Droolpoop’s police force stormed onto the McSwill University grounds trashing the exhibits and clubbing both mutants and visitors. It so happened a Montreal television crew was there doing a story on the exhibit and captured the vicious police assault. Droolpoop had miscalculated, not like he continually did with his Olympic budgets but with his reputation. The intellectual community was in a furor and the general population disgusted with a brutal attack on a group of artists peacefully protesting the 1976 Montreal Summer Olympics.
At a press conference held by his Eminence after the attack Droolpoop proudly proclaimed “The Olympics have been saved!” but the media scrum wasn’t buying in instead asking how Droolpoop could justify such grand violations of civil liberties. The international media feasted on the bloody faces of the wounded and the savage beatings by the police.
Montreal’s legionnaire mutants who were maimed and injured protecting the world against the type of Droolpoop actions the world had witnessed were in an uproar. Droolpoop faced their wrath. Why had their comrades died in World War Two? Defending democracy against tyrants who used brute force to silence opposition. Droolpoop’s actions were an affront to those killed and wounded! These vets, many of the hospitalized, were a weak political group and at the mercy of hospital administrators. Hollywood had in essence mocked their experiences in war movies full of clean kills never showing the severed heads, chunks of flesh hanging on trees, botched field hospital operations, the horrible bloodcurdling screams of the wounded and starving and terrified civilians.
Gathering in a mass force they walked, limped and wheeled themselves to Montreal City Hall where they smashed windows and splattered the exterior with red paint. Paddy wagons arrived carting away the vets.
The vets at their Queen Fairy Hospital too ill to participate in the actions at City Hall trashed their wards and one vet bit off the finger of an orderly who called the agitators “commie assholes”. Doctors and nurses responded to the situation with sedatives.
Meanwhile Droolpoop was sitting at the opening ceremonies beaming like a peacock sitting beside the Queen of England. It was a moment he dreamt about all his life. Mutants distributing pamphlets outside the stadium where the opening ceremonies were taking place were quickly arrested for “disturbing the peace”. Since when is one arrested for handing out pamphlets critical of politicians? None were granted bail and trial dates were extended past the conclusion of the Olympics. This was a horrific sham on democracy and the legal system! Every day pamphlets were handed out more mutants were arrested. All charges were quashed on an expedited appeal and the mutants were set free. Another blow to Droolpoop as he sat with the Queen of England eating fresh burgers made with American Mustang horsemeat!
One hears often that Pinot Noir is a “heartbreak grape” due to its thin skin making it more susceptible to rot and frost. Canada’s Baco Noir in my experience might deserve the moniker of a heartbreak grape because much of it is of poor quality. Pinotage from South Africa can also be dicey. I have had some superbly aged Pinotage but on the other hand have had a few bottles that revealed a rubber tire smelling wine. It’s been a while since I had a Pinotage so perhaps South African winemakers have cleaned up their game.
We try a Pinotage called “The Bean” from the Western Cape of South Africa. No this is not some gimmicky flavoured wine tainted by coffee beans! No it’s flavour “creates an unusual expression for wine, with deep mocha and roasted coffee bean flavours derived from French oak” claims its label.
I have often said that many South African wines have a very earthy aspect to them and this Pinotage shouts out this South African identifier on its nose. Quite frankly one might say it has a funky aroma but decant it and give it some time to breathe and that off-putting funkiness starts to dissipate giving rise to some intense blackberry, black cherry, root beer and yes a hint of espresso. Fresh air is a blessing for this wine! The funk might still be there but it has moved to a tertiary characteristic.
On the palate there are some broad based and even tannins. But there is a pervasive presence of black fruit that is well integrated into the wine creating can I say a unified taste where it is difficult to precisely identify any particular fruit. Its grippy but full of life with lots of juicy ripe fruit that is just a bit difficult to identify. While I can pick out the mocha I can’t pick out the coffee which is fine with me. I see beer infused with all sorts of fruit and coffee and being a traditionalist, I see that as a it of heresy. I certainly don’t want my wine tasting of coffee! I almost did not want to purchase the wine when I saw a coffee bean on its label. There may be many wine drinkers sharing my reluctance. I note as well the oak influence is minimal and my guess this is not new French oak.
You want my opinion. This is a slightly quirky but perfectly drinkable on its own. In its soul I see it as proudly South African. Unfortunately, I have not been in South Africa so I have not seen Pinotage in the context of South African food. Domestically I say good with beef or for vegheads a Mushroom Wellington that is devilishly time consuming to make but worth the effort.
You can drink now and enjoy but I think this might improve in the next two years so consume by the end of 2024.
(The Bean 2020 Coffee Pinotage, Ross Family Vineyards, Stellenbosch, South Africa, $15.95, Liquor Control Board of Ontario #251165, 750 ml, 14.5%, Robert K. Stephen A Little Birdie Told Me So Rating 91/100).
On Earth Montenez was in a lonely state as some of his closest friends and his brother Squid had left for Zortixia several weeks ago in their mission to bring down Redbeard the evil ruler of Zorollia. His sagging spirits were boosted after being contacted by Squid who informed him of the downfall of Redbeard and the election of Ergot as the President of Zorollia and that Garth Reseudo had been appointed Zorollian ambassador to Zortixia.
The 1976 Montreal Olympics were to start today. Bertie Foonbean had done his best to organize mutant protests against the Montreal Olympics but lacked the energy and drive of Squid. The mutants had published mountains of pamphlets in 12 different languages and had been distributed at Dorval International Airport and many hotels in the Montreal area. Several artistic mutants had created an art exhibition on the grounds of McSwill University patiently explaining the meaning of their art to curious onlookers. Most of the pieces were uncomplimentary of the lavish Olympic expenditures whilst mases of humanity were living and dying in the gutters in poverty. Many pieces criticized the mayor of Montreal Jean Droolpoop and his expensive and grandiose plans. Droolpoop, never one to appreciate attacks on his imperialness called the art exhibit an act of “civil disobedience”. Droolpoop was the city and to criticize him was interpreted as a slap in the face of all inhabitants of his fiefdom. This disgraceful exhibition must be squashed and complete moral obedience restored.
Droolpoop’s slum clearance, rather relocation of the impoverished to distant suburbs, had progressed on time and on budget. Droolpoop’s estimation of the cost to the city of Montreal of the Olympic Games had only been off by several hundred million dollars. Montreal would look so much prettier in all the camera lenses of the tourists. The tension of holding the Olympic Games was taking its toll on Droolpoop and the mutants were driving him over the edge. Why were the groups such as the mutants attacking him now? Why didn’t these narrow-minded fools see the benefits to Montreal from the Olympics? There was a call throughout even the established media outlets to establish an investigative committee to determine why the Olympics were massively over budget. Some of these media outlets were calling him an incompetent administrator and some were brazened enough to call him a liar. His contractor friends were becoming so concerned they even replaced the tainted horsemeat used for burgers at Olympic venues with untainted Mustang horse meat that otherwise would have been converted into dogfood. If this criticism continued what would those rich tourists who could afford such a touristic trip think of the city? The Olympic games would make Montreal a truly international city so what was a little overspend of millions of dollars! The world would enjoy a non-stop party. All the citizens of Montreal, except those relocated during the slum clearance project, would financially and morally benefit from the Olympic games. What would happen to international peace if the Olympic games did not take place! These Marxist mutants were easy targets in comparison to powerful and established media outlets. There was only one logical alternative!
I have been invited to the 108th Grey Cup in Hamilton of Ontario on December 12. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has invited me as his guest along with Dylan the Westie, Bob and Fay. We start off with high tea at the regal Imperial Hotel in Hamilton for High Tea with Justin and Sophie Trudeau and their children. We will then visit the dressing room of the Hamilton Tiger Cats and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers who are the teams competing for the Grey Cup. At the beginning of the game Bob and Fay will walk out to centre field and we dogs will sit by Lola Larue as she sings the national anthem of Canada. Then Dylan the Westie and I will will take a small flag and run around the field. Dylan the Westie will carry the Hamilton Tiger Cats flag and me the Winnipeg Blue Bombers flag. Dylan the Westie carried the gay pride flag once at the Gay Pride Day parade in Toronto years ago and says it will be easy. We will be practicing on Saturday afternoon.
Bob and Dylan the Westie have watched almost every Grey Cup since Dylan the Westie was born 13 years ago. There was always a small family party with potato chips, cheesies, BBQ wings, fajitas and corn chips and salsa and of course beer.
Bob loves the Hamilton Tiger Cats and is excited but he has struck a deal that the 50/50 draw charitable cut will go to Reggie’s Dogs Foundation.
I will be watched on national television by millions and 25,000 noisy and excited fans most likely in winter conditions. Canada as been suffering with COVID for too long and although I am very nervous it is time for Canada to party like its 1967! Bob has promised that Dylan the Westie and I can split a cheeseburger and a few French Fries at the game. WE DOGS LOVE MEAT! And yes GO BOMBERS GO!
Bob also says to us dogs he has a big secret. It is a BIG SECRET and it involves Joe and Jill Biden! What could it be?
I have travelled the world helping to promote the Disney film “Reggie the Egyptian Rescue Dog”, receiving a Nobel Peace Prize and meeting the Pope and all sorts of politicos. I think Dylan the Westie and I have peed and pooped all over the world. But at times it is a blur and it is always very tiring and sometimes stressful. But I have never been on vacation! Well Bob and Fay decided during this silly COVID mess to take Dylan the Westie and I on a real vacation. No paparazzi, no television shows or hours long photo shoots. And we are going to Niagara-on-the-Lake to a fancy inn called the Oban Inn and Spa.
It is about 90 minutes away from Toronto on some busy highways but I love a good car ride especially when I have something to look forward to! Off the highway we had to stop at a drawbridge and watch a huge ship pass through the Welland Canal. A massive ship! Then the bridge lowers and we cross it. I am not at Niagara-on-the-Lake but am so excited already to see that ship! As we pass through some town called St Catherine’s I think it is called, the scenery gets very nice and I feel like I am in the country.
I hear Bob reciting the name of the wineries we pass. Humans like to drink wine and Bob writes about wine as a hobby and he says this and that winery make good or mediocre wine. There are so many wineries here!
We arrive at the Oban Inn and Spa which is a small but really comfy and they have a couple of dog friendly rooms which have a nice backyard and Dylan the Westie and I go for a badly needed pee there when we arrive. It is so peaceful and quiet here and after checking in we go for a walk along the waterfront and meet a Westie called Tucker. It is December and it is cold but Dylan the Westie and I have coats that Fay has given us with fancy collars and leashes so we are prancing and bobbing around like kings oblivious to the cold. Dylan the Westie even has a Gucchi sweater! Fay loves her fashion!
Dylan the Westie at The Oban Inn and Spa: Photo Fotini Stephen
We are tired from the trip and our waterfront walk so Bob and Fay decide they will eat in our room and Bob goes to pick up a pizza at some bistro called Bistro Six One and some wine as after all we are in wine country. Bob is tired from the stressful drive so he sits outside and has a cold local beer from Oast called “Farmbrew” while we go outside and sniff and run about. The pizza smells so good! And after our kibble Dylan the Westie and I have a small piece of pizza and is it ever grand!!!! Bob has a glass of Malivoire Farmstead Gamay and Fay a glass of Malivoire Lady Bug Rosé. They really like it and say we are having a special dinner tomorrow night with Martin Malivoire and his wife Moira Saganski. Bob knows Moira from when he was a lawyer and helped her set up something called mutual funds. It has been at least a decade since they have met but Moira liked Bob’s book about me and they reconnected on something called Bookface? So Bob and Moira decided to arrange a dinner. You humans are strange forgetting and remembering about each other!
We have a very good sleep but Dylan the Westie barked to go pee at 4 in the morning. He had taken his monthly anti-parasitical medication before we left which makes him tired and very thirsty and what water comes in must go out. I am sleepy but go out with Dylan the Westie to keep him company and since I am out in the backyard have a pee myself!
In the morning Bob figures out the coffee machine and makes some coffee for Fay and grabs a tea and pastry a few minutes from the Oban and we are off to Niagara Falls! I have seen the Falls on a BBC documentary but seeing them up close is terrifying and exhilarating! The roar. The mist. The power. I will not forget this wonder ever! Then we go to the Botanical Gardens for short walk and stop at various scenic lookouts and see the power of the river.
Bob and Dylan the Westie at an Historic Fort at Niagara-on-the-Lake: Photo Fotini Stephen
We come home and Bob tells us there is going to be a short reception at the Oban restaurant with local dignitaries wanting to meet me, Bob, Fay and Dylan the Westie. Bob had insisted all the wines being served are Malivoire wines because as he said, “They make damn good wine!” Fay loves the Moira Chardonnay and Bob says the Analog red is amazing. Thank goodness there are some children there and we get lots of pets. And Bob slips us a bit of delicious crab cakes. Who is the chef at this place? He knows his food for sure.
We have an hour before dinner with Moira and Martin so Bob and Fay catch up with their phones and e-mail. You humans spend too much time looking at your phones! I have seen it all over the world. More than a dozen times I have seen couples at restaurants not talking to each other and instead looking at their phones? Bob and Fay never do that.
The restaurant has been closed to the public just for our special dinner so Martin and Moira arrive and Dylan the Westie and I are allowed to stay at the restaurant. Bob is right about Moira when he says she is friendly, easy going and a very nice person. They have a dog and Bob apologizes for not saying to Moira and Martin that they could have brought their dog Penny a super cute girl dog called Penny. She is a mini golden doodle.
Bob meets Martin Malivoire for the first time. Martin is a “special effects” guy having done special effects for over 300 films including one of my favourites “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”. Bob and Martin talk a lot about wine. And Martin aside from being a winemaker is a pilot and flies a helicopter to create a downdraft to scare away robins so they will not eat his grapes. Boy I sure hope I can go on a helicopter ride with Martin one day.
The food comes and there are crab cakes, shrimp and scallops, chicken with mushroom and truffle risotto and confit of duck. Moira gives us a small piece of duck. We dogs LOVE MEAT! And boy it is really fantastic!
Disney will soon be releasing an animated sequel to “Reggie the Egyptian Rescue Dog” and Marvel Entertainment is thinking of creating a live action film about me which will involve special effects. Bob would like to get Martin involved in that project which is a couple of years away. Moira has suggested perhaps a Reggie’s Rosé might be in the cards with all proceeds going to Reggie’s Dog’s Foundation. She has also suggested there be a Dylan the Westie White Wine and even a PPG (Penny’s Pinot Gris). Man we are going places us dogs!
We are finished the dinner and dessert are you kidding! I like Martin and Moira. They have had and are having great success in their life but are down to earth people unlike so many Hollywood types and politicians I have met. I feel so comfortable with them like I do with Jill and Joe Biden and Mr. Gordon Lightfoot.
We say good-bye and I truly hope we can all meet again and meet their dog Penny. I wonder does she drink wine instead of water being a Beamsville dog!
After dinner Bob and Fay watch the CBC news and more unrelenting COVID crap.
It has been a long day but you know I feel like I am on my first real vacation! Good food, interesting people and a nice quiet sleep without planes flying overhead. After the duck confit and crab cakes I am so sleepy and doze off missing most of the news.
If you want to see the Malivoire website go ahead. Malivoire is available in some states in the United States https://malivoire.com/
There are countless states in the United States that produce wine but what we are flooded with here in Ontario is mostly Californian. Pity.
The Washington I am discussing is not the home of the January 6th coup attempt. That was Washington in the District of Columbia. This is Washington State south of British Columbia in Canada. Although across from D.C. is the state of Virginia with a wine industry.
We see Chateau Ste. Michelle wines on occasion at the Liquor Control Board of Ontario and also wines from Washington’s Columbia Crest which is Washington’s largest winery with close to 8 million cases sold a year.
Why not try the Chateau Ste. Michelle 2020 Columbia Valley Chardonnay?
It has a light gold colour. As with many Chardonnays it is apple and pear on the nose. There is also some guava, honey and cantaloupe. There is a good density of aromas. On the palate there is a bit of heat not surprising considering the 14% alcohol. There is some tangerine, vanilla ice cream and baked apple on the palate. If you like a forceful and even aggressive Chardonnay here is an example. Yes the acids are in check as well as the oak but it has more power than character. I would say having had crab cakes with a spicy sauce recently at the Oban Inn and Spa in Niagara-on-the-Lake this wine would have tamed the spice but it might have overpowered my main a Chicken Supreme with a mushroom and truffle risotto. The finish is short and nondescript. Not mincing words but a ho-hum entry level Chardonnay.
(Chateau Ste. Michelle 2020 Columbia Valley Chardonnay, Chateau Ste. Michelle, Paterson & Woodinville, Washington, $19.95, Liquor Control Board of Ontario # 232439, 14%, 750 mL, Robert K. Stephen A Little Birdie Told Me So Rating 84/100).
Next up is a sparkling white from Domaine Ste. Michelle made by the traditional method which is the way Champagne is made. On the nose loads of pear, baked apple, lime and guava with a sweet spot right in the middle like a bit of honey. On the palate a good cleansing bite with good minerality. There is pear, applesauce with a hint of honey so it doesn’t come across as an overly dry Brut making it a good match for Greek Roast chicken with roast potatoes cooked with a drizzle of olive oil, freshly squeezed lemon and oregano. This is a sparkler with character and something a bit different being the influence of honey on the palate and on the aromatics. A nice way to bring in the New Year!
(Domaine Ste. Michelle Brut Columbia Valley (Non-Vintage), Domaine Ste. Michelle, Paterson, Washington, $19.95, Liquor Control Board of Ontario # 557637, 750 mL, 11.5%, Robert K. Stephen A Little Birdie Told Me So Rating 90/100).
November 26, 2021 Gatineau, Quebec Employment and Social Development Canada
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted a number of issues facing Canadians in their workplaces. Too many Canadians have been forced to choose between staying home when they are sick or being able to afford rent and groceries. Too many health care workers, those who assist them and Canadians seeking medical care have experienced or feared intimidation while attempting to provide or access health services.
Today, the Honourable Seamus O’Regan Jr., Minister of Labour, and the Honourable David Lametti, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, introduced legislation that would amend the Canada Labour Code to provide ten days of paid sick leave per year to workers in the federally regulated private sector. The legislation would also amend the Criminal Code to enhance protections for health care workers and to ensure everyone has safe and unobstructed access to health services.
Access to paid sick leave is key to Canada’s economic recovery and to strengthening the social safety net that Canadians rely on. In 2019, the Government put in place three days of paid personal leave that federally regulated workers could use if they were sick. During the pandemic, the Government introduced the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit for workers without employer-paid sick leave. Now, moving forward with ten days of permanent paid sick leave would protect workers’ incomes, jobs, and health as we finish the fight against COVID-19.
The Government will be engaging in consultations with federally regulated employers and workers towards the implementation of this legislation. Additionally, the Government will convene provinces, territories and other interested stakeholders to develop a national action plan to legislate paid sick leave across the country, while respecting provincial-territorial jurisdiction and clearly recognizing the unique needs of small business owners.
Everyone deserves to be safe when seeking or providing health services. Health care workers and those who assist them must be able to perform their duties without fear of threats or intimidation, and everyone must be able to access medical care safely. The proposed amendments to the Criminal Code also respond to longstanding concerns voiced by medical professionals, such as those who provide abortion services, about their ability to work in an environment free from violence and threats.
The amendments would create a new intimidation offence to protect health care workers and persons seeking health services. This means that individuals who use fear to stop a health care worker or those who assist them from performing their duties or who prevent a person from obtaining health services could be charged with the proposed new offence and, if found guilty, be subject to a penalty of up to 10 years in prison.
The amendments would also create a specific offence that would prohibit obstructing any person from accessing health facilities. In addition, new sentencing provisions would be created that would require courts to consider more serious penalties for offenders who target health care workers engaged in their duties or who impede others from obtaining health services.
The Government of Canada is committed to upholding and defending the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, including the freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly. Canadians’ freedom to voice their concerns and protest in a safe and peaceful manner, as well as workers’ freedom to take labour action, would be respected by these proposed changes to Canada’s criminal law.
Quotes
“Canadians shouldn’t have to choose between staying home when they’re sick and putting food on the table. Paid sick leave will protect workers and their families, protect their jobs, and protect their workplaces. It’s an important step in the fight against COVID-19 and a necessary addition to the social safety net that organized labour has been advocating for.” – The Honourable Seamus O’Regan Jr., Minister of Labour
“No one should be intimidated for providing or seeking health care and everyone should be able to access the care they need without undue obstruction. This type of behaviour is completely unacceptable, particularly during a global pandemic where access to health care services is essential for Canadian society to recover and thrive. Today, we are delivering on an important commitment we made to Canadians.” – The Honourable David Lametti, P.C., Q.C., M.P. Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Quick facts
In 2019, Canadian workers took an average of 8.5 days of leave for illness and disability.
The federally regulated sector is comprised of workplaces from a broad range of industries, including interprovincial air, rail, road, and marine transportation, banks, postal and courier services, among others.
There are approximately 18,500 employers in federally regulated industries, including federal Crown corporations that together employ 955,000 people (about 6% of all employees in Canada). The vast majority (87%) of these people work in companies with 100 or more employees.
The pandemic has exacerbated the already difficult work conditions experienced by health care workers, in which they have faced concerning levels of violence and threats of violence.
A 2019 report conducted by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health entitled, Violence Facing Health Care Workers in Canada (HESA Report), recently documented that health care workershave a four times higher rate of workplace violence than any other profession, despite most of this violence being unreported.
A Statistics Canada survey, Mental health among health care workers in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic, February 2021, revealed that 7 in 10 health care workers reported worsening mental health due to the pandemic.
The Government will be engaging in consultations with federally regulated employers and workers
I am awakened at 4 in the morning by the Penniless Pensioner phoning from Charles De Gaulle Airport in Paris and clearly he was a bit shaken up. He complained very loudly at a dinner that his beloved Tatiana was nowhere in sight and that he was upset with the Russian organizers. After dinner two burly Russian men came to his table and said please come with us as the “director” wanted to clear things up.
Clearing things up involved the burly men throwing him against the wall and told him to shut his mouth and that he would be taken for a “drive” in the morning. PP had posted some nasty comments on Facebook accusing the Russian organizers of kidnapping his beloved Tatiana. Bad move!
PP was escorted to his room and one of the burly men stood guard outside his hotel room door. PP offered the guard some vodka then some more and then the rest of the bottle laced with some sleeping meds PP uses to sleep on long plane trips. The burly guard then passed out and PP headed for the Kiev airport and caught a flight to anywhere out of the Ukraine which happened to be an Air France flight to Paris. And he was boarding a flight back to Toronto in a few minutes. He was very nervous he was being tailed. He bemoaned the kidnapping of his Tatiana and vowed to return to the Ukraine to find his true love. He did like a sparkling wine KrimSekt Semi-Sweet Red he bought at Kiev Airport duty free store for $5 and I recall seeing it on the LCBO shelves so I decided to buy a bottle and give it a try.
Trying the KrimSekt Red Semi-Sweet I think it looks like Baby Duck! A big nose of black cherry, cassis and butter tart. On the palate some bitter black cherry which is off putting indeed. And it seems there is no real sweetness to it. It also it somewhat tannic. This blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Saperavi should best stay on the shelves. Stay away from this bubbly.
(KrimSekt 2019 Red Semi-Sweet, Artwinery, Bakhmut, Ukraine, $19.95, Liquor Control Board of Ontario # 141655, 750 mL,12.5%, Robert K. Stephen A Little Birdie Told Me So Rating 65/100).
Although many of you humans are kind and compassionate towards us dogs there are many cruel and nasty ones that hurt, abuse, kill, ignore and try to intimidate us. Why are you humans so evil? We surrendered to your care thousands of years ago to protect, hunt with you and serve you. We are compassionate dogs, police and army dogs, narcotic sniffers, animal herders and guide dogs for the blind. But pardon me so many of you humans are ASSHOLES. We have a social contract with you humans. We want respect, love, decency and care. But some of you are worse than the animals that you think are below you. You beat us. You eat us. You abuse us. You kill us. You ignore us. You chain us. You starve us. What is wrong with you? I can only hope when your time is done on earth when you go to the land beyond that Allah, Jesus or Buddha or whatever God you believe in will treat you as you deserve to be treated. Some of you humans are so low you make me sick and angry. But most of you give us the respect we deserve. Thank you and may you be blessed.
You humans are often idiotic killing each other in the names of Allah or Christ. Terrorist bombings in the name of Allah. Who perverted Allah’s name to justify such atrocities? Who sanctions drone attacks and chlorine bombings in Syria? You humans say it’s a dog-eat-dog world but believe you me we dogs would not do with each other what you humans do to each other. It is bad enough what you do to us dogs but what you do to each other makes me sick. I often put my paws over my eyes when I watch the news with Fay because you humans who were given the earth to prosper destroy it and yourselves. Dare I say it but could it be if dogs ruled the world it would be a better place. No not a “Planet of the Dogs” but a caring and compassionate world.
Of course, I could devise a long list of what makes me sad and angry but I am too sad and angry to continue. This plague has been a blessing for us dogs! You must stay with us all day many of you. No dog walkers and hours of loneliness. If matters ever return to “normal” many of us will not know what it is like to be left alone for so long!
Of course, dogs do not get COVID! Perhaps we are not so inferior as many of you think. Perhaps it will soon be “Planet of the Dogs”?
Tomorrow Dylan the Westie and I are going to Niagara-On-the-Lake for three nights. This will be our second overnight trip there for us. I love Niagara Falls and especially when Bob holds me and Dylan the Westie over the rails looking at the Falls. I love the walk along the lake but we need our coats at it is winter.
We are all looking forward to this adventure. I love Niagara Falls and Bob and Fay may pick up some pizza and we will get some delicious chunks.
As far as Campanian white wines go on my last visit to the Greater Naples Area in pre plague days as a media guest I think that red wines predominated over white wines. However the Greater Naples area hugs the ocean which in many dishes demands a white wine. Not all depending how the pescatarian dishes are prepared. Fish prepared with a tomato sauce or a robust flavoured grilled octopus might suit a Barbera, Piedirossa or a Lacryma di Christi red. As my chef friend in Rome, Quirino, said, “It all depends on the sauce!” A great chef with his astounding Eggplant Tower! Sauce was magic to Quirino and pastry that was all a matter of chemicals. A man with a bias perhaps.
As the name of the grape has Greco in it is thought that it was brought to Campania by the Greeks although there seems little evidence it exists in Greece today. Historically the Greeks have had a presence in Southern Italy. For example, there are remote Sicilian villages where a Greek dialect is still spoken. While the Romans had a vast empire the Greeks did as well. Enough of history. Although take the local train from Naples to Pompeii and there is a town on the way with a Greco in its name and the HBO Italian series “My Brilliant Friend” the main character, living in a suburb of Naples, Helena has a surname of Greco.
What about a La Fortezza Sannio Greco? Sannio is a gorgeous town not far from Naples. On my last trip the mayor of Sannio wanted to meet us journalists to give a brief talk on the town. Although I love the architecture and vibes of Naples Sannio is on my bucket list to stay at for a few days and to discover it and tell you about it would be a dream. Wine writers, at least some of them, have curiosity that goes beyond wine and links wine to localities and their cuisine and culture.
The wine has rather a tropical nose with pineapple, guava, persimmons and tangerine. On the palate the pineapple and guava continues along with some pear and a strange but likeable twist of peameal bacon and ginger. The acidity is muted. The finish is gentle. It would suit simply prepared chicken and fish and a white Napoli pizza. There are too many acidic, washed-out wines in today’s wine world but this Campanian is not one of them. I think I had it on my media tour with an asparagus tart served with a fresh pea puree. Where else but in Italy could you have such seasonal delight?
As a last comment I have been on a few European wine tours for the media but the Italians often conducted their tastings with food whereas with the Portuguese it was almost always food after the tasting. Interesting difference? To me it cements the feeling that food and wine are inseparable and yes that cuisine and wine form a symbiotic relationship in Italy. And I see that trend here with the Italian Trade Commission events that have always ensured a good supply of food with wine tastings and have of late been emphasizing Italian food products with wine taking a secondary place. More on this with my upcoming articles on Italian olive oil tastings!
(La Fortezza Sannio Greco 2018 DOC, La Fortezza, Torrecuso, Italy, $15.95, Liquor Control Board of Ontario # 17744, 750 mL, 13%, Robert K. Stephen A Little Birdie Told Me So Rating 89/100).
A Bird's Eye View of Fashion, Food, Travel, Culture, Beverage and Curiosity 