The Wine Crate

Food Frames: Take 19

NSpielmann — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 00:54:59 +0000

This is Vancouver stylin'... Not sure that I would want to taste hair or want to know why my hairdresser thinks that hair is tasty...

Bad Seeds: a movie to see

NSpielmann — Fri, 23 May 2008 21:21:58 +0000

Starting today is a movie that everyone should see. “Le Monde selon Monsanto” is a French documentary that divulges the full extent of influence allotted to Monsanto – the giant agricultural empire responsible for much of the worlds’ grain output. For those who are not well versed in the ins and outs of just how bread makes it to the table, this 108 minute lesson is sure to shaken up a few motions and modify a few diets.

Think Fast Food Nation, Supersize Me, King of Corn and all those other documentaries that make us rethink farming and the products it “creates”. However, since this one showcases the victims that mass agriculture and genetically modified organisms leave behind, I don’t think many will find humour – and they shouldn’t. Food is serious business and we should all take a few hours to realize the impact of our dollar and how it can change the world.

One more dollar, one better plate of pasta, one seed at a time…

“Le Monde selon Monsanto” is playing at Ex-Centris three times a day (1pm, 5pm and 8:30pm) from May 23^rd to May 29^th inclusively. It is in French and English with French English subtitles. It will also be playing at AMC with English subtitles.

www.ex-centris.com

Things you don’t want to hear…

NSpielmann — Sat, 10 May 2008 22:16:01 +0000

A few days ago, on my way home from the gym after a morning work out, I passed by a well-liked bakery. The door was wide open and just as I walked by the threshold I heard one of the bakers yell out: “This place is (insert bad word here) disgusting!”. I think that ranks up there in terms of turn offs as hearing someone from a restaurant kitchen yell out “it’s okay, 30 second rule…”

Food Frames: Take 18

NSpielmann — Thu, 01 May 2008 20:47:38 +0000

This one, totally self explanatory... It doesn't taste "yummi", because it tastes ___

Silly Things Waiters Hear: IV

NSpielmann — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 21:20:50 +0000

Ah, another classic… And this one isn’t meant to make restaurant people come off as arrogant or elitist, but if you are going to spend the money and then the extra time at the gym working it off, then you should really know better:

"Do they force feed your foie gras ducks?"

Food Frames: Take 17

NSpielmann — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 00:22:52 +0000

Ok, I know this is our heritage product, but let's be real... it doesn't have to go on EVERYTHING. And apparently (thankfully) I'm not the only one who thinks this to be true.

Food Frames: Take 16

NSpielmann — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 23:53:01 +0000

If someone offered me this as a snack, I don't really know what I would answer... This looks like an identity crisis to me - either you're a candy or you're a savoury snack. You just can't be both... and certainly not with that combination...

Food Frames: Take 15

NSpielmann — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 19:28:23 +0000

Apparently, not many people found this joint to be "to their taste"...

Silly Things Waiters Hear: III

NSpielmann — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 21:24:42 +0000

Sommeliers must hear it all (see my previous post: click here) and I sometimes wonder how they keep a straight face. Now perhaps this one will make me seem elitist but it should be fairly obvious. We are talking wine, not frozen juice concentrate… And as today is the first day of the Montreal Wine and Spirits Show, I think this gem is appropriate to share.

One night, a client asked a sommelier I once knew the following question:

“So when you say that the wine has some anise nuances, how do they do that? Does that mean they add licorice to the wine?”

…

Food Frames: Take 14

NSpielmann — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 22:50:24 +0000

I'm all in favour of saving time and abbreviations, but this is neither. This is just plain laziness... And the W. is supposed to stand for white, because the packages over had G. and the green variety inside...