I can finally spill the beans! I’m heading to California next Friday for the annual conference of Les Dames d’Escoffier, the international culinary organization formed in honor of the French chef Auguste Escoffier. About a month ago, I received a phone call from one of the members telling me I had won the MFK Fisher Award for Excellence in Culinary Writing, an award that the group gives every two years. I assumed it was a joke, and there was a back-and-forth of "No!" "Yes" "No?" (If you’ve read the work of my fellow nominees Jane Black of the Washington Post and […]
Wine Articles
Sip and Savour Girlfriends’ Getaways
The passion for wine and culinary excellence has never been hotter and Ontario offers a tantalizing menu of possibilities for you and your girlfriends to consider. Come walk the vineyards, sip at the tasting bar and savour the flavours of exceptional vintages. Enjoy food and wine paired dinners under the tutelage of exceptional chefs, and plan to do it all again very, very soon. If you are more hands-on, share in the fun of a culinary workshop and take a few tasty secrets home with you. Ottawa Girlfriends’ Getaway This one’s for the girls! Calling all girlfriends to retreat to […]
Win the Centre Stage in Niagara Contest
Let us help you escape to Ontario. Register on ontariotravel.net today and your name will be entered for a chance to … WIN the Centre Stage in Niagara Contest Celebrate the theatrical nature of Niagara during the Shaw Festival’s 50th Anniversary. An exclusive behind-the-scenes look and the best seats in the house set the stage. Then it’s on to the theatre of Niagara’s wine and culinary scene where you’ll savour the sights from the air and tastes on the ground. Take a peek at Niagara-on-the-Lake’s intriguing past, and wrap it all up in a luxurious three-night stay at the Four-Diamond […]
The Vintage Harvest Party of the Year
It’s the last weekend of the Niagara Wine Festival, so from September 24th to 26th, raise a glass and celebrate 59 years of a Vintage Harvest! Niagara transforms into a wine lover’s wonderland this weekend, featuring winery tours and tastings, concerts, Niagara cuisine, wine seminars, live entertainment, and one of Canada’s largest street parades. Enjoy food, wine and live entertainment in St. Catharines’ historic Montebello Park, the hub of the harvest celebration. Experience VQA wines from over 35 wineries as you sip and savour the sounds of Canada’s best live music on the WestJet Centre Stage, featuring fan-favourites such […]
Paris: City of Light, Food & Wine
My family and I had a terrific week in Paris recently! So many great restaurants, wines and food. Some of my favourite restaurants included Guy Savoy, Taillevant and Dominque Bouchet. One of the highlights was a cooking class with cookbook author Charlotte Pluckett and former chef and tour guide Richard Nahem. Richard’s done a great job of describing the class, so why reinvent the wheel? You can read his blog post here. Cheers, Natalie
The Vintage Harvest Party of the Year
From September 17th to 26th, raise a glass and celebrate 59 years of a Vintage Harvest with the Niagara Wine Festival! Niagara transforms into a wine lover’s wonderland for two full weekends, featuring winery tours and tastings, concerts, Niagara cuisine, wine seminars, live entertainment, and one of Canada’s largest street parades. Enjoy food, wine and live entertainment in St. Catharines’ historic Montebello Park, the hub of the harvest celebration. Experience VQA wines from over 35 wineries as you sip and savour the sounds of Canada’s best live music on the WestJet Centre Stage. Fan-favourites such as Matt Dusk, The Great […]
Discover Ontario’s Wine Country
Meander along the roadways of Ontario’s wine regions to discover small craft wineries, stunning contemporary new facilities and the beauty of sun-drenched vineyards. Be welcomed by passionate winemakers, owners, sommeliers and winery staff anxious to share their craft. In the tasting room, swirl, sniff and sip acclaimed vintages to discover the unique signatures of the winemaker and the pleasures of the perfect pairing. You’re guaranteed to want to take a selection home with you. You can win a three-night stay in Niagara this fall to attend the Shaw Festival with a private tour, dining and wine country visits. You […]
Eat, Pray, Drink: Top 5 Wines to Pair with the Book & Movie
I’ve read the book, but have yet to see the movie. In the meantime though, I’ve thought of 5 terrific wines to drink while you’re reading the book or watching the movie (I guess you’ll have to slip a bottle into your purse/man purse for the latter if you’re going to the theatre). Have you got a wine to suggest? Cheers, Natalie 2008 Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio, D.O.C., Valdadige, Italy: We’ve got to have an Italian wine given the “Eat” part is in Italy, and this wine is fantastic with pizza! Lovely aromas of lemon, white melon and chives. […]
Favorite Wine and Drinking Quotes Part II
Here are more of my favourite wine and drinking quotes. Thanks to everyone who has e-mailed or shared their favs on Twitter and Facebook! This is really getting to be quite an inebriating selection. You can find round one of quotes here, and round three here. Let me know if you’ve got another one to add. Cheers, Natalie A woman was sipping a glass of wine while she was sitting on the patio with her man. She says, “I love you so much, I don’t know if I could ever live without you.” Her guy asks: “Is that you […]
Stoneleigh New Zealand wine recommends great books for the summer
Admit it. Book Clubs are really Wine Clubs in disguise. It’s a great group of friends sharing a great bottle of wine and catching up on everyone’s busy lives. And maybe talking about the book you’ve been reading, just to maintain the illusion. For your next “Book Club” meeting, why not try some of these fantastic wine and book pairings. We also recommend these for when you want a relaxing night at home to catch up on some well deserved “me time”. BEATRICE & VIRGIL By Yann Martel An astonishing and original new novel by the author of […]
