OPENING: Event space at Thompson Landry/A Taste of Quebec in Distillery District, June 25, 2009

 The Time and Date: Thursday, June 25, 2009   6Pm to 9PM

The Event: A Taste of Quebec/Thompson Landry Gallery Cooperage Space Grand Opening of New Venue

The Venue: Cooperage Space, Building 32, Distillery District.

The Target Audience: private clients, selected media

The Quote/Background: The 3,000 square foot art gallery showcases Quebec artists and sculptors. The emphasis tonight was as its alternate function, an event space for up to 200 people, in co-operation with Distillery Restaurant Corp.

The Wines: We had two good beers, Blanche de Chambly and La Fin du Monde (both from Quebec). Wines included the straight forward Red Knot Shiraz 2007 McLaren Vale ($19 Lifford) and the mature Francis Ford Coppola Bianco Pinot Grigio 2006 (2008 is $12 Lifford). Other beverages included Ciderie St. Nicolas Cider and Ciderie St. Nicolas Ice Cider, plus Pinnacle Ice Cider 2006 (a bit sweeter than the St. Nicolas).

The Food: caterers were showing off their signature dishes. 10tation served cremoni mushrooms and braised short ribs; they also did a rich chocolate hazelnut torte with strawbs. Daniel et Daniel had one of the healthiest dishes, with grilled shrimp on a bed of cooked greens and edamame. Presidential Gourmet did a substantial spiced lamb and beef on truffled polenta (with a Pinnacle iced cider as accompaniment). Barbara Murphy was showing off her St. Nicolas with rabbit terrine. Jean-Pierre + Co did a Caribbean cod cake with two habanero sauces (one a hot relish, the other an aioli) followed by a cucumber shooter chaser. Jayne's did a crab salad in a double martini glass. There were also liver mousse cones, cucumber nibbles, and oysters. A Taste of Quebec had both Quebecois foods from their new Chef Pierre of Café du Lac on the Lakeshore, and a coffee bar with real coffee, espresso, etc. A Taste of Quebec specializes in cheese from Quebec, and Tom the fromagier led me through a tasting of Bleu Moutonniere (raw sheep), Miranda (organic raw), Fleur des Monts (raw sheep), Migneron (pasteurized cow), Reserve La Perade (organic raw), Vieux Charlevoix 3 year old cheddar, and Bleu Benedictin. I asked him what went with my espresso; he paused and then got me a slice of Chevre Noir cheddar-style. It went perfectly. Kudos to the cheese section and selection!

The Contact Person: jt@thompsonlandry.com; info@atasteofquebec.com

The Marketing Effectiveness (numerical grade): 92.

 

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com

 

 

The Event: New Zealand Wine Fair in Toronto, May 21, 2009

The Time and Date: Thursday, May 21, 2009  1:30 PM to 5:30 PM

The Event: New Zealand Wine Fair in Toronto

The Venue: Design Exchange, Trading Floor

The Target Audience: wine trade

The Availability/Catalogue: most wines are available through agents or the LCBO. The catalogue was its usual splendid self, with full details on the wines and their availability. And as usual, it suffered from last minute price changes, wines that never arrived, substituted wines, and the like. Some, but not all, agents proffered updated order sheets. EVERY AGENT SHOULD BE DOING THIS IF THEY WANT ORDERS – assuming that said agents are computer literate.

The Quote/Background: There was a self-pour, self-tour trade seminar on 15 Sauvignon Blanc wines, with a large booklet of details derived from a Powerpoint presentation. A first-rate job, complemented by excellent sandwiches.

The Wines:

 

**** Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):

-Esk Black Label Sauvignon Blanc 2008, $20.99 (PMA Canada)

-Neudorf Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc Nelson 2008, $19.95 (Rubaiyat)

-Omaka Springs Estates Sauvignon Blanc 2008, $21.99 (B & W Wines)

-Seresin Marama Sauvignon Blanc 2007, $39.95 (Dionysus) [woody]

-Kawarau Estate Reserve Chardonnay Central Otago 2007, $29.95 (Living Vine)

-Millton Vineyard Opou Vineyard Chardonnay Gisborne 2007, $24.95 (Living Vine)

 

***1/2 Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):

-Clos de Ste. Anne Chardonnay Gisborne 2007, $37.95 (Living Vine)

-Clos de Ste. Anne Pinot Noir Gisborne 2007, $37.95 (Living Vine)

-Mt. Difficulty Sauvignon Blanc Central Otago 2008, $25 est. (Small Winemakers)

-Pegasus Bay Sauvignon Blanc Semillon Waipara 2008, $35 (Empson Canada)

-Villa Maria Reserve Wairau Sauvignon Blanc 2008, $29.95 (PMA Canada)

-Paddy Borthwick Chardonnay Wairapara 2007, $21.90 (Conoval)

-Churton Pinot Noir Marlborough 2007, $29.95 Licensee (Merchant Vintner)

-Elephant Hill Sauvignon Blanc Reserve Hawke's Bay 2008, $28.95 (HHD Imports)

-Elephant Hill Syrah Reserve Hawke's Bay 2007, $34.95 (HHD Imports)

-Gibbston Highgate Estate Dreamer Pinot Gris Central Otago 2007, $32 (Amethyst)

-Kim Crawford SP Spitfire Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2008, $24.95 (Vincor)

-Schubert Marion's Vineyard Pinot Noir Wairapara 2007, $39 (Hobbs & Co.)

-Spy Valley Gewurztraminer Marlborough 2008, $19.95 (Kylix)

-Spy Valley Envoy Chardonnay Marlborough 2007, $29.95 (Kylix)

-Staete Landt Chardonnay Marlborough 2007, $38.95 (Lifford)

-Summerhouse Chardonnay Marlborough 2007, $21.95 (Amethyst)

-Te Kairanga Swing Bridge Pinot Gris Gisborne 2008, $20 (Small Winemakers)

-Villa Maria Cellar Selection Syrah Hawke's Bay 2007, $37.95 (PMA Canada)

-Richmond Plains Pinot Noir Nelson 2007, $19.95 (Living Vine)

-Kawarau Estate Reserve Pinot Noir Central Otago 2007, $34.95 (Living Vine)

-Millton Vineyard Te Arai Vineyard Chenin Blanc Gisborne 2007, $24.95 (Living Vine)

-Millton Vineyard Riverpoint Vineyard Viognier Gisborne 2008, $24.95 (Living Vine)

 

*** Three Stars (85 – 87 in Quality/Price Rating terms):

-Clos de Ste. Anne Syrah The Crucible Gisborne 2007, $37.95 (Living Vine)

-Brancott Terroir Series Festival Black Sauvignon Blanc 2008, $27 est. (Corby)

-Churton Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2008, $19.95 Licensee (Merchant Vintner)

-Gibbston Highgate Estate Soultaker Pinot Noir Central Otago 2007, $32 (Amethyst)

-Mount Fishtail Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2008, $17.50 (Vergina)

-Ngatarawa Alwyn Chardonnay Hawke's Bay 2006, $28.95 (Whitehall)

-Nobilo Icon Pinot Noir Central Otago 2006, $25.75 (Churchill Cellars)

-Ra Nui Pinot Noir Marlborough 2007, $29.95 (Churchill Cellars)

-Spy Valley Envoy Pinot Noir Marlborough 2006, $35.95 (Kylix)

-Neudorf Tom's Block Pinot Noir Nelson 2007, $26.95 (Rubaiyat)

-Richmond Plains Sauvignon Blanc Nelson 2008, $15.95 (Living Vine)

 

The Food: sandwiches at the trade seminar, cheeses and breads and crackers at the show. Water coolers were present for an unending supply.

The Downside: it seemed a little light, and the crowd was different too.

The Upside: the spit buckets were constantly being emptied, as fast as I could spit.

The Contact Person: rketchin@ketchin.com

The Marketing Effectiveness (numerical grade): 92.

 

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com

 

 

The Event: Come Walkabout Media lunch, sponsored by Wine Australia, Tourism Australia, and Emirates.

The Time and Date: Wednesday, May 13, 2009  12 PM to 3 PM

The Event: Come Walkabout Media lunch, sponsored by Wine Australia, Tourism Australia, and Emirates.

The Venue: Crush Wine Bar, King Street

The Target Audience: media

The Availability/Catalogue: the wines accompanying the lunch were generally thought to be available, although prices were not discussed.

The Quote/Background: Australian Chef Mark Olive and Crush Chef Michael Wilson created a traditional Australian menu. Geoff McFadzean, Canadian Market Development Manager for Wine Australia, provided some wine discussion. Short speeches were proffered by Anita Stewart who had taken gastronomy courses in Australia, and Chef Michael Smith from PEI, who was promoting his Chef Abroad TV series with a segment on Australia.

The Wines and Foods: during the reception we had glasses of DeBortoli Emeri Sparkling Shiraz NV, which was sweetish and useful if you didn't eat the food. A more sensible aperitif was Skillogalee Riesling 2008. Platters of lamb medallions on toasted brioche came along, while the polenta-based layered vegetable slices with macadamia nuts enhanced the Riesling. The starter was oven-roasted wild barramundi with pickled ginger and a mango salsa. D'Arenberg Hermit Crab Viognier/Marsanne 2007, though light, worked well with the off-dry food. Vasse Felix Chardonnay 2007 from Margaret River was the traditional accompaniment. The main was hot-spiced kangaroo loin (tails were not available) with peas, carrots, and sweet potatos. The beverage of choice was Alkoomi Blackbutt 2004, a Bordeaux blend, which ate up the competition (Wakefield Cabernet 2006). Yalumba Museum Muscat NV, a Brown Muscat, was a highlight with the lamingtons (sponge cake, choclate sauce, chantilly cream). Then we adjourned to the bar for some Australian cheeses, such as Roaring Forties blue, Sea Bay Triple Creme, and Stokes Point Apple Cheddar, accompanied by a plum paste and grissini, plus a botrytised Nugan Cookoothama Semillon 2006.

The Downside: well, it's not named Crush for nothing – we were wall-to- wall during the reception, with no room to move.

The Upside: a chance to try some yummy food and Oz spices.

The Contact Person: geoff.mcfadzean@wineaustralia.com; msrnie.williamson@austrade.gov.au

The Marketing Effectiveness (numerical grade): 93.

 

 

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com

 

 

* FOOD BOOK OF THE MONTH! * "The Foie Gras Wars

* FOOD BOOK OF THE MONTH! *
  ++++++++++++++++++++++

 

2. THE FOIE GRAS WARS; how a 5,000-year-old delicacy inspired the
world's fiercest food fight (Simon & Schuster, 2009, 355 pages, ISBN
978-1-4165-5668-8, $35 US hard covers) is by Mark Caro, a Chicago
Tribune reporter whose writing on the foie gras controversy received
honours from the Association of Food Journalists and the James Beard
Foundation. This book is an elaboration of his reporting which began in
2005 with questions directed to Charlie Trotter. Notable log rollers
include Michael Ruhlman and Anthony Bourdain. The fattening of poultry
livers (gavage) through forced feeding is a 5,000 year old history. So
is the slaughter of the bird just for the liver, although today the
whole bird is eaten in some form. Today, it is mostly done with ducks
in France, and mainly ducks in North America. You can get "non-gavaged"
goose livers for a premium, but they won't be as fatty. Foie gras has
more flavour and smooth character, mostly because of the fat. And foie
gras is a niche market anyway. So niche that when Charlie Trotter gave
up cooking foie gras in 2002, barely anybody noticed. Yet he was the
main chef responsible for creating the foie gras craze. He had always
had it on his menu, and would go through over 60 double lobes a week.
After visiting many farms, he then became disgusted by the practice of
gavage and the unsanitary conditions. Now he is outspoken about foie
gras. Caro crafts a good read about how we all ignored what we know
about what we eat. Apparently, it is one thing to have a relationship
with a cow whose name we know, while it is another thing to deal with
mass poultry and fish and other nameless creatures. One rule to make in
order to eat all your food: don't personalize your food source. Using a
wide range of sources such as videos, court documents, personal
interviews with the players involved (chefs, animal activists, farmers,
producers, politicians, and professional eaters), government hearings
and publications, visits to foie gras farms, Caro weaves a compelling
story of the conflicts between those who believe in "names" and those
who don't. He used extensively the Google News Alerts for "foie gras"
and websites.
Audience and level of use: food memoirists, animal lovers, those who
like reading about food and not cooking.
Some interesting or unusual facts: Caro covers picket lines at
restaurants; bans enacted (and sometimes repealed) by cities and
countries; celebrity food follies; besieged duck farms; the French
gastronomic tourism extravaganza labeled "Foie Gras Weekend".
The downside to this book: Roger Ebert contributes "praise" – why?
The upside to this book: there is well-developed bibliography of books
and articles, plus a great index. This is a good expose of a nasty
racket.
Quality/Price Rating: 94.

 

 

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com

 

 

The Event: Lailey Vineyard double header: a tasting of 2007 vintages AND a comparison of syrah aged in oak from three different countries.

 The Time and Date: Tuesday, May 12, 2009  6PM to 9PM

The Event: Lailey Vineyard double header: a tasting of 2007 vintages AND a comparison of syrah aged in oak from three different countries.

The Venue: Faculty Club, University of Toronto

The Target Audience: OWS members and friends, wine press.

The Availability/Catalogue: all wines were available for ordering from the winery.

The Quote/Background: we began with 2008 Vidal, made as a social beverage (slightly off-dry), and 2007 Chardonnay, a creamy wine good for food. All the red wines were tasted blind.

The Wines: I confused the US oak with the French oak (mainly because older, used barrels were employed), but I identified the Canadian oak AND all the other wines (including the mystery wine).

 

**** Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):

-Lailey Impromptu 2007 [syrah, cabernet sauvignon, Malbec, petit verdot], $45

-Lailey Meritage 2007 [cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon, merlot], $30

-Lailey Syrah American Oak 2007, not available for sale.

 

***1/2 Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):

-Lailey Cabernet Franc 2007, $30

-Lailey Chardonnay 2007, $20

-Lailey Vidal 2008, $14

-Lailey Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, $30

-Lailey Syrah French Oak 2007, $25

-Lailey Syrah 2007 [the blend], $25

 

*** Three Stars (85 – 87 in Quality/Price Rating terms):

-Lailey Pinot Noir 2007, $25

-Lailey Syrah Canadian Oak 2007, $35

 

The Food: basic appetizers of cheese, fruit, veggies, pate, breads.

The Contact Person: www.ontariowinesociety.com

The Marketing Effectiveness (numerical grade): 89.

 

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com

 

 

The Event: Discover Australia - a world of difference! Trade show, May 12, 2009

 The Time and Date: Tuesday, May 12, 2009  1 Pm to 5 PM

The Event: Discover Australia – a world of difference! Trade show, consumer show in the evening.

The Venue: Grand Banking Hall, The Suites, King Street

The Target Audience: wine trade

The Availability/Catalogue: just about all the wines were represented by an agency. Many of the food and cosmetics, etc. were not.

The Quote/Background: This used to be a speculative wine tasting with food adjuncts. Wineries had been looking for agencies in Ontario. This time around, most of the wines were already repped – except for Farmer's Leap. My approach would have been different if I had known that there were wines available for sale in the province. Also, consumers were coming for the first time, in the evening.

The Wines: I tasted a few wines.

 

**** Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):

-Alkoomi Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, $19.95 (Merchant Vintner)

-Alkoomi Chardonnay 2007, $36.95

-Alkoomi Jarrah-Shiraz 2005, $31.95

-Balnaves Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, $34.95 (Merchant Vintner)

-Giant Steps/Innocent Bystander Pink Moscato 2008, $11.95 half-bottle (Portfolio)

-Giant Steps/Innocent Bystander Shiraz-Viognier 2006, $20.95 (Portfolio)

-Turner's Crossing Shiraz-Viognier 2006, $29.95 (Portfolio)

 

***1/2 Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):

-Angove Red Belly Black Shiraz 2007, +58669 GL, $16.95

-Geoff Merrill Sauvignon Blanc-Semillon, $14.50 (TWC)

-Geoff Merrill Shiraz Pimpala Road 2005, $14

-Geoff Merrill Premium Cabernet Sauvignon 2004, $24

-Andrew Pirie Sparkling Chardonnay/Pinot Noir, $35 (Ex-Cellars)

-Andrew Pirie Pinot Noir 2007, $39

-Krinklewood Biodynamic Chardonnay 2007, $31.95 (The Living Vine)

-Paxton Vineyards Jones Block McLaren Vale Shiraz 2005, $30.95 (Living Vine)

-Turner's Crossing Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, $29.95 (Portfolio)

 

*** Three Stars (85 – 87 in Quality/Price Rating terms):

-Krinklewood Biodynamic Semillon 2009, $29.95 (The Living Vine)

-Krinklewood Biodynamic Verdelho 2009, $29.95 (The Living Vine)

-Paxton Vineyards Thomas Block Chardonnay 2008, $26.95 (The Living Vine)

-Paxton Vineyards Quandong Farm Shiraz 2007, $26.95

 

The Food: lots of Oz products, most of which I skipped. I had some kangaroo loin and some lamb, plus Canadian water.

The Downside: I was not properly informed about the content of the show, and this slowed me down.

The Upside: the Buyer's Guide was nicely put together.

The Contact Person: Australian.consulatetoronto@austrade.gov.au

The Marketing Effectiveness (numerical grade): 88.

 

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com

 

 

The Event: Wines from Greece Road Show 2009, May 12, 2009

The Time and Date:  Tuesday, May 12, 2009  11AM to 4 PM

The Event: Wines from Greece Road Show 2009

The Venue: Metropolitan Toronto Hotel

The Target Audience: wine trade and press

The Availability/Catalogue: availability varied. The wine catalogue for the show was nicely laid out, but as usual, there were wines missing or additions not listed, and prices were not given.

The Quote/Background: John Szabo MS and Tara Thomas (Wine & Spirits Magazine) co-led a 10 wine seminar, with input from attending winemakers. The seminar was completely full. Nevertheless, this is the fourth (I think) time that a general introduction was presented. It makes sense to move on to just one region or one grape or one year, for comparisons.

The Wines:

 

**** Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):

-Skouras Nemea Grande Cuvee 2006, $29.95

-Parparoussis Muscat Rio Patras 2005

-Boutari Reserve Naoussa 2003, $15.95 LCBO

-Dom. Mercouri Cava 2004, $29.95

-Dom. Papagiannakos Vareli 2008 white, $23

-Tsantali Kanenas 2006, $19.90

 

***1/2 Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):

-Skouras Cuvee Prestige Red 2008, $12.50

-Dom. Spiropoulos Porfyros 2005, $19.95

-Boutari Moschofilero 2008

-Gaia Thalassitis 2008

-Tsantali Rapsani Reserve 2005, $18.90

-Alpha Estate 2006, $45 Vintages

-Amyndeon Rose Sparkling 2007

-Dom. Gerovassiliou Avaton 2005, $40

-Katogi Averoff Estate 2004, $24.95

-Kir Yianni Paranga 2008, $14.50

-Dom. Mercouri 2006, $18.95

-Papaioannou Estate Nemea 2005, $20.95

-Dom. Sigalas Santorini Barrel 2008, $28

 

*** Three Stars (85 – 87 in Quality/Price Rating terms):

-Dom. Sigalas Santorini 2008, $20

-Cair Athiri of Rhodes 2008

-Papagiannakos Savatiano 2008, $17.95

-Spiropoulos Meliasto 2008

-Kir Yianni Ramnista 2005, $21.95.

-Alpha Estate White 2008, $28

-Oenoforos Mikros Vorias Chardonnay-Sauvignon Blanc 2008, $15.95

-Ktima Tselepos Amalia Brut NV, $25

-Ktima Tselepos Nemea Driopi 2006, $19.95.

 

The Food: lamb lollipops, hot roast beef, cheeses, shrimp, crab cakes, beef kabobs, lobster and tortilla chips, and the like.

The Downside: it was lightly attended, possibly because the LCBO Product Consultants did not come (conflict-of-interest rules). Also, there was no water on the trade floor.

The Upside: great food, sometimes exceeding the quality of the wines.

The Contact Person: sperpera@allaboutgreekwine.com

The Marketing Effectiveness (numerical grade): 89.

 

 

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com

 

 

FOOD BOOK OF THE MONTH!

* FOOD BOOK OF THE MONTH! *
  ++++++++++++++++++++++

 

2. HEART HEALTHY FOODS FOR LIFE; preventing heart disease through diet
and nutrition (Penguin Books, 2009, 413 pages, ISBN 978-0-14-305659-1,
$24 Canadian soft covers) is by Leslie Beck, RD, and author of many
books and food columns on nutrition. Indeed, she manages about one book
a year. Here she concentrates on which foods are the best to eat if you
want to avoid or prevent heart disease, and how often to eat them, how
much to eat of them, and how to add them to your daily diet. She also
has useful guidelines on how to buy, store and prepare these foods. All
the heart healthy foods are rich in fibre, low in saturated fats, and
low in sodium. Chapter 10 is devoted to that bugaboo word "exercise".
Nobody really wants to do it, but it is unavoidable. She gives some
cardiovascular workouts plus exercises for strength and flexibility.
Michelle Gelok, RD, did the recipe development and nutritional analysis
(this is her third such work with Beck). The recipes have large type,
cover all courses, include both avoirdupois and metric listings of
ingredients, and have a separate index. There's more at
www.lesliebeck.com.
Audience and level of use: those who want a healthier diet.
Some interesting or unusual recipes/facts: blueberry and apple
smoothie; spinach and mushroom and goat cheese salad; lemon poppy seed
loaf; carrot ginger soup; chicken barley soup; beef and vegetable stew.
The downside to this book:
The upside to this book: there is a nice chapter on how to eat in
restaurants.
Quality/Price Rating: 91.

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com