Robert K Stephen (CSW)

RKS Wine: Creekside Estate Winery 2017 Iconoclast Syrah

Can Niagara produce a quality Syrah? When it comes to quality red wines in Ontario I put my hand up to get the attention of the Wine Gods and respond I think Ontario can excel with Gamay Noir and Cabernet Franc but aside from that? So stone me to death for daring to speak myContinue reading “RKS Wine: Creekside Estate Winery 2017 Iconoclast Syrah”

“Travels to a Different Time” : 2June1975: Tokaj, Hungary: Prisoner of the Rain; Horking up a Fish Bone Caught in My Throat

Yet more rain so I will stay in my shanty town shack for another day. I still have Hungarian currency I need to spend. Performed my morning ablutions and hit the town where I trudged to the other restaurant in town for lunch. I seemed to be surrounded by bureaucrats on their lunch break. IContinue reading ““Travels to a Different Time” : 2June1975: Tokaj, Hungary: Prisoner of the Rain; Horking up a Fish Bone Caught in My Throat”

RKS Wine: Malivoire 2020 Estate Grown Chardonnay

This light gold wine grabs your nose right off the bat with a unique bit of spiciness and ginger. I emphasize “a bit” because it does not detract one from the baked apple with cinnamon and brown sugar, the pear, the mango and the pineapple. Positively tropical old man! On the palate it strikes oneContinue reading “RKS Wine: Malivoire 2020 Estate Grown Chardonnay”

“Travels to a Different Time” : 1June1975: Budapest and Tokaj Hungary: Strangely Lonely in My Shanty Shack and the Belting Rain

Up early for an orange drink so gross only I could stomach it. I packed up slowly after a great hot shower. I took the Metro to the last stop and walked about a mile to the highway. The first ride was only for 15 kms but the next one was all the way toContinue reading ““Travels to a Different Time” : 1June1975: Budapest and Tokaj Hungary: Strangely Lonely in My Shanty Shack and the Belting Rain”

RKS Film: “Split at the Root”: An Examination of Zero Tolerance Policy and American Immigration Policy

“Split the Root”, which will be showing at Toronto Hot Docs Festival, examines the Zero Tolerance Policy and the cumbersome and inconsistent handling of asylum cases in the United States. The Zero Tolerance Policy (ZTP) can perhaps be best understood as a reaction from the right to the continual and never-ending stream of Mexicans andContinue reading “RKS Film: “Split at the Root”: An Examination of Zero Tolerance Policy and American Immigration Policy”

“Travels to a Different Time” :31May1975: Budapest, Hungary: Marian Acts Snooty

Up at 09:00 and returned some bottles for a deposit refund. I then went to IZBUZ to change my remaining Austrian schillings. They like roast chicken in Budapest so I went to one of these chicken places where you stand and eat it. Half a chicken and a Pepsi for $1.25. The skin was tooContinue reading ““Travels to a Different Time” :31May1975: Budapest, Hungary: Marian Acts Snooty”

“Travels to a Different Time” : 30May1975: Budapest, Hungary: A Megaton Nuclear Blowout in Budapest; Bribery, Booze and a Brothel?

The day commenced in orderly fashion but it was going to end in a way it may never end for the rest of my life. Up early I read two books. Less weight to lug around. It is almost a fetish reading and dumping the too many books I have brought along. But better thanContinue reading ““Travels to a Different Time” : 30May1975: Budapest, Hungary: A Megaton Nuclear Blowout in Budapest; Bribery, Booze and a Brothel?”

RKS Wine: An Australian Old Reliable: D’Arenberg

Years ago I worked in the east end of Toronto near a Chevrolet dealership called “Robertson’s Old Reliable Chevrolet”. That “Old Reliable” stuck with me although at the time Chevrolet’s were never that reliable! D’Arenberg, a McLaren Vale winery, has also stuck with me for many years as a reliable producer of red and whiteContinue reading “RKS Wine: An Australian Old Reliable: D’Arenberg”

“Travels to a Different Time” : 29May1975: Budapest, Hungary: Living and Eating Like a Royal: Love Those Hungarian Dumplings!

Finally a nice sunny late spring day. Did a little wash of clothes and hung them out on the balcony. Yes sir I have a balcony with a view of the city. A low budget Ritz-Carlton! Went out to purchase my supplies for breakfast and I ate like an aristocrat on my balcony. I didContinue reading ““Travels to a Different Time” : 29May1975: Budapest, Hungary: Living and Eating Like a Royal: Love Those Hungarian Dumplings!”

RKS Wine: Valle de Uco Site of The Best Argentinian Malbec?

I recall when living in Montreal at the corner depanneur you could buy a gallon of a red wine called “Malbec” bottled by the SAQ. Goodness knows if it was even made from Malbec grapes and what country it came from. Those corner store wines were never very good. Of course, such could not existContinue reading “RKS Wine: Valle de Uco Site of The Best Argentinian Malbec?”