Quench By Tidings | The Food And Drink Social Network

Sweet Retreat
Re-imagine your yard as an outdoor oasis. Perfect for parties, or an intimate evening for two. A weekend trip to Buffalo, New York changed the way I view my humble backyard. Last summer I toured 30 private gardens, part of the National Garden Festival, the largest free garden walk in the United States. The festival, [READ MORE]
A Liquid Career
“It’s a sad fact that Canadian whisky doesn’t get its due. I am committed to changing that, using a ‘kill-rumours-with-facts’ approach, and believe me, there are plenty of myths and misunderstandings about Canadian whisky out there.” Davin de Kergommeaux from www.canadianwhisky.org/about Thanks in large part to the accessibility of the Internet, the world is now awash [READ MORE]
Easy Chartreuse Cocktails
One of the most appealing things about spring is watching those little chartreuse-coloured buds appear on the trees. And before you know it, they turn into full-grown leaves. Loved this line from Quentin Tarantino’s Death Proof. The bar owner, Warren (played by the director), serves a green liqueur to some customers. After they empty their [READ MORE]
@ Pinot Gris
@mikedicaro Michael Di Caro 09 Thirty Bench P. Gris: Pear, peach, floral notes & interesting use of oak but it still hasn’t managed to turn me on to PG #30dayslocal There it was. A simple tweet typed out and sent in seconds to no one in particular, just one among the hundreds of thousands that [READ MORE]

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From The Pages Of Tidings Magazine

Noir in the Dark
Educating yourself about wine has many advantages. For instance, it gives you one more reason to look down upon Australians. Also, learned discourse about wine is an excellent way to bore your relatives. But the most important benefit of memorizing the 1855 Bordeaux classification is that it’s naturally intimidating. I just have to mumble something [READ MORE]
Literary Wine
Get a bunch of book nerds, put them in a room and have them defend a book they are passionate about. Sound boring? Well, it’s anything but. In its relatively short existence, CBC’s Canada Reads has become a literary institution while making it “hip to be square” by reading booksREAD MORE Canadian books. Each year, five [READ MORE]
South Africa Shines
Whenever one of my students asks me whether South Africa is Old World or New World, my answer is an empathetic “Yes!” Let me explain. Technically, Old World refers to the traditional European wine growing countries, which are ardent believers in terroir. South Africa is unique in the sense that it hosts a myriad of [READ MORE]

Sneeky Sucker
Mix all ingredients together with lots of ice.
Tropical Tease
Pour direectly into a Hurricane glass with ice. Shake, do not stir. Garnish with a lime wheel.

The Farmers’ Market
I love Saturday mornings at the Farmers’ Market, wandering through the stalls under a slowly warming sun, the dewy air scented with herbs. Vendors sort through their wares on long tables under canvas tents. Shoppers carry bouquets of sunflowers as they examine bushels of ripe peaches, glistening black grapes, green and orange melons, baskets of [READ MORE]
Grilled Filet Mignon
Whenever I need pampering I make filet mignon, using an inexpensive cast iron grill pan to sauté the steaks. To infuse grill marks, give the steak a good sear on both sides over high heat, giving it a half turn to create a crosshatch. The sauce is a ‘cheater’s Bernaise’ and much easier to make [READ MORE]
Labour Day Menu
The long Labour Day weekend inspires picnics in the park, neighbourhood parties, lazy mornings at the cottage, a dip in the lake, and a good book in the hammock under the tree. I am giddy, light-hearted and mirthful. As summer winds down, I warm to the idea of inviting guests over to bask in the [READ MORE]
Cinco de Mayo
For a long time I thought Mexican restaurants didn’t rinse their dishes properly. There seemed to be an odd soapy flavour to the food. When I started cooking Mexican food in my own kitchen, I realized the Palmolive aftertaste was cilantro. There is some evidence that hypersensitivity to cilantro’s soapy essence is genetic. In short, [READ MORE]