Love & Hate – Tiramisu Martini

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Your belly is full, but there’s always room for dessert. We finish off my likes and dislikes of a full meal with some of the sweets the Sip Advisor loves:

Cheesecake

Even as a kid who refused to have any type of cheese, I made an exception for cheesecake. A memorable serving was the massive piece Mrs. Sip and I took back to our hotel room from New York City’s famous Carnegie Deli, following a very late night meal.

Cookies

I’ve made it very clear that I f*ckin’ love cookies. Me and Cookie Monster could have practically been separated at birth and I may look better if I was blue and fuzzy and had googly eyes. My passion for all things cookie has been inherited by the Sipplings, who often go hunting for the treats without permission.

Cheesecake

Ice Cream/Ice Cream Sandwich

While I don’t eat ice cream regularly, the odd serving is appreciated, particularly if it’s topped with all sorts of other goodies. A future Love & Hate article will delve into just which toppings are on the Sip Advisor’s preferred list. Given my love of cookies, I’m also quite fond of ice cream sandwiches.

Donuts

Another dessert I don’t abide in as often as I did as a youngster. Still, I enjoy donuts, both in simple (glazed) and advanced forms (covered with all sorts of different toppings). Donut Holes can also offer a nice little treat, without having to spend as many calories as you would on the bigger pastries.

Pie

There are a number of pie flavours that I really enjoy: apple, cherry, strawberry-rhubarb, etc. This may be the best way to get your daily dose of fruit, while still enjoying a sweet treat. Pie is on my list of the best things eaten cold that aren’t traditionally served that way.

Ice Cream Sandwich

Milkshake

When I was a teenager, Pa Sip used to make milkshakes regularly. Mrs. Sip even made me a couple in the early days of us dating when I think she was trying to fatten me up. How did that plan work out!?

Chocolate/Chocolate Bars

A top notch sweet is anything chocolate. I prefer milk chocolate most, but have dabbled in the darker depths of the cocoa world on occasion. Among my favourite chocolate bars to indulge in are Snickers, Twix, Oh Henry, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, and Wunderbar.

Milkshake

That ended up being a fairly long list. I also recently tried a Kouign Amann (think the most decadent croissant ever) that rocked my world! Do I hate as many desserts as I like? Let’s take a look:

Tiramisu

I don’t get the appeal of this cake. Worse yet, it’s everywhere, like some kind of infestation. For the annual Dine Out Vancouver, the dessert is on almost every place’s menu in some fashion. I also attended a birthday once that offered two Tiramisu cakes and no other options.

Crème Brûlée

Mrs. Sip loves her some crème brûlée. The Sip Advisor, being undisputably the wiser of our couple, doesn’t at all. I guess I’ve never really been one for custards. While it’s neat how they achieve the hardened sugar topping, using a mini blow torch, I’m still unwilling to eat the dessert.

Creme Brulee

Flan

This menu item doesn’t even have a tantalizing name. Whoever invented it knew it was incredibly boring, so gave it an equally lame name. Much like I’m not into custards, very few puddings turn my crank.

Rice Pudding

This is like the worst version of rice, with rice crackers being a possible exception. I won’t fully describe what Rice Pudding resembles to me, but given that connection, I find it very hard to stomach a serving. Although, I’ll giggle like a youngster as Mrs. Sip eats it.

Fortune Cookie

As a kid, I liked fortune cookies. As an adult, I find them to be totally lackluster, so I’m happy to let the Sipplings have my servings. And what’s with those little notes inside… they don’t taste very good at all! 🙂

Fortune Cookie

Fruit Plate

Fruit is not a dessert. Full stop!

Jell-O

I get why kids like Jell-O, with all the neat colours and that they can kind of play with their food. Jell-O shots are awful too, as they’re hard to consume. We used to go to an all-you-can-eat sushi place that only offered Jell-O as a dessert option. I’ll just take the cheque, please!

Baklava

I guess I’m not really into international desserts. I find baklava to be dry, boring and uninspiring. Sure, the pastry has an incredible history, but that’s not enough to convince the Sip Advisor to steer away from the cookies and cakes of the world.

Love & Hate: Tiramisu Martini

Tiramisu Martini

  • Rim glass with Chocolate Syrup
  • 2 oz Vanilla Vodka
  • 1 oz Amaretto
  • 1 oz Kahlua
  • Splash of Half and Half
  • Sprinkle with Cocoa Powder

I wondered if drinking a Tiramisu would be any better than eating it. I did like this martini, but I also cheated a bit with the ingredients, using my Stoli Salted Karamel Vodka and Kahlua Vanilla to make it for my tastes. Well, that completes our full meal. I hope you enjoyed the feast!

Love & Hate – Spaghett About It

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As we continue to work our way through my likes and dislikes of a meal, here are the main courses the Sip Advisor loves:

Sandwiches

The first place my eyes dart to on any menu is the sandwich section, sometimes known as handhelds. Do they have a BLT or Clubhouse? Perhaps a Pulled Pork, Reuben or Beef Dip? I love me a good sando, as they are also one of the better meals to have leftovers of and can be consumed cold or reheated later.

Burgers

Right after sandwiches, I’m going to peruse the burger options. Some of my favourite meals of all-time have featured a burger and many-a-restaurant has made me a returning customer due to a delish bun and meat masterpiece. My only complaint regarding burgers is how messy they can get… but that can also be part of the fun!

Burger

Bowls

I’ve really become a fan of various bowls, whether they be rice, noodle, poke, etc, there are so many good possibilities in this food phylum. There’s something about these mixes, including various veggies, that makes me feel I’m actually eating healthy for change. Just please keep kale out of all bowls going forward. Signed, EVERYONE!

While some menu sections immediately draw my eye, others are easy to skip entirely. Here are the main course options I hate:

Breakfast/Brunch

Brunch is among Mrs. Sip’s favourite meals. Why? Well, is she female? Yep, that checks out. Whenever we go to a place at these ungodly hours, I’m hoping they offer lunch items. Sometimes I win, sometimes I lose. On the occasions that I do lose, I take defeat graciously. Nah, I’m a grumpy, miserable prick, but I do trudge through and order whatever closest resembles lunch and do my best to present and pleasant front. The only reason to go to brunch is to get your day drinking started early.

Brunch

Pasta

I make damn good pasta dishes – just ask six-year-old Girl Sip, whose has given dad a Michelin star for his patented beef and noodles mix – and feel paying for one, unless we’re in a fine restaurant, is a waste of moolah. I will also go the pasta route if we’re travelling in Italy, but even there, I’m more likely to order some sort of pizza or calzone.

Nachos

Similar to pasta, I just feel I make better nachos than most restaurants. Like, mine don’t turn into sloppy messes of liquid cheese and limp chips. Plus, when you make a plate of nachos at home, there’s no stopping what creations you can dream up, even with my hampered imagination. I get that nachos can be a fun thing to share amongst a group, but you typically walk away feeling you didn’t get your fair share of the meal.

Love & Hate: Spaghett About It

Spaghett About It

  • 1 oz Campari
  • Top with Beer
  • Garnish with an Orange Wedge

This cocktail came up in my search for the best cocktails to pair with pasta and the name is definitely noteworthy. We’re two-thirds of the way through our meal now. I hope you saved room for dessert!

Love & Hate – Pickleback

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Over the next week, I’ll take a look at items to love and hate over the course of a meal: starter, main, dessert. Today, we look at appetizers, which offer a great snack, shared plate or meal. Here are some appies the Sip Advisor loves:

Chicken Fingers/Wings

Since my earliest days, Chicken Strips have played a large role in my dietary life and that continues to this day. With them being one of the few things Boy Sip will eat, they are often served in our home and also while out and about. I also like Chicken Wings, but prefer them boneless where possible. The fun thing about wings is all the crazy flavours you can use to change up the experience.

Sliders

Whether beef, chicken or pork, everything is more fun when in miniature form, and that includes sandwiches and burgers. Sliders basically takes countless restaurant favourites and shrinks them down to the point that you can have a few of them, rather than one bigger serving. This makes it easy to share amongst your group, while also getting to try multiple items.

Chicken Wings

Poutine/Dirty Fries

Crispy fries, covered with any number of toppings, can be incredibly satisfying. One of my favourite tavern meals is a Teriyaki Pulled Pork Poutine, found at the Billy Miner Pub in Maple Ridge. Honestly, it’s the only reason to travel to that locale. Ma Sip and I recently collaborated on the idea of doing a poutine bar (a more dangerous version of a salad bar), where a few different proteins were offered, along with a number of other fixings.

Pretzels

The Sipplings love soft pretzels and they provide a good way of tiding them over while Mrs. Sip and I enjoy a beer at craft breweries. I’d say my favourite pretzel is the giant one sold at Disneyland California Adventure, which is big enough to feed myself and the kids, while I sip a beer and Mrs. Sip rides the Guardians of the Galaxy drop tower.

Gyoza

I’ve recently gotten really into gyoza/dumplings, ordering them at restaurants where they’re offered and even buying them for making at home. The key to these is the sauces you can put on them or have on the side for dipping. It’s been a long time since I visited a Dim Sum restaurant, despite having many nearby. I think I’d enjoy the experience even more now, given my newly-found love of dumplings.

Pretzel

While the appetizer/starter section of any menu can contain many gems, not all that is offered here is worth selecting. Here are some hors d’oeuvres the Sip Advisor hates:

Dips with Chips

There is nothing more uninspired on a restaurant’s menu than chips and dip. I don’t care what the dip is – spinach, artichoke, salsa, cheese, etc. – this is something I can easily make at home with little effort. And the cost for some of these combos is insane. You could get a large container of the dip and full bag of chips for the same price you’ll pay for a handful of chips and small bowl of dip at a restaurant.

Lettuce Wraps

Let me get this straight. I’m supposed to take a leaf of lettuce, spread something onto it, roll the lettuce up and… eat it!? Why is lettuce involved at all? Just eat the damn thing that is supposed to go on the lettuce. Better yet, put it on a bun where it probably belongs. Apparently, ‘lettuce sandwich’ has become a metaphor for something that is mundane and unappealing. That makes so much sense!

Chips & Dip

Bread/Buns

Speaking of buns… sure, I’ll fill up on something that hampers my ability to complete my meal. There was a time when the Sip Advisor was younger – and dumber – and I would indulge in “free” bread/buns. Today, I rarely touch the stuff, leaving all available stomach room for the real food that’s about to be served and not the stuff meant to keep you occupied while you wait.

Oysters

I know some folks go crazy for oysters, buying dozens at a time at exorbitant cost, but I’ve never understood the appeal of choking down these mollusks. Not to mention, the dreaded experience of getting any shell in your meal. I suppose they’re popular because of the legend that they can be an aphrodisiac, but I don’t need any help in that department. Mrs. Sip needs to find me some anti-aphrodisiacs!

Oysters

Charcuterie Plates

Mrs. Sip and her gaggle of wine-swilling friends are obsessed with charcuterie platters. I, on the other hand, believe them to be the tool of the devil. You get a few crackers, some cheese offerings, maybe some pickles or pickled onions and a couple dips. How is that so impressive places will charge more than you’d pay for a main course dinner elsewhere?

Jalapeno Poppers

I hate cream cheese (unless it’s part of a dessert), so that’s an easy strike against these starters. I also believe jalapenos should be a garnish and not a feature of any dish. I do like that these weapons of destruction are sometimes referred to as Armadillo Eggs, but that’s not enough for the Sip Advisor to eat them. There are just so many better things to deep fry and serve up.

Love & Hate: Pickleback

Pickleback

  • 1.5 oz Irish Whiskey
  • 1.5 oz Pickle Juice
  • Garnish with a Pickle Slice

Given we’re starting our meal with smaller portions, I thought a shot recipe would be perfect. I went with the Pickleback, given another appy I like on occasion is Deep Fried Pickles. Now that the first course has been completed, next up it’s time to salivate over the all the entrees on the menu.

Cocktail Corner – The Sip

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One of Girl Sip’s school projects this year was making a Me Museum, filled with items that exemplified who she is. That got me thinking – don’t worry, it doesn’t happen often – about what would comprise a gallery constructed about me. Here are the artifacts that would be included in my Me Museum:

Jewelry

I don’t wear many pieces of jewelry, but those I do don are very important to me. The watch Mrs. Sip gave me for my first birthday we celebrated as a couple also came right before she left for England for a year of school. As a teenager, the gift meant to me that she saw a future in our relationship, which was about to become long distance, otherwise she wouldn’t buy me an expensive watch right before leaving. I have worn this watch for 20-plus years now, through countless battery changes and other repairs. My wedding ring would also go into the museum for obvious reasons. Lastly, the chain Ma and Pa Sip gave me for Christmas many years ago would finish the exhibit, an item I feel represents my bonds with family.

Dating Mementos

For a time, I collected all the tickets from movies, shows and events Mrs. Sip and I went to. Perhaps most important among all those pieces of history was the stub to the movie Panic Room, which we saw on our first ever date. Afterwards, we went out for dessert and I kept the spoon from that occasion. Just kidding… that would be kind of creepy!

First Date

Collection of Best Articles

At one time, the Sip Advisor pursued a career in journalism and did a pretty good job, if I say so myself. Some of my more memorable articles would include my first paid piece, stories for major chains/websites and articles featuring famous folks, such as professional wrestling legend Bret ‘The Hitman’ Hart. Basically all the items I would have highlighted in my portfolio, had I continued to chase the writing for a living dream.

Sip Advisor Business Card

In the very early Sip Advisor site days, Mrs. Sip and I decided a business card was needed to promote my site and work when we attended various events. We crafted a neat card and had a bunch of copies professionally printed. Then, I quickly learned I wasn’t very good at self-promotion, preferring others to laud my work than myself. So, many of these cards still sit in our liquor cabinet. That will make it easy to pull one out for the Me Museum.

Canucks Paraphernalia

For better or worse, I’ve been a lifelong Vancouver Canucks fan. This is exemplified in jerseys I owned as a youngster and adult. As a youngster, I was gifted a Cliff Ronning jersey, as the player was of diminutive size, like myself. I even attended Ronning’s local hockey school in back-to-back summers while he played with his hometown NHL club. Years later, Mrs. Sip presented me with a Trevor Linden jersey, the Canucks icon becoming one of my favourites for the way he played the game.

Business Card

Air Fryer

I use my air fryer daily, if not multiple times throughout the day. It has become a close family member and I cherish it more than my wife and kids. Okay, maybe not to that level, but I definitely hug and kiss it more often. The only sadness I’d experience while loaning the device to my Me Museum would be the fact that I’d now be without an air fryer.

Disneyland Annual Passes

I first purchased a Disneyland annual pass on the trip when I met Mrs. Sip and asked her out. Many other annual passes would follow, as the resort became a popular vacation spot for us, especially given its connection to our relationship. Disney in general has played a large role in our lives, before and after meeting, something we have since passed down to the Sipplings, who are also now enthusiastic Disney and Disneyland fans.

Passports

As Mrs. Sip turned me into a world traveler, my passports quickly filled up with stamps and a few entry visas from around the world. Thanks to her inspiration, I’ve visited over 50 countries and counting. These would be great to show off in the Me Museum, perhaps along with countless photos from the Mrs. Sip Collection of all our adventures.

Air Fryer

Hole-in-One Golf Ball

A good golfer, I am not. However, I did score an ace on hole 15 at Sunshine Woods Golf Club at only 14 years old. Peaking in golf at such a young age, I practically gave up the game after that. The round was crazy, as someone else in our foursome achieved the same hole-in-one feat earlier in our round. As for my own triumphant tee shot, I thought it had skittered across the green and into the rough behind. As I searched for the little white ball, I was informed it was actually in the hole, perhaps having hit the flag pole and dropped.

Liquor Bottles

No museum for a dedicated liquor man would be complete without a collection of some of their favourite bottles. My preferred selections would include my Jameson Distillery Reserve from when Mrs. Sip and I visited the company’s facilities in Midleton, Ireland; my 1.75L bottle of Sailor Jerry’s Spiced Rum; and the Lagavulin 16 Mrs. Sip bought me for a Father’s Day gift. You could also include my preferred jigger and the flask from my wedding (I got each groomsman and usher a custom engraved one) in the liquor wing of the Me Museum.

Kids Birth Announcements

The good times of my and Mrs. Sip’s child-free days had to come to an end eventually. While we aren’t as carefree as we once were, we’ve managed to continue having fun… just a different type of fun. As a way to honour the Sipplings, I would include each of their birth announcements, which we mailed out to friends and family across the globe.

Birth Announcement

Princess Cruises Cards/Medallions

A big part of my and Mrs. Sip’s travelling life has been taking cruises. Princess Cruises is our preferred line and we have many room cards and medallions to show for our efforts. Another cruise souvenir that means a lot to me is the little trophy I received for winning Cartoon Theme Song Trivia. It was a tense experience, with me and another contestant going to a five-question overtime round, after tying with identical 39/40 scores. In that bonus round, I went five-for-five, while my competitor slipped on one question, earning me the win and admiration of absolutely nobody… seriously, not even Mrs. Sip was proud of my achievement, but I acted like I’d won the Stanley Cup!

Wedding Same-Day Edit

Every museum needs an audio-visual component and I think my and Mrs. Sip’s same-day edit video from our wedding would be perfect to project. Set to the U2 song ‘Beautiful Day’, the video captures many of the memorable moments from our nuptials.

Cocktail Corner: The Sip

The Sip

  • 1.5 oz Spiced Rum
  • Top with Dr. Pepper
  • Garnish with a Lime Slice

I have no doubt I didn’t create this cocktail, but I have been making it for myself since at least the start of this project in 2013 and perhaps even longer. It has since become the go-to beverage for me and a best friend whenever we get together, as well as been shared with others I meet along this winding road of life. Therefore, it is a perfect choice for inclusion with my Me Museum. I recommend the Me Museum exercise to all. Mrs. Sip and I spent a fun night on our balcony discussing what we’d include in each of ours. What would you include in yours?

Sip Trips #235: Birthday Bonanza

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June was fairly busy, as we welcomed warmer weather and celebrated a couple friend’s birthdays. Let’s see what the Sip Advisor and company got up to:

Our first outing of the month was attending a birthday at Legends Pub & Restaurant in Richmond. Over the course of the evening, the Sip Advisor indulged in a half dozen Phillips Glitterbomb Hazy Pale Ales. Each guy also took a turn buying a round of shots, with the selections including Tequila, Burt Reynolds, Kamikaze and Lemon Drop. As for food, I kind of forgot to eat anything, despite being curious about a few menu items during my pre-game research.

The following week presented my Father’s Day free day. Mrs. Sip and I have gifted these off days to each other for Mother’s and Father’s Day for a few years now. My day featured a Subway sandwich for lunch, sushi for dinner and chips, drinks and cookies in between and after meals.

Father's Day

Another week later, we were in Langley for another friend’s surprise 40th birthday. Mrs. Sip and I were part of the surprise set up, so while Mrs. Sip took the birthday girl out for afternoon tea, the Sip Advisor and the birthday girl’s husband did what we do best and hit up the Murrayville Town Pub for drinks and appies. While there, we split two styles of wings, the Cajun Dry Rub and Frank & Teri flavours, while I also knocked back a quartet of Steamworks Pale Ales. To complete the visit, we ordered a round of Pickleback shots.

As for the surprise birthday, we gathered at Chaberton Winery and their Bacchus Bistro for a feast. I was pleased to see beforehand that the place would offer Brookswood Brewing products and I ordered the Hazy Pale Ale and Cream Ale varieties. To eat, I went with the French Onion Soup as a starter, followed by a hearty Beef Bourguignon main.

The next day was Father’s Day. For drinking at the gathering hosted by Ma and Pa Sip, I picked up the Black Fly Cocktail Mixer Pack (Rum Mojito, Gin Greyhound, Long Island Iced Tea, Tequila Margarita). My favourite of this set is the Gin Greyhound. For Father’s Day gifts, I received a bottle of Crown Royal Blackberry Mure, complete with BC Liquor Stores gift card, as well as a collection of yummy snacks.

Father's Day Gift

Later that week, after taking the Sipplings to a splash park in the Queensborough Landing area, we dropped into Frankie G’s Pub, which was hosting IQ2000 Trivia. I tried the Cantonese Style Chicken + Shrimp Chow Mein, paired with a pint of Parallel 49 Trash Panda IPA. For dessert, we tried a plate of their Fried Oreos.

That weekend, as a Mother’s Day gift, I treated Ma Sip to a day out in Vancouver. We are both true crime fans, so I booked us spots on The Hidden History and Sweet Treats Tour (through Forbidden Vancouver Walking Tours). Tickets were $69 for adults ($5 off for seniors), which I thought was a fair price. Our sweet treats included a Kouign Amann from Beaucoup Bakery, Macaron from Faubourg and Mermaid’s Choice Chocolate Bar from Mink: A Chocolate Café. The Kouign Amann, a croissant on steroids, was particularly spectacular. Our guide Rob was also amazing with his knowledge and presentation.

Following the tour, we sat down to lunch at Mahony & Sons. There, we shared appy orders of the Crispy Chicken Sliders (with extra slider added to even up the plate) and Parmesan Truffle Fries. My drink choice was the Strange Fellows Talisman Pale Ale. Next up was a happy hour beverage at Rogue Wet Bar, where I had the Steamworks John Oliver IPA.

Kouign Amann

The next day, we stopped for a meal at Brogan’s Diner in Langley. There, I had the Chicken Club, which I enjoyed. In a rare showing of restraint by the Sip Advisor, no drinks were ordered at this establishment.

To celebrate the end of Girl Sip’s school year, we had dinner at Boston Pizza. I combined the Fan Fave Diamond Ale (brewed by Carlsberg Canada for the restaurant’s 60th anniversary) with the Kick’n Memphis Chicken Sandwich, which made for a good combo.

Our last outing of the month was an inaugural visit to Locality Brewing in Langley. The kids loved playing at the farm-based brewery, while we enjoyed a trio of beers, including the Strawberry Milkshake Ale, Rhuberry Wheat Ale and Hazy Pale Ale. We also shared an order of Bison Poutine from the Stampede Burger food truck on site.

Barn Beer

Following the brewery, we decided to stay over at a friend’s place, which meant a stop at a nearby liquor store was in order to gather supplies. I picked up the Pyur Burst Mixer Pack, which I had never seen before. These drinks clock in at a whopping 7 per cent each, with flavours such as Lemonade, Pineapple, Blackberry and Strawberry-Rhubarb.

I also wanted to note that I’ve tried two of the four McDonald’s Shaker Fries flavours to be released recently. Shaker Fries was one my favourite promotions the company ever ran and brings back a great deal of nostalgia for me. I found the Masala to be disappointing, while the Ramen was wonderful. The Churro sold out before I was able to sample and I’m still hoping to give Tzatziki a go before it disappears. I’ve also tried two of the three Chicken McNuggets retro sauces the chain brought back recently. I really enjoyed the Szechuan and thought the Creamy Garlic Parmesan was also decent. Admittedly, I’m not interested in the Jalapeno Cheddar.

That puts a bow on an lively June. July is already packed full of activities, as we gear up for our European odyssey at the end of the month!

Love & Hate – Hugo Spritz

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As summer has officially begun, let’s take a look at the elements that are awesome about this period each year, as well as the features that totally suck about it. First, let’s give some love to the season:

Swimming

Not much will ever beat floating in the pool with a drink in hand on a hot summer day. Having access to a pool my entire life has been special. Watching the Sipplings enjoy the pool as much as I did growing up will make me all the more sad when it’s gone. I do not look forward to the time when the Sip Family will have to search for alternatives to cool down.

Outdoors Activities… Particularly Drinking

No longer are we cooped up inside, stuck in front of the glorious TV, simply because we have nothing better to do. Now, we’re able to enjoy some fresh air and play. One of my favourite outdoor activities is drinking (big shock, right!?). Whether on or in a balcony, patio, porch, park, playground, etc., I’m ready for it all.

Outdoors

Women’s Wear

The summer season brings out the best in women’s fashion and I’m here for the ogling. Mrs. Sip has an entire closet of sexy dresses… and let’s not even get into the teeny bikinis! The heat of this period often results in minimal clothing, which is also a plus for the Sip Advisor!

Better Moods

People just generally seem to be happier in the summer. Maybe it’s the increased vitamin D we’re getting naturally from the sun. Whatever is helping people with their mental health, it should be embraced.

Lighter Traffic

Throughout the summer, traffic is lighter, thanks to folks going on vacation and schools being out. Unfortunately, traffic snarls still exist, but they don’t seem as heavy as during the other seasons of the year.

Sundress

Lack of Kids Activities

Mrs. Sip and I definitely breathe a sigh of relief at the end of each school/activity calendar. We try not to have the Sipplings booked into many things throughout the summer, so we can recharge the batteries for the next year.

Barbecues and Picnics

If there’s one thing the Sip Advisor loves similarly to good drinking, it’s good eating. The summer provides ample opportunity for wonderful feasts. I definitely eat my share of burgs, dogs and sandos throughout the season, not to mention all the wonderful side dishes that accompany these mains. Can’t forget dessert, which offers everything from cookies to pie to ice cream.

While summer is the preferred season of many, there’s reasons why others dread the period. Here are some elements to hate from June to September:

Heat/Humidity

This is the most obvious complaint about summer. I’m lucky to live in a place with generally mild temperatures throughout the year – it never really gets too cold or too hot – but we still have times where the heat can be suppressive. Because we live in a mild climate part of the world, most don’t bother with air conditioning and are at the mercy of fans to keep cool during the hottest days of the year.

Fans

Sweating/Chafing

The Sip Advisor is a mild sweater and that gets exacerbated during the summer. I’m always paranoid that armpit or back sweats are becoming visible to everyone, especially if I’m forced to wear heavier clothing for work or other activities. Chafing, resulting from sweating, can be really painful. I wish the heat didn’t lead to these maladies.

Pressure to do Outdoors Stuff

At all times, there’s an overwhelming pressure to be doing countless activities with your kids. That only ramps up during the summer, as you become their sole outlet for good times and the nice weather makes them want to be outdoors all the time. Boy Sip, in particular, wants to go, go, go and needs a fair bit of action to calm his motor.

Insects

Mozzies, as the Aussies like to call them, are vile little creatures. Worse than their buzzing around you and bites are the itch sessions they create if they do get you. Almost as bad as mosquito attacks are any product that’s been released claiming to ward off these insects. Other bugs that aren’t fun to have around are bees, hornets and wasps. You’re also more likely to walk into spider webs during the summer.

Mosquito

Sports Offerings and Radio Listening

I live in a hockey mad market. When the sport is in off-season, there are few others I’m even remotely interested in. I also listen to a lot of sports talk radio when doing all the driving I’ve been tasked with. During the summer, I’m more likely to hear a baseball game I don’t care at all about, rather than the info-tainment I prefer.

Uncomfortable Nights in Bed

Each summer night, the thought of going to bed is practically stress-inducing. I typically sleep with no covers on and only put a comforter over my body if I awake in the middle of the night and am now cold. The only good thing about the sleeping heat is Mrs. Sip may get liberal with her nighttime attire.

Using Sunscreen

While I understand the need for sunscreen, applying the stuff really is awful. Nowadays, we also have to lather our kids up, so there’s so much more sunscreen being used. Thankfully, they now have more options than were available when I was a wee little sipper, but the improvements haven’t been drastic enough. I guess it’s still better than the sunburn alternative.

Sunscreen

Too Much Air Conditioning

As much as A/C can be a godsend, sometimes you grow tired of it. In the family vehicle, it seems to pump all summer long. It can also be extremely chilling going from oppressive outdoor heat into frosty stores and restaurants, to the point where you regret not bringing a light jacket with you.

Road Work

An old Jeff Foxworthy joke says that Canada’s four seasons of the year are almost winter, winter, still winter and road construction. I get why so much road work occurs during the summer, as it presents the best opportunity to get stuff done in the most ideal weather, but couldn’t things be staggered a little more? Nowadays, no matter which route you take, you’re likely to come across some delay due to construction.

Wildfires and Smoke

While we don’t live in an area that is prone to wildfires, we like to travel there (Kelowna, B.C.) on occasion and became closely involved in a rapidly moving wildfire last summer that made our last night stay and morning departure more tense than it otherwise would have been. The smoke from these fires does eventually make its way to our area and causes closed doors and windows, despite higher temperatures. It also eliminates opportunities for the kids to expel some energy with outdoor activities.

Road Work

Overpriced Travel

Prior to kids, Mrs. Sip and I always did our best to travel in off-season times. Now, as parents, that is much more difficult to achieve, unless we take the kids away from their schools and activities. This means paying more for flights, accommodations and attractions, while being surrounded by all the people who are forced to do the same. I miss the days when we could avoid much of this.

Back to School

In recent years, it seems kids have just begun their summer vacations when back to school promotions start. Can’t the youngsters – and their parents – enjoy a couple weeks of bliss, before turning their minds to the impending doom of September?

Love & Hate: Hugo Spritz

Hugo Spritz

  • 2 oz Elderflower Liqueur
  • Top with Prosecco
  • Splash of Club Soda
  • Garnish with Mint Leaves

So many summer drinks involve Prosecco, including this member of the Spritz family. Some other irritations of summer include going to the beach, being stuck inside for work or other nefarious reasons, lawn mower noise, manure smell, and overheated cars. What do you love or hate about the season?

Cocktail Corner – Caterpillar

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Over my and Mrs. Sip’s many travels, I’ve been presented the opportunity to try a wide variety of foods, including items you would rarely see on a North American menu. Here are some of the more unique nibbles I’ve had in my life:

Minke Whale/Puffin

As part of a tasting meal in Reykjavik, Iceland, Mrs. Sip and I were served dishes of Minke Whale and Puffin. The whale was delicious, although we felt a little guilty through each enjoyable bite. The puffin, on the other hand, was too salty and not very good, despite being plated in a blueberry Brennivin (the official spirit of Iceland) sauce.

Kangaroo

On an all-day wine tour of Australia’s Barossa Valley, our guide treated us to a delicious picnic feast, main-evented by perfectly done kangaroo in a red wine sauce. Mrs. Sip and I were pretty tipsy by the time lunch was served, so we happily gobbled up this rare offering. The funny thing is, for the rest of our stay in Australia, we got the feeling other kangaroos we encountered knew we had eaten some of their brethren and were out for vengeance.

Kangaroos

Caterpillars

Upon arriving in Zambia, Mrs. Sip and I went to dinner with the owner of our hotel. His recommendation, as we tried some local beers and put some food in our stomachs, was deep fried caterpillar. I was game to give it a chance and after one, I couldn’t stop popping the little bugs into my mouth. Perhaps it was jetlag or the beers adding up that helped with getting my mind past the thought of eating caterpillars. The barbecue sauce drizzle didn’t hurt either!

Kudu/Springbok

Later in that trip, we shared a multi-meat platter with others in our tour group, which included Kudu and Springbok, both members of the antelope family. We also tried – and very much enjoyed – various types of biltong, which is the Southern African version of beef jerky. Kudu and Springbok were also used for these meats.

Snail

I’ve come to love escargot, after first sampling the delicacy in France, plucked right out of a shell with a toothpick. It’s preferable that the dish comes baked in cheese, with the snails soaked in garlic butter underneath, but I’ll take the little garden guys with a simple oil flavour if that’s how they’re being served. Heck, I’m not very picky.

Snails

Rattlesnake

On a Southwest U.S. family road trip when I was seven, we stopped at one eatery that offered fried rattlesnake. Given my fear of snakes, I was very hesitant to try the… delicacy (!?), but eventually willed myself to take a quick bite. Yep, it tasted like chicken! For our bravery, we received a certificate highlighting the feat, as well as a piece of the rattlesnake’s bones.

Alligator/Crocodile

I’ve had alligator/crocodile in a couple situations. While the meat wouldn’t rank high on my preferred eats list, I can’t say the experience was bad either. I remember first having alligator as a teenager, while my family visited New Orleans. We had just completed a bayou boat tour, so were ready to eat our foes from the water.

Frog

On one of our earliest cruises, as Mrs. Sip and I tried to shake off the picky eater reputations we had rightfully been given, frog legs was on the menu at dinner. While I ordered something else, we expressed our curiosity to the server, who said he’d bring a serving our way to try. I didn’t really like them, so haven’t tried them again since.

Cocktail Corner: Caterpillar

Caterpillar

  • 1.5 oz Bourbon
  • Top with Grape Juice
  • Dash of Angostura Bitters
  • Garnish with Lime Slices

I’m not sure if there’s any animals out there I’ve yet to eat that I particular want to cross off my foodie bucket list. Mrs. Sip once tried pigeon at a Michelin star restaurant of all places. While I think I’d enjoy eating an arch nemesis of mine, I can’t get over the fact pigeons are winged rats.

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!