Between the Vines

Is it a stretch to think my weekend up at Whistler's Cornucopia will contribute to world peace?

Maybe. Then again, maybe not.

This year's charity recipient at Cornucopia is Playground Builders, whose tag line reads exactly what it does: "Creating play, building hope."

Playground Builders goes to war-torn regions worldwide and creates safe play spaces so kids can just be kids. When a community's children can safely play, it begins to feel empowered and this empowerment quite naturally leads to a stronger foundation and new, peaceful, possibilities. Let's face it—when our kids are happy, we're happy. It's no different for people in unstable and poverty-stricken areas of the world. And because local labour and supplies are used, an injection to the local economy helps to further bolster the empowerment.

 

To date, 45 playgrounds have been built in Iraq, Afghanistan, Gaza, and the West Bank. And because of its efforts, Playground Builders has been nominated for the YMCA International Peacemaker Award.  

 

Salut!

Copyright © 2009 Kathleen Rake. All rights reserved. 

Cooler weather calls for hearty wine

This piece was originally published in the October 29, 2009 issue of My City, a monthly magazine distributed with the Abbotsford News.

As the days get shorter, cooler, and damper, I tend to pull out and serve my heartier wines with what are, just naturally, more substantial dinners. In my cellar, the heartier wines are typically red. And in the kitchen, the more-substantial dinners translate into almost anything that is roasted, stewed, or braised.

Take this weekend, for example. Pouring rain and falling temperatures meant a roasted rack of pork for our Sunday dinner and a Malbec from Argentina to sip. Read more...

Copyright © 2009 Kathleen Rake. All rights reserved.  

Learn about the fermented grape at this relaxed, no-pretense (but tons of fun) wine-tasting night in Vancouver

Do you love wine as much as I love it? Ever wonder why you love it? Have you ever thought, "Gee, I'd sure like to know more, but I don't know where to go or whom to ask?"

Well, my dear, you are in luck!

A group of highly passionate and knowledgeable (but no where near stuffy or staid) wine lovers, bloggers, and sommeliers have joined forces to bring you an opportunity to learn about more than 20 different wine regions, styles, and winemaking techniques as you taste your way through 10 stations and 20+ wines in wine-show style.

At each station, you'll come away with a lesson to help you better understand wine fundamentals. And by the end of the evening, you'll have tasted some 20 yummy wines, found answers to your questions, and gained enough knowledge and confidence to boldly go and pick that next bottle of wine from any specialty liquor store shelf or restaurant wine list.

You will be encouraged to grab a glass of your favourite wine of the night to sip while you mingle and make new friends.

Mark your calendar now for next Tuesday, November 10, then click here for more information and to purchase your tickets.

Only 100 Tickets available—purchase online to receive a $10 discount.

Salut!

Copyright © 2009 Kathleen Rake. All rights reserved. 

Tina Bacon from The Pink Spatula makes goodies that turn even the simplest cup of tea into a special event

Tina Bacon from The Pink Spatula, a recent (very recent) grad of the Fraser Valley Self Employment Program, is the maker of quite possibly the most divine miniature sweets you've ever tasted.

When you choose her little lemon yummies, serve some Moscato d'Asti along side them for a perfect afternoon delight. And, if you're in the mood to learn to make these morsels yourself, you can find Tina the pastry chef giving lessons at Langley's Well Seasoned.

Salut!

Copyright © 2009 Kathleen Rake. All rights reserved. 

Friday night dinner at The Keg in Abbotsford

We had an early, impromptu dinner at The Keg in Abbotsford tonight. To start, Rick had a rum & coke and I sipped a single-serving cava as we shared tempura snap peas and asparagus.

For dinner, I had the Prosciutto-wrapped shrimp with prime rib and Rick had a steak with bacon-horseradish cream sauce. Mine was fabulous and Rick proclaimed his as "great."

The wine was a 2008 Domaine Jean Bousquet Malbec (13.8% ABV) from Argentina, "made from organically grown grapes."

I found vanilla, smoke, dark red fruits, and blackberries on the nose, with rose petals, spice, coffee, and ripe black fruits on the palate. The tannins were soft and the finish was longer than I had expected. This wine, not quite as sophisticated as its sister, the 2006 Reserva, is good and rings in at $33.95 at the restaurant and $15.99 at B.C. government liquor stores.

And our server, Joanna Lumley, was out of this world.

If only all servers could be as professional, warm, and appropriately attentive as this lovely young lady. You'd better hang on to her, Mr. Keg Steakhouse.

Salut!

Copyright © 2009 Kathleen Rake. All rights reserved. 

Wine on the Mountain: wine & food pairing fundraiser for Adoptive Families Association of B.C.

The top of Grouse Mountain is home to the fourth annual Wine on the Mountain fundraiser supporting the Adoptive Families Association of B.C.

Blind tastings, curious pairings, chocolate cellar, and more November 7. Tickets are limited. To get yours, call 604-320-7330, ext. 122 or drop a note to events@bcadoption.com.

 Salut!

Taste wines from 12 different countries at Rainbow Wine Festival

Sip, sample, and savour wines from around the world and pair them with delectables from Chef Bill Schildpatt on Saturday, November 7 at Chilliwack's Best Western Rainbow Country Inn. Part proceeds go to support the Chilliwack Fraser Rotary Club and the Salvation Army Chilliwack Food Bank

Call Deanna Wardell at (604) 795-3828 to buy your tickets.

Salut!

My first attempt at a video wine tasting...

Well, here it is, my first attempt at a video wine tasting. I was nervous. Wasn't loud enough. Should have given more detail. And forgot to have the label facing you, so I took a still photo of it.

But all that's okay because at least I tried. And my next one will be much better.

The wine I tasted was the 2008 La Stella Leggiero, an unoaked Chardonnay.

I'd love your feedback.

Salut!

Copyright © 2009 Kathleen Rake. All rights reserved.

"Spread the Love": a tally of favourite wine stores at Palate Press

Two of my favourite wine stores are featured in the Palate Press article you'll find here. You just have to scroll way down to the bottom of the piece to find them.

Here is a kick-start:

Whatcom Wine & Spirits
36035 North Parallel Road
Abbotsford, BC, Canada V3G 2C6
(604) 870-6166

Wine expert Rose Siemens manages this privately owned little store out in the eastern reaches of Abbotsford, BC, where city meets country head-on in the Fraser Valley. This is a store ideal for the wine-tasting novice, the wine-collecting aficionado and... Read more.

Signature Liquor Store, Abbotsford
40 – 32500 South Fraser Way
Abbotsford, BC, Canada V2T 4W1
(604) 870-5919

Located at the western end of Abbotsford, this store is run by the British Columbia government but is staffed by true wine lovers who are eager to share their passion. While all BC Signature Liquor Stores carry an expanded wine portfolio, offer product tastings, host special events and promise customers an “enhanced shopping experience,” the product consultants... Read more.

Do you have a favourite place to buy wine? I'd love to hear about it.

Salut!

Copyright © 2009 Kathleen Rake. All rights reserved.

Cornucopia: a celebration of wine and food in Whistler, B.C.

This weekend we're missing the Okanagan Fall Wine Fest, next weekend is Thanksgiving, which we won't miss since we're hosting it, and before we know it, November will be upon us.

But that's okay because November brings Cornucopia: Whistler's Celebration of Wine & Food, one of the top 10 wine-and-food events in the world, according to www.forbestraveler.com.

And we're going!

 
Cornucopia is an annual event made especially for food and wine nuts (a.k.a. enthusiasts), by other food and wine nuts (a.k.a. professionals). From November 12 to 15, there are events, parties, tastings, seminars, and get-togethers to tantalize every palate from morning to night to morning again.

This year's extravaganza has a fabulous line-up of events and chefs, sommeliers, vintners, and restaurateurs. You can choose your events by browsing the easy-to-figure schedule.

I'll be blogging live from Cornucopia as well as making notes for my wine column in The Abbotsford News and my monthly contribution to Palate Press.

Why don't you come along?

Salut!

Copyright © 2009 Kathleen Rake. All rights reserved.