Tag Archives: Love & Hate

Love & Hate – Glass Slipper

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[Over 2025, the Sip Family will use their Magic Key year passes to attend the Disneyland Resort frequently. Therefore, I think a lot of my content will be Disney based, while also presenting a Disney-themed cocktail recipe.]

To be clear, Disneyland is my happy place and when I’m there, I feel like I’m in my most comfortable tourist bubble. That said, the happiest place on earth isn’t perfect and it does have flaws. After countless trips to my mecca, here are the elements I love and hate about the resort, starting with those I appreciate:

Rides and Attractions

At the root of visiting these parks is experiencing the rides and attractions that are world famous. It’s always hard to select my favourite ride, as there are too many contenders. Sometimes, it’s a case of my favourite ride being whatever one I’m currently on! Among my preferred experiences are the Matterhorn, Space Mountain and Radiator Springs Racers.

Themed Lands

No company in the world does theming better than Disney. When you walk through Cars Land, for example, you feel as if you’ve stepped into Radiator Springs and the Cars movie universe. Even lands I’m not thrilled about, such as Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, truly immerse you in the fictional universes you’ve come to love (or sometimes hate!).

Characters

While I’m no longer seeking autographs and pictures like I did as a kid, it can still be exciting to see various characters around the park. It’s fun to watch the Sipplings meet and interact with today’s breadth of costumed creatures, whether they be from Disney classics or newer properties, such as the superheroes of Marvel. Particularly entertaining are the likes of the Cruella DeVille, the Mad Hatter and Gaston.

Food and Treats

As I’ve often said, the resort has really upped its food and beverage game since I was younger. Prior to each trip now, I go through all the options available around the park and make a wish list of what I’d like to try or experience again. There’s so many options now that the Sipplings have enjoyed treat marathons, where we try as many goodies as we can over our stay.

Cast Members

Most of these folks work very hard to keep guests happy. It can’t be the easiest job, so kudos to those that go the extra mile to enhance the Disney experience.

Beers and Cocktails

I am still floored with how different Disney World and Disneyland are with ideas around booze. Disney World seems flush with drinking establishments, while at Disneyland only one of the two parks offer a variety of beverages, while the other only has beer, wine and cocktails at their sit-down dining options. Still, lineups are much more tolerable with a drink in hand and roaming the park with a beverage is now commonplace.

Family Time

Walt Disney created Disneyland to provide a place for people, particularly families, to enjoy together. Our trips to the resort with the Sipplings provide focused time with each other, minus the typical distractions you find at home. We get to experience the thrills, chills and spills of the park as a unit and build up core memories that we’ll all appreciate for the rest of our lives.

Getting Away From Life

When I’m at Disneyland, no matter how briefly, my outside world challenges melt away. Work concerns, bills that are due, etc., are all pushed to a space in my mind that is locked for the duration of our stay. Sure, those adult problems come back in a hurry, but it’s nice to silence them for a short period of time.

Being a Kid Again

Disneyland provides me the opportunity to feel like a kid again… but this time I have my own money to enjoy the parks as I see fit. You can be goofy and carefree and throw around cash like you’re Scrooge McDuck!

It feels almost sacrilegious to talk about the negatives of a place that has brought me so much joy over the years, but here we go:

Reservation System

Before you even get into the park nowadays, there are many annoyances. Tops among them, is the reservation system, which limits visitors to four reservations at a time. This means, if you plan to be in the area for longer than four days, you have to add more days as you go along. That can be stressful, as you never know if things will work out as you hope. Also annoying – and seemingly unfair – is the fact Disney World has removed their reservation system, while it remains at Disneyland.

Crowds

The resort is never not busy. Sure, some days and times of the day can be lighter, but there is always a mass of humanity strolling through the park gates. It’s certainly not a place to be if you hate larger gatherings. I can get uncomfortable in these situations, but for whatever reason, I’m able to largely put that aside for the sake of being at Disneyland.

Lineups

These crowds I speak of can create long lines, meaning you spend the bulk of your day snaking through extensive queues. Thankfully, Mrs. Sip and I know the park so well that we can tell whether a lineup is worth doing or if it’s better to head somewhere else.

Strollers

Nothing spills my drink more than when I’m trying to get to a certain place and I have a double-wide stroller slowing my progress. And don’t get me started on electric carts, especially those being operated by people who seem to have no malady whatsoever. Another thing to hate about the mass of strollers in the park is the designated stroller parking areas, which take up what used to be real estate that was dedicated to walking lanes, congesting the park even further.

Slow Walkers

In a similar vein to strollers, I hate slow walkers or walk-blockers as I’ve tried to coin as a phrase. I can let it pass for an elderly folk, but if the person is younger and seems fit, why the hell are you walking at a snail’s pace?

Genie Plus/Lightning Lane

I was a huge fan of the FastPass system the parks used to use. It was free to all and allowed you to get on a couple rides each day with minimal lines. Today, after you’ve already drained your life savings to visit the resort, the only way you can get some front of the line action, is to shell out another wad of cash and buy the Genie Plus passes, giving you access to Lightning Lane queues. If it was a modestly-priced add-on, I’d get it, but you have to pay another $30-$40 (per person!) on top of your exorbitant park passes.

Ride Breakdowns

I’m shocked with how many and how frequently rides seem to breakdown around the parks nowadays. I don’t remember things being like this in my younger days. I’m not sure if it’s because standards are higher now or, as Mrs. Sip theorizes, they don’t have the maintenance crew they once had, but you can often look at your park map on your phone and see multiple attractions closed at a time. It almost seems like the rides are on a rotating breakdown schedule with how frequently they occur these days.

Ride Refurbishments

It sucks when one of the rides you enjoy or were looking forward to going on is closed for refurbishments. If it leads to updates or something new with the ride, I’m all for that, but improvements/advancements don’t seem to happen as quickly as they should and rides coming off a refurbishment seem to breakdown just as frequently as others.

Walking and Sore Feet

At the end of each very long day, you’re bound to be physically and mentally exhausted. Sure, you feel a sense of accomplishment with your day and falling asleep – as well as sleeping soundly – is helped by all that you’ve endured, but when your alarm goes off the next morning, you kind of wish it wasn’t another day in the parks.

Expensive Items

Disneyland is not cheap. You know you’re signing up for a costly vacation when you book it, but some elements of the vacation are ridiculously overpriced now. Most beers will set you back $16. For Canadians like us, that’s like $20. I know what you’re saying: “Just don’t drink.” But come on, it’s a vacation. There will be time to worry about the bills later.

Lack of Express Lines

Aside from cost, one other complaint I have for the Disneyland drinking game is that there are no express lines for drink orders at certain food stalls. I was recently in a 30-plus minute lineup to get cocktails for Mrs. Sip and myself because they were only sold at a location that had a massive line for food orders. A streamlined process for those who only want to grab a quickly filled cocktail would be appreciated.

Security Lineups

In the before times, pre 9/11, there was no such thing as going through security to access the parks. Today, you can experience an immense lineup before even queuing for your first ride of the day. One fix I recently though of – though I’m sure I’m not the only one – was to have a couple lines for folks without bags or anything that needs to be checked more thoroughly. A couple express lanes would help, I believe. People with strollers should also have their own dedicated lanes, so they’re not holding everyone else up as Mr. Security has to go through every pocket of a diaper bag.

Expensive Hotels

There was a time when Mrs. Sip and I could get a hotel on South Harbor Boulevard, right outside the park, for $100 per night. And this wasn’t that long ago. Today, you’re looking at $300 per night easy and that’s if you can even get a room. We’ve tried some other areas because of this and are still working to find the perfect balance of location and price.

WAY Too Much Star Wars

I know some people love the Star Wars additions, even Mrs. Sip. This has made me more disappointed in her than I ever thought possible. I’ve never been much of a sci-fi fan and didn’t grow up watching the movies, so I always find it hard to get jazzed up to enter the Galaxy’s Edge area. If just that existed, I could make peace with things, but the fact there’s another large dose of Star Wars in Tomorrowland is just excessive.

Love & Hate: Glass Slipper

  • 2.25 oz Gin
  • 1 oz Blue Curacao
  • Garnish with Edible Glitter

For all that can be frustrating with the resort, I still treasure every moment I have within its walls. I hope to live to the day where I’m strolling the park in an electric cart, annoying the younger folk with slow speeds and dangerous maneuvers!

Love & Hate – Mistletoe Moments

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I originally began working on a Love & Hate article for the winter season, but really, all people care about from this time of year is Christmas, so let’s cut to the chase, give people what they want and discuss the pros and cons of the holidays. Here are the reasons to revel in the term:

Getting Lit Up

Christmas lights still fascinate me, especially if it’s a really well done display. It has to be one of Boy Sip’s favourite elements of the season too. Light walks/drives have always been a treasured memory of my Christmases past.

Giving and Getting

The Sip Advisor likes getting gifts… but he LOVES giving treats. Sure, the pursuit of the perfect parcel can be challenging, but it’s all worth it in the end when you see the recipient’s face light up with joy.

Gift Giving

Friends and Family Discount

All the gatherings of Christmas, whether they be with family, friends or some hybrid, typically mean drinks are flowing and feasts of food are being served. The holidays can also provide opportunities to visit with folks you haven’t seen for some time, perhaps since last Christmas.

Family Fondness

Aside from scheduled gatherings, Christmas also provides an increased amount of time with Mrs. Sip and the Sipplings. Part of that is because of the break from school, along with all activities also being on pause. This offers the chance to do cookie kits, gingerbread houses, watch movies and TV, play games, and so much more.

Christmas Cheat

The winter is a perfect time to hibernate and enjoy all of the snacks the season provides. Ma Sip is a baking legend and keeps us all well-stocked with treats. I’m just thankful that the days of trying to preserve a decent body are long behind me.

Christmas Baking

Mistletoe Media

Nothing gets me in a festive mood more than watching Christmas movies and TV shows. I don’t care if I’ve seen the film or episode countless times, I’ll still enjoy it again. Introducing the Sipplings to many of my holiday favourites has always been fun, as well.

Yuletide Traditions

Christmas is the season that inspires the most family and friend traditions. The extended Sip Family has many of them, each bringing their own joys to the countdown to the big day.

As much as I love the Christmas season and agree it is the most wonderful time of the year, it does come with a few drawbacks. Here are the issues that plague the period:

Decorating

While I like seeing holiday displays, I abhor putting them together myself. For example, I went to set up Christmas lights for the first time in our new home. Problems began immediately, when I learned there was no electrical outlet on the balcony. Once I figured out a solution to that, I learned our lights from the previous year (after untangling them, of course) no longer worked. Then, I tried another set we have, but it was too small to stretch across the entire balcony rail, so more lights need to be purchased now…

Christmas Lights

Secret Santa

I hate these gift exchanges, where you almost always walk away with crap you never wanted or needed. I also dislike the whole concept of stealing presents and the chaos that causes. Mrs. Sip’s office Secret Santa can take hours to execute and I just want to wrap the meal and get back home. Bah humbug!

Busy Malls, Stores, Roads, etc.

We’ve all been there. You desperately need to make a run to pick up one last present or food item and the dread that washes over you when you realize how busy the roads and stores will be is intense. Regardless of panic, these trips have to be completed and hopefully you return with your sanity still in check.

Black Friday

First, there was Black Friday, one day of shopping deals prior to the Christmas rush. Now, there’s Black Friday weekends/weeks. Heck, the deals keep popping up earlier and earlier, it might as well be called Black Friday Month.

Black Friday

Starts in Summer

Similarly, Christmas seems to start earlier each year. It’s alarming when kids aren’t even back in the school from summer break, but ads for Christmas are already running.

Too Many Activities/Options

In most years, Mrs. Sip has had a tendency to overbook herself and the family. While it’s fun to take advantage of some of the holiday-themed events in your area, doing too much can cause irritation and exhaustion. Even on off years, when we’ve made an effort to do less, it still seems like there’s not enough hours in the day to get everything done.

Christmas Crap

While many Christmas songs are classics, some just spill my drink every time I hear them. Do They Know It’s Christmas has to be one of the most inane, insensitive tunes ever recorded, yet it gets constant air time during the holiday season. Even creator Bob Geldof called it one of the “worst songs in history”. And there are many others that ruin the season.

Christmas Music

Unexpected Gifts

I’ll never forget my first Christmas with Mrs. Sip. Many new people were added to my gift list and I was careful to get good presents for each, hoping to ingratiate myself with the folks who were closest with my love. For some reason, though, I wasn’t expecting something from Mrs. Sip’s grandma – given to me on Christmas Eve – and had to scramble on Christmas morning to find any store that was open, so I could have something prepared for her by Christmas dinner. Other times, you get something from a friend who you don’t typically exchange gifts with and are at a loss. This is why some folks keep a collection of generic gifts on hand, but I’m not sure that’s the best remedy.

$$$

The holidays can be incredibly expensive, from gifts to gatherings to events, you really do bleed money during the December sprint. You tell yourself that things will be lighter and tighter in January, but who are we kidding, things never really slow down.

Love & Hate: Mistletoe Moments

Mistletoe Moments

  • 1.5 oz Empress Gin
  • Splash of Lemon Juice
  • Dash of Cranberry Sauce
  • Dash of Simple Syrup
  • Dash of Aromatic Bitters
  • Garnish with a Lemon Peel

What are elements you love and hate about Christmas and the season that surrounds it? I hope everyone out there has a safe and fun holiday season, full of time with all the things you love and not the things you hate!

Love & Hate – Campfire Mule

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The leaves are falling and temperatures are dropping. Fall is upon us and that can be a good thing… and also bad thing. Let’s start with items the Sip Advisor loves from the season:

Nature’s Beauty

There is something magical about the change from summer to fall and all the unique colours we get to experience with leaves and sunsets. The Sipplings have realized this phenomenon and it’s neat seeing a shifting world through their eyes.

Chilling Out

For those that find the heat of the summer to be a bit much, fall can come as a massive relief. Sure, the sun still comes out often, but it’s no longer blazingly hot. Yes, the fans and air conditioning units can enjoy some rest and be packed away.

Nature

Birthday Bashes

The fall brings many birthdays to the Sip Advisor headquarters, most notably, myself and Girl Sip’s big days. Our birthdays fall right on the cusp of the new season and that’s something Girl Sip finds to be very special about her.

Off-Season Over

The end of each hockey season can allow folks to recharge the batteries and watch something else for a change. But it doesn’t take long for us fanatics to pine for the return of our favourite sport. I want nothing more than for hockey to knock baseball off the local sports radio station and the start of a new campaign, with hope at its highest, is exciting.

Sweet Stuff

The preparation for Halloween starts before summer has even set and that brings all the little treats you love. Mini chocolate bars are awesome… that is, until you’ve eaten so many mini bars they add up to more than any full-size bar and you feel ashamed. Oh well, you can always get back into shape after coming out of your hibernation in the spring.

Halloween Candy

Premiere Party

Things have changed with streaming services rolling out shows throughout the year, but September used to bring the return of all the hit shows you love. This still happens with the major networks, but I’ll admit the concept has lost some of its luster.

Cozy Up

After a summer of many activities and the need to be doing things outdoors all day, every day, fall can be applauded for forcing you to return inside, snuggling up on the couch to watch the many movies and TV shows you neglected the previous season.

While fall can provide a nice change of pace, it isn’t all good. Here are some things the Sip Advisor hates about the season:

Enjoy it While it Lasts

While watching leaves change colours and fall to the ground may have its own majesty, once the rain gets to them, they become disgusting hazards. I’ve slipped on wet leaves many times and they just kind of look gross covering streets and sidewalks.

Fall Reality

Rain, Rain Go Away

Speaking of the wet stuff, there is a lot of it in my part of the world. Combine that with increasingly shorter days and a steep drop in temperatures and it can be a pretty dark and dreary time.

Schedule Fills Up

While summer brings a hiatus to school and other activities for the Sipplings, the fall brings all these things back with a vengeance. It’s not long before carefree days are filled with so much that the Sip Advisor ends up living in his car for large portions of each day and when not in the car, I’m at arenas, fields, gyms and pools.

Pumpkin Spice Everything

I am not a pumpkin spice fan at all. In fact, I view pumpkin pie – the Thanksgiving dessert of choice – as one of the grossest on the planet, it reminding me of something someone regurgitated. I’m so anti-pumpkin that I don’t even really enjoy it in alcohol.

Pumpkin Spice

Layer Up

While you are more confident in how to dress during the summer and winter, fall can bring many different weather patterns, sometimes within the same day. Thus, you have to dress in layers and add or remove them accordingly, which is just a headache.

Fall Back

One of the stupidest traditions on the annual calendar is Daylight Savings Time. I can’t wait for this to be removed from existence and hope one of the anti-Daylight Savings Time campaigns is eventually successful.

Planning Problems

The end of summer also brings on the reality of a new year approaching. At work, you have to turn your mind to what vacation time you’ll need to book off for the next year, while you may also start thinking about personal and professional goals, as part of your future planning. I’m just not ready for any of that.

Fall Layers

Scheduling Scraps

As mentioned above, both Girl Sip and myself have late September birthdays. This can make scheduling our celebrations quite difficult, as you never know what the weather will be like. We’ve attempted to have Girl Sip’s birthdays in parks before – especially during Covid times – only to have to hunker down under a picnic shelter as it poured rain.

Winter is Coming

Lastly, fall means that we’re all one step closer to winter, which aside from a few things to look forward to, can be one of the most depressing times of the year. But we’ll examine that more in a future Love & Hate article.

Love & Hate: Campfire Mule

Campfire Mule

  • 1.5 oz Smoked Bourbon or Whiskey
  • Top with Ginger Beer
  • Splash of Lemon Juice
  • Dash of Maple Syrup
  • Garnish with a Marshmallow

What do you love or hate about fall? If you’re gonna call it autumn, though, don’t even bother commenting!

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.

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?

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!

Love & Hate – The Spudtini

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

Chips

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

Hash Browns

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

Hash Browns

Fries/Tater Tots

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

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

Baked Potato

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

Baked Potato

Mashed Potatoes

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

Scalloped Potatoes

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

Love & Hate: The Spudtini

The Spudtini

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

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

Love & Hate – Toy Story

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

Marble Works

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

Lego

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

Lego

Outdoor Equipment

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

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

Play-Doh

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

Playdoh

Slime

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

Chalk

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

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

Love & Hate: Toy Story

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

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