Author Archives: Daniel Wilson

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About Daniel Wilson

I love making drinks for my friends and family, and, of course, sampling my concoctions myself! Finding and playing around with recipes is a favourite past time of mine and I hope to share that passion with all my readers.

Mixer Mania #24 – Cut of Pork

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As today’s featured mixer is the Lester’s Fixins Bacon Soda, I just can’t get the pork product out of my mind. That got me thinking about all the great fictional pigs out there. Here are some of those swine:

Porky Pig – Looney Tunes

Porky Pig has been stuttering his way into our hearts since 1935. Although Porky can sometimes be pushed to the limits of sanity (by the likes of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck), he’s generally a jovial fellow. We’ll always remember him for his trademark catchphrase: “That’s all folks!”

Miss Piggy – The Muppets

If Porky Pig is the king of the sty, then Miss Piggy would be his queen. I’d actually like to see a crossover project of that nature, although you’d have to imagine Miss Piggy would only be using Porky to make long-time beau Kermit the Frog jealous.

Overly Attached Girlfriend

Babe – Babe

This little porker was so talented, it was considered for a Best Actor Oscar… only the character was played by countless animals, so it was hard to nominate one sole “actor”. Still, folks fell in love with Babe, leading to a sequel that earned high praise from both Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert.

Hamton J. Pig – Tiny Toon Adventures

Following in the footsteps of Porky Pig is a daunting task, but at least at Acme Looniversity, Hamton has the opportunity to learn from the master, himself. Much like Porky, Hamton is often at the mercy of his partners, such as Plucky Duck.

ManBearPig – South Park

A figment from the imagination of former US vice-president Al Gore, ManBearPig was something to be feared. Of course, during the Imaginationland saga, ManBearPig comes to life and is every bit as terrible as Mr. Gore always claimed it would be.

manbearpig

Piglet – Winnie the Pooh

While Piglet is among my least favourite Winnie the Pooh characters, the loyal friendship he provides to the loveable honey-obsessed bear is truly touching. Piglet even got his own feature film, which featured Pooh and pals searching for the little alarmist.

Pumbaa – The Lion King

Warthog Pumbaa, along with meerkat Timon, seemingly help young lion Simba mature from cat to king of the jungle through the course of one song. These sidekicks to the future ruler of the Pridelands proved so popular that they received their own cartoon series and film.

Ganon – The Legend of Zelda

Before he was changed to a human, the evil sorcerer Ganon was originally a pig-like being and a thorn in the side of Hyrulians everywhere. His tireless pursuit of the Triforce – for the purpose of malicious intent and Hyrule domination – has led to many adventures for our hero Link.

Ganondorf

Bebop – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Sticking with pig-like baddies, this mutant warthog is a constant pain for the TMNT crew to deal with. Although, along with fellow thug Rocksteady, he’s mostly a bumbling temporary distraction, Bebop has been known to do some degree of damage, along the way.

Bad Piggies – Angry Birds

The antagonists of the Angry Birds franchise have proven so popular that they even got their own game: Bad Piggies. Sure, they are evil and have stolen bird eggs for consumption – plus the pigs surly snicker when you fail a level is infuriating – but there’s something endearing about these villains.

Mixer Mania #24: Bacon & Eggs

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  • Rim glass with Bacon Bits
  • 1.5 oz Whiskey
  • Top with Bacon Soda
  • Dash of Egg Whites

Pigs may perhaps be the best tasting animal out there, but you wouldn’t want to eat those previous little piggies.

Sip Advisor Bar Notes (3 Sips out of 5):
Much like with my efforts to find a cocktail recipe for the Peanut Butter & Jelly Soda, this was not an easy task. I went with this idea and altered it as needed. The drink was highlighted by the Jack Daniel’s Honey Whiskey and the Bacon Bit Rim. That said, the Bacon Soda was a decent contributor, as well.

Snack Time #23 – PayDay Texas BBQ

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Mrs. Sip and I have long been devotees of PayDay peanut-caramel bars. So, imagine my thrill when I spotted this unique product, while exploring the massive confines of the Dubai Mall in the United Arab Emirates.

The PayDay Texas BBQ variation was interesting. Despite being a fan of barbecue peanuts, I was curious to see how the hickory flavour would mix with the chewy caramel center PayDays are known for. I think the combo worked, but others may find it too odd.

PayDay Texas BBQ

The price of the bars – found in the Hershey World store – came to about $4 Canadian each, so they did not come cheap. I had to grab one though, as even the regular PayDay variation is not available in Canada, let alone any special renderings.

I’ve mentioned before my pursuit for the PayDay Avalanche (chocolate-covered) bar. I also wish I had the opportunity to try the Honey Roasted limited edition release that was available in 2003.

For more Snack Time articles, please visit our main page…

Sip Trips #106: Northern Exposure

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This week was another busy one, with Mrs. Sip and I joining her family for a wedding in northern BC/Alberta. Along the way, we made sure to have some good food and beer. What else would you expect for your friendly neighbourhood booze pusher!

Leaving Thursday morning, we stopped for lunch in 100 Mile House at the Firehouse Diner. There, I enjoyed a Whistler Powder Mountain Lager with a Pickle Burger that was overflowing with deep fried pickle chips. The place had a number of other burgers and sandwiches that caught my eye, so I will keep it in mind for future passes through the city.

Kind of a Big Dill.jpg

Our first day of driving ended with us arriving in Quesnel, home to Barkerville Brewing. I have always enjoyed beers from the company, so a visit – brief as it was – was definitely in order. I downed a pint of their High Stakes Imperial IPA, while Sis-in-Law Sip had the White Gold Witbier. The tasting room was bustling with locals and we enjoyed the ambiance of the place, wishing we had more time to play one of their available games and try some of the other ales.

That evening, we walked to the town’s BC Liquor Store, where I discovered the Three Ranges Brewing Orientation Kit six-pack. The set features two each of their Up Swift Creek Pilsner, Tail Slap IPA and seasonal Snowdance Porter or Swamp Donkey Brown Ale, depending on time of year. I really like this new trend of 2×3 six-packs, also having come across similar products from Cannery Brewing and Bridge Brewing, while Steamworks Brewing offers a 2×4 tall can eight-pack. After all, variety is the spice of life.

Spice of Life.jpg

The next day, we were on the road again, stopping at CrossRoads Brewing in Prince George for lunch. We really liked their space, complete with great eats and drinks. Sis-in-Law Sip and I shared a couple flights, in order to try each of their beers. Among my favourites were Old Westie Amber Lager, English Summer Ale and Mother Heffer. On special was a BLT Pizza, which was fantastic and really hit the spot for me.

The weekend concluded with a post-wedding family barbecue, where the Sip In-Laws picked me up a bomber of Dead Frog Furious Friar Belgian IPA. The brew was perfect for sitting back outdoors in the shade, but unfortunately, Mrs. Sip and I couldn’t stay long and were off to the airport to fly back home.

This weekend, Canada celebrates its 150th birthday and there will certainly be hijinks to report on in the next edition of Sip Trips!

Beer of the Week #23 – Britannia Sirens Chai Saison

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With a friend and fellow beer lover visiting from London, a little tour of the BC craft scene was in order. One of our stops provided me with the chance to finally try something from newbie Britannia Brewing.

The Sirens Chai Saison was available as a guest tap and I really enjoyed my pint. The chai tea blend includes elements of rooibos, orange, star anise, clove and pepper. The beverage comes in at 5.7% ABV and 22 IBUs.

Britannia Sirens Chai Saison.jpg

The beer can be found in bomber-sized bottles, for those lured to the call. The Chai Saison is already gaining attention and accolades, taking home a Judge’s Choice Award for Best Saison from the 2017 Fest of Ale.

Opened in late 2016, the brewery strives “to brew with British tradition and west coast ingenuity using the best seasonal ingredients we can get.” Now I need to get to their tasting room to try their other wares.

For more Beer of the Week articles, please visit our main page…

Mixer Mania #23 – Word Play

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Have you ever wondered where some of our sayings for approval come from? Well, as we feature Peach Juice as this week’s mixer, let’s take a look at some of those sayings and delve into their origins:

Peachy Keen

Sometimes shortened to simply ‘peachy’, the term can often be used ironically, when things aren’t going as well as originally hoped. Radio DJ Jim Hawthorne is credited with making the term popular and it was even used by Rizzo in the movie Grease.

Cool

Saxophonist Lester Young is credited with first popularizing the word cool as slang. Nicknamed Prez, Young encapsulated the African-American jazz scene of the 1940’s and the culture it inspired. The musician can also be recognized for coining the term ‘bread’ to mean money.

Being Awesome Takes Practice

Groovy

Most often heard from the cast of Scooby Doo, groovy is also a jazz slang term from the 1920’s, referring to the grooves in a vinyl record. It returned with a vengeance in the 1960’s and became a big part of the hippie counter-culture of the time.

Sweet

While diabetics and those dieting try to avoid things that are sweet, for the exact same reasons, the word has become a slang term used by folks to describe something great. After all, we all love things that are sweet… some of us just can’t have those things.

Gnarly

After going through a couple incarnations, including being used by surfers in the 1970’s to describe a dangerous wave, it was picked up by teens in the 1980’s to describe something that was excellent. The same backstory explains the word ‘Tubular’, as well.

Gnarly Test Answer.jpg

Wicked

Much more than a Broadway play, wicked can now be used to describe everything from awful to amazing things. Apparently, the concept was born and bred in Boston, Massachusetts and now that I’ve pointed that out, you can totally hear a New Englander saying it.

Awesome

Literally meaning “something which inspires awe”, with the word becoming more used as slang, it has lost some of its original significance. That said, it has brought to the world such enhanced terms as awesome sauce, awesomeness and awesometastic.

Hip

Once again, we go to the African-American jazz scene and their vernacular for this one. Meaning “fashionably current”, Wikipedia reminds us that what is hip is continuously changing. As Grampa Simpson once said: “I used to be with it, but then they changed what ‘it’ was”.

Mixer Mania #23: Shanghai Sunset

Shanghai Sunset.JPG

  • 1.5 oz Orange Vodka
  • Top with Peach Juice
  • Splash of Lemon-Lime Soda
  • Dash of Grenadine
  • Garnish with a Maraschino Cherry

Put most of the words together and this sounds like a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles work. Of course, some honourable mentions go to terms like tight, sick and bad, which imply the opposite of their original meaning.

Sip Advisor Bar Notes (3.5 Sips out of 5):
The Grenadine didn’t show up as well as I’m used, but perhaps that’s because I went very light with it, not wanting the cocktail to become too sweet. The little fireball in the sky, courtesy of the Maraschino Cherry garnish, was still present, though.

Snack Time #22 – Dutch Crunch Parmesan & Garlic Kettle Chips

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When Mrs. Sip and I returned from our recent vacation, Ma Sip was raving about a new chip flavour she had discovered. Upon hearing about the Dutch Crunch variety, I was totally ready for a serving!

The Parmesan & Garlic Kettle Chips are very tasty and addictive. A balance between “rich parmesan and light garlic flavors” was the aim and Dutch Crunch says the chips are perfect for a family picnic or afternoon snack.

Dutch Crunch Parmesan & Garlic Kettle Chips

Kettle chips rank second right behind ripple chips on the Sip Advisor’s potato chip depth chart. I love a good crunch and kettle chips provide that in spades. That’s why I’ve long been a fan of the Old Dutch Foods brand.

Another Dutch Crunch Kettle Chips flavour that intrigues me is the Bistro Blend. This variety features “a savoury mix of garden grown spices” and are apparently served in Upper Midwest restaurants.

For more Snack Time articles, please visit our main page…

Sip Trips #105: Went By in a Blur

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This past week was incredibly busy for Mrs. Sip and I. So busy, that my head is still spinning… and that’s not from all the booze consumed! Let’s get right down to it…

On Friday, we wrapped up work and immediately hit the road to Tacoma, Washington to watch comedian Christopher Titus perform at the Tacoma Comedy Club. We made it just in time for the 10:30pm show and beers were desperately needed for us weary travellers. Cousin Sip’s husband and I split a couple pitchers of Manny’s Pale Ale from Georgetown Brewing out of Seattle. The show was amazing, as expected. As we waited in line to meet Mr. Titus afterwards, the bar was selling pints of Budweiser for $2 and we figured, “Ah, why the hell not!”

I had also picked up a bomber of Alaskan Brewing Icy Bay IPA at a gas station en route to Tacoma, so that acted as my nightcap before grabbing a few hours of sleep and returning to Vancouver Saturday morning. I wish we didn’t have to rush the stay across the border, but with friends visiting from London, we had to be back for more fun.

morning sunglasses

After meeting up with our guests, the ladies went their way, while the gents searched for craft beer. Our first stop was at Central City’s Vancouver location. There, I paired some Chicken Strips and Fries with the brewery’s Super Stellar IPA, which made for a great combo. For dessert I ordered their Hefeweizen, bringing to mind thoughts of summer, as we wait patiently for the weather to cooperate.

Next up was a short walk to Devil’s Elbow Ale & Smoke House. Here, I was able to try the Britannia Brewing Sirens Chai Saison, which was available as a guest tap. Following that, I had the Howe Sound Jam Session Raspberry Cream Ale, another successful selection. Then, the night took a turn for the extreme with a round of tequila shots.

Feeling suitably buzzed, we rejoined the ladies for dinner at The Keg in Yaletown. Sitting on the restaurant’s rooftop patio, I enjoyed a pair of Caesar Diablo servings, made even better given their $5 daily special pricing.

Drinking Problem

On Monday, Ma Sip met me for lunch at Tap & Barrel in North Vancouver. Unfortunately, I was working, so was not able to imbibe as I usually would when visiting a T&B location. That said, I thoroughly enjoyed my PB&J Burger, which made for a nice substitute to my traditional meal of a PB&J Sandwich during the work week. The burger was messy, but totally worth the experience.

Tuesday, we finally had a meal at the Homer Street Cafe, which is located kitty-corner to my and Mrs. Sip’s humble abode. There to celebrate a friend’s birthday, I ordered their rotisserie quarter chicken meal, which was highlighted by their chicken jus for dipping. To wash it all down, I had a trio of brews, including the Howe Sound Summer Saison, Powell Street Old Jalopy Pale Ale and Storm Black Plague Stout. For a small beer menu, they sure packed some quality selections in.

It should be noted that this week’s wrap up doesn’t even include two games of baseball, Father’s Day celebrations, a trip to the theatre and another meal with our visitors from London. Busy times, for sure.

Beer of the Week #22 – Mt. Begbie Powerhouse Pale Ale

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With a theatre show to attend, Mrs. Sip and I decided to turn it into a full date night, stopping for dinner at Burgoo. There, I inquired about their Burgoo Brew and learned it was the Mt. Begbie Powerhouse Pale Ale.

As soon as I heard the brewery’s name, I was in for a pint, as the company has long been a favourite of mine. The 4.7% ABV, 22 IBUs beverage was just right for our night out, with nice flavouring and a moderate level of hops.

Mt. Begbie Powerhouse Pale Ale.jpg

The Powerhouse Pale Ale has been around for some time, winning a gold medal at the 2004 Canadian Brewing Awards. In fact, Mt. Begbie Brewing took home the Brewery of the Year prize at the 2017 version of the event.

While the ale is described as pairing best with spicy food, it also worked with my Chunky Chicken Salad. The brew can be found in bomber-sized bottles, as well as being a hidden gem of the Burgoo drink menu.

For more Beer of the Week articles, please visit our main page…

Mixer Mania #22 – What’s In A Name?

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When Mrs. Sip and I travelled to Egypt in 2008 – you know, before the country descended into total chaos – we found it funny that nearly every Egyptian would mention Canada Dry, the moment they discovered we were Canadian.

I mean, sure, they were likely just associating us with the one Canadian product they had come across in their lives (ironically manufactured by the Dr. Pepper Snapple Group in Texas), but should we take offence that they think we’re dry, packed with ginger and fizzy? At least we work well when healing an upset stomach or other ailment.

With Canada Dry in mind, here are a couple other nicknames for us Canadian folk:

Crazy Canucks

Canucks

I’ve never really liked this one, given that the Vancouver Canucks are my hometown hockey team and I don’t like the term being shared by the rest of the nation. The nickname dates back to being an Americanism, used to describe Dutch or French Canadians. We sure showed them, by creating the character of Johnny Canuck to combat their Uncle Sam.

At least the name has found its way into some good references, such as our national rugby team; the Crazy Canucks of ski racing; used at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics; and even Marvel Comics character Wolverine being dubbed “Ol’ Canucklehead” in some instances.

Canadian Animals.png

Hosers

Made famous by the duo of Bob and Doug McKenzie (played by Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas, respectively), these two hosts of the Great White North show were the original Wayne and Garth of Wayne’s World fame. The skits examined life in the Great White North that is Canada and the pair’s insult term of hosers kind of stuck.

While originally a disdainful term (along with the closely related ‘hosehead’), Canadians have grown fond of it over time, and have even embraced the nickname. Although it is rarely used anymore, for people of older generations, this is a handle we can all still appreciate with our trademark Canadian indifference.

The Coolest, Raddest, Baddest, Dudes and Dudettes on the Planet

Okay, I might have made that one up, but I think we could take this viral and, eventually, make it official!

Mixer Mania #22: The Grave Digger

The Grave Digger.JPG

  • 2 oz Hard Cider
  • 1 oz Whiskey
  • Top with Ginger Ale
  • Garnish with Licorice

I would have thought there’d be a lot more nicknames for Canadians, either created by us or by our American neighbours, but alas, there are only a few.

Sip Advisor Bar Notes (2.5 Sips out of 5):
This drink was okay, but the Hard Cider overshadowed the Ginger Ale. I’m also not thrilled with any recipe that only has an ounce of liquor in it.

 

Snack Time #21 – Ritter Sport Cocoa Creme

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When Cousin Sip joined Mrs. Sip and I for our weekly dinner, she supplied dessert in the form of a trio of new Ritter Sport releases. I will focus on one of those treats.

The Cocoa Creme variation was my favourite of the bunch. It seems Ritter Sport knows what they have on their hands, asking: “Better than ice cream? Yes: cocoa creme!”

Ritter Sport Cocoa Creme.png

Made with crispy chocolate flakes and creamy filling, Ritter Sport go on to say the Cocoa Creme product “makes everyone twice as happy!” The limited edition bar is only available for a short time.

The other varieties Cousin Sip brought over were the Honig & Crisp (honey with crispy flakes) and Johannisbeer Streusel (red currant yogurt and crumble).

For more Snack Time articles, please visit our main page…