Thursday, March 31, 2011

By the Glass - Wine and Culinary Tours that will knock your socks off!

Local sommelier Mark DeWolf wears many hats. As a sommelier, instructor, writer, parent and owner of By the Glass, a wine touring business, DeWolf somehow finds time to drink the stuff. Together with sommeliers, Joel Williams and Alana McIntyre and Tour Specialist Jeff Ferguson, he works to promote the enjoyment of great wine and food. By the Glass fulfills their initiative by managing food and wine events hosted by local and visiting chefs and winemakers, as well as by offering international wine and food travel tours to destinations such as Burgundy, Piedmont, Tuscany, Spain, South America, South Africa and recently, Croatia.

Get the inside track on your favourite wines such as Spanish Tempranillo, Port form Portugal, Pinot Noir from Burgundy and Italian Super Tuscan. These tours are created so as to indulge the guest in an ocean of fun, culture and education, while being submerged in the regions that makes thees wines famous.

And who doesn't want to make their way though these destinations by eating and drinking? Of course, By the Glass ensured that there is a good mix of cultural fun as well. DeWolf mentions that, "While our tours are intended for wine enthusiasts and foodies, they are designed to provide a rounded experience." He also draws on this own experiences, which provides insight when planning his tours. "I am bored after seeing my fourth stainless steel fermenter on a tour," he says, "so I suspect my guests would be as well. We intermix cooking classes, city tours and sight seeing with our winery and restaurant visits to create a full experience."

In addition to such exciting stops as the Coloseaum in Rome, crossing the Andes in South America, and biking in picturesque Croatia, DeWolf adds that "You can't visit Tuscany without seeing Siena or Florence or visit central Spain without absorbing the architectural splendour and nightlife of Madrid."

In addition to the sightseeing, there is always an added personal touch as attendees get the opportunity to interact with local residents, chefs and winemakers, and are sometimes lucky enough to make dinner with them. "There is a level of intimacy you receive when on our tours that is unlike normal tours." DeWolf says. "Our groups are small enough that the guides at wineries are often the owners or winemakers themselves rather than tour guides." Jackpot!

DeWolf mentiones that, "I like to think of our tours as personal experience." Adding, "We attempt as best as possible to limit our tours to 12 to 14 guests and a maximum ratio of 8 guests to 1 guide. The result is you get all the benefits of travelling with a group but without the herding mentality of large bus tours."

DeWolf's experiences as an editor of a food and wine publication as well as a sommelier instructor has provided him with unique opportunities that he can pass along to his tour groups. He concludes by noting that, "The quality of food and service we receive at the wineries and the restaurants we visit is enhanced by being on a small group tour - these experiences that aren't available to the average traveller."

There are a number of tours coming up for the summer season, and well into the fall. Check out the By the Glass website for full itineraries. These trips are certain to give you the travel bug, but the wines will quench your thirst!

Thursday, March 24, 2011

The Wired Monk...More than just delicious coffee


A couple weeks ago, I found myself needing to kill some early morning time in the Wired Monk neighborhood. A big fan of their java and baked goods, I decided to stop in to try out their cappuccino.


Wired Monk's Cappuccino is a 'goodie', likewise the rich and creamy hot chocolate. We also had the incredibly delicious Breakfast wrap. Squished in a panini press, the wrap enclosed some melted Cheddar cheese, scrambled eggs, veggies and a mild black bean and yellow corn salsa. The wrap itself was pretty big, so 1/2 was just enough to get the day started.


Cappuccino & Hot Chocolate

Wired Monk Breakfast Wrap

Monday, March 21, 2011

Innovative Brunch Indulgences at The Costal Cafe

Brunch is my favorite dining experience - there, I said it! I love everything about the brunch - it's the perfect opportunity to eat steak with eggs, drink champagne before noon and have your dessert first. Yes, brunch allows you the opportunity to choose savoury or sweet, cure the night before hangover and get a good buzz going for the day.

There are a few great brunch options in Halifax, but my favorite is definitely The Coastal Cafe on Robbie Street. Chef Mark Giffen has a gift - of combining good quality ingredients to create stellar, intriguing meals that are not your standard Eggs Benny...although I'm sure his would be kick-ass too if he made them. As a person who eats out a fair amount and who counts eggs as one of my 'Top 5 Must Have To Live Foods', brunch at the Coastal is always a treat, as I'm sure to be surprised, seduced and stuffed by the menu's offerings.

Take for example, The Durty South, a combination of several comfort foods piled together on a plate of sweet and savoury, saucy and chewy goodness. Nestled in the bottom of the bowl was a bed of sweet, earthy baked beans and chunks of sweet potato, topped with 2 fried eggs and a pile of smokey, tender pulled pork. Adding to this dish of delight was some golden buttery cornbread.

Les Oeufs d'Automne - my friend's meal and my second choice - consisted of a decadent combo: poached eggs, crisp bacon, roasted parsnip, sweet maple syrup, tangy goat cheese, pecans and crisp, toasted baguette.

I have to admit - this blog post is a bit delayed and the menu items have been slightly altered. However, I hope the photos and description of these dishes will lead you to the sunny yellow awning over The Coastal's door. This place tempts your tastebuds with some fantastic meals that you won't soon forget!

Durty South
Baked Beans, Fried Eggs, BBQ Pulled Pork and Cornbread




Mmmm Cornbread
You can even see the pieces of corn - no mix here folks!


Les Oeufs d'Automne
Poached Eggs, Bacon, Roasted Parsnip, Pecans, Goat Cheese


Monday, March 7, 2011

The Skinny on Savour 2011

Well, another year's Savour food & wine Show has come and gone, and a great time was had by all. Last Wednesday night, Savourites gathered at the Westin Nova Scotian to celebrate the 8th annual event. With over 60 booths of food and wine, there was a bite to tempt every tastebud and a wine to please every palate.

The quantity of product at this show is amazing - there is so much to try that one person would never get to do it all...and there have been many to try! After 4 Savour shows, I never go in without a game plan. I check out the exhibitors and decide where I'll be stopping before venturing into the fray. As a sommelier-in-training, I checked out a lot more wine booths this year and tried to pair them with the most appropriate bite. In case you're wondering...I'm well aware of my uber-geekiness.

If you didn't get to attend this year, I would highly suggest giving Savour a shot next year. It's the perfect opportunity to try some of the best food and wine in Halifax all under one roof. There was even a Local Food Award (which went to 5Fish). And as the tagline reveals, Savour is 'Mingle-licious'!

Don't forget to check in next week to find out the winners of the 'Best of Show'!




How a foodie 'does' Savour...Mapping it out!






The Five Fishermen
Lobster Stuffed Scallops w/ a Chardonnay Beurre Blanc
Mini Lobster and Goat Cheese Cakes with Basil Aioli




Tempest
Crispy Fish Tacos
w/ Smoked Line Caught Haddock and Guacamole Coulis

Stories at the Haliburton

Tahitian Vanilla Panna Cotta w/ Drunk and Sober
Berries
and Lacey Almond Tuille

Taj Mahal
Lamb Hyderabadi Biryani
Mango Juice and Chocolate Fountain



Saege
Getaway Farms Cider Braised Pork Belly, Balsamic & Red Onion Agrodolce
Sweet Potato & Thyme Blini and Caramelized Gala Apple

Chives
Nova Scotia Pulled Pork
Brioche w/ Winter Slaw and Bourbon BBQ sauce




Chez Tess
The Euro ~ Sweet Vanilla Crepe stuffed w/ Banana,
drizzled with Nutella, Caramel, Chantilly & Toasted Almonds
Chocolate Mousse ~ Chocolate Mousse in a bite size crepe cup
topped w/ Chantilly and Almond Brittle




The Press Gang
Seven Hour Bison Ravioli
tossed in a Truffled Caramelized Garlic & Bourbon Reduction
w/ Celery Toot Puree and Pistachio Wilted Chard




White Point
Flourless Chocolate Cake
Maple Creme & Pecan Brittle



Mix Fresh Kitchen
Lamb Kebabs

The Westin Nova Scotian

Mini Burgers on Brioche; Philly Steak & Crab Cake




Durty Nelly's
Fresh Shucked Oysters and Guinness



Delta Barrington & Halifax
Meadow Brook house-smoked Pork Belly topped w/ Dragon's Breath Blue Cheese
served w/ Celeriac Puree and Van Dykes Blueberry Drizzle



The Port Pub
Pan Seared Digby Scallop on Local Dulse Seasoned Cracker
w/ Apple & Fennel Slaw and Wild Blueberry-Maple Vinaigrette


The Spread at Hamachi

Morris East

Potato Ravioli
Root Vegetable Crackers
Nova Scotia Raspberry Daiquiris


Le Caveau
L'Acadie vine Smoked Salmon w/ chilled Fox Hill Quark Souffle and Leek Coulis
Wild Nova Scotia Porcini Risotto finished w/
Old Growler Gouda
and Martock Glen Duck Confit





Fid Resto
The Black Pearl Shooter
Soy Tapioca Pearls & Fresh Carrot Juice
Seasoned w/ Apple Cider Vinegar, Chive Oil and a Sweet Potato Crisp




Pipa
Bacalhau a Bras
Saute of Cod, Onion, Potato & Egg



Seasons
Liquid Nitrogen Candy Pop Corn
White Chocolate Soup w/ Espresso & Cocoa Nibs
Blueberry Cocktail




My friend Stephanie and I - post event. I realized that I forgot to mention one of the other key rules to planning and making the most out of your Savour food & wine Show experience - Bring a friend!

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

The most wonderful time of the year....!


It's almost here, the most wonderful time of the year! No, I don't mean Christmas, or New Year's Eve, or my Birthday. I mean my favourite night in the city of Halifax - on that I look forward to all year long, the Savour food & wine Show!

This year's show will take place at the Westin Nova Scotian TOMORROW night, March 2nd from 7:00-9:30 pm. Tickets are just $79+HST, a fantastic value for the amount of food and wine.

I'd like to challenge you to try everything, but there's no way to taste it all - it's just too much! To view the list of exhibitors, click HERE.

In case you still don't 'get' how amazing this event is, check out my blog post about Savour 2010....then I think you'll get the idea! if you're a foodie in Halifax, you'll hang your head on Thursday if you weren't at the most "mingle-licious" event in town!

Tickets are still available! Visit the eDining Website's Savour Page to purchase tickets!