Winter all food, fun, drink and coffee culture - The Stick in the Mud · Friday March 19, 2010 by colin newell
Listen here for our Stick in the Mud interview today… Flash player below – if you cannot see that, click here for the mp3.
We interview David Evans of the Stick in Sooke!
In the waning days of winter 2010 we conclude our series on crisp season fun with an audio soundbyte from the heart of Sooke B.C. Canada.
Because we spent a quiet mid-week at Point no Point resort on the windy west coast of Vancouver Island – and enjoyed several yummy meals at the look-out restaurant – under the watchful eye of Chef Jason and his assistant and sous chef Ian. More on this later.
At right – Caffeine dream weaver and coffee roaster, David Evans, stands guard at the Stick in the Mud coffee house… Eustace Avenue off of Otter Point Road in beautiful Sooke, British Columbia.
On the return leg to Victoria we stopped in at Sooke village for some necessary great coffee from “The Stick in the Mud” coffee house – and talking with coffee expert, ad man, bon vivant, raconteur and ideas dude… David Evans.
Well, he gave us the low down on some of the history behind this very exciting cafe in the heart of Douglas fir country. Here is some audio to sink your ears into. Pitching a podcast idea to a local food magazine…
Back out in the wild at Jordan River and the Point no Point resort, we had two great meals by the hands of Chef Jason Neinaber and sous-Chef Ian Carr. Come to think of it, I think we ate everything on the menu – like the was a choice in the matter. Thankfully, on our first evening visit we only mentioned our presence on the way out – and in that sitting, I had two appies; oysters under caesar salad and seared scallops on a bed of cous cous, house made bacon and mushrooms – my dear wife had the chicken.
When we returned the night after, we were greeted by a plate of Jason and Ian’s brand new charcuterie – house cured meats with condiments, and suitable pickles.
At left – Chef Jason has his own cured meats at the Point No Point view restaurant – several types; salami, capicola, duck proscuitto, bread crisps, onions, pickled mushrooms, etc… click photo for the super size
This was a first meet with Chef Jason after a couple of phone interviews and a successful story pitch to EAT Magazine – the article appearing in the May June episode of EAT. Jason Neinaber is an imposing and intense 6’ 4” or so and takes his food very seriously – but is equally passionate and sharing with his knowledge of new culinary discoveries.
Andrea tried pork cutlets at this sitting and I – a couple of appetizers, home made rigatoni stuffed with a meaty and rich bolognese and, dig this, the seared scallops on a couple of things including sweetbreads… never had that before – look it up in lieu of me describing it… an interesting flavor and texture!
Point no point on the wicked, wild and windy West coast road is our secret get-away and stress buster. Cabins from around $195/day include private outdoor hot-tubs, super romantic views, full kitchens and a restaurant with some World class eats if you are so inclined. You can reach them at 250-646-2020… tell them Colin sent you.
Comment [2]
Gordon Campbell Hates You... No, really. · Tuesday March 16, 2010 by colin newell
I am a bit of a fan of rabble.ca as well as some other left leaning websites, like TheTyee.ca and Georgia Straight online – heck, I was an impressionable 9 or 10 years old when I first peeked at this crazy looking weekly in the late 60’s with its hippie theme, free love mantras and dope decriminalization stance.
And this google search caught my eye today… you know the one where google fills in the blanks for you?
Well this is what it spat out when I typed in “Gordon Campbell”.
Gordon Campbell Hates You
Seriously. And I hardly know the man.
But the general consensus is, if the media (left and left of center is to be believed…):
Gordon hates the poor. Gordon hates the elderly. Gordon hates the weak. Gordon hates children… well, not all children, just children of the poor, elderly or the weak.
And who can blame him? The elderly are a burden to our tax payers – Shame.
To combat the blight of the elderly, he and his car dealing right wing cronies cut where ever they can to marginalize the elderly… and yea, drive them back where they came from…
Parents who are not wealthy create an extra burden by having children that they cannot place in private schools – and as a result end up burdening the taxpayers and province shareholders by sending their little ragamuffins to public schools and demanding stuff like books! Who do these un-wealthy folks think they are?
Do not get me started on the weak. Nothing riles Gordon and I up more than people who cannot hold down one of those great lower-than-minimum wage jobs in beautiful British Columbia. I mean, look what we have done for corporate North America: We have the lowest rate of corporate tax and the lowest minimum wage.
And if you are physically or intellectually challenged in British Columbia, Gordon and I have a message for you: Shape up and pull your weight.
Reality: The Gordon Campbell Liberals have systematically, methodically and willingly targeted the most vulnerable in our “Greatest Place on Earth” with cuts to seniors, cuts to schools, cuts to support networks for women in jeopardy while boasting the highest rates of child poverty in Canada and thumbing his nose at the United Nations report on poverty in Canada.
But does Gordon hate you? No.
He fits the description of a sociopath (by the actions of his government…)
So it’s not hate…
More like indifferent contempt.
I hope that knowledge helps my readers.
My name is Colin Newell. I am a Victoria area resident who supports local business and eschews community killing machines like Walmart.
Comment [1]
Winter all fun, food and frolic - America and the phony war on drugs · Monday March 15, 2010 by colin newell
Just listening to the CBC report on the current crisis in Mexico…
which is more of an American fueled crisis.
The war on drugs.
Seems America is going to crack down on drug traffic between Mexico and the U.S.A
…and between Canada and the U.S.A.
…and everywhere else and the U.S.A.
Some facts. One in every 32 American adults—are either incarcerated, on parole or probation or under some other form of state or local supervision. And 1 in 100 are behind bars… largely for non-violent drug related offenses.
The U.S. is the World leader in incarceration. China is second at 4 times the population but 18% of the rate of incarceration.
Why? Why put pot dealers in prisons?
American prisons are run by private firms. Privatized. For profit. There is money to be made with full prisons. Upwards of 2 Billion dollars (US) of profit are generated annually in these private incarceration “businesses”.
No war on drugs. No labor ready folks to be put in prison.
Here is how Canada and Europe differ on its perception of drug addition… versus the U.S. of A.
In Europe and to a much lesser extent, Canada, drug addiction is treated like a disease… a sickness. Which should be treated with sympathy, caring, empathy and treatment.
In America, it is a terrible, terrible crime and a blight on society. Watch an American news hour or an episode of Dog the Bounty hunter if you doubt my word.
But are soft drugs like marijuana a hazard to society?
I have never used illicit drugs. Never smoked marijuana. No desire.
Marijuana prohibition costs U.S. taxpayers an estimated $10 billion annually and results in the arrest of more than 829,000 individuals per year—far more than the total number of arrests for all violent crimes combined – including murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault.
And although I have never been a big fan of stoners – I did grow up in the 70’s and had my fill of harassment from pot heads and L.S.D. dropping school mates, none of whom ever posed any kind of threat to me and my family…
Other than breaking into my locker and stealing my Cheetos.
In the year 2010, the big prison eagle and the U.S. administration is eying Canada to make sure it keeps toeing the line – even our own Prime minister has spoken of building bigger and better prisons and getting tough on the rampant crime in Canada.
Canada does not have rampant crime. Violent crime is on a steady decline. In the Netherlands for instance, they are closing prisons… not enough bad people it seems. Good thing the U.S.A does not influence sensible Dutch folks.
Meantime, what we do is often what the big bad bald eagle wants us to do. With little wiggle room.
But there is always public opinion… and knowledge… and social action. – The War on crime and drugs in Canada and the U.S.A.
Keep your eyes on it.
Winter all fun, food and frolic - collapse of the bee colony · Sunday March 14, 2010 by colin newell
Colony collapse disorder – while the average person is probably completely unaware of what it is or what it means, I assure you… you may feel the effects of it before long.
Particularly if you eat.
We visited Fredrich’s Honey in Cedar, B.C. south of Nanaimo, British Columbia – ostensibly to drop off some supplies from Wisdom’s Essential Elements – a local soap maker and to pick up some bee pollen and honey for personal use.
Sounds kind of illicit doesn’t it?
Anyway – Fredrich, a wonderful 60-something bee keeper is experiencing this phenomenon known as Colony collapse disorder
It’s not really like having a house full of teenagers leaving home at the exact moment they become of majority because that could be a good thing.
Having a colony of bees, thousands of them in dozens of hives, up, pack and leave home is truly odd behavior and not entirely understood… and worthy of an X-File episode of two… heck even a feature length movie.
What is kind of creepy about all of this is that an entire community of bees hit the high road at the same time – and it could be about disease, about electromagnetic radiation, about competing pests, or the lack of cable TV and color television at the hives. Thing is, we do not know.
What we do know is that bees are important work horses in the pollination of many of the fruits and vegetables that we enjoy and often take for granted.
And being without them? Well, we just don’t know. We don’t know why and we are not clear on the long term consequences.
And if you are a big fan of food, it might benefit us all to put our minds towards figuring out what the heck is going on.
If you are a Vancouver Island resident and have the inclination, get out there and visit a working farm or bee keeper. Sweet times guaranteed… for the time being.
Comment [1]
