I recall a few years ago while reviewing The Ritz-Carlton Central Park South in New York City discussing wine with their head sommelier. She indicated some weariness with assessing vintage years and wine classifications. Her focus was simple and that was knowing what customers appreciated and building on that if the customer willingness was there.Continue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: The Terror of Terroir”
Tag Archives: Travel
“Travels to a Different Time” :17July2005 Estoril, Portugal: Visit to Cascais and Sintra
Alex is flying back to Toronto from Lisbon today. Breakfast is so “dignified” here. Low voices, Formal settings and service. Might I say “stuffy”? A tremendous buffet breakfast. Years ago while travelling in a just opening up Greece I was starving most of the day particularly with such meagre breakfasts. This breakfast would have beenContinue reading ““Travels to a Different Time” :17July2005 Estoril, Portugal: Visit to Cascais and Sintra”
RKS Literature: The Splendid Parisian Air (James Baldwin)
“…it is perfectly possible to be enamoured of Paris while remaining totally indifferent, or even hostile to the French. And this is made possible by the one person in Paris whom the legend seems least not to affect, who is not living it all, that is, the Parisian himself. Him with his impenetrable politesse, andContinue reading “RKS Literature: The Splendid Parisian Air (James Baldwin)”
“Reggie the Egyptian Rescue Dog”: The Final Cut: Bloodbath on the Beaches of Darwin! Fatalities, Missing Limbs and Trauma: Chapter Sixty Six (66)
The Ratpack have braved dangers of all sorts but frankly we are terrified of Salties as Winston in “1984” was terrified of bright lights. In fact we are scared shitless. Fast, unpredictable and jaws that can gobble up and swallow a dog whole. Sunday is the crew’s day of rest. We usually hang around theContinue reading ““Reggie the Egyptian Rescue Dog”: The Final Cut: Bloodbath on the Beaches of Darwin! Fatalities, Missing Limbs and Trauma: Chapter Sixty Six (66)”
RKS 2024 Wine: Côtes-du-Rhône Preferred to Côtes du Moan
You won’t be emitting moans when imbibing most Côtes du Rhônes. That is not to say you won’t encounter tastelessness or excess acidity but rarely. Expect Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cinsault in the mix for a Côtes-du-Rhône red. We try La Croix de Beauliac Creation 2021 Côtes-du-Rhône. 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah. Aroma: With aContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Côtes-du-Rhône Preferred to Côtes du Moan”
“Travels to a Different Time” :17July2005 Estoril, Portugal: A Visit to Guincho Beach: A Real-Life Rick’s Cafe
Packed up the Megane and off southbound to Estoril. Uneventful drive although finding the entrance to the Hotel Palacio was a bit tricky. Alex and Andrew had a suite beside ours. Two levels and three bathrooms in each suite. We are right beside the Orson Welles Suite. He stayed here when in Estoril. We faceContinue reading ““Travels to a Different Time” :17July2005 Estoril, Portugal: A Visit to Guincho Beach: A Real-Life Rick’s Cafe”
RKS 2024 Wine: Greek Wine from Monemvasia Winery
The 2014 Monemvasia Red is a blend of 90% Agiorgitiko and 10% Mavroudi. We do see some Agiorgitiko in Canada but Mavroudi is a grape I am not familiar with. In Greek, at least that which I am familiar with, “mavros” means black. It is no surprise that Mavroudi grapes are nearly black in colour.Continue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Greek Wine from Monemvasia Winery”
“Travels to a Different Time” : 16July2005 Nazaré/Obidos/Albacoca, Portugal:
I was the first to wake up at 08:00 so while the rest of the crew was sleeping I caught up on my diary while sitting outside on the veranda overlooking the town and the ocean. Good to hear the rooster crowing as it has been sometime since I had heard that sound. In theContinue reading ““Travels to a Different Time” : 16July2005 Nazaré/Obidos/Albacoca, Portugal:”
“Reggie the Egyptian Rescue Dog”: The Final Cut: Reggie is Under the Spell of Nicole Kidman! Chapter Sixty Two (62)
On our flight to Darwin, Australia from Toronto we watched 6 Nicole Kidman movies and that lady can act. Bob says she has won an Academy Award. My favourite film is “Eyes Wide Shut” which took two years of filming and was it Kubrick’s last film? She is good looker too! And I am goingContinue reading ““Reggie the Egyptian Rescue Dog”: The Final Cut: Reggie is Under the Spell of Nicole Kidman! Chapter Sixty Two (62)”
RKS 2024 Wine: Argentinian Malbec Exhaustion
Tired of Argentinian Malbec in your red wine glass. Is there hope for Argentinian Criolla? The wine we are trying is Criolla Grande and it has a bad rep. In Karen MacNeil’s “Wine Bible” (second edition) the grape is described as follows: “A widely planted if undistinguished, pinkish-skinned grape related to other criollas, but itsContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Argentinian Malbec Exhaustion”
A Bird's Eye View of Fashion, Food, Travel, Culture, Beverage and Curiosity 