A cup of Joe

Photo: Contributed I was at the bulk store getting flavoured coffee beans for a friend this week and I used the grinder as she doesn’t have one. As I stood there listening to the whir of the machine, I was transported back to my childhood and Saturday morning trips to the grocery

Pirates invade Castanet!

Rob Gibson UPDATE 11:58 a.m. Arrrr matey! Pirates invaded Castanet Wednesday – but instead of pillaging, they dropped off a few Pirate Paks, including chocolate gold coins. Of course, today is Pirate Pak Day at White Spot restaurants across British Columbia, with $2 from ever

McWatters Meritage blend

Photo: Contributed Wine: Meritage (red blend) 2016 Winery: McWatters Collection, Penticton Why drink it? It’s hard to believe that the man behind this label has pressed his last grapes, but rather than hold on to this bottle (which you can, for three or so years, perhaps), why

A recipe for friendship

Photo: Contributed I was inspired this week by two social media posts that were definite foodie fodder… they were a sort of edible chain letter and they made me think about the traditions of food with friendship. These posts were ones I bet you have seen. The first one was for t

Home Block wows judges

Photo: Contributed Air Canada has announced its long list of nominees for its annual Canada’s Best New Restaurants feature, and one Okanagan location made the cut. Home Block at Kelowna’s CedarCreek Estate Winery is among the 35 restaurants that will be considered for Air C

Wine label full of memories

Photo: Contributed Providence Funeral Homes and Little Engine Wines have come up with a unique way to memorialize loved ones. The two Penticton businesses have joined forces to offer personalized wine labels. Anyone who uses Providence Funeral Homes can be given a personalized bottle o

Food for the ages

Photo: Contributed We went to see Once Upon a Time in Hollywood this week. It’s a period piece, set in Los Angeles in 1969. I am a child of that age, and so the many iconic references in the movie resonated with me, like the product packages on the kitchen counters of the movie&r

Clancy's top notch pub fare

  clancy'sgallery Photo: Contributed Photo: Contributed Photo: Contributed Photo: Contributed Photo: Contributed Photo: Contributed 1 2 3 4 5 6   For the rest of the summer, Castanet Penticton is featuring a new South Okanagan r

Lazy days of summer

Photo: Contributed Are you fully immersed in summer? In case you’re not sure what that entails, it’s dinners on the deck and drinks on the lawn and hanging out in the sun. They call them lazy days of summer, don’t they? I enjoy time outside in my garden too, put

Cue's: Front row to summer

Photo: Contributed For the rest of the summer, Castanet Penticton is featuring a new South Okanagan restaurant weekly, every Sunday. The feature will complement our existing weekly wine reviews found here. Cue's Game Room, Grill & Pizzeria is a year-round hub for entertain

Township 7 Rose

Photo: Contributed Wine: Rosé 2018 Winery: Township 7, Penticton and Langley Why drink it? A blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, and Petit Verdot from several premium vineyard sites in the southern part of the Okanagan, the first notes on the nose are surprisingly ar

Support our community

Photo: Contributed The universe has been in my face this week, showing me signs that seem to be saying I need to get in the game, be a part of things. I see things that make me sad, and the signs are telling me I will be even sadder if I don’t try and change those things. It all

2 new craft breweries open

Photo: Colin Dacre This summer is shaping up to be busiest the province has ever seen for new craft brewery openings. Last week two new breweries opened in the Okanagan, with Barn Owl Brewing Co. in Kelowna and Breakaway Brewing Co. in Summerland both opening their doors. Barn Owl B

Road 13 Roussanne

Photo: Contributed Wine: Roussanne 2017 Winery: Road 13, Oliver Why drink it? Roussanne is not all that common in the Okanagan; from the Rhône region of France, this particular style is becoming the winemaking focus at Road 13. A beautiful golden hue in the glass, the grapes c

All aboard at public house

Photo: Contributed For the rest of the summer, Castanet Penticton is featuring a new South Okanagan restaurant weekly, every Sunday. The feature will complement our existing weekly wine reviews found here. Locals and tourists are all aboard The Station Public House located adjacen

Summer garden party

Photo: Contributed I wanted to create a post that would showcase something elegant for a summer garden party. I was thinking of keeping up to Martha Stewart and all her beautiful flower arrangements amidst pastel-coloured cocktails, or perhaps Alice Waters-style with sprigs of just-sni

Mission Hill Chardonnay

Photo: Contributed Wine: Terroir Collection Chardonnay, 2017 Winery: Mission Hill, West Kelowna Why drink it? The grapes come from Oliver, at Jagged Rock Vineyard, and much care has gone into this distinctive and refreshing wine, starting with the site selection and choosing specifi

'Salute to the Seasons'

Photo: Contributed Click here to view gallery Photo: Contributed Photo: Contributed Photo: Contributed Photo: Contributed Photo: Contributed Photo: Contributed   For the rest of the summer, Castanet Penticton is featuring a new South Okanagan restaurant weekly, every Sunday. T

Plate It forward

Photo: Contributed If you haven’t already spent time with family and/or friends around the table now that summer has started, it will happen very soon. An intrinsic part of the summer season is shared meals. We gather on holidays to share a meal or two, but in the summer the whol

Ardua red blend

Photo: Contributed Wine: Ardua (red blend), 2013 Winery: Macintyre Heritage Reserve, Naramata Why drink it? Expressively Naramata, this blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc pays homage to the family history behind the label, and can be found at Lake Breeze Vineyards on the Naramata Be