Okanagan Taste
Finding the right drinks for a spicy serving
Rugged, rustic, and ripe. Three words that could easily describe the Similkameen Valley, the area in and around Keremeos and Cawston, under the distinct...
Settle in for a good read, sip and nibble with these new books
Fall is my favourite time of year two reasons—new television shows and new books. The former is not what it used to be thanks to changes in technology and...
Ways to help people and businesses who are hurting
Two songs have been swirling through my head in recent days—Whitesnake’s Here I Go Again, and, at the opposite end of the musical spectrum, Dolly...
Comparing and contrasting Chianti
If you’re of a certain age, hearing someone mention the wine Chianti may bring up a certain memory or two. First, the image of a squat, bulbous bottle of...
A smorgasbord of Okanagan events still ahead this summer
The countdown is already on to the unofficial end of summer – Labour Day weekend – but if you’re actually counting, there are only 58 days...
Mocktails and no-buzz bubbles
My go-to “mocktail” was once a standard soda and cranberry with a lime wedge. Eventually, the cranberry was eliminated for being too sweet. Boring,...
Something to be said for a salad featuring a wedge of iceberg lettuce
Much like fashion, in food there are trends that come and go, or dishes that disappear into the dark corners of yellowed recipe cards, hopefully never to...
White Spot bringing back a taste from the past to celebrate 95 years
There is something about Father’s Day that reeks of nostalgia–at least for me–from the embedded scent of cologne in the family car upholstery,...
Outdoor music plentiful this summer in the Okanagan
As summer beckons, residents and guests in the Okanagan are preparing to get outdoors and the sound of live music will soon start to floating through the air....
Dig ‘inn’ with Naramata's new chef
"Farm-to-table” is now a such a familiar mantra at Okanagan eateries it’s almost odd to not see it as a phrase on a restaurant’s menu,...
There's plenty we can do at home to help the planet
If you missed the memo, April is Earth Month, and this coming Saturday (April 22) is Earth Day. Making smart, sustainable choices has come a long way from...
Plenty of places to dine this Easter long weekend
Every year, the Easter long weekend heralds a sense of rejuvenation in the Okanagan. It’s typically the weekend when most tasting rooms open for the...
Ten-day Ignites The Arts festival ready to roll in Penticton
If you haven’t heard about the Ignite the Arts 10-day extravaganza planned for Penticton, let me to enlighten you. Boldly, the organizers have declared...
Okanagan Taste changing it's focus
It’s time for a change of taste After almost 150 columns, I’m switching things up. It’s still the same Okanagan Taste, but with some fresh...
Sweet and tasty ideas for your beloved
Valentine’s Day is approaching, as is “Galentine’s” Day, now growing in popularity, the day before Cupid arrives. Maybe you’ll be...
Crossing the Canada-U.S. border with B.C. wine
As the B.C. wine industry matures and wines from around the province win more and more medals and recognition internationally, the refrain of “it’s...
Ways to cut back but still enjoy January
"Dry January" is thought to have started in the U.K. around 2012 or 2013, encouraging people to give up alcohol for the month as a reboot after the...
Plenty of fun ways to ring in the New Year with
Staying in? Going out? As we all cautiously walk into 2023, New Year’s Eve feels like it’s just about back to normal -- knock on wood – though...
Pairing books and sips for gifts
In the holiday seasons of the “before times,” I would take some time to read a handful of newly-released books and pair them with a beverage. One of...
Wine festivals awaking from pandemic hibernation
The recent return of the much missed Summerland Festival of Lights, plus the introduction of the Rock’n’Roll Light Up Christmas in the Similkameen,...