Open That Bottle By Linda Garson Photography by Ingrid Keunzel
From a very early age, Leslie Echino has spent her life in the world of food and wine. Her grandfather moved to the Okanagan from Le Marche, in Italy, after World War II; he picked fruit and made wine. He would even purchase grapes from Napa to make homemade grappa. Leslie was making Caesars for her family at the tender age of 9 or 10 although she never liked them herself, as she never The life-changer came when Leslie was drank alcohol. But she just loved being around involved in a high-speed car accident in people. northern California. She spent two weeks in hospital in Reno, Nevada, followed by 5 Although born in Calgary, Leslie has moved ½ months in a body cast. Her father lived around a lot, attending eleven different in Calgary, where he was a partner in Blink, schools and growing up speaking French, as so they flew her back here to recover, and her family lived in Quebec. In the summer in September 2007, she and her partner, of 1989 she was too young to work, but A & Andrew, took over the restaurant. Andrew W agreed to take her on. She loved earning had never been to Calgary; his long-term money and hostessed at Boston Pizza in goal was to move to the Okanagan to open Jasper, then two years in Lloydminster, as a a restaurant there, but they closed Blink for hostess and busser for $5.25 per hour, plus 2½ months and together they designed tips. the interior, based on the things they loved. They lightened it up and used natural At university, Leslie majored in psychology. It elements, with a San Francisco influence. was a perfect fit for her, she was bartending They changed the menu to embrace small and people would talk to her, so she would producers, and organic, local and seasonal serve them drinks and listen to their woes food. at the same time. The opportunity of a Leslie studied wine in position in Vancouver, Vancouver in her early as lead bartender with 20s, learning from her Cactus Club at their mentor, sommelier new Broadway and Sebastien Le Goff. She Granville location, was the has been looking to open deciding factor for Leslie a San Francisco style wine to leave university, and bar, if and when she can the springboard for her find the right premises. professional restaurant career.
So what wine is Leslie saving for a special occasion? Leslie has two special bottles that she’s can’t wait to open. “They’re two funny wines and both given to me by my dad, which is quite amazing”, she says. The big one is a magnum of 1988 Dom Perignon. It means a lot that it was given to her by her dad after her car accident, but she didn’t drink for six months afterwards, so she’s decided it will be opened when she opens her new restaurant or wine bar. The second bottle is more unusual Chateau Musar 1978, her birth year. Her father had spent time in Syria and Lebanon, and the wine has been in the cellar the whole time, fortunately stored well and still in good shape. Leslie is very excited to open it. She may open it in October for her 35th birthday, as her 40th birthday is too far away, and she can’t wait that long. She wants to share it with people who love wine, “I love holding on to it, but I just want to drink it. After my car accident, I learnt that life is too short”.
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