Island's Best series - The Crow and Gate · Monday July 2, 2007 by colin newell
In 1972
something truly magical happened. No, it was not the year I was born. If only.The Government of British Columbia introduced changes to the beverage industry to allow neighborhood pubs in the Province.
Click the image at right for an enlarged view
Like the specialty coffee revolution (currently well underway in Canada) the arrival of the Pub on the Canadian dining scene would forever change the fabric of the eating out experience.
So let’s celebrate shall we? Please raise a glass to one of Canada’s finest pubs (and I have visited a few); The Crow and Gate Pub in Cedar, British Columbia – a few KM south of Nanaimo.
The C&G is somewhat unique in that it is located kind of in the middle of no where. Well, countryside is not exactly in the middle of no where. Close perhaps. It is a bit of a drive for the average Island resident. From Victoria, it is about one and 1/2 hours at the posted speed limit – just under 100 km. Do yourself a favor. Take the Island Highway straight up along the East Coast of the Island, past Duncan, Chemainus and Ladysmith and turn off at the Cedar road exit. Do not panic – it is probably about 12 km down a series of country roads and there are signs everywhere. The Crow & Gate pub is at 2313 Yellow Point Rd., Cedar, B.C.
The Crow & Gate is a very solid copy of an English pub. It is not a Pub Style restaurant by any stretch. It is a Pub. Keep this in mind if you are a family with children. You must be 19 years of age or older if you wish to partake of the food and drink here.
The Food – Everything is made fresh at the Crow & Gate. Nothing comes out of a can. Typical English favorites include Steak & Mushroom, Steak & Kidney Pie, Ploughman’s Lunch, Fried Oysters, Scotch Egg, Melton Mowbray and the like. If you do not like English food at its very best, you are not going to like this stuff. I do and the quality is superlative.
The Drink – The Crow & Gate does not serve watered down American Beer. This is the real deal folks; Kilkenny, Smithwicks, Guinness and a wide selection of local and regional artisan beers are on tap. The beer and the food are the perfect compliment to each other.
My meal – In the photo above, I ordered the Steak and Mushroom Pie. It is, as always, the best I have ever tasted. Perfect pastry surround a wonderful beef stew filling with just the right amount of beef gravy. Each meal comes with a serving of side green salad and potato salad. Pate is an option if you are eating with someone who has ordered a Ploughmans. The Pate here is incredible.
Summary – If you like food and drink (and who doesn’t?) and are visiting Vancouver Island, the Crow & Gate Pub is a must do while you are here. No exception.
In a continuing series on Island food and drink, Colin Newell critiques the best of the best among Island establishments.
Too innocent to arrest to dangerous to fly 2 · Saturday June 30, 2007 by colin newell
Alistair Butt and Alistair Butt both have the same problem — they can’t fly because of their name.
One Butt is a 15-year-old Ottawa boy — a star athlete and 2003 Ontario junior citizen of the year. The other Butt is a 10-year-old home-school student from Saskatoon who just finished Grade 4.
Both Butts were barred from their flights after their name popped up on a no-fly list, which is intended to flag airline security threats.
Canada’s no-fly list in an obvious waste of time and money that will do nothing for aviation security.
What’s more, when one of the Butt parents asked what they could do to fix this situation they were told:
“...perhaps it would be best to change the child’s name.”
Why? Because the child could be barred for flying for life.
And he will never be told why.
Because it’s a secret.
Fcuk. Fcukity Fcukity Fcuk.
Who stole Canada?
Comment [3]
Too dangerous to fly - Too innocent to arrest · Friday June 29, 2007 by colin newell
The neo-cons I have coffee with every morning do not get it.
“Very few innocent people will be caught in the snare of heightened security at Canada’s airports…”
That is not the point, I keep harping.
Canada’s No-Fly list was a bad idea from the get go.
It needs to be abandoned, scrapped, shelved, whatever.
This is Canada after all – not America.
My coffee buddies argue: “There are only 1000 people on the list right now…”
Yes, I reply. 1000 too many. And there are 5000 other people that have the same name as these people.
And how guilty are these 1000 people on the list?
Well, apparently not guilty enough to arrest.
Apparently we are entering a time in Human history where it is against the law to think about stuff… not actually do anything bad but contemplate doing something contrary to public order.
In some countries, for instance, this blog entry would be considered an act of terrorism.
Boom.
Canada day attacks on freedom · Tuesday June 26, 2007 by colin newell
Coming to your town. In a Times-Colonist report this morning, Victoria, B.C. Canada will be a locked down camp the evening of Canada Day.
What does this mean? Well, according to the newspaper item, you are not to transport alcohol (in pretty much any form) between hours X and Y through a corridor or a series of corridors and Manned barricades in the city of Victoria, B.C. Canada.
What this also means is that civil liberties will be suspended for this time period.
What it meant to bus riders and pedestrians last year (and the year before) is that you could and would be stopped and (illegally searched) by designated officials. Illegal search and seizure my friends.
That means if you are crossing town and minding your own god-damn business (with a bottle of Pinot Noir in your pack-sack) you can be illegally stopped and illegally searched…
if you are walking.
if you are taking a bus.
if you are riding a bike.
if you are driving your car and your wine is in your trunk.
You can say no to this attack on your charter rights.
You should say no to this attack on your fundamental rights.
Canada Day is about freedom, liberty and destiny…
It is not about illegal search and seizure.
So. If you live in Victoria B.C. Canada and want to freely move about on Canada Day… at any time of the night or day…
Remember: You have a right to!
In Canada, Section Eight of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects all individuals from unreasonable search and seizure. For a search to be “reasonable” it must be authorized by law, the law itself must be reasonable, and the manner in which the search was carried out must be reasonable (R. v. S.A.B., 2003 SCC 60). This means that the officer must be acting within the power of a valid statute, and it must be performed on the basis of there being “reasonable and probable grounds” that a crime has been committed.
