Author Archives: Daniel Wilson

Unknown's avatar

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.

Cocktail Corner – She’s Paying

Posted on by
Reply

Let’s be honest, nobody really likes paying for anything, but it’s a necessary evil of our society. Here are some things in particular the Sip Advisor hates having to pay for:

Sauces at Eateries

You ever complete a food order and ask for some packets of ketchup or something, and the place tells you that will cost extra? I also hate when you’re at a place and they give you the tiniest little sauce container and upon asking for more, you get dinged some silly charge. The Sip Advisor is a sauce guy, through and through, so if I ever ran a joint, I’d offer up as much of the good stuff as a customer needed to complete their meal.

Unnecessary Tips

First and foremost, I believe in all workers making a living wage and appreciate places like Australia, where servers and others don’t need to rely on tips. I’m tired of places like fast food restaurants and other stores having a tip option pop up when I’m paying. Well, I haven’t been served in any way, and in fact, I’ve done all the work for you. Sure, it’s easy to skip past leaving any tip, but you feel kind of bad doing so. At a fast food place, does that mean they’ll do something to your food or not prepare it to the highest of quality because you didn’t leave a little something extra?

Tipping

Parking

I loathe all types of pay parking, even going extra distances to not pay. Some lots, where you’re forced to pay is just insulting, adding salt to the wound. This includes hospitals and schools, among other establishments. I also can’t stand going into a pay parking lot and all the spots are reserved, even though they remain empty.

Service and Processing Fees

All the behind-the-scene costs that can occur with a transaction are ridiculous. They can best be seen with airline and event tickets, which puts companies such as Air Canada and Ticketmaster near the top of my dislike list. It’s not just that fees are charged, it’s that the fees are so unbelievably exorbitant and absurd.

Luggage

Speaking of airlines, I can’t believe the rates they charge for you to check a bag or sometimes to even carry one aboard the plane yourself. Sure, if you’re packing a few suitcases and other items, you should have to pay up, but we often travel with one or two bags for the entire four-person Sip Family. They should be paying us for being so considerate of others.

Luggage Fees

Medical/Dental/Vision Procedures and Items

Why some things, such as contacts and glasses, certain therapies, etc. are not fully covered – or sometimes even included – in medical plans is beyond my comprehension. As Mrs. Sip argues, these treatments can decrease more expensive costs in the future, but I guess medical plan providers hope you age out of their system by the time you really need coverage.

Toilets

Frankly, I think this act should be illegal. It’s exploitation and if you’re in a rush to use the facilities, say for yourself or with a young child, who has time to fumble around for payment. In a similar vein, but at least you can access a washroom in an emergency, is situations where a bathroom attendant waits near an exit to collect money after you’ve used a facility. And you have to wonder what exactly this attendant does, because every bathroom I’ve encountered with this set up is typically amongst the filthiest I’ve ever seen.

Bags at Stores and Restaurants

At some grocery stores and fast food restaurants in my neck of the woods, you can be charged for a paper bag for groceries and take out orders. I refuse to pay 25 cents for a bag I’m going to immediately recycle, so I’ve often carried my items out, which can look odd. Ah, the price I’ll pay to not pay!

Cocktail Corner: She’s Paying

She's Paying

  • 1 oz Vodka
  • 1 oz Coffee Liqueur
  • 0.5 oz Orange Liqueur
  • 0.25 oz Amaretto
  • Garnish with Money!

One last item I hate paying for is sex. Fellas, whether we like it or not, we’re all paying for sex in one way or another, even if you’re not going the hired companion route!

Sip Trips #232: Escondido Escape

Posted on by
Reply

The bulk of March was spent travelling to and staying in Escondido, California. Here’s what we got up to on our road trip to the Golden State, as well as the lead up to the Spring Break getaway:

Early in the month, following one of Girl Sip’s ringette games, the Sip Family had dinner at White Spot. I had the Legendary Burger with Caesar Salad, paired with the beverage version of a Caesar, which is typically a Sunday special in these parts.

A couple days later, my work treated us to lunch at Catch 122 in North Vancouver. I ordered the Bulgogi Steak N Egg, which was a fantastic dish. Unfortunately, given it was a work function, only water was consumed during the meal.

Work

That weekend, with our vehicle in for servicing, Mrs. Sip and I had lunch at Milestones in Langley. I tried the Steak Sandwich with Cajun Fries, combined with a pint of Blue Moon. I loved the flavours going on with the sandwich, but the steak was really chewy. The fries were also quite good.

That night, Mrs. Sip and I had a Canucks game to attend and discovered that you can get cheaper drinks in the SportsBar Live! portion of the arena and even ask for them to be put in to-go cups. We plan to utilize this more often in the future.

Next up, we hit the road for my first ever long distance driving trip (ie. multiple stops to get to our destination) behind the wheel. We left early in the morning and got a really good start, finally making our first stop of the journey in Salem, Oregon, at For Tomorrow We Die Brewing. There, I had the Hootenanny Herb & Spice Beer, while Mrs. Sip ordered the Kiss the Girl Amber Ale. To share, we had the BBQ Pork Sliders and Samosas, which made for a good feast.

Road Trip

Another hour of driving and we were at stay one of the trek in Springfield, Oregon. For dinner, we met up with Ma and Pa Sip – who were also driving to Escondido – at Hop Valley Brewing. Mrs. Sip and I shared again, going with the BLTA with Tater Tots as our side. The sandwich was absolutely loaded with bacon, which I appreciated. To drink, I enjoyed the Stash Panda IPA.

Our next stay was in Dickson, California, so we could visit the nearby Jelly Belly Tour and Museum the next morning. The experience was very good, especially for the Sipplings. My only complaint was I wish their café offered beers and other beverages, which would have been nice to enjoy as Pa Sip and I got the kids set up with lunch, while Mrs. Sip and Ma Sip did Wine and Chocolate Tasting offered.

Stay three was spent in Kettleman City, California. We had dinner at Wild Jack’s Tex Mex BBQ, which allowed the kids to run around and play as we ate, drank and all enjoyed time outside the vehicle. Our meal included the Brisket Sandwich, Beer Battered Cheese Curds and some other sides ordered by Ma and Pa Sip. My beverage of choice was a bottle of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale.

Driving

On our final day of driving, I made a point of visiting the Rainforest Café in Ontario, California, so the Sipplings could experience the restaurant. My Modelo Especiale came in a souvenir glass, which I didn’t really need, but there didn’t seem to be any glassware option. Mrs. Sip got the Mongoose Mai Tai, also in a souvenir glass. To eat, we split the Tuki’s Turkey Club.

Finally, we arrived in Escondido and it was time to kick back a little… after a thorough supply shopping excursion, of course. For drinks, I picked up the White Claw Variety 24 Pack, which I greatly enjoyed, given it had a fantastic variety of flavours (Watermelon, Blackberry, Black Cherry, Mango, Peach, Tangerine). I also snagged the Lagunitas VarietI-PAck (IPA, Hazy Wonder IPA, A Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’ Wheat IPA, Island Beats Tropical IPA) and a bottle of Trader Joe’s Rum of the God’s Amber.

The next day was Boy Sip’s fourth birthday, so we spent the occasion at Legoland. For lunch, we dropped into the Knights Smokehouse BBQ, where I had the Tarantula Hill Cali Day IPA. The Sip Family shared the delicious Smoked Haven Platter (Brisket, Pulled Pork, Ribs), along with sides of Fries, Potato Salad and Cornbread. We also got some Chicken Strips for the table, which were so good I went back for them on our next visit (the Sip Family bought year passes, given they had a buy three, get one free deal going on). Best of all, a side of Chicken Strips were only $5. The eatery’s Smoky BBQ Sauce was also tremendous.

Lego

After a few days off to enjoy the Welk Resort we were staying at, we visited the nearby Deer Park Winery & Auto Museum. There, as most of our group enjoyed some of the vineyard’s wares, I sat down to a can of Mother Earth Cali Creamin’ Vanilla Cream Ale, reminding me how good this beer is.

Looking to restock some of our supplies, Cousin Sip and I did some more shopping at a Vons grocery store. There, I picked up a 1.75-litre bottle of Sailor Jerry’s Spiced Rum (for only $20!!!), along with the Mother Earth Cali Combo Mixed 12-Pack (Peaches & Cream, Vanilla Cream Ale, Orange Creamsicle) and Ashland Hard Seltzer case (Raspberry Lemonade, Watermelon, Mango Strawberry, Tropical Cherry).

On the last day for some of our group, we travelled to Temecula to hit up some of the breweries there. Boy Sip and I played a number of games at Black Market Brewing, as I enjoyed an Enemy Within Dragonfruit IPA. We also stopped at 8-Bit Brewing, where I had The Oregon Pale Hazy Pale Ale. We had tried to go to Garage Brewing, but minors weren’t allowed because they don’t have a food menu. This was too bad, as we had a couple good trips to their previous location in 2018, when they offered a great pizza menu.

Drinks

One other brewery stop we made was to Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens, which is a massive facility. This was Boy Sip’s 100th brewery, so celebrations were in order as I loved my Wagyu Luxe Burger, paired with a Space Bar Friends Altbier. The bistro has an interesting online ordering system, which practically eliminates the need for a server.

A few days later, we returned to Temecula, this time to the Old Town area, so we could enjoy some Mexican fare. Mrs. Sip selected Landeros Mexican Grill + Cantina for our lunch, where I had the Tacos de Queso Birria and a pint of Pizza Port Chronic Ale.

Sadly, it was time to pack up and make the haul back home, starting on Easter Sunday. Along our way home, we had dinner at Pea Soup Andersen’s in Santa Nella, California (also our stopping point for the night), where I ate the “Rich Boy” Triple Decker Club with Potato Salad. This is another place I would have loved to enjoy an adult beverage, but that wasn’t an option in the dining area.

Returning Home

Our last stay was spent in Eugene, Oregon, where we went for a meal at Red Lobster so Mrs. Sip could partake in Lobsterfest. I really enjoyed what’s become my usual order at the chain, the Sesame-Soy Salmon Bowl, along with a pint of Blue Moon.

That wraps a pretty epic March. April doesn’t have nearly the same content on the calendar, but I’m sure we’ll find a way to have fun, as we always do!

Cocktail Corner – Titanic

Posted on by
Reply

While I’m far from a cinefile, I’ve seen my fair shares of flicks. I haven’t managed to see everything out there, though, particularly some very popular films and franchises. Here’s a collection of movies the Sip Advisor has never seen:

The Godfather Part II

I really enjoyed The Godfather, but have not viewed the follow up, despite it being universally called the greatest sequel ever. Of all the films mentioned here, The Godfather Part II is the one I wish most to cross off my watch list. I guess I’ll be sitting down to a serving of mafia madness soon. That said, I’m not sure if Part III will be part of my viewing, given its mixed reviews.

Fast & Furious Franchise

Despite countless movies, I have never viewed a single scene of this high-octane series. While I enjoy some chase scenes, I’ve never been a ‘car guy’ and I suppose that’s part of what keeps me from sitting down to these films. I also can’t make sense of who’s good and bad within the franchise, with characters perhaps changing roles over the course of the long-running story.

Fast & Furious

Schindler’s List

You have to be in the right frame of mind to watch this heavy film, one I believe everyone should view for the lessons it shares. Mrs. Sip and I even bought a special edition DVD release of the movie years ago, but have never even opened it. I suppose I’m more likely to lean into comedies and such, rather than dramas this serious.

Gone with the Wind

Frankly, my dear, I DO give a damn… but that doesn’t mean I’m falling over myself to dedicate 3.5 hours to this historical classic. I imagine the film moves fairly slowly, as was the style back then, so that 3.5 hours could feel a lot longer. The movie may provide an opportunity to drink some southern cocktails and other classics, so perhaps I can work up my excitement level.

Titanic

My heart will NOT go on for this tragic romance tale. I find the real life Titanic story to be fascinating, but try as Mrs. Sip might, I have firmly put my foot down that I will never, EVER watch this movie. I don’t care about its Oscar success. I don’t care that it stars Growing Pains alum Leo DiCaprio (that’s where we all know him from, right!?). Hell, I don’t even care about the nude Kate Winslet scene… after all, I can find that anywhere on the internet, if I so choose.

Titanic

Citizen Kane

What many call the greatest movie ever made, is one that these eyes have not viewed in full. I tried watching the film a couple years back, but fell asleep early into the drama and never gave it another go. At this stage, if I try to view it again, I’ll have to start from the beginning, meaning I previously wasted some precious minutes.

Rocky Horror Picture Show

The cult classic has been on my and Mrs. Sip’s Halloween watch list for some time, but each spooky season passes without us seeing the musical. Part of the delay is Mrs. Sip wants to go to one of the theatre showings of the film, where folks really get into it, while I’d be happy sitting on my own couch for our viewing party. I’m even willing to wear one of the characters odd outfits to complete the experience!

Cocktail Corner: Titanic

Titanic

  • 1.5 oz Vodka
  • 0.5 oz Dry Vermouth
  • 0.5 oz Galliano
  • 0.5 oz Blue Curacao
  • Garnish with a Lemon Slice

Which movies have you not gotten around to viewing? There’s just so much content out there and new stuff coming down the pipe every day, it’s hard to go back and get some of the classics checked off.

Love & Hate – Toy Story

Posted on by
2

Through my experiences with Girl and Boy Sip (aka the Sipplings), I’ve come to love and hate a variety of toys that have come into my life, as a result of being a parent. Let’s start with the toys I enjoy seeing my kids enjoying:

Marble Works

Growing up, a young Sip Advisor was such a fan of Marble Works sets that Ma Sip remembers me tracing the paths of the toy in catalogues. Boy Sip is particularly fond of playing with tracks his dear ol’ dad builds. My only issue with these sets is all the marbles I have to dig out from under the couch.

Lego

Another toy that the Sip Advisor was quite into in my own youth. I love seeing the Sipplings creating and imagining with Lego. It’s fascinating to see how the brand has evolved since my days of enjoying the bricks. Now, there seems to be a line of sets for every property in entertainment and I’m here for many of them.

Lego

Outdoor Equipment

One of my more recent favourite pastimes, is hanging out at Ma and Pa Sip’s place, drink in hand, while the Sipplings ride bikes, trikes, scooters and other vehicles around their cul de sac. Sometimes, we bring out Boy Sip’s remote control car, and I chase the Sipplings with it, as they fly around the neighbourhood.

Let’s give an honourable mention to tablets because sometimes you just need your kids the shut up and leave you alone for a bit! On the flip side, here are some items the Sip Advisor dreads seeing the kids get their hands on:

Play-Doh

I understand that Play-Doh and similar products are practically a right of passage for kids, but man do I hate this stuff. I hate the way it feels, smells, crumbles, hardens, etc. Every time the Sipplings sit down with Play-Doh, it means I will have a messy cleanup on my hands and will likely threaten to ban the junk from use in the home.

Playdoh

Slime

In a similar vein to Play-Doh, I greatly dislike slimes and goop products, which have become popular in recent times, thanks to all the bozo online influencers out there. These substances always seem to get into kids’ hair and clothes, as well as on household furniture and is not easy to remove.

Chalk

What a vile substance. I once had a kid come up to me at a playground, wipe their chalky hands on my pants and giggle the whole time they did it. Worse yet, I’d never met this child in my life, so giving them hell or walloping them was certainly not an option. Even schools realized that chalk sucks and boards have disappeared since.

Also worth mentioning is any toy without an off button, particularly ones that make noise and have no volume adjustment or way of shutting down. Throw musical instruments into this category, although Boy Sip asking for and receiving a mini trumpet for Christmas was quite entertaining.

Love & Hate: Toy Story

20240304_203600

  • 2 oz Peach Schnapps
  • Top with Club Soda
  • Splash of Lime Juice
  • Garnish with a Lime Wedge

Which weapons of destruction – they can all be classified this when in the hands of a child – do you love or hate? Time to go throw out all the Playdoh, slime and chalk I can find around the house!

Sip Trips #231: Staying Local

Posted on by
Reply

February was a very rare month for the Sip Family, where we didn’t travel anywhere. We remained local for the duration, but still got up to some shenanigans. Here’s how the month transpired:

With Girl Sip on a solo sleepover with Ma and Pa Sip and Mrs. Sip out for a girl’s night, Boy Sip and I spent some time together. After going to the Museum of Surrey and checking out their cool Lego exhibit, Boy Sip got to choose where we enjoyed dinner and he picked White Spot. While there, I had the Legendary Burger with Caesar Salad and a Spot Size Nat’s Pale Ale at happy hour. Boy Sip was happy to have his Pirate Pak Dippin’ Chicken, complete with vanilla milkshake and ice cream for dessert.

Ice Cream

Later on in February, Mrs. Sip and I began our early Valentine’s Day celebrations by attending the Township 7 Vineyards Love is Blind Wine Tasting for the third time in four years. I got one out of four right this year and the server said she saw where I was coming from with another of my answers, as it was a blended wine they offered. Ticket prices were $36 each and included some nibbles, both savoury and sweet, to go along with the wines.

The next night, we dropped into a Chocolate & Beer Pairing, hosted by Steel & Oak Brewing with Origins Chocolates Bar. Tickets were $30 each (total for two tickets, with taxes, came to $69, which I hope was entirely intentional!) and included four beer and chocolate combos. The set was comprised of Weekend Plans Passionfruit Lime Ale with Mission Chocolate (Dark Chocolate with Lime), First Press Cold Brew Coffee Stout with Tanzania Latte Chocolate, Anvil Imperial Stout with Peruvian Dark Milk Chocolate and Smoked Honey Doppelbock with Mirzam Papa New Guinea Dark Chocolate. We had fun at the event, with Mrs. Sip picking up a couple chocolate bars for the road.

In between our Valentine’s events, we had a dinner at Stefanos Greek Restaurant for friends who are moving away. Mrs. Sip and I shared a pitcher of Red Sangria as our beverage and I ate the Chicken Souvlaki platter. The food and company was good here, but our server disappeared at the end of the meal, despite an empty restaurant. This was annoying for Mrs. Sip and I, as we wanted to pay the bill and get home to bail out Ma and Pa Sip, who were with the Sipplings.

Valentine's Day

For Valentine’s Day treats for Mrs. Sip and myself, I bought bottles of Empress Elderflower Rose Gin and Smirnoff Tamarind Vodka, as they were on sale at BC Liquor Stores this month. I have since tried a couple recipes for the gin from the Empress website and used the vodka in a Caesar, with all drinks being good.

Our big event of the month was Girl Sip’s first ringette tournament out in Port Coquitlam. She played three games over the Family Day long weekend and we managed to visit Boardwalk Brewing during one of the breaks. There, I tried the Curious Creatures Parade of the Western Winds West Coast IPA. I also took home tall can four-packs of Boardwalk’s Mojo Mojito NEIPA and Belgian Waffle Belgian Strong from Odin Brewing.

Following the final game of the tournament, we returned home and went for dinner at Cockney Kings. Our group split an appetizer portion of Calamari, as well as the Haddock Family Pack, which includes five pieces of fish, two plates of fries and a large coleslaw. To pair with my meal, I had a pint of Okanagan Springs Pale Ale.

Fish and Chips

The following weekend, the Sip Advisor enjoyed a guy’s night out. The day began with drinks at Original Joe’s in Vancouver. I had two $5 happy hour glasses of OJ’s Red Ale, along with some Spicy Chicken Bites, which were good, but the serving of BBQ Ranch dip was waaaaaaaayyyyyy too small. Prior to heading to our Vancouver Canucks game, our crew also had a Pickleback Shot.

Over the course of the hockey game, I had a large Container Manifest Hazy Pale Ale and four Spiced Rum & Cokes. The team delivered a massive come from behind win in overtime to maintain first overall in the NHL, so all Canucks fans left happy.

Following the contest, a buddy and I had a nightcap at Browns Socialhouse, where I had a pint of Social IPA, to go along with my Sesame Ginger Gyoza. All in all, the day was a ton of fun and much needed for the ol’ Sip Advisor.

Hockey Drinking

Mrs. Sip and I were back at Rogers Arena just a few days later and despite trying to go to another restaurant, found ourselves back at Original Joe’s. This time, I ordered the daily special of Teriyaki Chicken Wings. My drink this time around ended up being the OJ’s Blonde Lager (tank size), as both the OJ’s Red Ale and a Winter Ale I was offered were out. The Lager ended up being served to me on the house, so I can’t complain.

We ended the month, on a rare Leap Day, by having dinner at Browns Socialhouse. Mrs. Sip was given a $10 gift card the original owner wasn’t going to use by its expiry date, so took the Sipplings with us to the eatery. I had the Szechuan Beef Noodle Bowl, with a pint of Social IPA. So… yeah, we basically had a $100 meal to spend someone else’s $10 rebate.

That wraps an eventful homebase February. March will be very different, as the Sip Advisor does his first long haul road trip. Over Spring Break, the whole crew will be heading to Escondido, California, for a couple weeks of fun in the sun!

Cocktail Corner – Peanut Butter & Jealous

Posted on by
Reply

Thankfully, the only thing the Sip Advisor is allergic to is bee stings, and I believe that’s a mild allergy, if anything. It would really suck to have a serious allergy, one that forced you to avoid some of the best things life has to offer. Here are the worst allergies a person could possibly have, as far as this liquor pusher is concerned:

#5: Dairy

Given I don’t like cheese (unless it’s melted on pizza or nachos, etc.) and don’t drink milk as much as I did as a youngster, I think I’d be relatively okay with this allergy. That said, replacements for dairy, such as soy, are absolutely terrible. Plus, while I don’t consume it regularly, not being able to enjoy the odd serving of ice cream would be downright tragic.

complain-allergies

#4: Seafood

Had I remained the picky eater I was as a child, this one probably wouldn’t bother me that much. Now that I’ve acquired a taste for lobster, crab and all things shellfish, I selfishly wouldn’t want to lose the ability to eat these creatures. Living right on the Pacific Ocean, it would be heart-breaking to miss out on some of the freshest fish available.

#3: Chocolate

Chocolate is one of the five basic food groups, as far as the Sip Advisor is concerned. A day doesn’t go by where I don’t have at least a nibble of the sweet stuff. My German blood simply won’t allow it. I can’t imagine a world where having some chocolate would put me at risk of breaking out in hives or worse. What’s the point of living through that?

allergic-to-all

#2: Gluten

While some debate how serious gluten allergies are, all I know is there’s gluten in beer and that’s enough to make me fearful of any allergy to the stuff. Sure, there are some gluten-free brews out there (along with a growing list of products designed for those sensitive to the substance), but the market is fairly small and I can’t put my faith into them.

#1: Peanut

Without peanuts, say goodbye to the best chocolate bars on store shelves. You’d also have to be cautious around non-peanut products that could potentially be produced in a factory where contamination might occur. What scares me about peanut allergies (and allergies in general), is how they can develop later in life and how severe the consequences can be.

Cocktail Corner: Peanut Butter & Jealous

Peanut Butter & Jealous

  • 1.5 oz Screwball Peanut Butter Whiskey
  • 0.75 oz Raspberry Liqueur
  • Top with Half and Half
  • Garnish with Peanut Butter Cups

A bonus entry would have to be pet dander. While Mrs. Sip and I don’t own any pets, not being able to ever get cuddly with kitties and puppies would make me very sad.

Cocktail Corner – Cold Comfort

Posted on by
Reply

We all have memorable stories of being sick. They become part of our own folklore. The tales can be sad, inspiring, funny or combos of many feelings. Here are some of the Sip Advisor’s most unforgettable illness anecdotes:

The Bad Kind of Shot

To get immunized against Hepatitis B, students in my neck of the woods received a series of shots in grade six and again in grade nine. Following each of the shots delivered in grade six, I became very ill. We’re talking delirious dreams, high fever, chills, the whole gamut. The family theory is that my undiagnosed kidney issue was to blame for times when my body was also working through the immunizations. After having my failing kidney removed in grade seven, I never experienced any issues during the grade nine treatments.

Double Hatty

On another occasion, I was feeling sick enough to not go to school, but missing sport commitments was another thing. That season, I was chasing the league lead for goals and points in roller hockey and nothing could stop me from suiting up that night. In the end, I managed to score six goals, pushing through all the symptoms that were affecting me. Following our game, it was back to bed rest, completely spent.

Hat Trick

Travel Troubles

One of the worst times to get sick is while travelling. When Mrs. Sip and I were in Egypt in 2008, I fell ill on the day before our week-long tour was set to leave. I spent the rest of that day downing water and sleeping, trying to flush whatever ailed me out of my system. It mostly worked, but I spent the rest of that trip being apprehensive about what was safe to eat and always cognizant of where the nearest bathroom was located.

What Happens in Vegas…

In a similar vein, when Mrs. Sip and I spent New Year’s Eve 2009 in Vegas, I caught a case of food poisoning that hit when I arrived home. Somehow, I survived the plane ride back, but knew something was up. Both ends were affected by this bug, which was made all the more funny/embarrassing when I discovered late at night, while trying to switch bathrooms, that I wasn’t alone in my parent’s home, as I had originally believed, my brother and his girlfriend also at the abode.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

In 2010, Mrs. Sip and I were celebrating our first Christmas while living together. It was going to be that much more special, as I had planned to ask her to marry me on Christmas morning. One problem: we both felt terribly sick with colds on Christmas Eve. We retired to our bedroom early that night, taking doses of various medications. This was during the brief time we had a TV in our room and decided to watch Babes in Toyland. You want to talk delirious dreams!? I considered bumping my proposal, but everything was already set in place, so I soldiered ahead. By the end of the day, which included telling both our families of our big news, Mrs. Sip had completely lost her voice and we were both running on fumes.

Christmas Engaged

More Than All-Inclusive

Sadly, I’ve become ill on a few of our all-inclusive getaways and not from over-indulging. In Cabo (2013), the Dominican Republic (2014) and Mayan Riviera (2023), something did not agree with my system and I was forced to spend a day or more recovering. A true highlight of these occasions, was when I arranged for a special romantic multi-course dinner to celebrate Mrs. Sip’s 30th birthday, but was unable to eat any of the amazing food offered to us. When I raced to the railing of our gazebo setting to be sick, our server thought I was simply suffering from heat stroke and dumped a pitcher of cold water over my head. It was hilarious and humiliating all at the same time!

Covid-iot

2020 saw a great change to everyone’s lives, as the Covid-19 pandemic hit the world. The Sip Advisor was finally afflicted by the disease in July 2021 and man did it knock me on my ass. Mrs. Sip and I were to attend an adult waterpark event the first day I felt ill and in an attempt to get my body right, I cracked open a vodka soda after my work day finished. Well, not even that could cure what ails me, so Mrs. Sip suggested I take a Covid test. Sure enough, it was evident very quickly that I was positive. I missed four days of work, completely glued to the couch. Even when I returned to work, I needed midday naps to get me through the shift.

Cocktail Corner: Cold Comfort

Cold Comfort

  • 1.5 oz White Rum
  • Splash of Lime Juice
  • Dash of Honey Syrup
  • Garnish with a Lime Wedge

Thankfully, I’ve never suffered from any serious illnesses, kidney removal aside. Hopefully this trend continues for your friendly neighbourhood Sip Advisor!

Love & Hate – Chocolate Obsession

Posted on by
Reply

The Sip Advisor is a certified chocoholic. But, not everything that glitters is gold. In recognition of Valentine’s Day, I decided to look at some of the chocolate-based products I love and hate – or at least dislike, as hate seems too strong a word here. First, here are some of my favourites:

Snickers

When I have a Snickers, I feel like I’m having a complete meal. Between the peanuts, nougat, caramel and chocolate, there’s a lot to like. As one of their old slogans says, “it’s so satisfying”. Now, I just need someone to make me Snickers Salad, which consists of Snickers bars, Granny Smith apples and whipped topping, an apparent essential dish of potlucks and parties in the U.S. Upper Midwest.

Twix

As a cookie aficionado, how could I not fall in love with a chocolate bar that boasts a cookie crunch with each bite. Add in a delicious layer of caramel and you have yourself one hell of a combo. Mrs. Sip and I have been lucky to try some of the limited edition Twix offerings over the years, with Salted Caramel and Cookie Dough being particularly memorable.

Twix

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups

I have always enjoyed peanut butter cups, with the rare crunchy version being my favourite. I have also liked many of the recent Big Cup releases the Reese’s company has come out with, such as Potato Chip and Caramel. No matter what holiday is on the horizon, you can bet the Sip Advisor is tracking down the Reese’s offering for it, whether it be hearts for Valentine’s Day, eggs for Easter, pumpkins/ghosts/bats for Halloween or trees for Christmas.

Some honourable mentions include Oh Henry!, Wunderbar, Take 5 and Butterfinger. Now that I have your salivary glands watering, it’s time to reel you back in and down to earth with some not-so-pleasant chocolate bars. Here are a few the Sip Advisor dislikes:

Milk Duds

Whenever I have a Milk Dud, I immediately regret the experience, as I try to choke down the little ball of chocolate-coated caramel. Mrs. Sip loves adding Milk Duds to popcorn and often leaves me to pick this addition up for her – typically as we’re rushing to attend our show. Perhaps that has fostered the anger I have towards the product.

Milk Duds

Hershey’s Milk Chocolate

These are so plain, boring and unappealing, one wonders how the company ever lasted as long as it has, with this as their core offering. As seen above, the Sip Advisor likes complex, ingredient-rich chocolate bars and this doesn’t jive with that. Same goes for Hershey Kisses, which despite their cute shape, don’t bring much to the taste game.

Whoppers/Maltesers

Another Mrs. Sip favourite that I don’t particularly appreciate in the same way. I think I overdosed on these malt balls one Easter, when in the form of Robin Eggs. Since then, I haven’t looked at the product the same and prefer not to have them around. Still, I’m an upstanding person and will let the Sipplings make their own choice regarding them.

Narrowly avoiding entry on this list and my venomous treatment are creations such as Nestle Crunch, 3 Musketeers and coconut-based bars like Almond Joy/Mounds/Bounty. Looking at the items above, apparently, I don’t like chocolate in ball form.

Love & Hate: Chocolate Obsession

Chocolate Obsession

  • Decorate glass with Chocolate Syrup
  • 1 oz Coffee Liqueur (I used Kahlua Vanilla)
  • 1 oz Irish Cream (I used Bailey’s Red Velvet)
  • 1 oz Raspberry Vodka/Liqueur (I used Tumbleweed Raspberry Moonshine)
  • Top with Milk
  • Garnish with Chocolate Sprinkles

I’ll admit, putting together a list of chocolate bars I don’t like was difficult, as I’m pretty lenient when it comes to treats. I’d say the ones listed aren’t horrible, but they would be my last resorts to feed any chocolate craving.

Cocktail Corner – Dilemma

Posted on by
Reply

A couple years back, I did my first article on great debates. Since then, I’ve come up with more subjects to be examined and decided. Of course, I will play the role of judge, jury and executioner. Let’s get on with the matters at hand:

Candy vs. Chocolate

While I dabble in the candy world from time to time, I’m much more of a chocolate fan. What’s funny is that Girl Sip seems to prefer candy, while Boy Sip is more like his dad and leans towards chocolate. Clearly, Girl Sip isn’t my child.

T vs. A

While Mrs. Sip has much to offer in both areas, I’ve always been a backside guy. In the end (literally!), I think we can all appreciate the female form in all its glory.

TA

Movies vs. TV Shows

I have some friends who refuse to watch movies and others who steer away from TV shows. I like both and Mrs. Sip and I change things up through any given week, when we’re given the chance to sit back and watch things for ourselves. Sadly, our decision to have kids has greatly limited viewing time.

Too Cold vs. Too Hot

Would you rather be too cold or too hot? Both extremes can be uncomfortable. I feel the majority of women would definitely side with preferring hot over cold, but I feel the gents would be split fairly evenly. I think I have a slight lean to preferring cold, but room temperature is ideal.

Burgers vs. Hotdogs

The great B-B-Q deliberation! At any barbecue, the question inevitably comes up: do you want a burger or a dog? Now, you could be one of those folk that goes for one of each, but the Sip Advisor’s tummy just can’t handle more than one burger or two dogs. This is probably because I’ve already consumed a large portion of alcoholic beverages and potato chips, but I am there to party, after all. I also tend to go a little heavy on salads – potato, macaroni, coleslaw, Caesar, etc. – so, I just can’t find room for both on my plate. When pressed, I will often side with whatever I haven’t had most recently.

Hamdog

Staying In vs. Going Out

The Sip Advisor is a homebody, through and through. The occasional outing is okay, but let’s not make it a regular thing. Mrs. Sip often pushes for more time out of the house – and typically wins any argument on the subject – but my preference would be to stay in.

Christmas Eve vs. Christmas Day

I’ve always favoured opening gifts and having a family meal on Christmas Day. We have so much to do to get things ready for the kids on Christmas morning, to be followed by a busy day of family visits, that I’d rather take things easy, get in a few more Christmas movies and TV shows, and put together those last minute tasks on the 24th. Another Christmas argument to decide is whether dinner should be highlighted by turkey or ham. I’m going turkey all the way!

Disneyland vs. Disney World

I suppose this one gets split a bit depending on what side of the continent you live. Mrs. Sip and I are on the west coast, so have grown up with Disneyland and only made a couple visits to Disney World over our lifetimes. We prefer the manageability of Disneyland Resort’s two parks that are walking distance from each other, compared to the very spread out four parks and other attractions that comprise Disney World, necessitating the use of shuttles that have long service gaps. No, I’ll take my short walk from hotel to resort any time, allowing for midday breaks (and drinks), especially with younger children.

Disney Vacation

Early vs. Late

This great debate has led to more fights between Mrs. Sip and myself than any other issue in our relationship. I was raised to be ridiculously early for things, often arriving before anyone else for a function. Mrs. Sip’s family had a very laissez-faire approach to start times and routinely showed up well after things got underway. As a result of being pulled in these two very different directions, I’ve strived to arrive at bookings as close as possible to the actual time. Not too early, never late.

Cities vs. Suburbs

Having lived in both, I can say each has their own set of pros and cons. When Mrs. Sip and I lived in Downtown Vancouver, I loved being able to walk everywhere, while having unlimited options at our disposal. Now, in New West, we live a quieter existence, but sometimes it’s a little too quiet. I think we can all agree that rural settings are the worst!

Cocktail Corner: Dilemma

Dilemma

  • 0.5 oz Raspberry Liqueur
  • 0.5 oz Peach Schnapps
  • 0.5 oz Cherry Whiskey
  • Garnish with a Strawberry Slice

Do you agree with my choices? What great debates have I still left undecided? Naturally, we can discuss over a beverage or two!

Cocktail Corner – The Blackbeard

Posted on by
Reply

Sometimes, already great things can be improved with a slight twist or tweak. Here are some of the Sip Advisor’s favourite enhancements:

Curly Fries

Curly is the best of all fry variations and there is no point debating this fact. Don’t even try coming at me with lattice style… I’m not building a garden!

Ripple Chips

How do you make awesome potato chips better? Simple, you make them rippled. These are so much better, in any flavour, if you plan to use dips or put toppings on.

Salted Caramel

Caramel is already a pretty wicked sweet treat. When you add a sprinkle of salt to it, though, we’re talking whole.nutha.level!

Salted Caramel

Milk Chocolate

While I’ve been told dark chocolate is better than milk, I would argue milk is, in fact, the heavyweight champion of chocolates. It wears that belt proudly in some of the tastiest chocolate bars ever produced.

Honey Mustard

A little bit of honey takes the bite out of your typical mustards and is among the best dips for all things crispy chicken.

Crunchy Peanut Butter

Crunchy adds some much-needed texture to smooth. It takes you on an adventure through your PB&J or whatever else you’re spreading it on. Even Reese’s and Oh Henry! chocolate bars are enhanced when going with their crunchy recipe.

Peanut Butter

Garlic Bread

Momma didn’t raise no dummies! Even my picky eater kids know garlic bread rules. The mess of crumbs on the floor tells the whole story.

Spiced Rum

The Sip Advisor has long been a pusher of spiced rum. It is the most constantly restocked liquor in my vast collection, with me sometimes buying for quantity, not quality, just because I go through the stuff so quickly.

Cocktail Corner: The Blackbeard

The Blackbeard

  • 1.5 oz Crème de Cacao
  • 1 oz Spiced Rum
  • 0.5 oz Fernet Branca
  • 0.5 oz Stout

Since I highlighted spiced rum above, I decided today’s cocktail had to use the liquor. I went with this recipe, minus the optional squid ink. I also subbed Unicum Zwack in for the Fernet Branca, as it was the product I had among five substitution ideas. What are your favourite enhancements? Also, feel free to let me know if you disagree with mine!