Test of BC shows

 

Colin James talks wines

Edible Canada!  Is it a floor wax or a shampoo? A website or one of the hottest restaurants on the  West Coast?

Chef Wendy Boys explains EVERYTHING.

Whatever happened to 5 Star Dining?  A chat between Chefs Dale McKay and

Ned Bell.

And 5 Okanagan wineries pour at Vancouver Urban Winery.

 The SHOW


 

Eric Pateman

Edible Canada has quite a history. Eric Pateman started the concept over 5 years ago as a website meant to showcase culinary artisans in BC and Western Canada.

Then it became a store where you could buy the jams and honey and cheeses etc.

Now it has become one of the go to food destinations in Vancouver right across the street from  Granville Island Market.

Not only is there a  new retail store, the bistro is simply beautiful.

There are over 80 seats inside and  another 100 on the  patio. There’s a  take-out window, Mile long  bar and  very open kitchen, as well as the demonstration kitchen in the glassed-in private room.

Owner Eric Pateman has gathered a great collection  of local ingredients and grown in BC wines, guided by the devious wine mind of Treve Ring.

If you have friends  coming into town and want to show off our best or if you are the actual visitor and want to taste the best of the best in BC food or wine, then this is the place for you.

Ps..its apparently the only place in BC you can get Nichol Organic Pinot Gris and its ON TAP. As a matter of fact, there’s a LOT of taps there.

We attended a very special showcase dinner at The Bistro and the guest chef was Chef Wendy Boys from Cocolico.

Wendy Boys

http://www.ediblecanada.com

http://www.cocolico.ca/

 

Colin James was a  guest on my Mulligan Stew show on CKUA Radio this past Saturday. We talked about his just released CD called “Fifteen”  

BUT, Colin has always talked wine with me because he knows what he’s talking about.

Here’s a guy who’s biked through Tuscany with Jim Cuddy and the Bentalls.

Its a quick chat but I thought you’d like to listen in.

http://www.colinjames.com/

 

 

Two chefs – Two opinions – Two friends

Top Chef Canada Winner Dale MacKay is the inaugural winner in the new Georgia Straight Golden Plates awards category.  Second place winner was  Chef Rob Feenie and third place winner was David Hawksworth.  Dale’s two new passions are ensemble and  eTap.

Dale also won Best new Casual and Best BC Beer selection.

Sitting in is our mutual friend Chef Ned Bell from Yew at The Four Seasons Vancouver.

I was prepared to talk about anything and everything but two subjects took over the chat.

One was “whatever happened to fine dining?” and Dale McKay talks about a mentoring program in Vancouver’s East end that includes gang members looking for a way back into society – through the culinary door.

http://www.ensemblerestaurant.com

http://www.yewrestaurant.com

Part two of this week’s show features a visit to Vancouver Urban Winery… where the concept of wines on tap – has a real strong home.

Pouring at this event were 5 of BC’s best

Senka and Bob Tennant

 

Senka and Bob Tennant

Senka Tennant – Iconic winemaker, who helped to  create Note Bene and Alibi for Black Hills in the South Okanagan.  She and her husband Bob walked away from the very high profile job and settled into a lifestyle more to their  liking on the Naramata Bench. Of course, she found time to plant vines and create a new wine, it’s what she does so well. Senka poured their Albarino and Verdejo  blend, a  wine called Fandango  and  from purchased Roussanne and Viognier grapes a wine called   Figaro.

It was so good to talk to her again.

http://www.terravistavineyards.com

Kim Pullen – principal owner of Church and State on how it all came to be. http://churchandstatewines.com/

Okanagan Crush Pad – Kate Crothers pours all the latest releases. http://www.okanagancrushpad.com/

A brand new winery Niche Wine Company shows off its small batch releases. James and Joanna Schlosser is the co-owner (with Joanna) and the winemaker. Located  above Kelowna.

Niche

http://nichewinecompany.com/

And Harry McWatters, the legend of BC Wine, takes time to pour his two wines – Time and McWatters.    

http://www.harrymcwatters.com/

I’m hoping some of you will find your next favourite wine from listening to the chat.

 

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:

Banfi

David Suzuki

Chappell Hill

Rob Rainford – BBQ Chef

Benjamin Bridge

The Lifford Tour

Antonia Mantonakis Brock University

Sir George Fistonich – 50 years at Villa Maria

Cin Cin

Matt Sekeres

Pier 7

Spencer Massie – Clos du Soliel

Tofino Food and Wine Festival

Edible Canada Dinner

Hawksworth Launches a house wine with Orofino

John Casella – 14 Million cases of Yellow Tail

Joy of Feeding

Chris Wyse – Young and Wyse

Matt Sherlock – Clean Slate

Comox Shellfish Festival

Hastings House Salt Spring Island

BC’s estate wines showcase in Vancouver