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.
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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.
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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 food, fun and drink marathon begins - Love it live · Monday March 1, 2010 by colin newell
The International Olympic Committee has been really funny about live music at open and closing ceremonies for years.
One of their golden rules (that is impossible to break) is the one on live music at the ceremonies… and unattractive young girls (I reference the Beijing O.C.)
Their thinking is: To avoid mistakes, embarrassment and equipment failure, they run “tape” for the broadcast feed from the event through the studios to the media… and to you in television land.
Some claim that the performance is “live” in the stadium and tape to media (and your television set) – that might be, but I doubt it.
From my observations, the only open microphones at the O.C. and C.C. were during the dialog from Jack Roggue and John Furlong’s cringe inducing interpretation of cereal box French.
Canadian legend Neil Young did not have a microphone on him either – he had an audio prompter in his ear so he could hear his taped performance and follow along.
As did K.D. Lang (whom I have seen live several times…)
When Nelly Furtado and Bryan Adams “played” at the O.C. Brian left his microphone by his side when he started singing – but quickly “corrected” a few bars into the song.
There are many, many music rehearsals for the opening and closing ceremonies – and what you hear at home is a digital recording of one of the “best takes”.
If there is any doubt as to this fact, ask yourself why none of the artists ever make a mistake during their performance.
As a guitar player, singer and piano player of over 25 years, I would like to say that the whole “taped” thing offends me – but it doesn’t.
It is a personal choice that each artist makes – whether to “compromise” or not and how they do it.
For more reading on the subject, check out David Atkins (executive producer of the 2010 ceremonies) on the subject of O.C./C.C. Olympic lip syncing…
Quote of the day: “I think Nickelback’s music incites violence. For instance, when I hear a Nickleback song….I want to kill Nickleback.” -Brian Posehn
The Olympics are over. Do I love Canada more?
Hate to say it.
I do.
The party is over. Now it’s time to pay the caterer.
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