Tag Archives: Robert K. Stephen

RKS 2024 Film: “The Contestant”: Can Anything Positive Emerge from Reality Television?

Inanity and reality television are bedfellows. The specialty of reality television is humiliating people for audience snickers. A prime example would be “90 Day Fiancée”. What is next “Romans Feeding Christians to the Lions: Live at the Coliseum!” It may well be that reality television was born with the Japanese television show “Denpa Shonen” specializingContinue reading “RKS 2024 Film: “The Contestant”: Can Anything Positive Emerge from Reality Television?”

PORTHEAD ALERT!  Kopke 2018 LBV

Late Bottle Vintage Port (LBV) is an affordable Port that can age well but certainly not as well as Vintage Port. For example the oldest Vintage Port I  have had was an 1867 and it still had life. The 1932 Vintage Port likewise. How about the 2018 LBV from Kopke? Aroma:  If there is oneContinue reading “PORTHEAD ALERT!  Kopke 2018 LBV”

RKS 2024 Wine: Portuguese Wines: The Way of the Dinosaur in Ontario

Over the course of 2024 a question has arisen and that is where Portuguese wines have migrated to as very few are heading into Ontario. Vintages releases of Portuguese wines at the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) have disappeared while Spanish wines “flourish” as such a term must be interpreted in the LCBO crazeContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Portuguese Wines: The Way of the Dinosaur in Ontario”

RKS 2024 Wine: Giersberger Crémant d’Alsace

Made with 80% Pinot Gris and 20% Auxerrois. While Pinot Gris is a permitted grape for Champagne Auxerrois is not. Aroma: Pear, applesauce, Granny Smith apple, mango and peach. Palate: Crisp and cutting. Granny Smith apple, kiwi, ginger with a hint of bitterness. Personality: I can’t say I am elegant as I may come onContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Giersberger Crémant d’Alsace”

RKS Literature: The Individuality of American Women (F. Scott Fitzgerald)

“The trio of women at the table were representative of the enormous flux of American life. Nicole was the granddaughter of a self-made American capitalist and the granddaughter of a Count of the House of Lippe-Weissenfeld. Mary North was the daughter of a journeyman paper hanger and a descendant of President Tyler. Rosemary was fromContinue reading “RKS Literature: The Individuality of American Women (F. Scott Fitzgerald)”

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)”