Category Archives: Food & Wine

Author Niki Jabbour Answers 25 Questions

By Richard | Published February 5, 2012

I’m not sure why it’s always been there, but I have a soft, quiet spot in my heart for gardeners. And lately, for this gardener in particular. We’re friends. But, surprisingly, Niki Jabbour and I have never met. Niki and I both wrote for The Halifax Daily News in the 1990s, where I was a [...]

Also posted in 25 Questions, Author, Author, Books, Canada, Global Warming, Life, Nova Scotia, Sustainability | 5 Comments

Ode to the Fiddlehead

By Richard | Published May 11, 2011

Life is so often about the small victories that allow us to light the darkness for a few hours and celebrate life. Oddly enough — though people who don’t like the cold will think that I’m a few chords short of a sonata — I sometimes feel sorry for friends who live in warm places, [...]

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Wine Tasting 101

By Richard | Published March 6, 2011

Serious wine tasting begins with a leap of faith. If you’d rather remain a vinous agnostic, stop reading now, and you’ll save some money, and probably be a little less cool. But honestly, I hope that you’ll stay, for I believe that becoming a good wine taster is an important skill in life. It’s important [...]

Also posted in Wine Tasting 101, Writing | 8 Comments

Drinking Stars — The Story of Champagne

By Richard | Published December 29, 2010

Like so many good stories, it begins with a myth. Champagne, the world’s most famous and expensive sparkling wine, is purported to have been discovered by Dom Perignon. The legendary blind 17th century Benedictine monk was cellarmaster at Hautvillers in France when he made a startling discovery. “Come quickly my brothers!” Dom Perignon is said [...]

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Two Graces for Thanksgiving

By Richard | Published October 10, 2010

Thr first is an Ojibway blessing: Grandfather, Look at our brokenness. We know that in all creation Only the human family Has strayed from the Sacred Way. We know that we are the ones Who are divided. And we are the ones Who must come back together To walk in the Sacred Way. Grandfather, Sacred [...]

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Parsley and Oregano

By Richard | Published July 9, 2010

It really was the wrong thing to say. During one of our trips to the ENT Clinic, a nursing friend of my Mother’s asked me if she had been a good cook in my youth, perhaps knowing that I wrote about food and wine. “Solidly mediocre,” I answered truthfully, right in front of the woman [...]

Also posted in Family | 9 Comments

Port Royal, Nova Scotia

By Richard | Published May 22, 2010

The nail as status symbol? Yes, in New France. As my fingers traced Port Royal’s rough doors, I was feeling this community’s social strata. Here, artisans lived communally, doors bound by a smattering of metal. The gentlemen’s quarters — larger, private dwellings — have entrances punctuated by large nails. The door that feels like Braille’s [...]

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Omnivore’s 100, Part IV

By Richard | Published May 3, 2010

If you’re just joining me… About 18 months ago, the following meme made its way around the Internet’s food blogs, and I thought it would be fun to revive it. I believe that it originated at Very Good Taste. It’s just one person’s list of foods that every foodie should try. I spent 10 years [...]

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Omnivore’s 100, Part III

By Richard | Published April 25, 2010

Sorry to repeat the introduction again, but if you’re just joining me… About 18 months ago, the following meme made its way around the Internet’s food blogs, and I thought it would be fun to revive it. I believe that it originated at Very Good Taste. It’s just one person’s list of foods that every [...]

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Omnivore’s 100, Part 2

By Richard | Published April 21, 2010

About 18 months ago, the following meme made its way around the Internet’s food blogs, and I thought it would be fun to revive it. I believe that it originated at Very Good Taste. It’s just one person’s list of foods that every foodie should try. I spent 10 years in the restaurant industry, and [...]

Also posted in Life | Leave a comment