Staying sharp, on the edge, where you have to be - with Cutluxe knives. · Tuesday October 12, 2021 by colin newell
Life is a series of celebrations, transitions, reflections and predictions. And if all these things have one thing in common it would be the daily cooking rituals that we look forward to.
For me, the food experience is 1 part doing to 2 parts preparation to 4 parts planning. It is a rhythm as reliable as gravity and predictable as the sunrise.
After all, the gathering of ingredients and culinary creation is a major part of everyone’s life.
Let’s face it, we need to eat. The process of these things take time. And in a life as rushed as it is, there is no reason on Earth that the tools should have any form of compromise.
It is no coincidence that our country kitchen has the most hardware in it. Whether it is a reliable gas stove, a tireless refrigerator, kitchen accessories like a VitaMix and an Instant Pot, well thought out work surfaces and kitchen tools… like knives. The kitchen is the hub of all things.
Because in the midst of the food experience, it often comes down to you and the blade that you hold in your hand.
A steady hand and a well balanced Chef’s knife, paring or cleaver – regardless of which, there is no room for error or sacrifice.
We had the opportunity recently to sample a blade or two from Cutluxe – knowing full well that there are few people harder on cutting implements than I am, I was more than happy to accept a paring knife from the Artisan series.
I found the Cutluxe knives were well packaged and razor sharp out of the box. The paring knife has great balance and weight and feels good in my right hand. After 2 – 3 weeks of steady sous chef duty (lots and lots of veg!), I put the blade under my microscope and noted, at most, 1 or 2 microchips in the steel – and not yet ready for a sharpening with my Steel.
In my kitchen I am a pretty dedicated Wusthof and Henckels user – so trying something different was refreshing. I enjoyed the Cutluxe knife enough that I would not hesitate to sample some more of their products.
Let's talk about coffee chapter 1 · Wednesday October 6, 2021 by colin newell
I spend a lot of time talking about coffee. A lot of time.
Over the years, I have done the yakity yak for every major radio network in Canada and the U.S. and some TV things. It never gets tired. You might say… it stays awake!
Yes, it is a pretty light duty subject – often a lot of fun… especially for the people that are drinking it. Like today. One. Too. Many. cups of coffee and shots of espresso. If I was any more jazzed on the bean today, I swear I could hear colours!
Photo above – doing a quick coffee cupping at 2-Percent Jazz coffee in Victoria – at the Hudson Market.
It has been (and continues to be…) a great run — and I am always willing to be a source of sonic amusement… on the subject that stimulates me the most. Coffee. However you brew it.
Want to talk? Just shoot me an E-Mail – replies are virtually instantaneous. Meantime, enjoy some of the chatter in the audio files below.
CFRB 1010 Toronto
CKNW 980 Vancouver
CJAD Montreal 800
Trust in life and you will see - The Movember series chapter one · Tuesday October 5, 2021 by colin newell
Way back in 2013, I was struggling with an assortment of things – as many people do.
Troubles: They come and go… in varying intensities for most of us.
That period of my life was particularly problematic with the loss of my dad, my mother-in-law, a brother-in-law and a close friend. Stuff like that can overwhelm. And the best thing you can do is talk about it to someone – seek professional help – or confide in someone you trust.
And from my circle of friends came some gentle and creative suggestions. One of which was to listen to (and watch) a few videos from a Jamaican-British spiritualist speaker by the name of Mooji. Many people have heard of him – and probably as many question the efficacy of spiritualist – new age – mumbo jumbo. That said, I gave one video a view – and then a repeated view – and it had me smiling. And it tweaked that “Hmmmm, is this video meant for me feeling?”
The whole point of my misery at the time was the fact that my World appeared to be spiralling out of control and there was nothing I could do about it – and yet at the end of each and every day during my personal crisis, things did seem “OK”. At least they balanced out as it were. The sky never fell. Nothing terrible befell me apart from that gnawing feeling of loss and constant unease.
When I combined my take away from this video and some similar to it – and added some meditative tools, like mindfulness and living in the moment, the darkness slowly started to ease and the skies cleared. Before long I felt joy again.
Now I know that one cannot feel happy all the time – it is no more complicated than looking around at the state of the Planet. It’s messed up. But each and every one of us have to live and keeping putting one foot ahead of the other. There are few other choices.
In this series of blog posts through the end of November, we are going to talk about emotional health, self care, smiling during a pandemic and growing a moustache for mental and physical wellness – something I have been doing for 12 years!
Stay tuned!
Some music – One of my favourite cover tunes is from my home studio – I’m singing and playing the guitar and piano and everything else… this epic old Rolling Stones songs resonates on so many levels and reminds us – sometimes exactly what you need is right in front of us. Enjoy! Be at peace… and find your own wellness.
You can’t always get what you want…
Download – You-Cannot-Always-get-what-you-want-v11.mp3
National and International Coffee day · Friday October 1, 2021 by colin newell
We talked with CBC On The Island host Gregor Craigie, Sam Jones (2% Jazz) and Carsen Oglend of Drumroaster Coffee on the subject of National and International Coffee day. Click on the above link for the audio or download the file below.
International Coffee Day Interview
For most of us, coffee is a very personal experience, integral to the rhythm of our workday.
Caffeine, the active ingredient in every cup, awakens us to the possibilities of the day and the ritual of coffee preparation brings a sense of order to our often chaotic existence.
This is the essence of National Coffee Day – an almost hallmark celebration of our love affair with the steaming mug.
Whether taken black, with cream and sugar, a double-double or a single
ounce of espresso, coffee is our anchor.
I love my coffee. You love your coffee. Take it away and what’s left?
Thousands of miles away, coffee farmers tend the Earth and watch the sky for hints as to what the growing season might bring.
Second only to fossil fuels, the coffee bean is the most traded natural commodity on the Planet.
Millions of families, in over 50 countries, toil on plantations large and small, mindful of the seemingly endless vagaries that effect their well being and success.
At best, farmers and their families earn 5 to 7% of the retail value of coffee – often as little as 2% in countries like Brazil, hosts of the highest output of our beloved bean.
And while we enjoy our first cup as our children trundle off to school, life in developing nations dependent on this powerful export,
often means pulling children from school to assist in much of the demanding work of harvest.
This is my essence of “International Coffee Day…” It is the respectful and mindful exercise of being cognizant of the effort and sacrifice that families make to get us our beloved coffee – and what we, the consumers, can do to improve the quality of life of coffee growers and their families.
Whether you decide to support direct trade, FairTrade Canada , organic coffees or Cup of Excellence programs (where the farm, family and communities more directly benefit from the fruits of their labour…), there are many things that we the coffee drinkers can do to advance the quality of life in the coffee industry.
It is a common refrain in North America where many coffee drinkers insist, “How can I possibly make a difference to a family or community half a World away?”
Well you can. Cup of Excellence programs, for instance, support direct trade where farms and co-ops sell directly to cafes and roasters, bypassing the seemingly endless sequence of middle people that take their cut. The extra money that goes to co-ops such as these builds houses, schools and even community health centres. These luxuries that we take for granted in Canada, are the difference between happiness and misery in coffee growing nations and you can make a difference.
But How?
- Buy sensibly – Do your homework
- Prepare to pay a fair price for your cup
- Support local – Canadian cities have lots of locally roasted coffees!
- Avoid store bought Mega Brands – you know the ones – don’t make me spell it out!
Colin Newell is a Victoria resident and coffee drinker, searching coast to coast to coast for that perfect cup of coffee – writing on the subject since 1995.
