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What a great line up!

Canucks GM Jim Benning. New Coach Willie Desjardin, VP Laurence Gilman, Dan Hamhuis and former Canuck and co-founder of the event Willie Mitchell.
Special Guest Noah Morantz,  Canucks Autism Network. All at the West Coast Fishing Club. 

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It’s the 9^th annual CAN Fishing for Kids tournament at the West Coast Fishing Club. Haida Gwaii.
First prize $200,000.  

This is a very personal event as Paolo Aquilini, the owner of the Canucks has an autistic  son  Christian,  who joined us on this trip. (He had the 4^th or 5^th best salmon on the first day)

Paolo could not believe many years ago  that there was no support or recognition for Autism in BC and he  kept pushing the boundaries until the Government & Health Community decided to get on board and do something.
The Fishing For Kids West Coast Fishing Club Tournament has
been a driving force behind the growth and development
of the Canucks Autism Network (CAN) since 2009. The
remarkable funds raised at this premier charity event have
enabled them  to introduce new programs, welcome new
families, and offer our adapted programs to even more
communities throughout British Columbia.

 
 
 
Canucks Autism Network has expanded in many ways
since the organization’s inception in 2008 and the Fishing
for Kids Tournament continues to propel CAN down this
exciting road of growth. This top-notch fishing tournament
has not only supported them  in their  mission to provide high
quality programming, it has made our dream of building a
CAN training hub an achievable goal.
It is difficult to put into words the significance of the Fishing
For Kids Tournament and the incredible impact it has had
on so many lives. They strongly believe in the work that they
do and are immeasurably grateful to the event participants,
organizers, and sponsors for their part in enriching the lives
of families affected by autism in BC.
 

Big Thanks to ALL at West Coast Fishing Club..(a big cut above.)
 
 
 
 
Courtney Hatfield
Tom Cochrane,  Ken Greer and road crew
Rosewood Hotel.
David Hawksworth
Doug Olive/Rob Giroux  Ritchie Bros Auctioneers.
Brian Legge/Terry Cowan  WCFC
Chef Shaun Snelling WCFC
Chris Brumwell  Canucks

• westcoastfishingclub.com
• canucksautism.ca
• www.canucks.nhl.com  
• tomcochrane.com
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Stories we are working on:

 
 

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The Wine Diva says The Endless Summer can be stretched with very special wines..R U a Believer??
John Schreiner, The Dean of Canada’s Wine writers releases the 5^th edition of Okanagan Wine Tour Guide. Jonathan Maltus makes 100 Pt wines in St Emilion plus Rock and Roll Wines at World’s End in Napa. Chef Ned Bell checks in from Alberta from the Chefs for Oceans tour.

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 THE SHOW

 The Wine Diva  

Daenna van Mulligen, The Wine Diva  maintains that Summer can be extended with the help of finely crafted wines. I simply have no argument to throw out against that kind of brilliance. Thus..we open the show with the Endless Summer wine list..(have a nice extended summer)

• Bella Sparkling Gamay Noir Rose, Okanagan Valley BC $23.90,
• Haywire ‘Baby Bub’, Okanagan Valley BC $14.00
• Gonzalez Byass ‘Tio Pepe’ Extra Dry Palomino Fino Sherry, Jerez Spain $21.99
• Castillo de Monseran Garnacha, Carinena Spain $9.99
• Cantina Breganze Prosecco DOC ‘Extra Dry’, Veneto Italy $21.99
• 50th Parallel Estate Winery Riesling, Okanagan Valley, BC $18.00
• La Stella ‘Vivace’ Pinot Grigio, Okanagan Valley $25.00
• Galil Mountain Rose, Upper Galilee Israel $17.99
• ‘Cherry Tart’ by Cherry Pie, Pinot Noir, Monterey/Sonoma/Santa Barbara California $29.99
• Sperling Vineyards ‘The Market White’, Okanagan Valley BC N/A Blue Mountain Vineyard and Cellars Pinot Blanc, Okanagan Valley BC $18.00
• Babich Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough New Zealand $19.99
• Oak Bay Gamay Noir, Okanagan Valley BC $16.00 William Fevre Petit Chablis, Chablis France $26.99
• Louis Bernard Cotes du Rhone Blanc, Rhone Valley France $15.99 Jean-Marc Brocard Chablis 1er Cru Montmain, Burgundy France $39.99
• Ruffino Chianti DOCG, Tuscany Italy $15.99
• Quails’ Gate Rose, Okanagan Valley BC $15.9  

www.winediva.ca [divider] John Schreiner John Schreiner is Canada’s most prolific writer of books on wine. Since his first book in 1984, The World of Canadian Wine, he has written 15, including multiple editions of The Wineries of British Columba, British Columbia Wine Country and John Schreiner’s Okanagan Wine Tour Guide. He has just released the 5^th edition of John Schreiner’s Okanagan Wine Tour Guide and it was time to get caught up with The Man!! http://johnschreiner.blogspot.ca/

 
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Jonathan Maltus  

 
Winemaker Jonathan Maltus is the first Englishman in Bordeaux to win a perfect score from the influential critic Robert Parker. His label is Chateau Teyssier.
The amazing Le Dome wines come from these vineyards. He also has a crazy good winery in Napa called World’s End, featuring wines called     Against the Wind If 6 was 9 Wave Length Good Times. Bad Times Crossfire Jonathan Maltus is often referred to, variously, as a “cult winemaker” or “garagiste,” a kind of renegade Bordeaux winemaker who produces so-called “vins de garage,’ or “garage wine.
Jonathan is a natural story teller. I think you’re going to like his tales.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C3%A2teau_Teyssier www.maltus.com
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Chef Ned Bell has been riding his road bike  across Canada from St John’s Newfoundland since Canada Day. The tour is called Chefs for Oceans.

Chef Bell’s goal for the future of sustainable seafood is to create a movement which, within in the next 10 years, allows every Canadian to easily and readily access sustainable seafood for themselves and their families. The hope is that as the sustainable seafood movement continues to grow, environmentally responsible procedures will become firmly rooted as standard methods in future generations.
Also at the forefront of Chef Bell’s journey is the goal to institute and raise awareness for National Sustainable Seafood Day, a day which spotlights the necessity of healthy oceans, lakes and rivers for the futures of both human beings and the environment.
As the father of two sons, Fin 15 and Max 4, Chef Bell is dedicated to inspiring Canadians to become part of the solution for healthier oceans for today’s children and generations to come.
Ned works his way through Alberta this next week then starts the final leg Sept 5 in Banff, then through Golden, Revelstoke, Kelowna, Merritt, Hope, Langley and finally Friday Sept 12^th back in Vancouver. For donations and to check out the tour go to  http://chefsforoceans.com

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STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

The Canucks enjoy year 9 of the Canucks Autism Network’s Fishing for Kids. (Next Week) Jim Benning, Lawrence Gilman, Willie Desjardin Dan Hamhuis, Paolo Aquilini Willie Mitchell. Third and final special from our New Zealand wine tour. Jason Priestley            

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Check out the Line-Up.
Rick Hansen, Anthony Gismondi and The Dirt Farmers.  (They’re not a band..they’re Dirt Farmers.) 

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THE SHOW    

In 1973, at the age of 15, Rick Hansen’s life changed forever. He was involved in an accident that paralyzed him from the waist down. Coming to terms with his new life, he found inspiration from teachers, coaches and family, and set new goals from new dreams. Rick went on to become one of Canada’s most decorated Paralympic athletes.
In March 1985, Rick set off from Vancouver to wheel 40,000 kilometres through 34 countries on the Man In Motion World Tour to prove the potential of people with disabilities. His 26-month journey inspired an entire nation to believe anything is possible and moved thousands to make a difference.
After the Tour, he established the Rick Hansen Foundation to find a cure for spinal cord injuries and create more accessible communities.
Since 1988, the Foundation has leveraged the $26 million raised during the Tour into $280 million in investments towards spinal cord research, accessibility projects and quality of life initiatives.

I had the honour of being in the right place at the right time and minutely assisted Rick in living his dream.
We’ve always stayed in touch and when Rick asked if I’d like to go Sturgeon fishing on the Frazer River in BC I said YES!!
Rick is working tirelessly to preserve what was once a dying breed of fish.
Rick Hansen founded the FRSCS in 1997 in response to the declining population of the prehistoric white sturgeon – a species that had survived virtually unchanged for 65 million years.
The Society has built an award-winning monitoring and assessment program.
Check out the photos..The first sturgeon we caught was 6’5” and the second was 8’, over 300 lbs and perhaps 90 years old.
All caught,  tagged and released, of course.

My thanks to our guide for the day Yves Bisson from BC Sportfishing Group
 
https://www.rickhansen.com
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
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Anthony Gismondi
 
Anthony Gismondi
He’s one of the leading authorities on wine in Canada and The World.
He has been writing on wine since 1983 and has been the weekly wine columnist for the Vancouver Sun since 1989. His reviews are widely read across the country and throughout the international wine community.
He is an executive editor with responsibilities for international wines at Wine Access – Canada’s Essential Guide to Wine and Food, as well as a consultant to Air Canada where he assists in the selection of in-flight wines served system-wide by Canada’s largest airline.
A writer, broadcaster and speaker, in 2002 he launched a comprehensive wine website www.gismondionwine.com that contains a large and growing database of wines and stories chronicling his work and adventures in the world of wine.
He’s the co-host of The Best of Food and Wine.
And because he’s co-head judge (along with David Lawrason) of this year’s Wine Align National Wine Awards of Canada he’s the perfect guy to have guest on TRR.
We’ll talk about the Wine Awards and especially his list of the top 20 rated wines in BC. (find out who the #1 winery is)
 I saved the last question in this two parter to ask about The odious Wine Laws of Canada
Here’s Tony’s response:
“I think we’ve got a country full of greedy politicians. We’ve got a country full of greedy monopoly directors. These people think of themselves first and they’ve consistently done it now for the last 10 years since we’ve been trying to change  these laws.”
“I think it’s outrageous that people in Ontario  cannot buy BC wine but we can buy theirs because we’ve allowed it”
 www.gismondionwine.com
www.winealign.com
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The Dirt Farmers 2014 
 
Kurtis Kolt
Wine expert Kurtis Kolt organized the annual Dirt Farmers pour in Vancouver.
It’s his way of saluting the people who work the field, harvest the crops and craft very high quality wines.
Our guests are:
Rhys Pender – Little Farm   Similkameen Valley  www.littlefarmwinery.ca

 
 
 
 
 
John Weber – Orofino  Similkameen Valley  www.orofinovineyards.com

 
 
 
 
Ty Harlton – TH Wines  Summerland  http://thwines.com/

 

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STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:

 

• Chef Ned Bell on the Road..heading home.
• Our third and final special from New Zealand
• John Schreiner’s new book. Okanagan Wine Tour Guide

 
 
 

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The Wine Diva, Daenna van Mulligen, returns with a great selection of recent reviews. Brewery and the Beast was a huge success..find out why. We return to The River Cafe in Calgary, celebrating that this year they’re above the Bow River. In Vancouver we’ll talk to Izele van Blerk. Chief winemaker for South African Giant KWV. In Kelowna our guest is Heather Pawsey, a  wonderful soprano who’s playing the lead in The Lake this weekend at Quails Gate..where the story actually took place.

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THE SHOW

 The Wine Diva  

Daenna van Mulligen..The Wine Diva tastes over 1000 wines a year. Only the best get reviewed. Here are some of the latest that made the cut.

• Antinori ‘Peppoli’, DOCG Chianti Classico,
• Tuscany Italy  Monte Del Fra Corvina Veronese, Veneto Italy 
• Negretti DOC Nebbiolo d’Alba, La Morra Piedmont Italy 
• Undurraga ‘Sibaris’ Reserva Especial Pinot Noir, Leyda Valley
• Chile Perseus ‘Select Lots’ Cabernet Franc,
• Okanagan Valley BC  Intrigue Wines ‘I Do’ Sparkling, Okanagan Valley BC  Colby,
• California Red Blend Cantina Breganze Prosecco DOC ‘Extra Dry’, Veneto Italy 
• Handcraft Artisan Collection Chardonnay, California  River Stone Estate Winery ‘Splash’, Okanagan Valley BC
• Lariana Cellars Viognier, Okanagan Valley BC  50th Parallel Estate Winery Riesling, Okanagan Valley, BC   

www.winediva.ca   [divider] Brewery and the Beast (two parter)

 

Last year – on Father’s Day no less – Victoria’s Brewery and the Beast conquered  Vancouver. Chefs  created  dishes using the highest possible quality ingredients for the conscientious consumer.
Meats featured will be hormone and antibiotic free, ethically raised, and sourced from farms on Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland, the Fraser Valley, and select farms in Northern Alberta. Brewery & The Beast offered guests information on local farms and specialty food producers, unique dishes from top Vancouver chefs and restaurants, delicious beverages, and a true celebration of all things meat. Accompanying the menu du jour were refreshments provided by The Phillips Brewing Company, Left Field Cider, and Mission Hill Family Estate Winery. Homemade sodas, specialty coffee, and traditional iced teas were also be served to wash down the savoury, sweet, and smoky flavours.
Our guests  are Phillips Brewing,  Big Lou’s, Memphis Blues, Hawksworth, Nuba, Edible Canada, Merchant’s Oyster Bar, Mamie Taylor’s and Gringo.

The date was Sunday July 27th, 2014 Time: 1:00pm – 4:00pm  (Rain or shine) Venue: Concord Pacific Lot Our shots are by Kate Havercroft. www.katesiobhanphotography.com A head’s up… Victoria’s event is Sunday Sept 21^st. http://breweryandthebeast.com/ [divider] The River Cafe  

A year ago The River Cafe on Prince’s Island in Calgary – on The flooded Bow River – was almost pushed under the water. They lost everything in storage including many  sensational bottles of wine. I headed back to Calgary this year and Prince’s Island Park  for my annual Mulligan Stew show at the Calgary Folk Festival. I’m pleased to say the wonderful River Cafe is back. Above water and thriving.
I set up my recorder at the far end of the bar and talked to Chef Andrew Winfield and Cellar Manager and Sommelier Bruce Soley.
Damn. It was nice to be back.  Love this place. [divider] The Lake

In our Kelowna broadcast  we have a story that takes place at Quails Gate. Astrolabe Musik Theatre & Turning Point Ensemble , in collaboration with Westbank First Nation, proudly present the world premiere production of The Lake / n-ha-a-itk – August 15-17 at Quails’ Gate Winery in Kelowna, BC, in a fully-integrated evening of historical Canadian opera and contemporary syilx culture. Composed in 1952 by Barbara Pentland, with libretto by Governor-General Award-winning poet Dorothy Livesay, the Canadian chamber opera is based on the true-life story of pioneer Susan Allison, who sighted Lake Okanagan’s famous creature, na-ha-a-itk (Ogopogo), one stormy autumn day in 1873.  
Turning Point Ensemble, under the expert direction of stage director James Fagan Tait and music director Owen Underhill, is joined by an incredible cast including soprano Heather Pawsey as Susan Allison, Westbank First Nation elder/singer Delphine Derickson, bass baritone Angus Bell, tenor Brian Kwangmin Lee, mezzo-soprano Barbara Towell, and Westbank First Nation dancer Corrine Derickson, with Curatorial and Heritage Researcher Jordan Coble, and youth from Westbank First Nation.
Our guest is Heather Pawsey..Soprano www.quailsgate.com http://www.astrolabemusiktheatre.com/  
 [divider] KWV  In our Vancouver Broadcast we’re talking to one of South Africa’s best known winemakers. KWV is one of the leading wine and spirits producers in South Africa and has a distinguished heritage, celebrated around the globe, of product innovation and exceptional brands. These include Roodeberg, KWV Wines & KWV Brandies, and Laborie.
We get to talk to the respected winemaker who presents these wines to The World. From its earliest roots in 1918 as a small co-operative of growers – Proud Pioneers with the vision to improve wine industry standards and quality in South Africa – KWV has grown into a global producer of over 100 products. Our guest Izelle van Blerk  Winemaker at KWV.

 

1. kwv.co.za

 

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STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

  A two part interview with Anthony Gismondi. Head judge for Wine Align, who just released their National Wine Awards of Canada results. Jason Priestley

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It’s the 8^th annual David Hawksworth and Friends Culinary Adventure at the West Coast Fishing Club. Haida Gwaii,  British Columbia. Guests include Anthony Walsh Oliver & Bonacini, Dino Renaerts Bon Vivant Group, Mark Davidson Global Wine Educator Wine Australia. Shaun Snelling Exec Chef The Clubhouse, Jacob Richler Freelance Food Writer (McLeans), Terry Cowan WCFC-GM.  Brian Grange WCFC.
all photos by: Jessica Haydahl

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THE SHOW

  It has become the annual marquee event for The Clubhouse, an altogether extraordinary culinary excursion guided by acclaimed Vancouver chef David Hawksworth taking all to the northernmost reaches of Haida Gwaii for a week of gourmet food, captivating wines and outdoor adventures they won’t soon forget.   http://westcoastfishingclub.com/ David Hawksworth   A native Vancouverite who spent a decade honing his talents in Europe working in Michelin-starred kitchens such as Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons, L’Escargot and The Square, David Hawksworth soon emerged as one of Canada’s leading culinary talents upon his return in summer 2000. In 2008 David was named to Western Living’s ‘Top 40 under 40’ and became the youngest chef inductee into the BC Restaurant Hall of Fame.

In 2013 he launched the Hawksworth Young Chef Scholarship Foundation, which annually awards $10,000 and an international stage to boost the career of a young professional chef; Hawksworth is joined by notable guest chef judges from across the country to determine the winner who competes in a culinary cook off, firmly cementing Hawksworth’s culinary influence on the international stage. In 2014 the program is expanding across Canada by hosting regional heats in Calgary, Toronto and Halifax; top finalists then travel to Vancouver to vie for the title of Hawksworth Scholar.

Hawksworth has travelled extensively as a guest chef, most recently to the James Beard House, in New York City, also to Sevva, in Hong Kong, Splendido Bar & Grill in Toronto and Cakebread  Cellars in the Napa Valley. Hawksworth appeared as a guest judge on the season one finale of Food Network Canada’s Top Chef and has participated in numerous TV cooking segments. Hawksworth donates his time to a number of charitable causes including his long-standing commitment to Fishing For Kids the West Coast Fishing Club’s annual charity tournament benefitingthe Canucks Autism Network. He also knows his way around the fishing grounds. http://www.hawksworthrestaurant.com/ http://hawksworthscholarship.com/     [divider] Anthony Walsh One of Canada’s most highly revered and respected chefs,

Anthony Walsh is the Corporate Executive Chef of Oliver & Bonacini

1. In this role, Chef Walsh oversees the culinary direction of all properties in the diverse O&B portfolio, including the restaurants, the event spaces and the catering arm. More specifically, he ensures every menu reflects the specific flavours and characters of the many  unique venues. For Chef Walsh, defining Canadian food and elevating it to the world stage is not only a top priority, but a passion.

Before being appointed O&B’s Corporate Executive Chef, Chef Walsh served as Executive Chef for the iconic Canadian restaurant Canoe. Canoe  earned 4-Stars in Toronto Life magazine, was named best new restaurant by The Globe and Mail and Where Toronto magazine, and ranked #3 in Gourmet magazine’s list of Top Tables.

Over the course of his career, Chef Walsh has won critical acclaim by national and international media and has received numerous awards, including gold medals from Taste of Canada, Black Box, Salon Culinaire and the Ontario Hostelry Institute. He has been a featured guest chef at James Beard House, and has cooked for a number of notable dignitaries, including Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, U.S. President George Bush, and Princess Diana.    This is his first visit to Haida Gwaii and first time West Coast salmon fishing. www.oliverbonacini.com   [divider]  Dino Renaerts   

Dino Renaerts has firmly established himself as one of the west coast’s culinary leaders. A Kitsilano boy, Renaerts completed his education and training in Vancouver and has built a prolific career spanning over two decades that has seen him cook in a clutch of the city’s finest restaurants. Today, Renaerts applies his talent, passion and vision to his role as partner in The Bon Vivant Group, serving discerning clientele across the province. Current clients are the Royal Bank of Canada BC Division private dining room and special events, Loblaws, Nita Lake Lodge, Wines of South Africa, Wines o f Portugal, Herman Miller, Hill & Knowlton Strategies, and more. Recent projects include a 600 person Floatel for Bridgemans Services in Kitimat and a 2 year contract for the culinary direction and operations of PIER 7 restaurant + bar on the waterfront in North Vancouver.   A love of wine inspires Renaerts’s cuisine. In 1999, he was the first chef in Canada to become a Certified Sommelier through the International Sommelier Guild.

1. bonvivantgroup.ca

[divider] Shaun Snelling  His career has taken him to bin 941/942, the Opus Hotel as well as owning his own sandwich shop and working as a private chef and caterer.

More recently Shaun has continued to wow his loyal catering customers while paying the bills working in smaller kitchens. He is extremely excited to join The West Coast Fishing Club team and return to fine dining, his first love, bringing a creative and contemporary menu for the guests to savour. Shaun’s flair for fresh flavours and classic techniques keeps your taste buds guessing and leaves you satisfied.   http://westcoastfishingclub.com/  [divider]      Mark Davidson:    Its all Black and White Born in London, raised in Sydney Mark has over twenty-five years experience in the hotel and restaurant business, fifteen of those as a Sommelier.

In 1990 Mark was named Best French Wine and Spirit Sommelier in British Columbia and in 2001 he was name Sommelier of the Year by the British Columbia Restaurant and Food Service Association. In addition he developed a wine education and restaurant etiquette course for Simon Fraser University Global Asset and Wealth Management MBA program and is currently studying for the theory section of the Master of Wine having passed the rigorous tasting examination in 2012. Mark is currently Global Education Director for Wine Australia.   https://www.internationalsommelier.com/services/mark_davidson   Jacob Richler – Writer. Fisherperson. Jacob Richler is a Toronto based newspaper and magazine journalist, and the son of novelist Mordecai Richler and Florence Isabel (Wood). He was the inspiration for his father’s Jacob Too Too trilogy of children’s books. Richler was a long-time restaurant reviewer for the National Post. Richler has also been a columnist and feature writer for Saturday Night and Toronto Life as well as a contributor to GQ, Flare, McLeans and Enroute. He also collaborated with chef Susur Lee  on the book Susur: A Culinary Life. ^{Currently researching a book on Cooking with Canadian Wildlife. This trip became part of that future book.} http://www.macleans.ca/tag/jacob-richler/   We also talk to Terry Cowan and Brian Grange. Both leaders at The West Coast Fishing Club.

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STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

A return to The River Café – Calgary