DRINK Local wine events rev up in September
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by Kurtis Kolt
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New Cedar, Same Ole Tip Tip Mount Pleasant’s Tocador will host a natural-wine pairing dinner on September 29.
or a four-day course over coming months. WSET is the global standard for wine education, and these introductory courses are quite accessible for novices and casual enthusiasts who are looking to gain a wellrounded handle on the world of wine. Getting this initial certification will make wine shopping a breeze and what’s in your glass that much more enjoyable. (Visit www.picachef.com/ to explore all their offerings.) g
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> Go on-line to read hundreds of I Saw You posts or to respond to a message < #357 BUS. LABOR DAY
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I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: SEPTEMBER 2, 2019 WHERE: West Georgia & Burrard #357 Bus. Labor Day We sat together when you got on from Park Royal. I was coming from the Sunshine Coast, we chatted about the PNE, you were thinking about going to the beach with friends. You're stunning and nice !! I wanted to give you my card with my number but didn't have time as my stop was here... Where was I going and earlier that day you dropped your sister off, she was going where ??
GORGEOUS BLONDE WOMAN WITH LONSDALE ASIAN RESTAURANT TIPS
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I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: SEPTEMBER 1, 2019 WHERE: 1400 Block Lonsdale, North Vancouver You stopped at the Thai restaurant on Lonsdale when you saw me trying to decide whether to dine there. You were kind enough to give me a good report of their Pad Thai and to rell me what you thought about the Malaysian Restaurant across the street. I feel privileged to have met you albeit so briefly. I was struck by both your charming manner and your beauty. Would you like meet again’please and this time I’ll promise not to be so shy?
CHATTING WHILE FIXING
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HITS
(2nd entrée of equal or lesser value) up to $15. Valid until Sept. 30/19. Not valid with other coupons or other in-house offers or event nights. Gratuities based on TOTAL bill before discount.
2019
SEVEN WEEKLY MARKETS ACROSS VANCOUVER!
LET YOUR HOME
2THE GREATEST1 FOR
(with the purchase of beverages)
every bite. While the menu is available for walk-in guests, it is limited each evening and reservations are recommended. (Visit wildebeest.ca./) Finally, for those with an instinct to hit the books this time of year and elevate their wine knowledge, the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts (1505 West 2nd Avenue) is offering the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) courses for the Level 1 award in wines, as either a one-day intensive
ONE PER DINING EXPERIENCE
ot only is September one of my favourite months of the year in Vancouver—for the weather and days still on the longish side—but it’s also the month when local wine events really start revving up. Those wanting to get a jump on things just after this edition of the Straight hits the streets will want to visit Marquis Wine Cellars (1034 Davie Street) this Thursday (September 5) at 5:30 p.m. That’s when winemaker Ross Wise from Oliver’s Black Hills Estate Winery will be on hand, pouring samples of the fresh 2017 vintage of the winery’s iconic Nota Bene Bordeaux-inspired red blend alongside the 2016 edition, so attendees can compare recent vintages. The 2017 version is an opulent blend of 45 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 41 percent Merlot, and 14 percent Cabernet Franc that spent 18 months in 30-percent-new French oak, and it is likely to be as coveted as each edition has been since the inaugural 1999 vintage. Although that tasting is certainly worth the (free!) admission alone, Wise will also be pouring an armload of their latest releases, including 2018 Viognier, 2018 Alibi, 2018 rosé, and 2016 Syrah. (Pop over to www. marquis-wines.com/ to RSVP.) Tuesday (September 10) sees Sea Star Estate Farm and Vineyards proprietor David Goudge holding court at Provence Marinaside (1177 Marinaside Crescent) for a five-course dinner by Provence chef/co-owner Jean-Francis Quaglia. The main wines of Sea Star, composed of fruit grown on Saturna and Pender islands, are breezy, aromatic odes to the West Coast. From the Sea Star 2018 Ortega’s grapefruit and jasmine notes washing down Fanny Bay oysters at the reception to the course pairing Goudge’s 2018 Blanc de Noir sparkling with Quaglia’s spiced-lamb-stuffed heirloom tomato and beyond, there will be no sign whatsoever of summer ending anytime soon. The whole feast, including the wine pairings assembled by wine director Joshua Carlson, is $155 (with tickets available at www.provencemarinaside.ca/). On September 29, the crew from Mount Pleasant’s Tocador (2610 Main Street) are putting together a naturalwine pairing dinner. I highly recommend nabbing your spots before they realize that five courses paired with five four-ounce wine pours from a quintet of well-lauded Old World wineries for $109 all-in is pretty much giving it away. They’re keeping their pairings for the evening close to their chest, but with wines from luminaries like Italy’s Elisabetta Foradori, Austria’s Claus Preisinger, and Laurence and Rémi Dufaitre out of Beaujolais—at the Cuba-inspired hot spot known for dishes like caramelized pork cheeks with citrusand-cayenne caramel—you really can’t go wrong. (Tickets are at www. tocador.ca/). Of course, another great thing about this time of year is it being harvest season, when farmers markets and local restaurants are filled to the brim with our local bounty. This hasn’t gone unnoticed by Ian McHale, executive chef at Wildebeest (120 West Hastings Street). To celebrate the season, a five-course family-style Farmer’s Harvest Tasting Menu is being offered from September 5 through 19 for $60 per head, with optional wine pairings throughout by wine director Christina Hartigan for an additional $32. Think fodder such as Charentais melon with guanciale, hay-toasted water-buffalo ricotta, hazelnuts, and sweet cicely, with a refreshing glass of the Okanagan Valley’s Rigour & Whimsy’s Pinot Blanc 2017 echoing those melon notes. Also offered: sweet-corn agnolotti in corn-husk velouté with blackened sweet corn, etorki cheese, and paprika complemented by a Laventura Viura 2017 from Rioja to liven the palate after
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I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: AUGUST 27, 2019 WHERE: Hillcrest Community Centre At a community centre event, I worked on your portable CD player. You showed me the book you were reading, talked about lining up to buy Billy Idol tickets, travelling to Winnipeg, and somehow brought up the Fisher Price video camera. I looked for you afterwards, but you had left. I’d like to chat with you some more; we covered a lot of ground! And I want to find out...did the radio still work?!!
KITS BEACH DRESSED IN BLACK
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I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: AUGUST 29, 2019 WHERE: Kits Beach You, gorgeous asian dressed in black tights and black top, walking along the beach path in front of the boathouse restaurant at kits and stopped at the drinking fountain, i was sitting at bench waiting for my friend, we had some nice eye contact. Hope you see this
DIRTBIKE HANGING OFF YOUR TAILGATE ON POWELL STREET
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I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: AUGUST 29, 2019 WHERE: Powell Street near Clark Drive 11:30am Red Honda Dirtbike hanging off rearend of small Pickup Truck along Powell Street near Clark. I was riding a black with orange tank offroad bike the other way with a guitar on my back. We looked at each other as we passed and that’s when I saw your flowing hair & bike hanging from your tailgate.
BABY LEO BY TROUT LAKE!
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I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: AUGUST 25, 2019 WHERE: Marshall street yard sale Me: helping my friend sell his stuff at a yard sale, holding an adorable baby. You: 3 lovely people plus an adorable baby of your own. After you left with your purchases I wished I’d gotten your number! Let me know if you want an extra baby/mama friend to visit at the park :)
SAVE ON FOODS NORTH VAN
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FERRY FROM VICTORIA
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I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: AUGUST 25, 2019 WHERE: Ferry/bus/skytrain I saw you at the ferry terminal, on the ferry, on the bus and then we rode the same skytrain carriage back to Vancouver. You got off at Olympic Village. I don’t think I’ve been so stunned to the point of feeling awkward even looking in someone’s direction. You have striking features and are utterly beautiful. Dress remarkably well, too.
PLATFORM 7 FEELS
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I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: JULY 3, 2019 WHERE: Platform 7
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Early July. You J me L. You came into the coffee shop on Hastings and Nanaimo with your young, blond toddler. We made eye contact and you shyly waved goodbye as you left. I met you again, minutes later, at the grocery store across the street and laughed nervously. We made small talk in the lineup about swimming at Templeton pool. You said you hoped to see me again but our paths haven’t crossed since and I’m impatient. I don’t know what your situation is but I want to tell you anyway that I feel something nice when I reflect on our encounter, and I’m not afraid of single dads if you are one.
NEW “CANE-FRIEND”
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I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: AUGUST 24, 2019 WHERE: On The Drive On Commercial, good food, a few drinks, absolutely captivating conversation...
CUTIE RIDING THE ALL-CITY
I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: AUGUST 24, 2019 WHERE: Save on foods, Marine Drive, North Vancouver
I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: AUGUST 19, 2019 WHERE: 10th Avenue
I can't believe I am actually posting this. Yet here I am ... If you remember going for the baskets, trying to chat in line and our actual conversation a few minutes later hit me up. I'd love to connect. S.
I caught up to you at Fraser, you caught up to me at Kingsway and flashed me a big smile. I was in pink, you in all black. Wanted to say something but we got separated at the next light. Want to go for a ride some time?
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Visit straight.com to post your FREE I Saw You _ SEPTEMBER 5 – 12 / 2019 THE GEORGIA STR AIGHT 9