Pentage Pinot Gris

Photo: Contributed Wine: Pinot Gris, 2017 Winery: Pentage, Penticton Why drink it? It’s always smart to have a bottle of Pinot Gris chilling in the fridge, like this one. With bright aromas of citrus, a bit of lime zest, fresh pears, and a mélange of melons, the nose is

Don't be a ghost on Sunday

Photo: Contributed Giving thanks for good manners I heard something on a radio talk show this week about a “bail culture” that exists today. It’s not about people in the court system, it’s about people who don’t fully commit to attending an event and &l

Township 7 Reserve 7

Photo: Contributed Wine: Reserve 7, 2016 (red blend) Winery: Township 7, Naramata Why drink it? A Bordeaux-style blend, just over half of this bottle is Merlot (fitting for October, as it is #merlotme month), with Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and a tiny bit each of Malbec and

Stealing food definitions

Photo: Contributed Today’s world is a polarized one. In so many situations, so many contexts, we are expected to pick a side. We may not even know much about the subject matter, but we feel compelled to choose a position. This week, I’m going to offer my two cents on a s

CedarCreek Home Block

Photo: Contributed Wine: Home Block (sparkling brut), non-vintage Winery: CedarCreek, Kelowna Why drink it? The bottle is pretty, there’s no cork to contend with if that intimidates you, the wine is a delight, and the price is right. From Muscat Ottonel, a more versatile white

Toadstools and fairies

Photo: Richard Doyle/Rings and Toadstools Has anyone else noticed how many mushrooms are out there these days?  With all this rain, they are popping up everywhere. I could swear I’ve heard sounds in the night too, like the fairies are partying up a storm – perhaps lite

Food brings us together

Photo: Contributed Inspire Your Kids to Learn with Food The kids are back at school and parents out there are trying to encourage them to do their best, to learn and grow. Sometimes this isn’t obvious, though. Often you hear kids saying: “How will I ever use thi

Wynwoood Pinot Noir

Photo: Contributed Wine: Pinot Noir, 2015 Winery: Wynnwood Cellars, Creston Why drink it? Yes, Creston. It’s worth the trip to the Kootenays to tour the wineries here before they are fully discovered. In other words, go now and avoid the inevitable rush, especially if this Pin

Easy as pie

Photo: Contributed It’s harvest season. At Rabbit Hollow, our humble property on the Westside, that means an embarrassment of riches. We are grateful and overwhelmed with the bounty our yard offers in fruit, vegetables and herbs; we work daily to preserve, freeze and dry as much

Don't turn quite so fast

Photo: Contributed The year I was born there was a hit song by The Byrds called Turn! Turn! Turn! that quoted Biblical verses about everything having a season. I know I’m getting older and slower amidst a fast world, but can someone tell me why the season for everything can&rsquo

Equinox Syrah, 2015

Photo: Contributed Wine: Equinox Syrah, 2015 Winery: Le Vieux Pin, Oliver Why drink it? The 2016 vintage may also be available in the wine shop. But, if you’re looking for a gorgeous Syrah that will, undoubtably, have you taking a breath after a sip and then saying a quiet &ld

A pilgrimage to dinner

Photo: Contributed We went to God’s Mountain for dinner with friends this week. It was our celebration of another summer season here in this little paradise full of food. But the name of the place is only part of why a dinner there was the perfect experience. The hosts were a

Poll: going veggie?

Photo: Insights West A large number of Canadians are considering more plant-based and dairy-free diet options, a new survey shows. According to the study by Insights West, 18 per cent of Canadians have previously tried vegetarian diets and six per cent have tried vegan diets

Baco Noir 2016

Photo: Contributed Wine: Baco Noir 2016 Winery: Ancient Hill, Kelowna Why drink it? Baco Noir is rarely found in the Okanagan, but more common in Ontario. The grape is a red wine French-American hybrid created by Francois (wait for it) Baco, and is described as Indigenous to North A

Ella and the dog days

Photo: Contributed The hottest days of summer are often referred to as “the dog days.” The dog star, Sirius, rises and sets with the sun at this time of year; it is the brightest star in the sky and in ancient times they thought its heat added to that of the sun. And so

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