Sid Cross is doing a little guest-blogging for us this week as we cover the Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival. Widely considered one of the finest palates in the world, Sid’s list of honours and accomplishments are staggering. He is Wines Committee Chair for The International Wine & Food Society (www.iwfs.org) headquartered in London England; an Officer in France’s prestigious Ordre du Merite Agricole; a Membre d’Honneur of the L’Academie du vin de Bordeaux (and the only Canadian to receive that honour); and he has been named The Gourmet of the Year by The Society of Bacchus America. He’s also co-founder and an advisor to The Chef’s Table Society of BC, and an all around gent, first class.

Leave it to this man to lead you through a night and day you didn’t have. Sid Cross, live from the Wine Fest…

Table Notebook

– Day 4 of the Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival saw the opening plenary session with a retrospective on the Wines of BC: Our Land, Revealed.

– Off to the Trade Days lunch, MC’ed well again by Richard Carras and the always appropriate cuisine of wine collector and Executive Chef Blair Rasmussen. Sat at the table of agent Vino Allegro and enjoyed talking to the principals they represent.

– Cold smoked local tuna, cucumber salad with micros greens; Fraser Valley duck confit, Puy lentils, caramelized banana squash and pommes sarladaise.

– Very loud din from the crowd but at least some respect shown by them for Anthony von Mandl introducing his 2007 Mission Hill Family Estate Riesling Icewine.

– The first of two afternoons of Festival tastings for the who’s who of the wine and food trade. Lots of special wines from under the table brought out…

– Off for a quick visit to the Prohibition Party at Metro’s speakeasy at Metro featuring molls and wiseguys with teacups of giggle juice, craft cider and Howe Sound stout.

– Checked out the hospitality suite of Andrew Peller at Aqua Riva.

– Quick family-style dinner with Road 13 at the Terminal City Club.

– Took Yann Schyler principal of negociant S&S and Chateau Kirwan in Margaux to the Ossoyos Larose vertical 2001-2008 conducted by Pascal Madevon. Vintages getting better but need time. Yann’s French palate felt they should be a bit less tannic and bit more charming.

– First night of three consecutive Festival Tasting. The crowds were out in full force, and as usual, blocking access to the spit buckets. Lots of fashionistas…

– Some wonderful juice particularly taken by the high end Deutz Cuvee William 1998 Champagne.

———————————————————————–

Read the Gluttony Blog