BC Business
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The Hoggan Taste Test The Challenge: To find a wine under $30 that you could take to a house party (or serve to a crowd) without offending the guests or your palate. The Sommelier: Igal Amsallem (ambiancevins.com), whom I asked to recommend some bottles, all available at Liberty Wine Merchants.
The Hoggan Taste Test The Challenge: To find a wine under $30 that you could take to a house party (or serve to a crowd) without offending the guests or your palate.The Sommelier: Igal Amsallem (ambiancevins.com), whom I asked to recommend some bottles, all available at Liberty Wine Merchants.The Panel: Hoggan & Associates staffers vice-president Karen Cook, account manager Alex Chapple, executive assistant Kirsten Brynelsen, accountant Cheryl Tauber, receptionist Clarissa Bouchard and account manager Pinder Rehal. None generally pays more than $20 for wine, and none has ever spent more than $35. Aside from a Hoggan “tasting” most Fridays, with a red and a white from my own collection, none claims a trained palate (although one – not to be named – admits to having picked up the sommelier from a fine restaurant while on a “girls weekend” in Napa).
The Nominees:
The Verdict: Sadly, the Les Charmes (the best-selling white burgundy in the U.S.) was dismissed as a bad bottle (“It smells like gym socks.” / “Did you say ‘Jim’s socks’?” / “No, g-y-m socks!”). The Firestick was too “rough,” “flinty” and acidic, and the Campogrande was dropped for its aftertaste. Everyone liked Ganton and Larson’s “passion-fruity” Pinot Grigio and the “lighter, even fruitier” Mystic River Chardonnay.Best buy: The “smooth,” “really spicy” Ehrenfelser.Bottom Line: There are bad wines, but you could do much worse than these.
Slainte Skip the tacky green beers this St. Paddy’s Day and go for a real Irish coffee at Vancouver institution the Irish Heather. The Heather’s iconic drink features freshly brewed coffee, a heaping spoon of brown sugar and an ounce of Jameson’s or Bushmills whiskey, all carefully layered with a half inch of thick, fresh cream poured over the back of a heated spoon. Proprietor Sean Heather says real fresh cream determines an Irish coffee’s authenticity; “When properly made, you get the coolness of the cream, followed by the warmth of the coffee and then the steeliness of the whiskey.” $7, the Irish Heather GastroPub, heather.com
Slow Mo With everyone paring back on dining out, the simple, practical and economical slow cooker is growing in popularity. A noteworthy addition to the market is Cuisinart’s four-quart cooking pot. Meals can be set to cook at high, low or simmer and then remain at a warm setting for up to eight hours. Housed in a brushed stainless-steel body, the ceramic cooker is dishwasher safe and can double as a serving dish. It’s also equipped with a chrome-plated steaming rack, which easily accommodates ramekins or small pans for desserts. Cuisinart 4-quart Programmable Slow Cooker, $89.99, cuisinart.ca