Gas prices rise in lock step... again. · Tuesday December 12, 2006 by colin newell
Ok. If you live in Victoria B.C. Canada, you know this:
When gas prices rise, they go up all at the same time.
Lock step.
Why?
It is because the supply of gas in Victoria is controlled by the criminal underworld.
That is right.
Gangsters.
That no one (the government included) can touch.
Prices in Victoria are generally higher than anywhere else in North America. And they always go up to the same price at the exact same time.
Because all the stations in Victoria are influenced by criminal elements.
Call it price fixing. It is what it is.
We are at the mercy of oil companies and banks.
They make huge profits at our expense.
And we take it.
Criminals.
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CD Audio versus Data rip-off at London Drugs · Monday December 11, 2006 by colin newell
I have been working on an audio project benefiting the Duncan B.C. Food bank.
Using MY own materials, equipment and audio sources.
To benefit the hungry.
Seems to be working…
Except.
That I bought a 30-unit spindle of CDs at London Drugs.
For 13 dollars (amongst other things because it is impossible to shop at London Drugs and get out for less than 50$
Anyhow. Checked the bill when I got out:
13$ for 30 blank CDs.
PLUS 23$ for “Audio Levy”
Apparently the CD label has the word “audio” on it as opposed to “data” – it is all in the label you know.
And the money-hit on each unit was77 cents for each CD because it has “Audio” printed on it.
My mistake.
London Drugs, Victoria’s BAD.
Now I have to brave the weather and go back.
And then go somewhere where I wont get ripped off.
Because, you know… It is food out of peoples mouthes.
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Dale's One of a Grind Bistro · Tuesday December 5, 2006 by colin newell
Dale and family run a one of a kind bistro – cafe on Oak Bay Avenue.
One of a Grind is one of a kind.
In over 20 years of cruising cafes and bistros from Coast to Coast in this great country, I have seen it all and tasted it all.
Photo left – Former owner of One of a Grind Bistro, Dale Manason… from 4 years ago when he still owned O.O.A.G. Bistro – new owners now.
It takes a special something to create the down-home comfort of the One of a Grind. Dale and daughter (and son too I think…) put in regular shifts here Monday through Saturday on Oak Bay avenue just South of Richmond Avenue… technically still in Victoria proper.
The transition to Oak Bay takes place at, get this, the corner of Oak Bay Avenue and Foul Bay road.
Foul Bay road… now there is another storey.
Ok, once again, I digress.
Dale Manason and Co. run the One of a Grind Bistro with a basic and fresh is good approach. And it works.
Everything they serve is made pretty much the moment you ask for it. And that is good where I am coming from.
My memories flip back to another era. An era where places like Ian’s Diner (Richmond and Fort) served up greasy burgers and muddy-thick coffee. Ah.
Dale and Co. at One of a Grind Bistro go retro with the coffee prep. He uses an old-style Gaggia Lever espresso machine – and in my opinion, with the right beans, this method is one of the best.
Anyway. Head on down to One of a Grind. And tell ‘em Colin sent you.
Foot note: Dale sold the One of a Grind Bistro about 4 years ago. It is in new hands and I have not been by in a long time. Perhaps a look is in order.
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Kona Coffee and Jamaica Blue-mountain time... · Saturday December 2, 2006 by colin newell
I get e-mail. Lots of e-mail.
Now that it is December, almost everyone is thinking about specialty coffee as a gift item. This is the time of the year when people think that coffee would make a great gift. Unfortunately, it is also the time of year that opportunists foist some truely bad coffee on naive and enthusiastic consumers.
Everyone has seen those “mini-brick” packs of exotic coffee like Kona and Jamaica Blue Mountain. Read the fine print folks – chances are you are buying utterly stale Kona blend and Jamaica Blue Mountain Blend coffee.
Which means: Chances are there is a very little (if any) real Kona or Jamaica coffee in these sad little packets of (generally pre-ground) coffee.
Another rule-of-thumb: If it is in a brick-pack, it is Rat-ass stale. Trust me on this. Coffee is food too. You wouldn’t buy brown lettuce would you? Then why buy stale coffee?
In an e-mail today, I was asked: “Where can I buy pure Kona coffee in Victoria?”
This question gets asked in virtually every major city in North America during the festive giving season.
Currently, there are no roasters in Victoria selling
“freshly roasted” pure Kona coffee… to the best of my knowledge
Something to consider (and this is important…)
Coffee is only truely fresh for 5 to 10 days after
it leaves the roaster.
Coffee, like other fruits and vegetables, is a food
product that is subject to staling.
A good example of truly stale coffee is the product
you find in cans and bins on the grocery store shelves.
There are a handful of fresh coffee roasters in Victoria… I list them here in terms of
how
I “feel” about them… long story.
1.) Cafe Fantastico — Kings and Quadra and Cook & Mckensie (in the Cook Street village) Roasters of truly amazing coffee.
2.) Level Ground Trading — They roast a small selection of fairly traded and organically grown beans. No konas. What they do roast, is wonderful.
3.) Discovery Coffee — Douglas & Discovery (and its satellite outlet: 2%-JAzz at the Times Colonist building) Sam Jones roasts some of Victoria’s best coffee. No question.
4.) Mirage Coffee Roasters — Blanshard & View street and Government and Courtenay streets. The coffee is good and its fresh.
5.) Cairo Coffee Victoria — 700 block Fort street above Douglas. They sell exotic coffees from time to time. They are currently roasting Kona in store for 50$/pound which is 18$ less per pound than Murchies! Jamaica Blue-Mountain will be roasted in store and sold for 75$/pound. They take advance orders on this coffee so queue up! Bill, the store owner since the 70’s, has the most complete coffee accessory store in Victoria.
6.) Fresh Cup Roastery — Government & Pandora downtown. For me, too new to tell. Give them a whirl.
7.) Moziro Coffee Roasters — Shawnigan Lake Village – Dundas Street. Small batch roasts and great chocolate. If you are in the neighborhood, check them out.
8.) Creekmore Coffee — Coombs (available in quite a few grocery stores) – generally fresh and good value.
9.) Murchies Coffee – they almost always have Kona, but its “freshness” is almost always in question. Sorry Murchies – I have been spot buying from Murchies since 1972 and I have yet to be impressed.
If you want really fresh and spectacular Kona coffee, mail-order it from EveryDay Gourmet Coffee Roasters
in Toronto – their website is www.everydaycoffee.com
Truly spectacular Kona coffee can be mail ordered from Blue Horse Kona – their farm is near Captain Cook on the Big Island of Hawaii – I have actually visited the farm and sampled the coffee and can attest to its origin and freshness. This has been a very good year for Kona coffee (2008) and it is a good time for most people to sample it to see what I mean.
Bottom line: If you want great coffee, it has to be fresh coffee.
Freshly roasted that is.
Cheers!
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