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It was a dark and stormy night.
Well actually the dark and stormy has been plaguing the oft gorgeous Victoria BC for the last two weeks. What's happened to our dry temperate climate? - oh yes it's November!! The month to endure rather than enjoy.
Last night to assuage the lowlies it was off to Clive's Classic Lounge where Shawn Soole dazzled with a new selection of American Whiskys. Along the way he made me a signature cocktail now titled K2. He's going to be tweaking it but we've got a base of Maker's Mark, DOM Benedictine (from the 1970s before all liqueurs went wrong) and Bitter Truth Xocolatl Bitters. Shawn's got a stash of the bitters so chat him up next time you're in and sweet talk him out of some.

So now it's Monday night and a girl just can't stay home when the dark and stormy is raging so off it was with the handsome hubby to a fundraiser for Eldercare, Savouries, Sweets & Sips was a taste of this and a sip of that all laid out by local chefs. There were hits and oh my there were misses. One tidbit was pheasant on a lovely jerusalem artichoke chip unfortunately topped with the most amateurish sauce I've tasted in a long time. On the other side of the room there was a complex tiny delight by Bear Mountain that used classic tastes married with molecular cuisine techniques. The carrot ribbon didn't complement the flavours but the visual reference was appreciated.

Theirs wasn't the only nod to molecular that night as Vista 18 also used sodium alginate to make an outsized pearl of flavour - theirs with sweet plum while Bear Mountain went for a cherry pop. I think Victorians are going to be seeing a lot more of the molecular new wave in it's future as we catch up with this trend.

On to the spirits which came in the vino form. Drostdy-Hof, Two Oceans and Flat Roof Manor were all present thanks to PMA rep Kathleen Shandley who did a lot of work to pull the event together. The wines are all reasonably priced which is good during these economic times. To finish the night it's Amarula which in my book rules and Kathleen mentioned the amarula tree is reportably considered an aphrodisiac. So now that I've downed mine I am eyeing up the hubby. Aren't men suddenly wonderful?!? Goodnight sweet sips.