The other night, I went to a Ketel One tasting and missed it. My cab driver didn't have change, a functioning debit machine or the grace to accept that he screwed up. So, outside the Spoke Club, I sat as collateral for half an hour while my boyfriend went on a hunt for money.
Don't expect anyone at Susur's new restaurant Madeline's to help - being surrounded by pretentious vittles in an overly articulated space and an ridiculously priced menu obviously erodes the sense of goodwill to humanity. Whatever, Susur, your staff needs to get over themselves, whether they are serving at Madeline's or at Smoke's Poutinery - they are still just a server. If you tell them they are an extension of you, well, then they have no problems acting like asses, which tells me they are either full of themselves, or are representing you to the fullest of their abilities. Either way, maybe the staff needs to get the memo - Charity is in.
Regardless, nearly an hour late in the end, Matt and I walk in to the tasting that just finished. Around a long conference table were neatly placed tasting mats each with three glasses. One Ketel One Vodka, one Absolut and one Grey Goose - it would've been fun to go through the tasting, but as a food writer, I know it won't be my last.
Matt and I did get there in time to be awarded with our gift bags, darling bottles of Ketel One, Grand Marnier and a sassy Ketel One Boston Shaker. My next party thanks you Ketel One!
So we headed home not long after a conversation with Bethe-Anne Perry, the sassy retro styled Reserve Brand Ambassador who charismatically waltzed Matt and I though the history of Ketel One. I didn't realize the over 300 years of tradition Ketel One possesses! I especially didn't know that the vodka's characteristic smoothness is attributed to the alembic copper pot stills. Something that sets it apart from the popular "Douche Goose"
You know... the grey one.
All that aside let me guide you on how to have your own Ketel One tasting party, with gusto!
First, I went to the Ketel One website... I encountered this screen, where I entered my desired age. Sept 12, 1988... not too far off from the real thing.
DENIED! Ketel One was not to be fooled that easily! I was invited to come back in 0 years or the equivalent of never... Shame. I'm beginning to think that Karmacake and Ketel One will never truly connect.
Eventually I log into the site, locked up tighter than Fort Knox, and proceed to Products then to the Ketel One Challenge.
Go to the Ketel One website and download the tasting mat provided (Products/Ketel One Challenge) - I had Stoli, Ketel One and Alberta Premium.
Now pour a little in a snifter or a wine glass, swirl it around to coat the sides, take a sniff and then take a taste. The first might be a little jarring, but stick with it, when tasted in comparison, the nuances of the vodka will come through. Just simply being able to notice one obvious difference like the levels of burn going down, is enough to define an opinion.
Based upon burn the Alberta Premium is ideal for paint removal, cockroach extermination and hair relaxing.
Stoli is the cheapest vodka available that can be drank neat - 'nuff said.
Ketel One was... well... I'll let you figure it out for yourselves!
Enjoy the Ketel One experience!
Go to the website and get recipes - best way to cap off a tasting is with a cocktail! Since they gave us the Grand Marnier, we're drinking cosmos.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Monday, January 19, 2009
Toronto's latest proposal for yumming up the city, is Toronto a la cart. A lofty project unintentionally aimed at new immigrants as a method of broadening street eats. Currently, if you want to eat-street, you have a choice of hot dogs (with various toppings), sausage, and in some cases fries and burgers.
The goal is to introduce food carts that serve nutritious, ethnically diverse food in a manner that protects health and safety. Furthermore, participation the project provides valuable information to the city, as they would be able to monitor the success of the program.
The list of foods now available for street meat vendors to include in their menus, based upon nutritional considerations, includes:
o Pre-packaged fruits and vegetables
o Whole fruits and vegetables
o Pre-packaged fruit salad
o Bagels with butter, margarine, peanut butter or jam
o Pre-packaged nuts and seeds
o Pre-packaged salads containing only vegetables and/or fruits
o Pre-packaged Tabbouleh salad and pita bread
o Soup
o Pretzels
o Veggie burgers
o Coffees and teas
Hot dog scented apples... mmmmmmmmmmm... Kind of reminds me of the gravy at Cluck, Grunt and Low! Sausage gravy that tastes like hot dog sauce - so sick.
While this sounds very exciting for those wishing to take part, the numerous hoops potential participants must jump through pose serious challenges. The biggest obstacle presented by the City of Toronto, is no subsidies for new cart purchases. Participants are required to spend $21,000 - $28,000+ on a food cart from Crown Verity, a firm chosen by the city. So depending on the specific needs of the ethnic food vendor, the cart could cost a lot or a heck of a lot.
Overall, this being a pilot project, those wishing to participate also must accept that after the 3-years is up, there's considerable uncertainty on whether or not they will be able to continue using their carts.
Toronto a la cart was proposed by city councillors including Councillor John Filion, who was instrumental in launching the program. According to Toronto Star, Filion recognizes that there would be significant start up costs associated with participating in the program, however, he says, "I think they'll make a very, very good income."
While the possibility of making a "very, very good income" is as concrete as a mud foundation in the rain, what is certain is the 70% time commitment that cart owners must devote to operating their stand. How will the inspectors who are monitoring the process know? The vendor's photo will be attached to the cart at all times.
Fun fun fun.
Overall, the people who have been attending the information sessions are mostly new immigrants. According to Stats Can, 18.5% of new immigrants remain in the low-income bracket for over 4 years after they initially moved to Canada. So startling enough, low-income is rampant amongst those new to the country - therefore it is particularly heart breaking to consider that these individuals, looking to get established, will be required to not only pay a $150 application fee, a $375 business license fee, a $5000-$15,000 location fee (because Toronto has pre-selected 15 areas in the city where these new carts will be located), a $20-28,000 cart as well as the food on offer.
Brutal.
Good thing this is a city of Toronto pilot. Because, I'm sure the expenses would be very high if it weren't - OH WAIT THEY WOULD BE EXACTLY THE SAME!
Well, if I were my Dad and this was a business deal proposed to me by a potential partner - I would tell them to go stuff themselves.
Toronto, this is YOUR pilot. YOU should subsidize something!
Friday, January 16, 2009
Originally discovered September 2008, The Dark Knight Video Game for 8-bit Nintendo has only successfully gone viral in January 2009.
In fact, in terms of bloggers, I'm a little late on this one... I'm like the 21st blog to get this bad boy posted. Regardless, that's obviously not going to slow me down.
At first I thought this Dark Knight clip might be real, what with Nintendo's release of Mega Man 9 also in September 2008. There's something to be said about retro gaming on modern consoles! Mega Man 9, while looking primitive by today's standards, it is both challenging and darling!
I was never a gamer when I was younger. My parents feared I would turn into a zombie. An obviously impossible transition minus the bite of a true zombie - both exceptionally rare and virtually unheard of. Science withstanding, Nintendo's were a no go in my household.
Anyway, now we all can see what The Dark Knight would look like on an antique gaming system. Real gamers will probably criticize the creator, El Macbee, for producing a video that looks more like something found on a 16-bit console, like SNES. But, for the vast majority of plebs like me, this will look damn cool, regardless and will have high share value!
El Macbee is quoted as saying on the GameSpot Forums in October 2008, "Sure, it's just an animation. But I'm aware of what NES can and can't do. That's an amazing console and I create visual modifications for Nintendo games since 1998. It's fun to push Nintendo to its limits."
He goes on to share another video, taken of actual game play, featuring Super Mario Brothers getting the El Macbee 8-bit makeover.
"I tried to improve 'Mario Bros.' graphics on NES," says El Macbee, "You can see a much more detailed Mario here compared to the original."
Overall, awesome job. But, unless everyone's NES had games that looked like that on it, then it's safe to say, that the debate over wither the Dark Knight video is an 8-bit or 16-bit is squashed. It is clearly designed for 16-bit regardless of whether or not the NES could've handled it.
Like a bad joke - if you have to explain it, then it ain't gonna fly.
Here's the Mario Brother's clip - just in case anyone was dying to see what Mario really looks like. He still looks like Ron Jeremy to me.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
When I sit around and I wonder what it is that I should be following a blog on the Middle East conflict with, I think... SWEETS!
Actually, no... I have lots to write about... Ketel One Vodka and L'Oreal Mascara... but, I had a brain wave.
Macaroons.
I see them everywhere. They look adorable and tasty! They are cute as a button and I think that they will be the new hot sweet treat.
Okay, I'm off to eat wings.
Stay tasty, sweet Toronto!
Monday, January 12, 2009
Anyone has the right to defend themselves when threatened - it is reasonable and human nature.
However, innocent people do not have the right to die, to be denied aid and to be erroneously demonized.
I just watched a British report on children sentenced as adult in Isreali jails. Why? Provoked children throw stones in retaliation of the misery caused by the state that governs them. What atrocities did a 12 year old commit with a stone in hand that justifies imprisoning him against international law?
A battle for land is quickly escalating into an act of genocide that is effecting not the lives of terrorists and the TRUE wrong doers to the civility of Isreal, but the lives of women, children, aid workers and other innocents.
Where is the charity for our Palestinian brethren? Where is the understanding? Education? And, why does Canada support this? What accounts are they getting that is so different then the scattered footage and reports I've scrounged up from the net? I saw video, for the first time ever, of an Isreali bomb drop in an area where the casualties were infantile, elderly and innocent. I watched distraught mothers gasp between sobs and aid workers fall to their knees with their eyes swollen with tears amongst a field of fallen people - one man barely alive, reciting his last prayer.
Where is the justice?
I pray, with all my heart and my soul, that the innocent from both sides band together to realize the greater good. That violence will to continue to beget violence should we wrongfully tar every member from the age of birth to 110 with false accusations.
This "war" is not right.
It is not right at all.
May God be with the Palestinian people as they continue to endure, what no person (good or bad) should ever endure. They apparently have the right to live, just not where their homes are.
Inshallah, it will all come to an end soon and everyone will be happy.