Cocktail Corner – Peanut Butter & Jealous

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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!

Sip Trips #230: Disneyland Destiny

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2024 is off to a roaring start, kicked into high gear thanks to our week-long getaway to Disneyland to celebrate Mrs. Sip’s 40th birthday! Here’s what we got up to in a wild January:

The first event of the year was WWE Friday Night Smackdown coming to Vancouver. Our group of wrestlemaniacs met up at Devil’s Elbow prior to the show, where I had pints of Twin Sails Hot Laps Winter Ale and Crosstown IPA.

At the show, which was far better than the last WWE Smackdown I attended, just prior to the pandemic, I had a serving of the Stanley Park Windstorm Pale Ale, to maintain my buzz throughout the live broadcast.

Wrestling

Afterwards, with our crew down to two, we went for some eats at Fable Diner Bar (the former Kingston Taphouse). I had a pair of Red Truck Round Trip Amber Ales, while snacking on their Pork & Kimchi Dumplings.

That weekend, after taking the Sipplings on the Q to Q Ferry, we had dinner at Kelly O’Bryans. There, I combined the Dunkin’s Beef Dip with a double Spiced Rum and Coke, a feature of their Daily Doubles menu.

The night before leaving Vancouver for Anaheim, we spent the night at the River Rock Casino Resort. For dinner that evening, we went to the nearby Moxies, where I ordered the BT’s Crispy Chicken Sandwich and a Double Caesar. The meal was quite good, with my leftovers providing a good late night snack back at the hotel.

Dip Au Jus

Upon arriving in Anaheim the next day, we went looking for food. Unfortunately, our attempt to eat at Tony Roma’s was met with the restaurant not being open yet. So, we walked through The Shops at Anaheim area, ending up at The Cheesecake Factory. There, Mrs. Sip and I split the Grilled Chicken & Avocado Club, which came out almost as soon as we ordered it, making us wonder if another patron had returned the sandwich.

We ate lightly, because our first big occasion of the trip was a dinner buffet with Disney characters at Goofy’s Kitchen in the Disneyland Hotel. Despite a 7:05 reservation, we weren’t sat until 7:25, which can be difficult with hungry, amped up children. At least the meal itself didn’t disappoint, as we were impressed with the variety and quality of the dishes. Some of my faves included the cornbread brûlée, Korean broccoli and barbecue chicken pizza. We also thought the dessert bar was fantastic, highlighted for me by salted chocolate brownies, chocolate chip cookies and raspberry streusel. To drink, I had a pint of Belching Beaver Hazers Gonna Haze IPA. While the kids didn’t eat as much as we hoped for the price, they did get their character fill, even with some of the costumed performers approaching the area we were sitting, only to disappear without ever reaching our table.

For a late lunch on our first day in the park, I ordered a spread of items from the Bengal Barbecue. This feast was highlighted by the Pulled Pork Slider Plate with Macaroni Salad and Chips.

Disneyland

The next day, we stopped for lunch in the San Fransokyo area of California Adventure. A favourite eatery of mine has been Lucky Fortune Cookery, with their Teriyaki Chicken being my preferred meal. It is no longer served in a box, but still hits the spot. As I ordered food, Mrs. Sip kindly grabbed us some beers from the Karl Strauss booth, opting for the Boat Shoes Hazy IPA for each of us.

That afternoon, as we let the kids play at the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail play area, I raced over to the Smokejumpers Grill to grab brews for Mrs. Sip and me. It was nice to sit back and have a drink, the Russian River Happy Hops IPA for me and Karl Strauss Follow the Sun Blonde Ale for Mrs. Sip, in a setting where the kids could safely run wild and free.

While we could have stayed at the Redwood Creek zone longer, we had an early dinner reservation at Café Orleans in the other park. Mrs. Sip and I shared the Monte Cristo Sandwich with Parmesan Truffle Fries, which I paired with a serving of Sierra Nevada Hazy Little Thing IPA. When planning places to eat for our stay, we were happy to see all seated restaurants in Disneyland now offer alcoholic beverages, such as beer, wine and a cocktail. It’s another step towards the park having a full serving of libations.

Kids Play

After two busy days in the parks, we took a day off from rides and attractions. Instead, we made our way to Dave & Buster’s for lunch and to play some arcade games. Mrs. Sip and I selected a number of items for the table, including Crispy Chicken Strips, Loaded Barbacoa Fries and Pretzel Dogs. To wash it all down, I went with the Sam Adams Winter Lager.

For dinner that night, we went to Ballast Point in the Downtown Disney district. When we first arrived, we were told the wait for a table would be about 45 minutes, but were paged to return to the eatery only a few minutes later. Mrs. Sip and I shared a delicious Poke Bowl, which I paired with an equally tasty Calico Amber Ale.

The next day, we returned to Disneyland to celebrate Mrs. Sip’s 40th birthday! To begin the festivities, we had breakfast at Oga’s Cantina. Here, guests are limited to a 45-minute seating and maximum of two alcoholic beverages per person. Mrs. Sip and I enjoyed the Purple Glandis Juice (Hendrick’s Gin, Crème de Violette Liqueur, white cranberry Juice, lime juice); Jedi Mind Trick (Ketel One Botanical Grapefruit and Rose Vodka, John D. Taylor’s Velvet Falernum, Bols Blue Curacao, white grape juice, lime juice, and grapefruit bitters); Yub Nub (Malibu Pineapple Rum, Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum, citrus juices, passion fruit); and Takodana Quencher (Bacardi Dragonberry Rum, Bols Blue Curacao, orange-pineapple Juice, kiwi flavors). For a snack, we ordered the Garlic-Cheese Five Blossom Bread, while also getting an Oga’s Obsession gelatin dessert and Jabba Juice beverage for the Sipplings.

Happy Birthday

Later, Ma and Pa Sip, who surprised us by joining our crew for Mrs. Sip’s big day, treated us to lunch at the River Belle Terrace. I combined the Smog City Sabre-Toothed Squirrel Hoppy Amber Ale with the Buttermilk Fried Chicken Sandwich, which made for a good coupling.

To cap off the milestone birthday, we had had reservations at the Lamplight Lounge, where we split the Lobster Nachos and each got a cocktail. I loved my Cobra Hiss (Mezcal, Cointreau, cucumber syrup, lemon juice, agave nectar), but Mrs. Sip would have preferred another beverage, having selected the Red is a Lucky Color (X-Fusion Vodka, Bacardi Silver Rum, strawberry puree, raspberry puree and rosemary syrup), without any note saying it was a frozen concoction.

The next day was cold, wet and miserable. At the end of our time in the park, we went for dinner at Tony Roma’s. Boy Sip and I shared the generous Chicken Tenders Platter, which comes with six strips, fries and coleslaw. To drink, I had a large glass of Offshoot Relax Hazy IPA. Back at our Castle Inn & Suites hotel room, I enjoyed some of the provisions I put together at the start of the vacay, including some Vizzy Hard Seltzers, while we discovered how wonderful the kid’s cartoon Bluey is.

Bluey

For our last day of park adventures, Mrs. Sip and I began with a scrumptious serving of New Belgium Voodoo Ranger Juice Force Hazy Imperial IPA from the Pym’s Tasting Lab. Following a nearby ride, we popped into the Pym’s Test Kitchen for a massive Quantum Pretzel and I grabbed another brew in the Skyduster West Coast IPA. We had one final beer later on, selecting the 4 Sons Belgian Strong Dark Ale from the Hollywood Lounge kiosk. It was here, despite ordering drinks throughout the resort without issue, we encountered the park’s ridiculous rule of non-U.S. residents needing to present their passport to prove their age, with a driver’s license not being good enough. Most places don’t care, but then you get the one place or server that does and you’re screwed. Luckily, we had the passports on us, but Mrs. Sip had them at another attraction with the kids, so my rainy wait in line was completely wasted until we could return later.

Some other thoughts on the Disneyland Resort experience: It’s absurd how many ride breakdowns or delayed openings occurred. Almost every day we attempted to hit a certain big ticket ride to start the day, we were greeted with that ride not being ready to open with the rest of the park. There was also constant breakdowns, throughout the day, which caused frustration for us and all other guests. Also, I do, obviously, disagree with the logic that you shouldn’t take young kids to Disneyland because “they won’t remember any of it”. A) Even as an adult, I don’t remember the details of all my trips. B) With all our tech now, videos and pictures can record the memories for sharing later. C) Sometimes experiences are in-the-moment kind of deals.

Upon returning home, we went for dinner at Boston Pizza in Richmond. I had the Honey Garlic Chicken Bites with Caesar Salad, a yummy menu item I had never tried before from the chain.

Vacation Return

Our last outing of the month was hitting Brown’s Socialhouse at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, prior to our Vancouver Canucks game. Mrs. Sip and I both elected to do their Dine Out Vancouver menu for $40. When planning where to eat that day, I had looked at a number of Dine Out options and was most impressed by Brown’s menu, based on items offered and price. My meal consisted of Sesame Ginger Gyoza, Tiki Tuna Poke Bowl and Super Fudge Brownie, while Mrs. Sip got the Crispy Cauliflower, Blackened Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo and Oreo Cookie Jar. To drink over the course of our feast, I had a Social IPA (just sneaking in the happy hour order) and Stanley Park Waypoint Hazy Pale Ale and 1897 Amber Ale. Everything tasted great and we both left very full.

That was it for our eventful January. Shockingly, February has no trips on the schedule, despite Girl Sip having four days off over the Family Day long weekend. Mrs. Sip really dropped the ball on that one! Instead, we will be taking in her first ringette tournament, which will present other opportunities for eats and drinks.

Love & Hate: Cruising

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Mrs. Sip and I are seasoned cruise travellers. Over our many voyages, I’ve noticed many pros and cons for this style of travelling. If you’re considering whether cruising is for you, perhaps my notes in this expanded article will help in your decision. Let’s start with some reasons why hitting the water is the way to go:

Can unpack for duration of trip

Living out of a suitcase can really suck. On a cruise, you can fully unpack and settle into your digs, as your ship moves you along the route. The first thing Mrs. Sip does every time our luggage arrives at our room – sometimes to an annoying degree – is unpack everything. This helps her feel the vacation has truly begun.

Ship takes you to all stops

Aboard a cruise, you never have to worry about how you’re getting to your next destination. The crew takes care of this for you. No concerns about driving in unfamiliar territory or racing to meet connections. Instead, you just float along at the ship’s pace.

Sample the world

Cruises can be great for those that want to hit as many places as possible, in a limited amount of time. Many of our cruises have hit multiple countries in a short span. Sure, you only get to do one tour/activity or see a couple landmarks when on a port day, but for many stops, that’s all you really need.

Cruise Shopping

Large selection of media to watch

In recent years, cruise ships have really upped their in-room entertainment options. When Mrs. Sip and I first started cruising, you had to time when you’d watch a movie or TV show, as they were played on a schedule and the selection to enjoy was limited. Today, you can watch a wide on-demand catalogue. This has been even more helpful with young kids, as time spent in the room increases with them.

Entertainment

The entertainment offered on ships is quite good, from song and dance shows, to comedians and everything in between. Shows typically run twice a night, so you can work around any dinner plans you may have. There’s also a variety of other activities to get into, including trivia challenges, game shows, karaoke and much more.

Kid’s Club

The Sipplings are now both of the age where we can drop them off at the Kid’s Club and enjoy some adult freedom. Sure, the pager they give you is a constant reminder that the good times can’t last forever and you’ll eventually have to pick your progeny up, but for the time they’re having fun with those their age, you are also doing the same.

Cruise Relax

Someone is always cleaning up after you/cooking for you

As the chief chef and housekeeper of the Sip Headquarters, I truly appreciate that on a cruise, someone is always cooking for and cleaning up after me. Sure, I’m still in charge of putting together spreads of food for my picky kids and tidying up after them in most circumstances, but every little bit helps to give me some breaks.

I should also mention a perk such as unlimited cookies, given it’s well-documented that the Sip Advisor is a cookie monster. Also, the motion on the ocean can be fun in many ways! As much as I love cruising, often citing it as my preferred mode of travel, there are some drawbacks that must be noted. Here are some of the things the Sip Advisor often gripes about while onboard a vessel:

Cramped quarters

Most of the rooms we’ve had have been tight for just myself and Mrs. Sip. Add in the Sipplings and all the cargo that comes with them and it can be a little overwhelming. On one of our trips, I hit my knee in the same spot multiple times. Now that the kids have grown out of strollers and pack n’ plays, perhaps some space will open up, but they are also growing, so that room will be absorbed quickly.

Ship Rocking

Tendering

How cruise lines haven’t found a way to improve this method of connecting ships to the land is beyond me. First, you face long waits to even get aboard a shuttle. Next, you wait for what seems like an eternity for it to finally depart, often exposed to stifling heat. By the time you get to your destination, you’re likely already quite annoyed and perhaps suffering from heat stroke. Getting back to the ship is just as bad, as long lines often form at the equally unshaded terminal.

Have to pay for drinks

I’ve come to prefer the all-inclusive style of travelling in this regard, where I don’t have to worry about bar bills. Mrs. Sip and I have perfected some tricks to lower our tab at the end of each voyage, but you still have to enjoy yourself when at sea. Finding the right balance is achievable, but it may take some playing around with.

Limited time at stops

On the flip side of getting a taste of many stops on one holiday, is the fact that your time in those stops is often truncated. Mrs. Sip often compares cruising to ordering an appetizer platter, where you get to sample a number of things, but you don’t get a full meal. Some port stops we’ve experienced have been as short as four hours. We’ve theorized that if you really like the taste you tried, you can always return for a feast at a later time, however, this is unachievable for some and even we haven’t returned to places we hoped to explore more.

Ship Passengers

Long walks to get things

These ships are massive and moving about them can sometimes feel like an endless journey. For example, I’m in charge of getting the Sip Family water at the end of each night and depending on where our cabin is located, the trek may take me a fair amount of time. We’ve also struggled on more recent cruises, depending on the distance between our room and where the Kid’s Club is.

Other passengers

Your fellow travellers on a cruise are likely to be of an older vintage. This can be good and bad, depending on your travel circumstances. On our most recent cruises, many travellers seemed to enjoy our children, likening them to their own grandkids. But, there was the occasional passenger, who didn’t enjoy the high energy of Boy and Girl Sip or other youngsters aboard the ship.

Uninspired menus

At the start of each voyage, it’s exciting to have all these culinary options up for offer. A few days in, you start to grow tired of the rotation of dishes and seeing the same items on the dining menu or at the buffet. I’d prefer a little more experimentation with food offered, but the ship is doing it’s best to appeal to as large a portion of passengers possible.

Cruise Food

Wardrobe changes

Between sleeping, meals, pool time, activities and hitting the gym (LOL), you will often go through a number of clothing changes each day, constantly having to return to your room to look the part for your next endeavour. I counted one time and had worn six different outfits during a day (sleepwear, swimsuit, gym gear, casual clothes, formal wear, warmer casual clothes).

Schedule juggling

A cruise is meant to bring about rest and relaxation, but Mrs. Sip likes to cram in every activity possible. This often causes us to be running from dinner to trivia or a show because the woman has never been great about time coordination. My anxiety grows as she goes through the next day’s schedule and talks about all the points of interest we should hit.

Love & Hate: The Isaac

The Isaac

  • 2 oz White Rum
  • 1 oz Pomegranate Liqueur
  • Top with Club Soda
  • Splash of Lime Juice
  • Garnish with a Maraschino Cherry

This cocktail is made in honour of the bartender on The Love Boat. The show was filmed on Princess Cruise ships, thus is served aboard the line, although it’s now a hidden drink, but still available for those in the know. I subbed Pomegranate Liqueur for Pomegranate Syrup.

Love & Hate: Weddings

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Mrs. Sip and I have attended a lot of weddings together. There are many things I love about these events and a handful of things I don’t… or maybe it’s the other way around! Let’s start things off with the pros:

Reunions

Whether it’s the wedding of friends or family, you always reconnect with someone at the event. With friends based around much of the world, sometimes Mrs. Sip and I only get together with people anymore when a wedding provides the opportunity.

Free Dinner and Perhaps Drinks

Not to be a mooch or anything, but let’s be honest: the prospect of a delicious meal, joined by a beverage or two, is the highlight of many weddings for guests. Not that the Sip Advisor ever needs an excuse, but weddings typically bring like-minded people together for a night of drunken revelry.

Wedding Open Bar

Can You Feel the Love?

I’ve often taken the time during weddings to think about my own relationship with Mrs. Sip. Seeing other folks tie the knot reminds me of our special day in 2012 and helps me evaluate whether we are still on track. The verdict: of course we are.

I should also mention that Mrs. Sip always looks amazing at weddings. Whether as a guest, a member of the wedding party, or as the bride, she blows my mind every time! Now we move to the downsides of weddings. Here are the elements I hate:

Break Between Ceremony and Reception

If you’re part of the wedding party and are busy with photos and such, this time will fly by. If you’re not, you better find a place nearby for drinks and snacks, or else time will crawl slower than a day at the office. Sometimes, you’re stuck in the middle of nowhere for hours and if it’s one of those dreaded dry weddings, you’re really in a bad situation.

Wedding Too Late.jpg

Costs

Weddings sure are expensive… even for the guests. Between gifts, travel, accommodations, food, drinks, clothing, etc., a wedding can really throw your budget out of whack. No matter how well you plan in advance, unexpected expenses will always arise around a wedding.

Dancing

The Sip Advisor really hates dancing. Doing so at a wedding is somehow even worse. I do try to hit the dance floor with Mrs. Sip for at least one song per nuptials, but if she wants more dances, she will have to pay up. She is never willing to do this and yet I still end up shaking my groove thing more often than I would like.

Narrowly missing the cut was receiving lines, waiting for your table to be called for buffet dinners and the massive amounts of planning and coordination that goes into any wedding weekend, which has only become more complicated with the addition of children.

Love & Hate: Blushing Beauty

Blushing Beauty

  • 1.5 oz Gin
  • 0.75 oz Elderflower Liqueur
  • Top with Grapefruit Juice
  • Garnish with a Grapefruit Slice

What components of weddings do you love or hate? I guess if you’ve been married and divorced before, you may just hate the concept entirely!

Sip Trips #229: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

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The end of 2023 was as busy as the rest of the calendar, even with Mrs. Sip not booking us up as fervently as she usually does. Still, we got out to a bunch of places and met up with a number of our people. Here’s how we closed the year:

The month began with news that our Beer Box program was coming to an end after two years “due to challenges within the marketplace.” I’ve enjoyed the subscription service, as it saved me from going to the liquor store and provided a greater variety of beers. Some cons were breweries sending out non-unique offerings or duplicates and sometimes dealing with receiving/scheduling a delivery was frustrating. That said, I will miss this program.

Beer

As for activities, December opened with Mrs. Sip’s office Christmas party at Stefanos Restaurant. The Greek eatery offered guests appetizer platters, a main (I chose the Chicken Souvlaki) and dessert. For drinks, I had a Long Island Iced Tea, Caesar and Okanagan Springs Pale Ale. My only complaint with the meal was that much more tzatziki needed to be provided from the get go, as we kept having to ask for more.

The next night, the Sip Family attended an Abbotsford Canucks game, which featured their annual Teddy Bear Toss. Tickets through my work union were only $25 each and included a $15 concessions voucher per person. We used our combined $60 in vouchers to feast on chicken strips, fries, pizza, beer, ice cream, and gummy bears. To say the Sipplings were pleased would be an understatement. Girl Sip even won the union raffle prize of a stick signed by the entire team. Even after the game, the team offered hot chocolate and popcorn to fans.

After a Christmas train outing at Bear Creek Park, we had dinner at the Central City Boston Pizza. I ate the Grilled Chicken Clubhouse, paired with a Boston-sized Blue Moon. This was the first use of the Sippling’s newest Kid’s Meal cards, which offer five meals each for only $5.

Kids Meals

On a shopping excursion to the U.S., Mrs. Sip and I, along with Girl Sip, stopped for dinner at the Birch Bay Bob’s Burgers. I tried the Bacon Burger with Warm Potato Salad as my selected side. I also munched on Mrs. Sip’s Coleslaw and Girl Sip’s JoJos wedge fries. To wash it all down, I went with the Kulshan Bastard Kat IPA.

Next up, was our Vancouver Canucks Road Game Viewing Party, hosted by SportsBar Live at Rogers Arena. This is a perk of our ticket membership, offering members and their guests two appetizers and a meal and beverage each. We split the Honey Garlic Wings and 1/2 Nachos, while I selected the Cheeseburger for my main. To drink, I started with a pint of Super Flux Colour and Shape IPA, followed by a SportsBar Caesar. Of course, Canucks alumni and the team mascot, Fin, were on hand signing autographs and chatting with those in attendance. The event was capped with our family keeping up our good luck of late, as Girl Sip won a $25 gift card and Mrs. Sip took home a signed Thatcher Demko jersey.

Prior to watching a performance of Elf: The Musical at The Stanley Theatre, Mrs. Sip and I had dinner at the nearby Cactus Club. I ordered my typical Chicken Tenders with Fries and Ugly Wheat Ale. Mrs. Sip got a Mistletoe Mojito that had really neat popping cranberry pearls which we both enjoyed consuming.

Prizes

Just prior to Christmas, we met up with visiting friends at 3 Dogs Brewing in White Rock. Over the course of our evening out, I had servings of the Lava Dog Red Ale and Good Boy Hazy Pale Ale. I also helped Mrs. Sip a little with her Feliz Navidog Porter.

As for the big day, Christmas was very generous to me, as usual, both in gifts and time spent with family. Some notable booze-related items I received included a bottle of Don Papa Rum, along with a World Traveler Cocktail Gift Set, with pre-mixed bottles to make some of the globe’s most interesting cocktails, simply by adding alcohol.

For Christmas dinner, I produced my annual cocktail menu, featuring five original recipes: Miracle on 34th Street (Spiced Rum, Peach Schnapps, Grapefruit Soda), The Greatest Gift (Vodka, Mountain Dew: Fruitquake, Orange Bitters), Skipping Christmas (Mango Chamoy Tequila, Cran-Tropical Juice, Club Soda), The Polar Express (Chocolate Whiskey, Cream Soda, Chocolate Bitters), and A Christmas Memory (Gin, Lemonade, Lingonberry Juice).

Christmas

Our final outing of the year was to a Vancouver Canucks game. Prior to puck drop, we had a meal at the Earl’s Test Kitchen. I really enjoyed Mrs. Sip’s appetizer selection of the Yuzu Calimari, while my spread of the Pulled Chicken Clubhouse with Caesar Salad was quite tasty. The banquet was completed with a pint of Rhino Hazy Pale Ale.

I hope everyone else was able to enjoy the holiday season in whatever way you prefer to do so. 2024 promises to be another great year, with our January already being highlighted by Mrs. Sip’s 40th birthday and a family escape to Disneyland!

Best of 2023

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The year that was, per usual, was full of adventure. We travelled at a monthly pace, with a mix of short and long trips. We also filled the calendar with so many other activities, it would make most people’s heads spin. Let’s see some of the highlights of 2023:

Staying Local

To celebrate Mrs. Sip’s birthday, we spent the weekend in Downtown Vancouver, including meals at H Tasting Lounge (in one of their Winterlust domes) and Top of Vancouver, along with a Vancouver Canucks game in between. The no-kids staycation was a great way to kickoff my muse’s final year of her 30s.

Hawaiian Hula

Our Spring Break getaway saw the Sip Family take a two-week cruise to Hawaii. Much merriment occurred both on and off the ship, as we toured the islands. This was our first cruise where the Sipplings could both enjoy the Kid’s Club without supervision, so Mrs. Sip and I did a crawl of the many bars on board.

Hawaii

Snow Bunnies

For Easter, the Sip Family joined some friends in Manning Park. While others braved the frigid temperatures in campers and motorhomes, we glamped it up in a nearby cabin, getting a good mix of playing in the snow, while also being able to retreat to the warmth and comforts of our accommodation.

Going to the Lodge

Our very first journey to the fabled Great Wolf Lodge was a lot of fun. So much so, that we returned to the resort in October for another round of waterslides, Magic Quest and time together with our own wolf pack. Because of the discounts they offer returning guests, we already have plans to visit again this spring.

Whistling All the Way

Just weeks later, we were off to Whistler, for another getaway. While we didn’t hit the village as much as I thought we would, we spent a fair amount of time together as a family, enjoying the amenities of our resort, while also going through a respectable quantity of food and drinks.

Great Wolf Lodge

Wine Weekend

The Okanagan has been a setting for many Sip Family vacations over the years and 2023 was no different. For the Canada Day long weekend, a group of us all spent the holiday in Keremeos. The kids and adults both played in their own fashion, with another memorable moment being Girl Sip losing her first tooth.

The Hangover

With a friend due to be married, we celebrated in style with a guy’s trip to Las Vegas. Great food, drinks and other typical bachelor party achievements were marked off the checklist. Of all the times I’ve been to Sin City, this was the first time the Sip Advisor had gone with dudes only and it was a very different experience.

This is 40

The entirety of my 40th birthday festivities were amazing. From my Sip, Chip & Dip party, to the coastal cruise we took as a family, finishing with Mrs. Sip and I spending a whole week in Las Vegas together, sans children and other responsibilities. You only get one shot at it and I feel we hit the bullseye.

40th Birthday

Kings of Concrete

In early November, I joined a group of guys for a weekend in Concrete, Washington. The time was spent eating, drinking and drinking. That’s not a typo! A fair bit of the weekend was spent outdoors, a roaring fire lighting our debauchery, and it was nice to get away from all our technology, even if only briefly.

Down Mexico Way

Looking for some relief from winter – as mild as it may have been – the Sip Family jet-setted off to the Mayan Riviera, where we spent a week at an all-inclusive resort. Much downtime was enjoyed, including lots of pool play, animal watching and room relaxing.

That wraps up a very busy 2023. 2024 is shaping up to be comparable, with a few vacations already dotting the calendar and a number of milestone birthdays on the horizon. I wish all you little sippers similar prosperity!