• Home
  • Home
  • Blog
  • About

Laura and Tony

Posted on July 9, 2020 by Roger Harmston Posted in Terroir Leave a comment

Laura Calder is the champion of civilized behaviour and hospitality and tries to make life inviting. She’s subtle about how she makes you think about what you are doing.  Tony Bourdain, on the other hand, was brash, opinionated but was just as passionate about where you go looking for your food and cultural experiences.

Tony put it very well.   Food is everything we are.  It’s an extension of nationalist feeling, ethnic feeling, your personal history, your province, your region, your tribe, your grandma.  It’s inseparable from those from the get-go.

Laura is perky, bright, and likes quick and modern ways to cook traditional favourites. She’s always looking for improvements to the classics. 

Tony wants his food, and experiences, straight up. Context and memory play powerful roles in all the truly great meals in one’s life.

Laura has brought the French approach to life, food and entertaining to the forefront.  She’s about presentation but embraces the cultural values of ‘how’ we do things – from the way we enjoy food, wine and company.

Tony I don’t have much patience for people who are self-conscious about the act of eating, and it irritates me when someone denies themselves the pleasure of a bloody hunk of steak or a pungent French cheese because of some outdated nonsense about what’s appropriate or attractive.

They both relay ‘experiences’.

You’ll find a mix of the two here with us.

behaviour culture experiences hospitality

12 New Adventures start Today

Posted on July 9, 2020 by Roger Harmston Posted in Terroir Leave a comment

A new set of challenges, too.  I asked Danielle to build us another mystery case – we had so much fun with the first one.

Let’s try unusual and uncommon grape varietals, single or blends.  Anywhere in the world. With our usual budget target of average $20 per bottle – tax in.


I stopped by mid-day today.  Amid lots of laughter, Danielle built another case of joy. And there were comments like “next time you do big lamb … open this at least two hours before”  That’s BIG lamb as opposed to little lamb!


Tonight the grape is from the Spanish Rueda region – 140 km NW of Madrid – known for its dry aromatic whites.  Very old grape that possibly came into the region more than 1000 years ago from North Africa. The region is a high plateau with lots of sandy/clay clay soil.

Code: 79046

Rueda Verdejo – El Petit Bonhomme

13.5% alcohol

$14.99 on sale from $15.99 regularly

Verdejo grapes play nice with seafood, salads, light cheeses, of course chicken.


Lots of Texture is probably the best way to describe this wine.  It seems to work well when there’s lots of other flavours going on.  You can have this in the kitchen, and certainly wouldn’t be ashamed to take it into the dining room or on the deck.

Boneless, skinless chicken breasts.


I added one more parsnip to the roasted veggie mix to bring out a little more sweetness. (carrots/potato/leek/redpepper).  There was even garlic in the tzatziki.

If this had been around last night, it would have gone well with the grilled salmon steaks.


This is a wine that would be good year round not just in the summer when we traditionally drink more whites than reds.  Buy two, you’ll be glad you did.

mystery case Rueda Spain Verdejo White Wine

Dear Dr. Bonnie

Posted on July 2, 2020 by Roger Harmston Posted in Terroir Leave a comment

Honest!  There were only 3 guests, and they were from the same bubble!

And they did wear masks

It’s just that they like their wine!

The Victoria Symphony has a great reputation for its concerts in the Inner Harbour.  Symphony Vineyards will build a good reputation with the white blend called Splash.
10% alcohol. Blend of Pinot Gris, Gewurtztraminer with a ’splash’ of Ortega and Siegrebbe thrown in.


The Road 13 has worked well for quite a few years and the 2019 edition carries on the tradition of a nice fruity Rose that goes with anything.


Homemade potato salad, pickled beets, Olive Bread, and BBQ’d Chicken made up the accompanying lunch.


Of course there were Nanaimo Bars and butter tarts! (and home made peanut butter cookies) Happy Canuck Day!

Canada Day mystery case Road 13 Rose Symphony Splash

No Confusion Here

Posted on June 28, 2020 by Roger Harmston Posted in Terroir Leave a comment

To us, this is the best Ortega on the Island.  

Symphony used to lease all the vines at Starling Lane and they had GREAT Ortega.  Gerry and Sherry Mussio (one of the 3 partner owners of Starling) also planted the same vines at their home acreage.

This shows the difference that terroir can make to a wine.  

To us, home acreage Ortega is softer, mellower, and fuller bodied than the Starling vintage.


I helped harvest in 2018 at Mussio’s but not for the 2019 vintage.


Only available at Symphony vineyard or delivery from them.  $21.00


12.1% alcohol


Clear. Bright and Crisp.

You don’t need a pic of supper, because we’ve done a pairing with Vancouver Island Scallops before.  

Real Simple: Salt. Pepper Saffron. Butter only. Takes the same amount of time as the couscous.


Tonight was a slight variation with the salad.  B used watermelon.  Extra refreshing.
Twas a great mix of wine and food.

mystery case ortega scallops Symphony Vineyard

Ever wondered?

Posted on June 27, 2020 by Roger Harmston Posted in Terroir Leave a comment

Don’t remember where I found this, but it has often been used when we have ‘formal’ get togethers here. It’s been invaluable.

Setting the Table

What’s our hood

Posted on June 27, 2020 by Roger Harmston Posted in Neighbours Leave a comment

How many mini libraries have popped up in the ‘hood? 

Teale Phelps Bondaroff has mapped 315+ little libraries across Greater Victoria. A tremendous project. Now you can get your reading material when out for a walk.

Little Free Libraries

This is our immediate hood. 

https://qchca.org/our-neighbourhood/neighbourhood-information/

There are a tremendous number of shortcuts and walking paths that interconnect.  I’ve started to map the ones within the Quadra Cedar Hill Community Association area. Once I’ve got them all overlaid on a map we’ll publish them.

free libraries Quadra Cedar Hill Community secret pathways walkies

You have been laying around all day ..

Posted on June 27, 2020 by Roger Harmston Posted in Terroir Leave a comment

not doing anything, so here’s your chance to really redeem yourself. [I’m taking to the wine, not poking at you]


First time in months, there have been mussels in the store, so they got scooped up.

Quick sauté of onion, leek, garlic and red pepper — in butter of course. Half a cup of home made veggie stock brought to a simmer, and in go the mussels.


Yes, there’s Olive bread to go with it … 


Salada is spinach, orange and date.


Now .. are you up for this? (talkin to the wine again)


You sorta did.  Mellow intro and Nice peppery finish.  But.  The Wine Goddess will have many other adventures for us to consider before I’d come back to you again for awhile.

Chile mystery case pinot noir

The Andes meet a Middle East Street Market

Posted on June 26, 2020 by Roger Harmston Posted in Terroir Leave a comment

BC Liquor Code: 179937


$16.99 Montes Limited Edition  Pinot Noir


Chile’s Aconcagua Valley on the coast is ideal to grow Pinot.


At first sniff, I went and added more lemon juice to the Tzatziki.
At first sample, more cumin and a touch of tarragon went into the kefta mix.


This has been the toughest to evaluate.  It has left me confused – [hold thy tongue!]

It’s not Aussie Style Pinot and definitely not BC Style.  Just Different.


On its own, I can’t recommend it for just sipping.  It was light and enjoyable but doesn’t make it into the outstanding bracket.


By the time it got to be with food, it seemed to wake up and went quite well with dinner, and I did snitch a little extra.

The Tree House pairing tonight was Middle East Street Market style food.  Build your own. Lamb kebabs (baked), thin pita, with tzatziki and veggies and tabouli made with fresh local ingredients.


‘ert was cloved apricots over ice cream

This is the end of the FIRST mystery Case. There will be another!


Know anyone name Gloria?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvgd-xjR9LQ


If I turn it up loud enough, maybe she’ll come aknockin’ and bring some wine

Chile mystery case pinot noir

Uplands Park

Posted on June 24, 2020 by Roger Harmston Posted in Photography Leave a comment
Uplands Park walkies

Witty’s Lagoon

Posted on June 24, 2020 by Roger Harmston Posted in Photography Leave a comment
Lagoon walkies
« Previous Page
Next Page »

Recent Posts

  • Playing Favourites
  • Of the Land
  • Pain Index
  • Road Id-gets
  • Paraprosdokian 

Recent Comments

  • Danielle Terrien on No cough and full acceptance
  • Andy on Half the age of the vines
  • Hwney Wong on Inner Painting
  • Frank Towler on Volcanos and clay
  • Frank Towler on Have you been mashed up today?

Archives

  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020

Categories

  • ALL
  • Art
  • Humour
  • Music
  • Neighbours
  • Photography
  • Terroir

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org
CyberChimps ©2025