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.

Love & Hate – Adult Orange Julius

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Who doesn’t love a good food court? Even the Sip Advisor tips his cap to these collections of gastronomic greatness. Here’s some reasons to appreciate these quick serve plazas:

Variety

You can practically travel and taste the world at a food court. If your group is big – and adventurous – enough, you could put together quite the international smorgasbord, featuring culinary delights from across the globe. You could also cover the multiple courses (appy, main, dessert) of a meal in one stop. The possibilities are endless.

Satisfy Everyone

Even picky eaters, kids included, can find something delectable at a food court. With the Sipplings in tow, Mrs. Sip and I have definitely hit multiple stalls in order to get the kids and ourselves fed. Why can’t offspring, who share similar genetic makeup, be more agreeable on tastes and preferences?

Food Court Salad

Try New Things

Thanks to food courts, I’ve been able to try some restaurants – and types of food – I may not normally have been able to consider or access. Yes, I’m still prone to visiting some of my long-time favourite fast food chains, but food courts at least allow for me the opportunity to think about experimenting.

Good Meeting Place

The food court is a perfect destination to set as the spot to either meet folks to start your day, end your day or both. You can begin or end with a meal… or both. I’m not here to criticize your gluttony! The food court also offers a fantastic people watching forum, keeping those who arrive earliest entertained.

Better than Shopping

The Sip Advisor vehemently hates malls. Like, capital H Hate… like, all caps HATE! So, if I have to be at a mall, I’d rather be eating or chilling in the food court than popping into any stores. Like most fellas, I know exactly what I want and where I can procure it. I definitely can’t stand going shopping with no plan in place.

Cat Hates Mall

While food courts can be amazing for mealtime, not every element of these places are for the better. Let’s take a look at elements that may keep folks away from these areas:

Lineups

Getting your food order in could be difficult, depending on time of day and popularity of your selected stall. There can also be confusion over who has already ordered and who hasn’t, as folk mill around waiting for their food. Even wading through a sea of people to look at restaurant menus or get to the next location can be tough.

Indecision

With so many options, sometimes it’s hard narrowing down your choice. I typically decide what to eat based on what I’ve eaten recently or what’s upcoming on the menu plan, looking to grab something different than meals that sandwich the current one. While this tactic works most of the time, occasionally I’m still split on what to choose.

Food Court Seat

Finding a Table

During peak times, such as the lunch and dinner rushes, nabbing a table to sit at can be trying. The difficulty level goes up depending on your group size. I hate seeing a single person taking up a four-seat table, but they were likely in a similar situation to me and just grabbed the first thing that came along. I have seen attempts for more communal eating areas, but that leads to my next point…

Annoying Fellow Eaters

I was recently at a food court, where someone at a neighbouring table was watching something on their phone with the volume blasted to the highest possible level. There can also be a general displeasing amount of noise as volumes grow and people try to talk over the general racket. If these things bug you, avoid peak food court hours.

No Liquor Options

Food halls have become popular around the world, often offering a few options for folks to grab a craft beer or glass of wine. Sadly, that is not the case with food courts, which don’t offer any alcoholic beverages. Surely, we can all work on this and allow a couple locations per food court to be licensed to serve. What a utopia that would be!

Love & Hate: Adult Orange Julius

Adult Orange Julius

  • 1.5 oz Vanilla Whiskey
  • Top with Orange Juice
  • Splash of Milk

I went with this cocktail given Orange Julius is a food court staple, found in almost every mall I’ve ever visited. There are many variations of this blended recipe, so I’ve combined them into a version that most appeals to me. Happy shopping food courting to all!

Cocktail Corner – Breakfast of Champions

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Today, the Sip Advisor will discuss his favourite animals to eat. If you’re a vegan or vegetarian, you will probably not like this article and I get that. As a card carrying member of the carnivore club, though, I also don’t care. Here are my preferred meals from the animal kingdom:

Duck

In recent years, I’ve really become fond of duck dishes. One restaurant we frequented a couple years back did a tremendous Duck & Fig Pizza, which began my appreciation for the meat. Since then, I’ve been quick to notice when other menus offer duck and also quick to order.

Duck

Lobster

Not much beats a lobster tail with hot butter, especially if it has been prepared to be easily removed from its shell. Lobster Rolls can also be delicious, even when offered by McDonald’s. Other shellfish that didn’t make the list, but deserve mentioning, including crab and crayfish.

Cow

For some reason, when the Sip Advisor was a wee little one, I didn’t like ground beef. Thankfully, that has changed and I now crave the stuff, crumbled on nachos, pizza, pasta, fries, you name it. I’m also an avid burger lover and, on occasion, a medium-rare serving of steak hits the spot.

Cows

Chicken

I love all things chicken, from fingers to wings (preferably boneless, but beggars can’t be choosers) and breasts to thighs. There doesn’t seem to be a single part of the chicken that doesn’t taste good. Basically, if you can bread and fry it, I’ll probably eat it. Without chicken dishes, I may not have made it out of my childhood healthy.

Pig

Bacon… that’s it. Seriously, does anything more need to be said? I will say more though, because items like pulled pork, breakfast sausage, prosciutto, pepperoni, and pork chops deserve mentioning. The only pig product that gives me pause is ham, but I do love a good Hawaiian pizza.

Cocktail Corner: Breakfast of Champions

Breakfast of Champions

  • 1.5 oz Crown Royal Whiskey
  • 0.5 oz Jagermeister
  • Dashes of Angostura Bitters
  • Top with Orange Juice
  • Garnish with a Bacon Skewer

While the recipe calls for using Crown Royal Maple, I used my Crown Royal Texas Mesquite bottle instead. Narrowly missing the cut for my favourite animals to eat would be turkey, cod/haddock/halibut, salmon, lamb, and veal. In the next Cocktail Corner, I will delve into the most unique animals I’ve had the chance to nibble!

Sip Trips #234: Lodge Lovers

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May was very busy, highlighted by our trip to Great Wolf Lodge in Grand Mound, Washington. There was also Vancouver Canucks playoff games, an All Elite Wrestling (AEW) show and other celebrations to fill the month. Here’s what the Sip Advisor has been up to:

For Cinco de Mayo, Mrs. Sip activated her plan to cruise Port Moody’s Brewer’s Row, where taco trucks – and of course beer – can be easily procured. We hit five of the six breweries that line the route, which was quite the achievement given we started later in the day and had the Sipplings in tow. We were also joined by friends who had their two kids along, as well.

My orders at each place were as follows: Moody Ales (Beach Haze IPA), Brave Brewing (Face the Music Belgian IPA), Rewind Brewing (Bling Bling Golden Ale), Yellow Dog Brewing (Ferocious Wild IPA), and Twin Sails Brewing (All Purpose Calamansi Pale Ale). An additional note on the day, I really want to try the Return of the Mac pizza (Detroit-style) at Rewind, which is topped like a McDonald’s Big Mac, but it was a feature pie, so not sure how long it will be around.

Cinco de Mayo

Sadly, the day wasn’t all fun and games. Henceforth, the Sip Advisor will be boycotting Yellow Dog Brewing. While there, an employee informed us of a vague complaint against our kids. I admit, my kids aren’t angels all the time, but it was odd the complaint came as the four youngsters were sitting at a table colouring and watching tablets, not running around the place or being loud. The brewery was filled to near capacity and noise levels were high, so I’m not sure how the children were picked out amongst the general racket. My theory is they just wanted tables to go to drinking customers and were kind of forcing us out, although there was no lineup to get into the place. It’s hard enough trying to get kids out and about, especially in the rain, so to be treated in this manner when the kids were actually behaving sucked. Yellow Dog… you just made the list!

Later that week, Mrs. Sip was out for the night with Girl Sip, so I took Boy Sip out for dinner at Boston Pizza in New Westminster. I ordered The Triple Play appetizer platter, which included Bandera Bread, Thai Bites and Cactus Cut Potatoes. To drink, I had a Boston-size serving of Blue Moon. Unfortunately, this was not a great dining experience. After being seated, no server looked after us for 20 minutes, until I asked the host for some attention. Then, after ordering food and drinks, our food arrived while our beverages never had. I wrote the manager of the location and she made good on what happened with a kid’s meal coupon, as well as something for me to use on a future visit. Hopefully, this was merely a one-off occasion.

The next day, a friend and I had tickets to the first ever AEW show in Vancouver. Prior to the event, we met at Browns Socialhouse to enjoy their happy hour. During that time, I had a number of their Social IPAs, also ordering the Sesame Ginger Gyoza to help absorb some of the suds. At the show itself, I had a couple more beers and tried a can of Cutwater Margarita, which carries an astonishing 12.5% ABV. For a night cap – as if one was needed – we went to Devil’s Elbow, where I had a pint of Parkside Motel Hazy Pale Ale.

Gyoza

Days later, we were heading back downtown for the Canucks Road Game Viewing Party at Rogers Arena. Prior to our commute, the Sip Family ate dinner at Kelly O’Bryans, where I had a pair of Steel & Oak Red Pilsners with my meal of their Chicken Lips. We hope to return to the restaurant regularly this summer for their trivia nights or dueling pianos on their patio.

As for the viewing party, which cost $20 per ticket, it was amazing to see fans so passionate for a game being broadcast on the big screen. This was our chance to get the kids involved in the chaos, as taking them to a live contest is just not affordable. While at the party, I had a couple of spiced rum and cokes to pass the time… and stress.

Mrs. Sip and I were back at it two nights later, this time live for Game 5 of the second round series the Canucks were playing against the vile Edmonton Oilers. Before the game, we sat down to dinner at Devil’s Elbow, where I had the delicious The Devil’s Burger with Fries. My selection was tough, as I could have picked a number of items from the menu. I also ate some of Mrs. Sip’s Crispy Cauliflower and Smoked Chicken Wings to round out the feast. To drink, I started with a happy hour Crosstown IPA, followed by the Brassneck Assistant Manager. This brew was described by the restaurant as a New England IPA, but Brassneck describes it as a Tart Blonde Ale and that’s the more accurate description.

Playoff Hockey

At the game, which the Canucks won after scoring the go-ahead goal with only 30 seconds left in regulation, I had another spiced rum and coke to calm the nerves. Sadly, this would be final Canucks post-season win, as they were eliminated a few nights later. The season and playoff run featured many memorable moments. At the same time, drinking about every second night during the post-season was a little exhausting, albeit fun.

As the Canucks season sputtered to an end, the Sip Family was on vacation at Great Wolf Lodge. Our trek began with an overnight stay outside of Tacoma, Washington. We had dinner this first night at Boathouse 19. When we first arrived, I noted they had some rhubarb desserts and I love rhubarb. Then I noticed they had rhubarb cocktails, so I had the plant in drink form with the Rhubarb-Strawberry Mai Tai (made with local rhubarb, as it was rhubarb season). I also had a tasty dinner of the N’awlins Po’Boy with Fries.

The next afternoon, we checked into the lodge. Once again, Mrs. Sip bought the Sip & Savor Pass, which provides a number of treats for adults and kids alike. We also did some shopping the night before, stocking our room with various snacks and most importantly drinks, which for me included the White Claw Variety 24 Pack, as well as a bottle of Captain Morgan Spiced Rum with case of Dr. Thunder. Part of the Sip & Savor Pass are two tiki-themed cocktails, which we used on the Zombie and Mai Tai offerings. You can also choose between Mimosas or Bloody Mary’s, with Mrs. Sip and I electing for the latter. We also had a substantial food and drink credit to work our way through during our stay. With this, we tried a number of different items, including pizza, pretzels, nachos and corn bread. I particularly loved the Buffalo Chicken Pizza from the Hungry as a Wolf restaurant, paired with a pint of Widmer Brothers Hefeweizen from the new lobby bar.

Rhubarb

The end of the month had Mrs. Sip and I celebrating one of her colleagues wedding. Upon arriving at the reception portion of the day, we learned that it was an open bar affair, so the Sip Advisor did what he does best in these situations. Over the course of many beverages, I tried a can of White Claw Lemon Iced Tea for the first time. It was okay, but I think I’ll stick to my vodka sodas.

One final outing had the Sip Family checking out the new The Notorious Grey Fox Pub. The setting at what was formerly known as the “castle pub” has always been great. I enjoyed a pint of Slackwater Idleback Amber Ale, paired with the Classic Nashville Hot Chicken Waffle Sandwich. Mrs. Sip ordered the Mini Stuffed Yorkshire and Notorious Fries (made with Cajun spice and honey drizzle), while I snuck a bite of Girl Sip’s Classic Cheeseburger, which I plan to order next time we visit the eatery.

That puts a bow on the month of May. As is always the case, our June – and subsequent summer – is already filling up with birthdays, weddings, getaways and much more. It should all make for many fuzzy memories!

Love & Hate – Salad in a Glass

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The Sip Advisor’s first real job was working in a grocery store deli department, so I have a great deal of experience with various salads. Of those, some I love and others I hate. Let’s start with the salads I’m happy to see served:

Greek Salad

I’m not opposed to doing things Greek and that includes their salad style. I thoroughly enjoy a Greek Salad as part of any platter served at a taverna. Ma Sip also makes a mean Greek Salad, as part of gatherings hosted at their estate. There’s something about the blend of tomatoes, cucumbers, olives and feta cheese – I typically remove the onion from my servings – that is so refreshing, along with a delicious dressing.

Caesar Salad

I’m a big fan of Caesar Salad. As I write this, I have a bagged one sitting in the fridge, just waiting to be blended and devoured. How much do I love Caesar Salad? I will sometimes opt for it as a side over fries. Yeah, my devotion is that serious. I have also been known to make up a family sized bag of the salad and eat it all to myself. The only time a Caesar Salad is bad is when kale is used instead of lettuce. Did you know we have Tijuana, Mexico, to thank for this dish?

Caesar Salad

Macaroni/Noodle/Pasta Salad

I don’t care what you call it, just serve it up! This preferred side of B-B-Q events pairs well with so many main dishes. One of my favourite versions of the salad is the one offered by KFC restaurant locations, which works quite harmoniously with fried chicken. Apparently, there’s something called a Garbage Plate, where you load up a platter with everything typically found at a barbecue, including macaroni salad, fries, hotdog/hamburger meat and various condiments.

Some honourable mentions go to Coleslaw, Potato Salad, Goma-ae and Chinese Chicken Salad. On the flip side, here are some salads I hate:

Ambrosia Salad

I’m not one to take my dessert in salad form. Ambrosia Salad is composed of various fruits (pineapple, oranges, Maraschino cherries), along with marshmallows and coconut, and a dairy component of either whipped cream, sour cream, cream cheese or yogurt. That’s the ingredient that particularly sets me off. Ambrosia is based on mythical food eaten by the Greek gods, which was said to give them immortality. It was also purported to be served by doves, which has to be some sort of food safety violation.

Fruit Salad

Chef Salad/Cobb Salad

I feel these two salads are very similar, consisting of meats, veggies and cheeses all in one complete meal. What turns me off with these salads is the hard-boiled eggs ingredient, as well as the cheese they incorporate. The Cobb Salad, in particular, commits a massive foul with its blue cheese addition. While I won’t be sitting down to these dishes anytime soon, I do appreciate the history behind each, with both salads thought to have been invented at some of the most infamous hotels and restaurants in the U.S.

Bean Salad

Beans, beans, the musical fruit. The more you eat, the more you… let’s keep things civil here. Seriously, who wants to eat a dish comprised of bean after bean after bean. Not even a decent dressing/vinaigrette can save this abomination. Now, if we’re talking about a jelly bean salad, you may be onto something and have my attention. Wait, did I just create that!? Anyhoo, I’ll take a hard pass, regardless of whether it’s a three-bean, four-bean or infinity-bean conglomeration.

Love & Hate: Salad in a Glass

Salad in a Glass

  • 1.5 oz Vodka
  • 0.75 oz Ginger Liqueur
  • Top with Ginger Beer and Club Soda
  • Splash of Lime Juice
  • Dash of Simple Syrup
  • Garnish with Basil Leaves

I must take this opportunity to remind Ma Sip that she is to make Snickers Salad – Snickers bars, green apples, whipped topping, marshmallows, pudding – at some point. There’s also something called Cookie Salad – vanilla pudding, whipped cream, mandarin oranges, fudge stripe shortbread cookies – that deserves further research. Get on it Ma!

Cocktail Corner – Money Maker

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One of the greatest thrills in life is finding money. Sure, that means someone else has carelessly lost that same cash, but let’s celebrate the wins, rather than the losses. Here are some of the Sip Advisor’s memorable stories of coming into money:

Toy Story

When I was younger, I collected pro wrestling action figures. This led to many trips to toy stores, particularly when travelling in the U.S., where more variety was available. Anyhoo, on one shopping stop at KB Toys, as I went to pay for my haul, what did I find in the impulse bins by the cash register, but a crisp $20 bill. I had to retrieve the money in covert fashion, so as not to alert the cashier to it. Yes, a teenager Sip Advisor was already quite crafty.

Winner, Winner, Chicken Nugget Dinner

On my first adult trip to Las Vegas, I had just cleaned up pretty well at the electronic poker machine – you know, up a whole $60 because I’m the highest of rollers! – and on my walk back to our room to grab a drink, I happened across a $20 bill, just lying there in the middle of the hall. With currency conversion, finding American money was like winning the lottery.

Found Money

A Walk to (Sort Of) Remember

There’s nothing better than a fun night out with friends… until you find some cash on your walk home. Sure, it was only a fiver, but I celebrated the occasion like I’d won a sports championship. After all, that covered half of one of my brews (thanks Vancouver pricing!). This was among many great memories that came from the time in our lives when Jimmy’s Taphouse was our preferred local watering hole.

Yacht Clubbing

Friends of ours were members of the Vancouver Yacht Club when we were all living wonderful childless lives. As we partied one night, I stumbled across a bill sitting on the ground, but this was no ordinary piece of currency. No, it was 20 Swiss Francs, which translated into $50 Canadian when I went to exchange it. This was a fantastic way to end one of our many evenings along the water.

Cocktail Corner: Money Maker

Money Maker

  • 1.5 oz Gin
  • 0.5 oz Orange Liqueur
  • 0.25 oz Limoncello
  • Garnish with a Maraschino Cherry

I once thought the Sipplings would never get to experience the high of finding money, what with the general elimination of cash and coins, but we have found the odd nickel, dime or quarter when out and about. What are some of your memorable found money moments?

Love & Hate – BLT Cocktail

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One of my favourite things in the world to eat is a sandwich. I like sandwiches so much, I don’t mind making them myself. I mean, I prefer others to do the work, but this is one particular area where I’ll make the effort myself, if needed. Here are sandwich options I love:

BLT/Clubhouse

These relatively basic masterpieces are a highlight of any menu and something the Sip Advisor searches out, particularly at diner-themed eateries. Lays once released BLT potato chips and I loved the limited edition product. As for the sandwiches, I prefer turkey or chicken to be part of Club, over ham, since you already get some cured meat with the bacon, but I won’t be picky over the subject.

Peanut Butter & Jam

Since I was a kid, PB&Js have been a favourite lunchtime meal. It saddens me I can’t really get my kids into them with all the peanut allergies and school bans on nuts. I mean, I love PB&Js so much, I’ve even bought a vodka version and made PB&J cocktails. As for my preferred jam/jelly, I’ve always been a raspberry guy, but am open to other options, such as strawberry.

PB&J

Pulled Pork

A pub favourite, I have enjoyed many Pulled Pork Sandwiches over my life. These sandos seemed to come out of nowhere – or perhaps a younger, pickier Sip Advisor just wasn’t paying attention – but when they did hit my radar, I was all for the blend of barbecue sauce, pork, coleslaw, pickles, and crispy onions. I’m also down for the slider variation of this meal, allowing for sharing the joy.

There are so many honourable mentions I could include: Beef Dip, Grilled Cheese, Cheesesteak, Reuben, Smoked Meat, Lobster Roll, Po’ Boy, among them. Also, international menu items, such as the Cubano, Torta, Bahn Mi and Bifana deserve mention. Sadly, some despicable sandwiches lurk in the shadows. Here are the sandwiches I hate:

Tuna Salad

While I’ve recently become more of a fan of tuna dishes – poke bowls, in particular, becoming part of my preferred meal list – it would take a desperately hungry Sip Advisor to ever have a tuna salad sandwich. Same things goes with a tuna melt. Heck, anything with ‘salad’ in the title should remain a salad and not become a sandwich. I’m looking at you egg salad and chicken salad.

Mayonnaise

Cucumber

I love cucumbers, but they should not be the focal point of a sandwich and I would argue they shouldn’t be served between bread in any matter. They belong as part of a salad or on their own. I mean, you might as well just be eating bread. Mrs. Sip contends that Cucumber Sandwiches are a nice addition to afternoon teas, while I counter that afternoon teas are a tool of the devil.

Ham and Cheese

As noted above, I rank ham low on my meat hierarchy. Combine it with cheese, which a young Sip Advisor deplored and an adult Sip Advisor merely accepts, and you aren’t really appealing to my appetite in any way. I’m also down on sandwiches loaded with salamis, preferring those types of meats to be placed on crackers. And while I’ve never had a Bologna Sandwich, I don’t intend to.

Love & Hate: BLT Cocktail

BLT Cocktail

  • 1.5 oz Bourbon
  • Splash of Lemon Juice
  • Top with Tonic Water

While there is a drink that calls for you to blend bacon, lettuce and tomato with vodka, I went with this BLT recipe instead. After all, what truly makes a BLT great is mayo (or other sauces) and I don’t plan to put that in any beverage.

Sip Trips #233: Playoff Fever

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April was a very uneventful month, as far as outings go. We were trying to behave ourselves following our big Spring Break vacation and stayed in more than usual. That said, we did get up to a few things:

Upon arriving home from our epic Escondido road trip, we had dinner at Boston Pizza. I ordered the Royal Hawaiian pizza, but didn’t pair a drink with it, as it was finally time to do some post-holiday detox… I mean, at least for a day or two.

In the middle of the month, I took Girl Sip to our last regular season Vancouver Canucks game. As part of our daddy-daughter evening, we had a nice dinner at White Spot, where I ordered a pint of Bridge Bourbon Blood Orange Wheat Ale to go along with my Legendary Burger with Caesar Salad. Upon realizing that our game didn’t start until 7:30pm, instead of the typical 7:00pm, I added another beer to the tab in the Twin Sails Dat Juice Pale Ale.

Playoffs

The following week, the Canucks were in the playoffs and Mrs. Sip and I attended our first ever post-season contest. We also brought along each of our dads, as early Father’s Day gifts. Prior to the game, we had an amazing feast at Devil’s Elbow Ale & Smokehouse. We arrived just before happy hour ended, so I squeezed in an order of the Crosstown IPA. I would later add a pint of Neighbourhood Way of Life IPA. To eat, we got The Platter for FOUR, which includes pulled pork, beef brisket, sausage, back ribs, and wings, along with four sides, where we elected to add the sauteed mushrooms, coleslaw, fries and mac ‘n cheese cornbread. I particularly enjoyed the smoked wings and fries dipped in a grainy mustard they offered, but the whole spread was spectacular.

That’s it for the month. Shocking, I know. May should be a little more adventurous, including another getaway to Great Wolf Lodge in Washington. Until then, I guess I’ll have to continue (reluctantly) behaving myself!

Cocktail Corner – Moscow Mule

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The Sip Advisor loves food. I’m not a foodie, per se, as I don’t care to know the ins and out of my meals, but I do like eating. For various reasons, though, sometimes a place you visit just doesn’t live up to the hype. Here are my picks for the most overrated restaurants I’ve tried:

Chipotle

I prefer a chain such as Chronic Tacos over Chipotle, if I want to get a quick burrito or taco fix. And any true Mexican eatery is better than all the chain ones combined. My preferred menu choice at fast serve places – an Al Pastor Burrito – is completely bland at Chipotle. In particular, the sauces they offer aren’t very interesting, which combined with the other uninspired ingredients, leads to a very underwhelming experience. I’ve also found service to be particularly slow on the few occasions I’ve tried Chipotle. Perhaps I need to try an American location, before passing final judgment.

Chipotle

White Castle

I was so excited to finally eat at a White Castle location in 2013, while visiting New York City. This was years after Harold and Kumar introduced me to the chain with their wild misadventures. Boy, was I disappointed. I found the steamed burger experience to make buns soggy in quick order and a lack of any flavour substance to the experience. I’ve since tried the restaurant again, giving it another chance to wow me. Once again, I came away questioning why the company is so popular it was used for the movie franchise. Apparently Krispy Kreme was offered the role first, but declined. I do appreciate White Castle’s fascinating history of inventing many fast food concepts, but I’m not sure I’ll ever spend my time or money at one again.

In-N-Out

This burger chain is so popular that long lines course through their locations. And the wait just isn’t worth it. I expected to be blown away by the California-based icon, but found it to be nothing special. On our most recent trip to the Golden State, we contemplated visiting an In-N-Out, but with no chicken option on their menu, Boy Sip would have nothing to eat and so passed on the opportunity. I think part of my annoyance with In-N-Out is that I don’t know what exactly to order and their not-so-secret secret menu just complicates the issue for me even more.

In-N-Out

Cheesecake Factory

I’ve had some good meals at Cheesecake Factory and others that were disappointing for one reason or another, whether it be a long wait to be seated or my meal being lackluster. The restaurant’s menu is so massive, it takes a fair bit of time to narrow down your order and I personally never remember what I previously had and whether or not I enjoyed it. It’s one of those things where they do a lot of things in average fashion, rather than focusing on fewer items and doing them all well… or at least better. One thing can’t be denied, the cheesecake they offer is fantastic.

Little Caesar’s

When Little Caesar’s first came to my hometown as a young kid, it was the pizza to get for sports team gatherings. Crazy Bread was practically a revelation for my generation. Today, the Sipplings also love Crazy Bread (or Silly Bread as they call it), but let’s be honest here, the pizza at Little Caesar’s is not very good. Sure, I’ll grab a Hot-N-Ready offering when I’m at the store (because I’m a top notch dad, of course), but I’m typically disappointed with the pizza, even at the cheap price. For me, their pizza sauce just isn’t very good, lacking any flavour. And that lack of flavour continues throughout the rest of a slice. Drowning my ‘za with ranch dressing is really the only way to get through a Little Caesar’s pie.

Cocktail Corner: Moscow Mule

Moscow Mule

  • 2 oz Vodka
  • Top with Ginger Beer
  • Splash of Lime Juice
  • Garnish with a Lime Slice

Other places that seem to come up in lists of overrated restaurants, but I can’t comment on, as I’ve never sampled their wares, include Chick-fil-A and Whataburger. For a few others (Olive Garden, Panera, etc.), I’ve only visited once, so feel I haven’t given them a fair enough shake to comment. As for today’s drink, the Moscow Mule comes up on many lists of overrated beverages. While I’ve made a number of the drink’s variations for this site, I’ve never made the original, a cocktail I do enjoy.

Love & Hate – The Spudtini

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Potatoes are so versatile. They can be used in tons of different dishes, many of which the Sip Advisor enjoys and others… eh, not so much. Here are the potato creations I love:

Chips

I’ve made it very clear over the course of this project that the Sip Advisor is a Chippy Monster. Rarely a day goes by – for better or worse – that I’m not eating these amazing snacks. I even had a potato chip-themed party as part of my 40th birthday celebrations. To say the Sip Advisor is one with the chip would be an understatement. They are my spirit food!

Hash Browns

I like all things hash browns, whether they be diced, shredded, patties, etc. One of my favourite meals that Ma Sip often serves up is Breakfast for Dinner, featuring bacon and hash browns. This turns the Sip Advisor almost animalistic, as I try to shovel as much of the feast into my body until I’m bursting at the seams. Even the Sipplings, picky as they can be, rank this meal highly.

Hash Browns

Fries/Tater Tots

I’m going to lump these two together because that’s how they’re listed on my phone grocery list note. If I have fries, I don’t need tots and vice versa. Both go great as side dishes to a variety of main courses. Burgers, sandwiches, chicken, fish, steak, I could go on and on. They can also both be used as focal points for meals such as casseroles, poutines and nacho-like spreads.

Narrowly missing the cut are Greek potatoes, potato salad, pierogies and fried potatoes. Not all that fries is gold, however. Here are the potato servings I hate:

Baked Potato

I just don’t get the appeal of baked potatoes. First, they take forever to make, needing 45-60 minutes to cook. Once made, they’re pretty bland, unless you load them up with excessive toppings. This isn’t so easy, given the shape of the dish, unless you do the work to pull all the guts out. It is much simpler – and tastier – to work with fries or tots to achieve far better results.

Baked Potato

Mashed Potatoes

In a similar vein to baked potatoes, I find mashed potatoes to be fairly boring, even spiced up with gravy or other enhancements. If sauces and other toppings are needed to make something even somewhat tolerable, why bother!? I will give credit to mashed potatoes as a gateway spud dish, as kids can enjoy playing with their food and they’re easy to eat for young ones.

Scalloped Potatoes

I’m not sure exactly why I dislike these cheesy, saucy taters, but if I see them served at a function, I almost have a gag reflex to them. Perhaps it dates back to my dislike of all things cheese-related as a youngster. Although my tastes have evolved as I’ve grown up, I still find this dish to be too slimy for my liking and don’t like that the potatoes are soggy and limp.

Love & Hate: The Spudtini

The Spudtini

  • Rim glass with Potato Chips
  • Muddle Cucumber Slices
  • 2 oz Potato Vodka
  • Splash of Lemon Juice
  • Dash of Simple Syrup
  • Pinch of Salt
  • Garnish with Cucumber and Lemon Slices

Regardless of how I feel about various potato dishes, one thing will always remain true: the crispier the better for the Sip Advisor… unless they come in liquid form, of course!

Cocktail Corner – The Corner Store

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Sometimes I’m caught reminiscing about the stores that have come and gone in my life. Places that provided me with various levels of joy, but no longer exist. Here are some of those businesses:

#5: HMV

A favourite store of a young Sip Advisor, HMV was the place to get the latest music, movie or even poster. I never knew until now, but HMV stood for His Master’s Voice, taken from a painting of a dog listening to a phonograph, which became the company’s logo. After all, the company first existed as a one of the earliest recording companies, founded in 1921. Some HMV locations can still be found in the U.K. Similar companies, such as Suncoast Motion Picture Company (only five locations left in the U.S. as of 2021) are also deserving of mention in this category.

HMV

#4: Playdium Arcade

When Burnaby’s Metrotown Mall added its Metropolis expansion, one of the feature tentants was Playdium Arcade, complete with arcade games, fun food, motion simulators, and the other typical arcade fare. Today, the space is occupied by a Winners store. How the mighty have fallen! Reasons for the mid-2000s closure vary from mismanagement to rent increases. Apparently, The Rec Room, which has opened a location nearby the Sip Advisor, is a spiritual successor of Playdium, so Mrs. Sip and I will have to check out the place sometime.

#3: Future Shop

It used to be that any time of friend or family member’s birthday approached, a simple trip to Future Shop provided ample opportunity to get a gift for whoever was being celebrated. It was also a one-stop destination for Christmas presents. Future Shop was acquired by Best Buy, once the chain moved north from the U.S. While the Best Buys still exist, I just don’t have any reason to go in them anymore, as I haven’t bought anything they offer in years. In a similar vein, I should include Circuit City, which was visited on countless trips to the States as a teen and young adult.

Future Shop

#2: KB Toys

Toys R’ Us (which many Americans would include on a list like this, but the store still exists in Canada) may have been the king of toy stores when I was growing up, but there was a certain charm to KB Toys stores, which were stocked as high as can be with toys of every type in small, narrow-aisled facilities. I have many memories of finding wrestling figures and other treasured items at the Bellis Fair location in Bellingham, Washington. I also remember once coming up to the cashier at another location and finding a $20 bill laying right in front of me. I got my toy and got some cash, so it was a big win on all accounts.

#1: Rogers Video/Blockbuster/Jumbo Video

The video rental store has gone the way of the dodo, which makes me sad in that I’ll never get to share that experience with the Sipplings. Before Blockbuster finally arrived in Canada, other options such as Rogers Video and Jumbo Video provided me and my friends with countless hours of enjoyment. It all started with the thrill of perusing the thousands of titles available and deciding on what you wished to view on any given night. Then, the actual watching of the movie, TV show or other form of media was almost secondary. Mrs. Sip and I often reminisce about this amazing part of our childhoods and early dating years.

Cocktail Corner: The Corner Store

The Corner Store

  • 2 oz Whiskey
  • 0.25 oz Absinthe
  • Top with Club Soda
  • Splash of Cherry Syrup
  • Splash of Lemon Juice
  • Dash of Yuzu Juice
  • Dash of Ginger Beer
  • Garnish with Maraschino Cherries

An honourable mention goes to Payless Shoes, which provided me the opportunity to get my shoe shopping done quickly for minimal cost. That’s all I’ve ever asked from my shopping experiences!