I had their Chardonnay at the Naramata Heritage Inn, and the Noble Blend with Michael & Heidi @ Joie, and then again in Kelowna (still to come). I'm really looking forward to their Year Two offering! A.

Yeah, that photo really sucks! Simple and beautiful Kris. Truly. So THAT's what you do with shiso! I have a bush of shiso on our back patio, and I keep making up things to do with it, and I don't know if any of them are proper. I suppose I should post a question in Cooking .... A.

We met Amy at the Canadian open BBQ competition last April in Vancouver, and then stopped by the Ranch House on our way down to portland in July. Definitely worth the trip! Her team name is Mad Mama's or some such incarnation IIRC. Also, I believe it's her sauce that wins her most of her awards. Fantastic stuff all around. A.

As I'm reading these last few posts, besides feeling the pang of regret for not having attended the Aurora dinner, I'm looking at the list of members waiting patiently for your next post. Awesome blog! Thanks for all the effort you've put in this week! A.

[host] As they say in the theatre ... on more time, with feeling! General discussion of martinis doesn't belong here ... it belongs in the Fine Spirits and Cocktails forum. Thanks. A. [/host]

You mean filtering through the SMOKE! You have to let people know about the huge smokehouse this city has become. I'm hanging 4 sides of bacon on my back patio right now ... should be done by Friday Looking forward to the Aurora pictures ... hope they're in focus. A.

And to get things back on topic .... Which bars in town carry Plymouth Gin. I re-discovered Plymouth over my vacation ... even got my formerly gin-hating wife to like G&T mad with Plymouth! I believe the Hamilton Street Grill carries it. Is it a standard or something special? A.

Very little fancy dining over the past couple weeks. 2 weeks ago we were on Mayne Island with the kids. We did have a decent dinner at the Mayne Inn (Brentwood Bay), and a couple lackluster breakfasts courtesy of BC Ferries. Last week J & I were in the Okanagan touring the wineries. I'm slowly posting about it HERE. Highlights: a tomato/boconcini salad at the Cobblestone Wine Bar at the Naramata Inn, a burger at the Camp Creek Station Pub in Naramata, and an AMAZING lunch on the patio at The Sonora Room at Burrowing Owl (which included a glass of their '02 Chard ). The only thing that would have made the Sonora room better would have been if the crews working on the new B&B took the afternoon off. The pool sure looks like its going to be nice! A.

Day 3 With my feet nicely buffed from the morning's pedicure , we left for Oliver … along the way we made a quick stop in Penticton for some cold medication and lunch: Brownie Batter Blizzard From Penticton, we drove the East Lake Road (down the east side of Skaha Lake) rather than the main highway. East Lake is a beautiful winding road situated right beside the lake. Stunning views, and more fruit & vegetable stands you can shake a stick at. It's also a better way to get to wineries like Blasted Church and Stag's Hollow on your way to Oliver & Osoyoos. Winery Stops: *Kettle Valley (Naramata) *Blasted Church (Okanagan Falls) *Stag’s Hollow (Okanagan Falls) The first thing you'll notice as you drive into Oliver, in addition to the sudden increase in temperature (we started the day at 18C and drove into Oliver at 30C), is the increase in vineyards. Hillside vineyards above Stag's Hollow, just north of Oliver. Oliver touts itself as the “wine capital of Canada,” with the highest concentration of wineries in a region called The Golden Mile, just south of Oliver. The rolling terraces, exceptionally mild climate with lots of sun, gravelly soil and availability of irrigation produce the right elements for growing high-quality grapes. An amazing little butcher shop we found on the way into Oliver. In addition to the butcher shop, the also have a smoker out back for hams, jerky and bacon. We picked up a couple rib-eye’s for dinner, and some jerky for snacks during cocktails hour. G&T’s by the pool! Plymouth Gin & Schweppes Tonic. A perfect way to cool down after the drive. The pool wasn't bad either . We stayed in a little motel in town called the Bel Air Cedar Resort. Nothing fancy, but close to everything, and equipped with the outdoor grills we needed for dinner. The steaks, ready for the grill. 3 bean salad, some really fantastic store-bought homous, and Tiger Blue cheese from Poplar Grove. Honestly, if you've never had this cheese before, you are missing out big time. One of the best cheeses anywhere. All items were purchased from a deli in town called Canteloupe Annie's. The finished dinner, served with a Hillside Estate Gamay Blush (we had to break into our stash!). A.

And you're working where?? I'm a martini drinker. Gin. Only gin. But give me fresh juices and I can be convinced. Just leave out the umbrellas. A.

ExtraMSG's tip sheet is excellent. His advice served me well both time's "J" & I visited Portland <- unsolicited plug I'd second Park Kitchen, and add Vino Paradiso to the wine bar list. We visited twice last time we were there and really enjoyed it. A.

An extensive discussion about Ch'i can be found HERE. Glad to hear they're still going strong. When I saw ladders outside the building earlier this summer I feared the worst. Turns out they were remodelling the front garden. A.

Day 2 Call me picky, but when someone tells me they’ll have coffee waiting for me in the library when I wake up, I expect to find coffee in the library … especially when I’m staying at the Naramata Heritage Inn. Both of us were also fighting colds however, so maybe we were just grumpy. Breakfast was the “free” breakfast at the Inn. Usual fare … granola, yoghurt, fruit, muffins, cheeses … and again, no frickin’ coffee! I was a bit of a bear until we found this place just up Robinson Road: Plans for the day started with a wonderful visit to see Michael & Heidi at the Joie Cooking School. Very simply, these are two of the nicest people you can imagine meeting. They love food and sharing what they’ve found so far in the Okanagan. We chatted with them over coffee (BLESS YOU!). Heidi brought out some of their smoke cured boar to sample, along with some pears from the orchard. Michael was quite eager to start in on the wine as he kept asking me if we wanted to bother with any more coffee, and shouldn’t we just move right on to the wine. I like the way he thinks! The wine was the Joie Year One Noble Blend … a real treat since it’s now sold out. Michael also revealed some plans for Joie, Year Two. Of course, with a glass in one hand, and some boar in the other I didn’t take notes, but I do know the production will be increased. Outside, we visited Heidi’s teaching kitchen: Heidi prepping for a day of stock-making The school has been doing very well for them … and next year promises to be just as busy. After the kitchen came my favourite part of our visit: This is the smokehouse Heidi & Michael built. Since my backyard can’t accommodate something so large, I’ll have to revisit them in the spring … when I drive up with my dad’s pick-up and trailer to collect grape vine and fruit tree wood for my own smoker! Winery Stops: *Elephant Island *Hillside Estates Elephant Island was a great stop (love their Cassis!), featuring a very eclectic collection of wines that wouldn't be equalled until we gor to Oliver. By the time we got to Hillside, I was so plugged I couldn’t taste a thing. “J” did the tasting there after our lunch at what seemed like the only patio in the area open before Wednesday. Okanagan Sampler Platter with Kalamata Tapenade, Wild Boar Pate with a sour Cherry relish, Poplar Grove “Tiger Blue” with caramelized onions, Grava Lax with grainy mustard, and a whipped goats cheese that tasted unlike any goats cheese I’ve ever had … really delicious. Mediterranean Wrap with roasted eggplant, peppers, artichokes and feta. Another stop that day was at Claybank Farm Lavender. A very pastoral, calming place, especially if you like lavender like “J” does. Picked up some Herbes de Provence, and some baking lavender. Before dinner we hiked a while on the old Kettle Valley Railway trails above town. Amazing views! Definitely worth the gasping and wheezing I suffered. The trails are also suitable for cycling which is how I will explore them next time. Dinner was a low-key event at the Camp Creek Station Pub … again, just up Robinson Rd. I’m nominating this place for a Burger Club meeting! This was an awesome burger … very juicy and tasty with bacon and mushrooms, although the patty was the standout. "J"'s club sandwich. Fries were excellent said she. Service in the bar was excellent as well. They even brought me a hot water and lemon for my cold! This was our last night in Naramata. The next morning my thoughtful & loving wife "J" treated me to a pedicure at the spa ... money I insisted could have been spent on wine. Seriously though, the pedicure was the best part of our stay at the Naramata Heritage Inn ... both for me personally, and as part of the whole hotel's experience. Not that I didn't enjoy my time there, just that I felt It cost a lot for what we got. Next time we go, we'll be looking into the plethora of cheesey motels in the area and saving room on the credit card for wine. A.

Isn't this a fund-raiser though? Think of the extra $$$ as doing your part for Farmfolk/Cityfolk. A.

Last week was the second half of our annual vacation. Having spent the first week on Mayne Island with the kids, “J” and I were ready for some adult time, so we planned a week long trek through the Okanagan Valley, with expectations to replenish our cellar with some of the best grape in the world, and to sample some of the fresh local food this area is has always produced. The Visitor’s Information Centre at the turn-off from the Coquihala Highway to the Okanaga Connector was lunch stop #1: It was a surprisingly good dog, with really fresh condiments. A good rival for the Ikea dog, but the $2.50 price tag and the inflated price of gas leaves Ikea still in the #1 slot. Destination #1: Naramata Bench Rather than bore you with a lot of wine details (which I am grossly under qualified to make) I’ll simply list out where we stopped and anything interesting of note. Once I've organized all the wines, I'll list out what we picked up in one post. Winery stops for Day 1: *La Frenz *Red Rooster Remember the naked statue that folk in Penticton were up in arms over? “Frank” has found a home at Red Rooster: I only mention this because Red Rooster did a limited run Cab “Frank” and had the artist sign about 1000 bottles with part proceeds going to charity. Our home in Naramata was the Naramata Heritage Inn. The garden in front of the photo belongs to the kitchen. As a quick aside, when travelling in the Okanagan during the off-season (which seems to be after Labour Day, not including the Fall Wine Festival in October) be sure to confirm that facilities will be open. This was a recurring theme with during our trip, and Naramata was no different. Many winery restaurants were only open Thursday – Sunday. The Rock Oven dining at the Inn fell into this category. So rather than dinner, we dropped in to the Cobblestone Wine Bar for a late lunch. A very refreshing gazpacho made with local tomatoes, cucumber, peppers, olive oil and cider vinegar. Easily the best tomato/bocconcini salad I have ever had! Too bad “J” ordered it and I was limited to 1 bite. Awesome tomatoes and the purple basil was a nice variation. My brie/pear/roasted garlic pizza. Nice combination which I will add to my recipe files. After dinner we strolled the quiet streets of Naramata in a vain attempt at some pre-emptive exercise. I say vain because while we were admiring this beautifully restored Ford pick-up (me) and the garden behind it (J): we were invited inside by the owners, Cherie & William who are recent transplants from the Napa Valley. As we sat and chatted about the area, William opened a 2002 Red Lava Syrah and Cherie kept disappearing into her kitchen, returning with assorted cheeses, tomatoes with pesto and goat feta, and other snacks. Anybody know where I can pick up a Red Lava Syrah? A perfect introduction to Naramata. A.

Sorry if this one has already be covered ... Vintropolis in Kelowna has changed hands and is now The Rotten Grape. Didn't ask about ownership, or where the original folk have moved ... was too busy petting the hostesses new Portugese Water Dog Report on The Rotten Grape when I get back .... A,

What I don't understand are those establishments that have a "if it's not broken don't fix it" approach. This can apply to food, as well as the room. In the case of a place J & I dined in in Oliver, both applied. The majority of the meal was fine, but little touches, like cheese "relish" on the lamb (folks really like it our server assured us) seemed to be pointless. Granted, it was my one and only visit, so maybe that's not a fair comment ... My real issue was the room which looked like it had be decorated once about 15 years ago, and then left. Disclaimer: I get uneasy when our showroom displays are older than 18 months. It was a combination Okanagan, French and English farmhouse, with little 1980's rumpus room touches. I agree with James ... standing still is a death trap. A.

I gotta second that one Pan! Fer cryin' out loud ... you go to the effort of performing a poultry labotomy and don't even enjoy the spoils?? What gives? Sorry I had to miss that meal ... and the Druckers. Moosh always knows how to get the eaters together! A.

I'm in Oliver right now ... been for the past 2 days. No huckleberries that I've seen so far. Jusr tomatoes, the last of the peaches, apples, plums and pears. We're driving through Osoyoos tomorrow ... I'll keep an eye out. A.

Great topic, which surely isn't localized to Vancouver. I'm moving this to General so the rest of the world can take place in the discussion. A.

This is what happens when a night-owl blogs. Lots of stuff when you wake up, but not much again until the evening. What gives Moosh? Hopefully you're busy harvesting those eggplants for Noah's lunch. "J" wants to know how the harvest has been on the tomatoes ... we've been away so it's been kinda tough keeping up. Looking forward to your tour of Vancouver. Sorry we won't be there for Aurora or for any Lunch-Mafia gatherings . A. ps The cat's name should be "Ringo-Snack"

Its right next door to the Transylvanian Bread Place. Good coffee and a chance to speak French if you need it. Can't speak to anything other than a couple biscuits, which were good ... worth at least a second visit. A.

Jeez, I go away for a week, and look what happens to this place!! Neil, gerald's got it right ... buy the plasma screens from Costco. I'll be bringing a few friends by in November for Grey Cup so some new toobs would be nice (look after that willya? ) Keith, keep the mullet, but that swastika tat has to go. Jamie, leave the Gaglardi's alone. The eGullet legal fund is stretched pretty thin, and with Varmint hosting the Pig Pickin' this weekend, it will be out of ocmission for a week or so. Finally ... back on topic ... Fets' on Commercial Drive is our hang-out for PPV's. Decent pub food, good beers on tap, lots of TV's, free draws, and (most importantly) only a Sky-Train ride away from my front door. Go 'Nucks! A. ps - Back in another week, BEHAVE!

And it's only going to get worse ... Sockeye fishery closed. Waiting for Sam Salmon to chime in .... A.

that is lovely, what is nopal cactus? Pallee, welcome!! what a nice first picture! ← I'm gonna second that! Where'd I leave that arborio .... A.