James Kendal

That's a very strange video experience.

You would think that the prices have come down considering the exchange rate but I have yet to see it really happen here.

Alderlea make some fine wines. I agree with your description of their Pinot Noir. However, at close to $40 a bottle - double it if you're in a restaurant - I won't be buying their product with any frequency (when I can choose from a world of great wines for half the price). Memo - dreaming of the day the BCL will bring in a $12.00 Bierzo ← The regular 2003 Pinot was released from the winery for $22 and the Reserve 2003 Pinot was $35. Worth the price, IMHO, when you start looking at what Pinot Noirs cost from Oregon, New Zealand and Burgundy. The regular Alderlea Pinot is an excellent buy.

And just what kind of grass are you talking about....LOL

Interesting thread so far. If one is looking for inexpensive wines to drink daily (let's say under $17) then it is probably best to look at imports from Spain, Argentina, Chile etc. They way I look at B.C. wines is for quality at or around the $20 price point and up and I assess the wines relative to price and typicality of the varietal. I then consider the style of the wine maker. Cedar Creek, for example, makes extracted wines, lots of wood and lots of stuffing, but the prices are somewhat of a premium $30-40, but they are worth it. What can you get from California for under $40 that has any kind of pedigree. Lately, Golden Mile (Merlot, Pinot), Herder (Twin Bench Chard, Pinot Gris), Laughing Stock (meritage), Inniskillin (discovery series), Black Hills, Burrowing Owl (Cab Sauv), Blue Mountain Stripe wines and bubbles are all exceptional wines, well made and well justified in price. I will admit that the greenness can be found in immature vines, poor vineyard management decisions, and or, overall lack of ripe fruit but usually we get the opportunity to taste these wines before we buy them (i.e. trade tastings etc). I also feel that some of our B.C. wineries should focus more on a handful of wines and stop trying to make so many different selections. Determine what works best in the vineyard and focus on that varietal. As for pricing... well I guess it comes down to supply and demand although a more liberal liquor board could probably help bring down the prices but with the BCLDB current expansion of VQA selections and their willingness to now cover the cost of shipping of B.C. wines, will not happen any time soon. One last point, I have a lot of respect for Blue Mountain and Black Hills for maintaining their pricing after many years on the market. Don't tell them that though.

Interestingly, my neighbor uses a water condensor and makes his own water every day.

Considering how much it is raining outside why not put some buckets outdoors and collect some free water

BC wineries give up more % to sell to the Board. I can't fathom why Quails Gate et al would sell their reserve wines to the board. The Liquor Board is going to continue to expand the BC selections and will fight for more allocation as this is one of the biggest areas for growth. Thank God the smaller concerns don't play with the big boy i.e. Kettle Valley, Blue Mountain, Laughing Stock etc. It's really only the wineries producing large amounts (more than 10,000 cases) that are giving in. Just my opinion. P.S. still recovering from a recent trip to Maui where I was buying wines on restaurant lists that were on par with board prices : ( Further thought: if the BCLDB is not going to privatize then they should consider modifying the distribution system to allow for consignment like the LCBO. At a minimum we would see more interesting wines in the system and less corporate wines.

One thing that would help along the privatization battle would be for BC wineries to boycott the Liquor Board. BC wineries can sell direct, to your local PRIVATE store and to the VQA stores.

I think NU would also fit the bill. I had dinner and drinks there last week and the whole room seems geared towards small plates and cocktails etc.

I would like to chime in on this discussion as there are changes afoot at CCRA regarding tips and they are gearing up to go after employer source deductions on tips and if CCRA audits you for previous years they will seek those deductions. We have just gone through an audit as well as a number of other hotels on the Island. Restaurants are low on the radar at this point as CCRA is not prepared to go full tilt (yet) as they could create a liability for Employment Insurance. Where you (the owner) needs to be careful is how you handle the tips. If you are withholding any cash for more than 24 hours CRA assumes that you are controlling tips. As well, if you the owner, are dictating the way tips are paid out to the house that could also be deemed as control so you should be careful about this. If you have an autograts on groups or large parties then these tips are contracted and you have to pay GST and T4 these tips. Several years ago Sooke Harbour House fought an assessment in court and lost, which is public information. This has created a precedent in the courts which the CRA is using. However, there is still no definitive legislation at this time. My only advice is to be careful with: 1. Tip out to the house 2. Group tips and auto tips which can be assessed for GST and source deductions. 3. Withholding tips for any period of time. We are currently appealing an assessment and I will let you know the outcome. Cheers,

Brian, I think you may also be successful touring the Sannich, Metchosin, and the Cowichan Valley. You will find many more farms than the Okanagan.

OUCH! Just picked up a liquor order for the Aerie today and the Macallan 18 Year just went from $135 to $252 per bottle since the last time I bought a bottle. Did a price check on the web and found it in the states for $112. One day we will have a free market : )

For seekers of tea-drinking trivia, Canada officially ceased to be a British colony with the passage of the Statute of Westminster in 1931. Para los buscadores del trivia te'-que bebi'a, Canadá dejó oficialmente de ser una colonia británica con el paso del estatuto de Westminster en 1931. Memo, from the land of trivial pursuits ← And for those who may be confused by the non-official language bilingual noticia (que beuno), please note that it is British Columbia, not British Colombia... ← Deborah, Love the play on New Order's "Power, Corruption and Lies" Album.

THis is a really funny thread. In my opinion, Tourism Victoria should do everything they can to get away from the Englishness of Victoria and the stiff upper lip of longstockings that settled here and turned us in to a nimbie paradise with a tweed curtain. The Terrace at the Empress is far more enjoyable than the tea service. As for afternoon Tea, try the Grand Pacific Hotel. Awesome selection of rare teas and great tea pots (note: my wife is the restaurant manager so there is some bias). White Heather is good and for a great introduction to Tea and a very cool spot check out Silk Road Tea on Gov't Street, kitty corner to China Town. If your coming up Island, stop at the Aerie and ask for James and I will buy you an afternoon tea. We have a great selection of Tea from "T" and we serve French Madelaines (sic).

Hi Malcolm, This thread may get moved due to the content but I will recommend the following itinerary for you:: Day 1 Vancouver to Portland Portland Hotel 5th Avenue Suites Restaurant= Blue Hour Day 2 Portland to Rogue River (southern Oregon) Hotel = Tu Tu Tun Lodge Day 3= Travel to Healdsburg Hotel = Hotel Healdsburg At Hotel Healdsburg you can eat at Charlie Palmers Dry Creek Kitchen From here you are only a couple of hours to San Fransisco. I have stayed at these hotels and they are excellent. Hope this helps

You should also consider Tofino and greater Victoria. We have a big shortage of kitchen staff out this way.

Hmm, I hosted Max Alexander and we did a cooking demonstration with a "Haute Cuisine" take on local products (which is in keeping with our chef's French background). We also tasted older and hard to find Venturi-Schulze wines and the dinner was co-hosted with the Venturi-Schulzes. This article will do well for us on the island and combined with the August Travel + Leisure Magazine we should see some increased attention to our destination.

I'm not sure why anyone would be shocked about the prices in a dining room that is on par with pricing for a "fine dining room." I don't think Panache is set up for the bistro market and the pricing looks fair. Albeit, if you have to pay for the sides on your main course then I would agree to a point. IMHO

I find these Gill reviews (and others) quite inane. Here is a thought. If you are going to review restaurants then why not review restaurants that we want to know about or places that are new and unique. It seems that if you win an award you have a big target on your forehead and paper journalists feel that negativity promotes readership. I guess bad news make good news. Would we buy Robert Parker’s or Wine Spectator mags if all they did was tell us about bad wine, hotels and restaurants? Sure negativity promotes debate and controversy but it certainly does not inspire competition. Tojo, Lumiere, West et al set the mark in Vancouver. We know this so move on and find some undiscovered locations and help the community. Just my humble opinion

He was with us in February.

Jamie, I am so confused. The magazine shows Brasserie as Bronze and the Wick and Aerie Tied?? OOPS!! I guess I should look at the date on these messages as they are from last year. LOL. I need some more coffee this morning.

If you need a great family orientate restaurant in Victoria I would go to Palmers in Oak Bay. I had to host 10 people for Easter dinner and Palmers puts out good old fashioned food with great standards and at very decent pricing. Kind of the place to take Mom and Dad et al.

Well the topic is definately straying and this is a can of worms. For the owners of restaurants and managers at hotels you should be aware and concerned for the future. I am currently going through and audit with CCRA and it is pretty much their intention to begin looking for source deductions on grats if they determine that the management is controlling tips. By that, if the house holds back grats then it is deemed that the grats are controlled by the house and then liable for the source deductions and unfortunatly for all you waiters out there the day is coming that you will have to pay taxes and live a legitmate life like the rest of us. I am going to appeal any ruling as the compliance audit covers 3 years but I also have to be prepared to either relinquish the house tip or, once again, have increases to my wage costs. Back to the labour issue. Track down this past Thursday's Globe and Mail as it has a great article on the Alberta labour crisis which is triggering inflation. Ultimately, the market will dictate and inflationary pressures will burst the bubble and bring us all back down to reality. (which I hope as I sit on the sidelines waiting to by a house for a somewhat decent price).

"Like the ridge of a record - this delicate white spins on and on and on... recalling the lost Indian love call of harvest-time." This sounds like a quote from my colleague Brian Storen (ex-sooke, ex Brentwood Bay Lodge) LOL