We start this week with Doug Cox, the artistic director of the Vancouver Island Music Festival. Next weekend. July 14-16 in Courtney, BC This year the headliners are Sarah McLachlan, Rickie Lee Jones and The Bros. Landreth. Doug asked Roy Forbes to return to his BIM character and revisit the tracks from his Thistles Album.
Two legends are appearing. . Dave Alvin and Jimmy Dale Gilmore with The Guilty Ones. Here’s Doug Cox with backgrounds on all those artists and more events and artists. NEXT WEEK – The Artistic Directors of Folk Festivals in Calgary, Winnipeg, Vancouver and Canmore. Also Terry Wickham reveals his lineup for Edmonton Folk Fest
The second guests on our podcast are two bass playing legends – David Hood (Muscle Shoals ) and Leland Sklar. In 2019, at the very same Vancouver Island Music Festival two of the most famous bass players in popular music met for the very first time.
David Hood – from Muscle Shoals Alabama finally met Leland Sklar from Los Angeles. David Hood was part of the legendary studio musicians at FAME and Muscle Shoals Studios who shaped some of the most famous hits ever made. For Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, Paul Simon, The Rolling Stones, and The Staple Singers. In LA, Leland Sklar has recorded over 2000 albums for artists including Jackson Browne, James Taylor, Warren Zevon, Randy Newman, Linda Ronstadt and many more.
They hold the unique distinction of being “makers of memories” through the music they helped to create. Great bass players are the glue that holds the band together. What makes bass players special? Memorable bass tracks? Did they follow each other’s careers? The key to surviving and thriving for all those sessions, all those artists and those albums? Honoured to finally meet these artists.
THE THIRD ANNUAL BC CIDER FEST… BIGGER AND BETTER!
This week long craft cider celebration saw many cider events, tastings and
festivities throughout British Columbia with tasting events from Kelowna to Vancouver Island, including tap takeovers, cider pairing meals, and much
more throughout the week.
The highlight for me and many others is the final event. The gathering of up
to 40 Cideriesat The Pipe Shop foot of Lonsdale in North Vancouver.
It’s one of the buildings my father Pat worked in during WW2.
The first interview had to be with Shawn Pisio, who co-founded the B.C.
Cider Festival three years ago.
Glenn Ennis, Lynn Colliar and the Geo Team
Just how popular is this event? It sells out within minutes.
Cider is going through the very same revolution that craft beers did 10
years ago.
The opportunity to grow more cider apples in B.C. is unlimited, but BC is
already home to many excellent craft cideries.
One of the cideries we interviewed was Twin Island Cider on Pender Island.
They were voted most popular Cidery at this event.
Finally, for those of you who still think that ciders are not for you
because they’re too sweet or something…FORGET ABOUT IT..
It’s a whole new world out in the orchard.
Enjoy!!!!
Our guests are:
Shawn Pisio – Txotx/ Co-Founder
Russ Johnson – Owner/Cidermaker Truck 59 Kelowna
Sydney Bottomley – Asst Cider Maker Broken Ladder Kelowna
Nick Farrer – Founder The Bricker Cider Co Sechelt
Mike Lachelt – Co-owner/Cidermaker Salt Spring Wild SS Island
Mathew Vasilev Co-Owner Twin Island Cider Pender Island
David Schneider – Persephone Brewing Gibson’s BC
Kathleen van der Ree – Northyards Cider – Squamish
Mike Petkau – Nomad Handcrafted Cider – Summerland
THE THIRD ANNUAL BC CIDER FEST… BIGGER AND BETTER!
The third annual BC Cider Week.
This week long craft cider celebration saw many cider events, tastings and
festivities throughout British Columbia with tasting events from Kelowna to Vancouver Island, including tap takeovers, cider pairing meals, and much
more throughout the week.
The highlight for me and many others is the final event. The gathering of up
to 40 Cideries at The Pipe Shop foot of Lonsdale in North Vancouver.
It’s one of the buildings my father Pat worked in during WW2.
The first interview had to be with Shawn Pisio, who co-founded the B.C.
Cider Festival three years ago.
Glenn Ennis, Lynn Colliar and the Geo Team
Just how popular is this event? It sells out within minutes.
Cider is going through the very same revolution that craft beers did 10-15
years ago.
The opportunity to grow more cider apples in B.C. is unlimited, but BC is
already home to many excellent craft cideries.
One of the cideries we interviewed was Twin Island Cider on Pender Island.
They were voted most popular Cidery at this event.
Finally, for those of you who still think that ciders are not for you
because they’re too sweet or something…FORGET ABOUT IT..
It’s a whole new world out in the orchard.
Enjoy!!!!
Our guests are:
Shawn Pisio – Txotx/ Co-Founder
Russ Johnson – Owner/Cidermaker Truck 59 Kelowna
Sydney Bottomley – Asst Cidermaker Broken Ladder Kelowna
Nick Farrer – Founder The Bricker Cider Co Sechelt
Mike Lachelt – Co-owner/Cidermaker Salt Spring Wild SS Island
Mathew Vasilev Co-Owner Twin Island Cider Pender Island
David Schneider – Persephone Brewing Gibson’s BC
Kathleen van der Ree – Northyards Cider – Squamish
Mike Petkau – Nomad Handcrafted Cider – Summerland
THE THIRD ANNUAL BC CIDER FEST… BIGGER AND BETTER!
The third annual BC Cider Week.
This week long craft cider celebration saw many cider events, tastings and
festivities throughout British Columbia with tasting events from Kelowna to Vancouver Island, including tap takeovers, cider pairing meals, and much
more throughout the week.
The highlight for me and many others is the final event. The gathering of up
to 40 Cideries at The Pipe Shop foot of Lonsdale in North Vancouver.
It’s one of the buildings my father Pat worked in during WW2.
The first interview had to be with Shawn Pisio, who co-founded the B.C.
Cider Festival three years ago.
Glenn Ennis, Lynn Colliar and the Geo Team
Just how popular is this event? It sells out within minutes.
Cider is going through the very same revolution that craft beers did 10-15
years ago.
The opportunity to grow more cider apples in B.C. is unlimited, but BC is
already home to many excellent craft cideries.
One of the cideries we interviewed was Twin Island Cider on Pender Island.
They were voted most popular Cidery at this event.
Finally, for those of you who still think that ciders are not for you
because they’re too sweet or something…FORGET ABOUT IT..
It’s a whole new world out in the orchard.
Enjoy!!!!
Our guests are:
Shawn Pisio – Txotx/ Co-Founder
Russ Johnson – Owner/Cidermaker Truck 59 Kelowna
Sydney Bottomley – Asst Cidermaker Broken Ladder Kelowna
Nick Farrer – Founder The Bricker Cider Co Sechelt
Mike Lachelt – Co-owner/Cidermaker Salt Spring Wild SS Island
Mathew Vasilev Co-Owner Twin Island Cider Pender Island
David Schneider – Persephone Brewing Gibson’s BC
Kathleen van der Ree – Northyards Cider – Squamish
Mike Petkau – Nomad Handcrafted Cider – Summerland
Jay Onrait and Dan O’Toole from Sports Centre at TSN are paying their annual visit to The Tasting Room.
They began as a humble sports pairing at TSN and we heard from them 7 years ago before yet another Super Bowl.
Then they headed for Fox Sports One in LA only to be shown the door several years later but not before guesting on yet another Super Bowl Tasting Room Radio.
There are some saying that it was their appearance on TRR that hastened their exit. Not True.
It was Jan and Dan’s appearance on Hollywood&Vines TV with Jason Priestley and myself that did them in.
Upon returning to TSN, we were told by their “people” that J&D would never again guest on Tasting Room or H&V.
Several weeks ago I reached out to Onrait and O’Toole in the hopes they would relent.
They didn’t exactly relent but they simply forgot ever having been on either show. So we’re good.
Jay and Dan will take us through:
The Game
The Food
The Swill
The Odds
Their Podcast
The Jannies
Jay and Dan Direct.
I was going to ask them for some of their favorite music tracks but when Dan said “PlayDean Martin” I shut that down Right Away.
Mira Tusz and Daniel Dragert– Co-owners/Winemakers at Kutatas (Salt Spring Island)
This is the first in a series of features on new wineries around the Province that we think you may want to know about.
(working title The Chase)
Mira and Dan realized a dream when they recently bought Mistaken Identity Vineyards on Salt Spring Island.
Mira and Dan
Dan had been the winemaker at Averill Creek in the Cowichan Valley and Mira had been working in the vineyards at Unsworth, also in the Cowichan.
I discovered their wines at last year’s Locals Only event that Rich Massey throws at Edible Canada, Granville Island.
The wines were outstanding.
I mumbled something like “who ARE these guys and how did they pull this off”?
Currently, a majority of their small production comes from 3 acres of Pinot Noir and Ortega in Deep Cove/North Saanich, on Vancouver Island. These blocks are managed sustainably.
Most of the vineyard is dry farmed to limit yields, restrict berry size and express terroir. They personally hand tend the vineyard to ensure they achieve the highest possible quality.
Now they have their own vineyard and we’re the lucky ones who’ll be tasting their wines in years to come.
Mira and Dan are redesigning their new Tasting Room … so we huddled in the cellar and tasted the whites and reds.
2019 Victoria Whisky Festival and Awards – Year 14
“This year’s Victoria Whisky Festival occurred just as Canadian officials were conducting prohibition-style raids, confiscating whisky bottles in bars in Vancouver and Victoria.
Beyond this, however, the festival features top-level whiskeys and master classes, and serves as a focal point for the latest revival of Canadian whiskies from large and smaller independent operations alike now gaining momentum.”
Forbes Magazine ( 10 Whisky Festivals that you have to go to if you love whisky)
This special is another journey of discovery for me.
Growing up I had no idea that whisky even existed and now I’m trying to discover what makes whisky such a favorite to millions of people worldwide.
It helps that there are no dog whiskeys in Victoria. Quite simply they showcase some of the very best whiskeys ever made.
Canada is right in the middle of the whisky boom. They have retaken their place in the whisky world after years of so-so releases.
A number of our guests are directly responsible for bringing back Canadian Whisky to World-class levels.
My thanks to Heather Leary for her support with this project.
Tish Harcus
Iain Hooey
Dr Don Livermore
John Hall
Allisa Henley
Our pal Corey Wood recorded all of the interviews and bottle shots As seen below:
Iain Hooey
Iain Hooey is a founder and organizer of the Victoria Whisky Festival.
Davin de Kergommeaux
Davin is Chairman of the Judges for the Canadian Whisky Awards and author of Canadian Whisky: The New Portable Expert. A certified Malt Maniac he has been writing and talking about whisky for over two decades.
Don Livermore
J.P. Wiser’s Master Blender Don Livermore has an MS and Ph.D in Brewing and Distilling from Edinburgh’s Heriot Watt University. Don’s whiskies received numerous medals at the Canadian Whisky Awards and J.P. Wiser’s was awarded Distillery of the Year
John Hall
Master Distiller John Hall founded Forty Creek Distillery, pioneered Canadian Whisky’s return to prominence in the United States and Canada. Hall was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Canadian Whisky Awards in 2015.
Tish Harcus
Tish Harcus is brand ambassador for Canadian Club, marking 30 years of bringing this whisky to the world. Canadian Club was a finalist for Canadian Whisky of the Year – their 41-year-old received the award for best Connoisseur Whisky Domestic at Canadian Whisky Awards. They also took home several medals.
Allisa HenleyDistiller – Sazerac Tennessee
Sazerac owns Buffalo Trace and Barton 1792 in Kentucky
Just a few years ago Henley was employed as distiller at the George Dickel Distillery in Tullahoma, Tennessee, a facility still capable of making more than two million proof gallons of whiskey each year.
But in 2015, Allisa accepted a position at a new distillery in northeastern Tennessee, built to make Popcorn Sutton’s whiskey.
There, Henley and partner John Lunn made distillate according to a recipe developed by legendary moonshiner Popcorn Sutton, essentially a bourbon mash bill (corn, rye, malt) augmented with sugar.
No name yet for this new label but expectations are high.
As all good things sometimes do..it started with a “what if”.
What if I put together some of my food and wine friends who loved fishing – and we all went fishing together but we also brought along wines we wanted to share and food we wanted to cook?
John, Mark, Terry and Rhys
Except for several years when one of them was just too damn busy, the friends line up has been pretty much the same.
Here are some links on “the friends”
Basically, these are gents and artists you would love to hang with.
So, here’s Mark with a boat build for four..now holding 5. As the rods went off..all four reaching for the now bouncing rod.
Surprisingly, it all went very well thanks to Mark Stewart and his 28 years of experience. We caught and released lots of wild coho..kept one hatchery coho.
John caught a Spring and everyone caught sockeye and pinks.
We were chased by dolphins who surfed in the wake of the boat as we cut through the water. Exhilarating!
We tasted Moscato d ‘Asti for breakfast..memorable.
Wines – We each like to bring wines that we think the group would find interesting.
A grand total of 22-25, depending on who you talk to.
Wines from Croatia that Mark brought back from his summer trip there.
I brought a Viognier from France
John from Italy and Orofino.
Rhys from EVERYWHERE. Palo Portado for one
A Spectacular Education.
Chef Mark Filatow
Food – Chef Mark has always traditionally brought to these trips his gift of making something truly special from an assorted bag of goodies.
We know there will always be two Tomahawk Chops from Two River Meats in North Vancouver.
Tomahawk Chop
He’s usually chosen to cook these on an open campfire but this year we had the luxury of a BBQ. (In the Dark)
The rest of the meal started with a charcuterie board that was outstanding It truly challenged the wines..
Including N’Duja made from #cheamviewranch pork from @tworiversmeats and @medleyorganics espelettes
Salad..exploded on the plates. Lobster mushrooms with toasted corn gnocchi and glazed delicata squash.
I dream about these meals..before and long after.
Let me finish by thanking those who helped make this wonderful trip happen.
The guys for one. They all are busy.
John and Rhys were just starting their vineyard harvest. Mark Filatow may be the busiest chef in the Okanagan.
A minor miracle that they freed up.
Thanks go out to Mark and Anita Stewart. A formidable Team – Son and Mother.
