My daughter Annabel and grandson Declan
Sunday, August 23rd: Vancouver. Took my daughter Annabel to dinner at Vij. First we went for a glass of wine because the restaurant opens at 5:30 pmand we had time, we thought, to sit and chat. We arrived at the restaurant at 5:20 pm and there were some 60 people in line ahead of us. We had to wait 75 minutes for our table (no reservations at Vij, not even for the Queen of England). But so much food came around as we waited to be seated that we really didn’t have to order dinner.
West Broadway brewery sign
Monday, August 24th: Visited my ex in hospital and took her sushi and a bottle of CedarCreek Viognier 2014 (floral, peachy, full-bodied with balancing acidity – 89). In the evening I was picked up by Pam and Pat from a coffee house on West Broadway and driven to Vaughan and Marie’s for dinner. They are all members of our annual wine tour. We were joined by Carleen, who is also a Pauwels Tour alumna. Great meal of gazpacho, brisket, peaches and ice cream. The wines: Pol Roger Rose 1996, Leroy Auxey Duresses 2006, Château Beaucastel Châteauneuf du Pape 2001, Turley Petite Sirah 1994, Leonetti Cabernet Sauvignon 1995 and Niepoort 1992 Vintage Port. The evening inspired the following limerick:
What a pleasure to dine alfresco
On smoked nuts, gazpacho and pesto
Great brisket and gravy
Enough wine for a navy
But being with friends is the best-o.
Tuesday, August 25th: Picked up a sandwich at Bastardo for the Air Canada flight back to Toronto. Took a limo from the airport and arrived just in time to see Pinot the Wonderdog being picked up by Valerie (the dog sitter) to be whisked off to Innisfil for a week.
Wednesday, August 26th: A meeting with Greg Owen, who is organizing a tour of Champagne and Burgundy in October. Spent the rest of the day clearing my desk, as Deborah and I leave for four days in Quebec to do the food route. In the evening, down to Allen’s to see my friend Leonard, who is in town from Belgium. He brought with him a couple of Belgian wines, which weren’t bad at all.
Belgian red
Belgian Chardonnay
