Beer Club

With the summertime shopping and entertaining in full swing it’s not a bad idea to stock your bar. There’s no need to spend a fortune or have the finest bottles of wine or scotch on your shelf.

Buying French wine can be a mysterious adventure. The labels seem like those cryptic crosswords – confined only to those in the know.

With BBQ lids cracking open on patios across the Island, there could be no better time for the opening of Meat Craft Island Butchery in Nanaimo.

Mid Island residents have a good choice of craft beer to purchase in Nanaimo. However, there is huge chunk of craft beer fun we are missing.

The combination of salmon, chanterelle mushrooms and Pinot Noir is a winning recipe for a smashingly delicious dinner.

Genoa Bay is a tiny community tucked away down a winding country road slightly southeast of Duncan. The journey there is a lovely drive through lush farm fields and forests.

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Nanaimoite’s are fortunate to be surrounded by farmers dedicated to producing delicious quality food. There are many sources for these treasures.

Whether it’s a smoky spiced rum added to a cake batter, or a splash of port into a chocolate cake mix, alcohol brings flavour, moisture, and tenderness to your baking.

Craft beer enthusiasts are growing in numbers all over Canada. The increase of beer festivals on Vancouver Island makes me wonder if we have more than our share of those dedicated individuals.

The history of our local wineries begins with the first family of Vancouver Island wine-makers.

On Tuesday, March 7th, Victoria Beer Week kicks off for nine days and nights of celebrating quality BC craft beer.

Nanaimo’s craft beer scene, boasting three craft breweries, is finally big enough to have a “tap take-over” event on Thursday, December 8th at White Sails Brewing. 

With the cooler weather and the leaves dropping from the trees, hot meaty comfort foods come back into play. And if comfort foods are called for at this time of year, why not the best?

If you are looking around for handmade gifts ideas that will show real thought, why not consider repurposing some booze?

Where else can you try as many wines as you want for less than $50.00? All of that within a moderate taxi fare to and from most Nanaimo neighborhoods.

Enjoyable events relating to food and drink pack our beautiful island’s summer social calendar. My advice, to take full advantage of what’s out there, is to PLAN AHEAD!

Great wines don’t necessarily have to burn a hole in your wallet, as there’s much to be said, and drank, for under $20. 

Be it Christmas, New Years, birthdays or birthing, nothing says “special occasion” quite like the resounding pop of a bottle of bubbly being opened, that first-pour froth and those magical, glistening bubbles.

There’s been lots of talk on the grape vine among BC residents, supporting a movement to buy more local wine.