January 2012
1 post
Travel Canada's Wine Country →
They soar by gracefully, one after the other, gliding, searching, hunting the critters and carrion in the vineyards below our perch at the newly opened Miradoro Restaurant at the Tinhorn Creek…
December 2011
18 posts
The $10 Challenge →
Can you really get a decent bottle of wine for that price?
While wine snobs with raised pinkies are buying, swirling and sniffing hard-to-find wines that cost two arms and a leg, the rest of…
Prime Eating! →
A bewildering array! That is exactly what leaves many of us feeling confused, standing in front of the meat aisle in the supermarket. Row upon row of different cuts, seemingly with price as the only…
Organized! →
Party season is in full swing now. Are you organized? The holiday season can stress even the most organized among us. Even though I’ve scaled back a bit this year, I’ve still somehow managed to fall…
Season's Eatings: Are You Overindulging? →
Studies show that, as a whole, Canadians are making a more conscious effort to live healthier lives. A recent Ipsos Reid survey commissioned by the Canadian Health Food Association shows that more…
Cooking School - Gingerbread →
I actually posted this article last year in December, but I thought I’d highlight it again for a couple of different reasons.
First, it’s the perfect time of year for gingerbread, so I…
Christmas Recipe - Plum Pudding →
The first thing you’ll notice about this recipe is that there aren’t actually any plums in the list of the ingredients. Remember the sugar plums dancing in the heads of the children in the poem, The…
Spirits in the Freezer and Decanting Wine →
Should I really put spirits in the freezer?
A better question is: Why would you want to? Assuming you’re not going shot for shot with the Russians over the title to some Siberian oasis there aren’t…
Virtual Perfection →
The best winemakers often talk about the importance of minimalism in creating authentic, terroir-driven wines. But this ethos can lead to some strange places. In fact, some of the most intriguing…
Patience Makes Its Mark →
How patient are you? Are you willing to try something over and over ad infinitum, never resting till you have it “just so,” or do you subscribe to the “if at first you don’t succeed, quit”…
Cooking Challenge - Cornmeal Cookies →
The Tidings Cooking Challenge is an opportunity for food lovers to try their hand at creating something together. Not all in the same kitchen, of course. Rather, try the recipe in your own time and…
You Are What You Eat →
As part of the HSBC - Evergreen Youth Action Series initiative, youth from across Vancouver gathered on Sunday to experience first-hand the interconnection between food and the environment.
The…
Made-In-Canada Healthy Choices →
Financial portfolios are not the only portfolios that yield a return on investment, according to a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association about the Portfolio Eating…
Tasting Down The Danube →
I love to travel, but I sometimes crave something unique. This past year I managed to visit, learn more about and taste the wines of Germany, the Czech Republic, Austria and Hungary. All this…
Second To None →
One of my first forays into learning about wine was an introductory wine course. While covering the Bordeaux region, the subject of second wines came up. The instructor imparted this wisdom: “Always…
Travel to Czech - Stramberk →
Recently, a friend of mine followed a job opportunity to the Czech Republic. Moving there didn’t require a stretch of the imagination for her. She’s actually originally from there. In fact, much of…
art or soup?: holy crap, this fudge sounds like a... →
jayepegg:
Candy Bar Fudge Recipe
1/2 c Butter or margarine 1/3 c Baking cocoa 1/4 c Packed brown sugar 1/4 c Milk 3 1/2 c Confectioners’ sugar 1 ts Vanilla extract 30 Caramels, unwrapped 1 tb Water 2 c Salted peanuts 1/2 c Semisweet chocolate chips 1/2 c Milk chocolate chips
In a microwave-safe bowl,…
Black Is The New Black →
Golf has one for men and one for women; and so does tennis. So why not wine? I’m talking about a world ranking system for grape varieties, white (ladies) and black (men). You could see what wine…
November 2011
80 posts
Celebrating Our 300 →
As you know Tidings is celebrating its 300th issue — a milestone for any magazine. On November 17th, Tidings invited the advertising community to help us party. Here are some images from that great…
Twitter Dining →
Twitter is inane. At least, that’s what I thought. Then I discovered journalists, wine connoisseurs and chefs all tweeting away. Turns out, Twitter is not only about telling people what you’re…
The Heart of Sicily →
As you can guess, waking up in the heart of Sicily is one word: delightful. But visiting this imposing and stunningly beautiful island in March is not quite the same as doing so in high summer. This…
This Man →
A merkin is a pubic wig. A toupée for the pubic area. And the name of high-altitude vineyards in Arizona owned by Maynard James Keenan, lead singer of the multi-platinum rock band Tool. Merkin…
Friends of Laphroaig →
The venerable Rooftop Lounge perched on the top floor of Toronto’s luxurious Park Hyatt hotel was the venue for a special whisky tasting for the Friends of Laphroaig hosted by Master Distiller John…
The Best French Wines →
During the 2011 Millésimes en Languedoc event in France’s Midi, hundreds of wines from the 2008 and 2009 vintages were presented, plus a few dozen 2010 barrel samples. With so many wines, one can…
Tidings Picks the 2011 Maverick Chefs →
I’m willing to bet that the last great meal you ate made you close your eyes in pure delight. No doubt it piqued your curiosity as well as your taste buds. You may have wondered what combination of…
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Tasty Tuscan Finds →
Characterizing Tuscan wines narrowly would be a mistake. There is as much diversity within Tuscany as there is between Italy’s various regions. Sangiovese may be the workhorse grape, but it comes in…
Expert Entertaining Tips for a Great Party →
Ahh… the holidays. I love this time of year — watching snowflakes fall gently from the sky, listening to the crackling of the fire, relaxing with … wait a minute. Who am I kidding? The holiday…