Tag Archives: Robert K. Stephen

RKS 2024 Wine: A Casa-Dea Rosé from the County

In Ontario when we speak of wine from “The County” we mean Prince Edward County. It is approximately two hours drive from Toronto when the traffic is good which it rarely is. There are over 40 wineries in The County which is the land of second homes of the bourgeoisie of Toronto. But is alsoContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: A Casa-Dea Rosé from the County”

RKS Literature: “The Harvard Manner” (F. Scott Fitzgerald)

“McKisco’s contacts with the princely classes in America had impressed upon him their uncertain and fumbling snobbery, their delight in ignorance and their deliberate rudeness, all lifted from the English with no regard paid to factors that make English philistinism and rudeness purposeful, and applied in a land where a little knowledge and civility buyContinue reading “RKS Literature: “The Harvard Manner” (F. Scott Fitzgerald)”

RKS 2024 Wine: Hosmer 2022 Semi-Dry Riesling from Cayuga Lake in New York’s Finger Lakes: Exceptional! Stupendous!

I encountered this Riesling sitting on a beautiful Great Gatsby deck in Aurora, New York overlooking sunny Cayuga Lake two weeks ago. I brought back two bottles to Toronto. A magical setting and a magical wine I thought or was it just the vista and a beautiful June afternoon? No way! The wine may beContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Hosmer 2022 Semi-Dry Riesling from Cayuga Lake in New York’s Finger Lakes: Exceptional! Stupendous!”

RKS Literature: Americans Can’t Out Fornicate Everybody (J.P. Donleavy)

“Do me a favour. See if there are any jobs open for lavatory attendants in London and I’ll come back. But in closing I want you to remember this, that this is America and we out-produce, out-manufacture, out-fight and out-screw the rest of the world but the latter is elusive.” J.P. Donleavy, “The Ginger Man”,Continue reading “RKS Literature: Americans Can’t Out Fornicate Everybody (J.P. Donleavy)”

RKS Literature: The Life of an Irish Actress (J.P. Donleavy)

“Mary an actress. Dreadful pity. I’ve got to do something about it. I’m to blame, may have even put the idea into her dark head. If she goes to fat they’ll fire her. I believe she’ll screw her way to stardom. Pole by pole. Like others do in marriage. And some to poverty, fewer toContinue reading “RKS Literature: The Life of an Irish Actress (J.P. Donleavy)”

RKS 2024 Wine: Hosmer 2021 Cabernet Franc-Lemberger from Cayuga Lake, New York

Cabernet Franc is a very successful grape in Ontario, perhaps its strongest red grape. Lemberger is somewhat of an unknown. I have yet to see Lemberger wine grown and sold as wine in Ontario. But there is plenty of it in the Finger Lakes. Hosmer has decided to blend Cabernet Franc with Lemberger. Fifty percentContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Hosmer 2021 Cabernet Franc-Lemberger from Cayuga Lake, New York”

RKS Literature: All Your Doctor Wants is to Take a Peek!

“And these doctors too. Once you let them get in these white coats and hold you by the wrist they want to tap you on the chest. Then they want to see in the mouth. Later they put you on the table and go to the cabinet for the knife. They say they just wantContinue reading “RKS Literature: All Your Doctor Wants is to Take a Peek!”

RKS 2024 Film: “Last Summer” (L’été dernier): Lust Triumphs Over Hypocrisy, False Morals and Rationality

“Last Summer” makes you want to cringe and shout, “Stop you fools!” We are introduced to Anne (Léa Drucker) as a lawyer counselling a minor client about the non-consensual sex she has suffered. Tell the truth she advises. The judge is well aware of the games defence counsel plays Anne says. Anne represents minors. AnneContinue reading “RKS 2024 Film: “Last Summer” (L’été dernier): Lust Triumphs Over Hypocrisy, False Morals and Rationality”

RKS Literature: Not Wanting to be Caught by Anyone (J.P. Donleavy)

“I don’t want to be caught by anybody. Nor imprisoned or put down. In England they put a rope around your neck and let you go, whoops. Just across the channel they hoist that thing, shined and sharpened and tell you lay your sylph-like thing in there. I don’t know why I am so terrifiedContinue reading “RKS Literature: Not Wanting to be Caught by Anyone (J.P. Donleavy)”

RKS Literature: “The Irish and Their Children” (J.P. Donleavy)

“The Irish feel that children are brought down on them by the wrath of God for screwing. All you hear if it weren’t for you kids life would be rosy and we could have a good time, But we worked and slaved ourselves to the bone to give you a little more than we hadContinue reading “RKS Literature: “The Irish and Their Children” (J.P. Donleavy)”