Box Wines? Whaaat?

Bal Arneson..as good as her cookbook is..her life story is sooo compelling, our first ever simulcast, with wine country radio host Nancy Levenberg in St Helena, California! Arj Barker..what’s HE doing in here? Remember the bar in Sideways? Frank Ostini owns and runs it. If you’re a fan of Sideways, he’s your guy. The suave, sophisticated Brian Welsh from Ruths’ Chris returns to the show..naturally we talk steak and wine. And then we talk FAT with author Jennifer McLagan. And finally I stop by 8th Generation winery in Summerland and find a wine and cheese event that’s like a master class.

THE SHOW

I’m fascinated by the return of boxed wines in the Okanagan..
The stuff my father Pat Mulligan brought home was AWFUL..but that was a long time ago..When I see Pentage www.pentage.com, Hester Creek www.hestercreek.com and Poplar Grove www.poplargrove.ca releasing 3L box wines of their top end blends etc..I’m very interested..Guests include:

The winemakers Ian Sutherland, Paul Gardner and Ron Summers.They started creating box wine for restaurants because the wine stays fresh for months..but the aware public has caught on as well..PLUS it’s a greener way to buy wine..

Bal Arneson has released a wonderful cooking book called Everyday Indian www.balshealthykitchen.com. She appears on Global, writes for the National Post but her most compelling story is that she came to Canada over 15 years ago as a young woman committed to marriage by her family..She takes us through the tough years when she had no freedom or say in what happened to her. It’s a great story I thought you’d like to hear. How she overcame her basement prison, bad marriage and became the winner she is today. If you know someone who is in the same situation..please let them listen..

It’s our first simulcast..Nancy Levenberg is the host of her own wine show in St Helena, California..right in the middle of wine country.She’s also the CEO of the St Helena Chamber of Commerce. She guests on our show..I guest on hers..Lots of great local information on both sides of the border..www.sthelena.com. The show is called Today in the Wine Country. The Radio Station is KVON/KVYN. www.kvon.com

Arj Barker started off this year’s West Jet Vancouver Comedy Festival..we stalked him in his hotel lobby. He was off to golf with friends..I held his tee time up by asking the 7 minutes of Q&A..he paid me back with shots and one liners..He is of course a member of Flight of the Conchords..only the funniest people on earth!!

Brian Welsh is simply the prototype of a food and wine expert!! You’d feel comfortable putting your best plans in his hands..Smooth baby!! This guy is cool..He runs Ruths’ Chris Steak House in Edmonton and Calgary and he knows his wines. www.ruthschris.com I wanted to know if there was any way we mortals could re-create the Ruths experience in our homes..unless you have an 1800 degree oven you can’t do the steaks the way they do but he has suggestions!!
But did want you to know about pairing wine and steak.

The return of Jennifer McLagan author of FAT, Barbara Jo’s cookbook of the year. I thought it audacious that in this day of thin is in..someone would name a book Fat. She’s talking about all the flavour that fat elements bring to the kitchen..Trust me on this one – it’s an eye opener..Did I say it’s a hilarious read and she’s one funny guest??

I stopped by 8th Generation winery in Trout Creek, south of Summerland in the Okanagan. They make a lot of fine wine but especially Riesling and perhaps the best Rose in BC. They were having a special cheese and wine pairing and I thought I’d drop in before the crowds showed up..

And not just any cheese but cheese from all over the world as presented by Wendy Buers who runs Say Cheese!! A cheese event company from Armstrong, BC bad idea..they place was jumping..So I did this interview while they were wining and cheesing..working around the crowds and a smallish lady who bumped me away from the tasting table. Bernd Schales is an 8th generation winemaker. Stefanie is a 10th generation winegrower. They know what they’re doing. www.8thgenerationvineyard.com

Enjoy, TDM!