karin, Author at Small Barrels Magazine

2017 Sine Qua Non – The Hated Hunter

May 9, 2023 By karin

2017 Sine Qua Non Syrah - The Hated Hunter — 2017 Sine Qua Non Syrah – The Hated Hunter

More than a wine, this is a transportive experience. The deep colour first draws you in, leaving a kiss of near-black on the cork. Silky sips of dark fruit await. While the taste of this ‘mostly-Syrah’ is full and robust, it is also incredibly smooth, making each taste a true pleasure. If you can, sip slowly and savour.

The Hated Hunter continues the Sine Qua Non tradition – not only of phenomenal wine – but of intriguing names and captivating labels that won’t soon be forgotten.

After enjoying this stellar bottle, we cleaned it up to save for posterity, displaying it in our private cellar along with a handful of other special bottles.

Highly recommended!

Hidden Gems Series – Cacao 70 Eatery in Canmore, Alberta

March 7, 2023 By karin

Small Barrels loves to bring you stories about stellar wines, fine dining, and luxury accommodations. But the good life is not exclusively about the ‘grand’. Quite often it’s the hidden gems – the unexpected stops, the extra touches, the tucked away places – that add magic to the journey…

Hiking through the scenic town of Canmore

Canmore, Alberta, Canada is itself a hidden gem. A scenic mountain town minutes away from world famous Banff National Park, Canmore offers stunning views, a huge variety of trails to explore, shopping, dining, and more. And within the town of Canmore is a hidden gem, Cacao 70 Eatery.

The Bow River from the historic Canmore Engine Bridge

Begun in Montreal, Cacao 70 has expanded from a ‘chocolate drinking bar’ to include an array of cafe-style eateries, sweets shops, and products found throughout Canada and beyond. All centered around – you guessed it – heavenly chocolate.

American Style Hot Chocolate — “American Style” Hot Chocolate

Located among a complex of shops, restaurants and services on Old Canmore Road, Cacao 70 in Canmore is a worthy stop whether you arrive by foot, bike or other vehicle. An absolute must when temperatures drop, Cacao 70 is a lovely place for a gourmet hot chocolate experience post (or mid) hike. In fact, mountain air can be crisp no matter the time of year, making any time a good time to stop by for an indulgent sip.

“Cacao70 Factory” – Melted chocolate with hot chocolate on the side

We sampled the American Style Hot Chocolate with jumbo marshmallows (picture above), a gorgeous milk chocolate based beverage and the perfect treat after a mountain-town hike or stroll.

The next item pictured – the ‘Cacao70 Factory’ – was as tasty as it was beautiful to look at. With melted chocolate presented in a brandy glass, and hot chocolate and ice cream served on the side, this deserves an enthusiastic chef’s kiss. The hot chocolate base comes in your choice of either milk or dark chocolate (we went with dark). Pour it over the melted chocolate, and enjoy a smooth, ‘truffle-like’ chocolatey beverage…yummm…

Hot chocolate beverages are not the only items on the menu. Coffee, espresso-based drinks and teas are also available, and so is a full menu of tasty looking items to eat like waffles, crepes, sandwiches, omelettes and more. We limited ourselves to the chocolate beverages this time, but would certainly consider a stop in for brunch or lunch.

And so….with tastebuds still tingling with chocolate delight, and warmed to your toes deep in your hiking boots, you can head back to home base taking in the stunning views available at every turn.

We highly recommend Cacao 70, a hidden gem for chocolate lovers in Canmore, Alberta.

Cacao 70 Eatery (Canmore) is located at Unit109, 302 Old Canmore Rd, Canmore, Alberta For more information, call (403) 675-7669 or visit [email protected]

Rundle Bar at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel

September 13, 2022 By karin

The Rundle Bar at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel is a welcoming, stylish place to share some drinks and good food. Whether it be for a pause in the afternoon or for late night cocktails, the art deco-inspired decor and stunning views make it memorable.

Clean, contemporary decor and great views

We recall the days when this space was the hotel’s old lobby. It’s certainly been refreshed and re-imagined since then – gone are the dark tones and medieval-style tapestries. But, even with its much more contemporary vibe, the tasteful new Rundle Bar manages to fit in beautifully with the grandeur of the rest of ‘the castle’.

Of course, when you offer views like the Bow Valley (pictured below), ‘grandeur’ is somewhat baked-in.

We stopped in for an afternoon cocktail after checking in. The Rundle Bar is large space – two levels, in fact – offering a comfortable mix of tables, chairs, and sofas to relax in. We had no trouble finding a table. But even at this time of day, the popular bar was hopping.

Rundle Bar's Signature Cocktail List — Rundle Bar’s Signature Cocktail List

In addition to all the usual lovely wines, craft beers, and spirits, the Rundle Bar offers a creative craft cocktail menu. I very much enjoyed my intriguingly herby Royal Cosmo de Provence.

The Boulevardier was also excellent.

The menu goes beyond cocktails if you’re looking for a snack, or something heartier. We had big plans for dinner and so didn’t order food, but plates and platters were sailing around us everywhere. An all-day menu focuses on upscale appetizer fare, like smoked salmon, vegetable crudités and hummus, and oyster plates. A lunch menu is also offered, with bistro selections like poke bowls, soups, salads, and gourmet sandwiches.

An outdoor patio opens up in the warmer times of the year. The weather wasn’t ready during our visit, but the views of the valley and the fresh mountain air would certainly ‘elevate’ the food and drink even further.

We thoroughly enjoyed our stop at the Rundle Bar, and suggest popping in if you’re a guest at the Banff Springs!

For more information, visit www.fairmont.com/banff-springs

Fairview Bar and Restaurant Review

July 26, 2022 By karin

With its art-deco inspired decor and a view of one of North America’s most famous alpine lakes, the Fairview Bar and Restaurant is a stylish place to dine while at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. The menu is heavily inspired by local and “Rocky Mountain wild” fare (and is thus changeable, as seasons and availability dictate). Let’s take a look…

Fairview Bar and Restaurant Starter Menu

For starters, we had the Brant Lake Steal Tartare pictured at the top. It was fresh, tasty and everything you’d hope for – dusted with delicate asiago ‘snow’ that melted on the tongue.

Gem Lettuce Salad with Wild Orange Oil and Pickled Vegetable

The Gem Lettuce Salad really was a gem – one of the meal’s highlights. In the photo it looks deceptively simple. The ingredients were as fresh, bright, tender and crisp as they look (already a good start). But what you can’t see is what made it magic; an absolutely scrumptious dressing of Wild Orange Oil with zingy pickled vegetables tying it all together. Really noteworthy in my books.

And oh yes – note this utterly lovely (and ridiculously large) loaf of bread was also brought to the table. (That is NOT a tiny plate, my friends.)

Fairview Bar and Restaurant Mains and Sides

For main courses, the selection wasn’t extensive but it was nicely balanced with choices of fish, steak, and “wild” mains. (Think elk, venison, boar chop for that last category.) We were in a less-than-wild mood I suppose, but the local Alberta beef suited us just fine.

Black Label 6oz. Tenderloin with Chimichurri

The frothy, delectably-green chimichurri and charred green onion were welcome tastes and textures that complemented the beef. The drizzle of veal jus added another layer of richness to the already buttery steak. Fine touches, and something different than what you get at a typical steakhouse.

Sides were made to share. We added wild sautéed mushrooms to our meals as well as an order of harissa seared asparagus. The mushrooms were earthy and good, and the hot chilli pepper flavour of the harissa once again worked so well with everything we ordered. Honestly, it’s the unusual but expertly-chosen sauces, dressings and enhancements that makes this meal stand out in our memories.

We enjoyed a bottle of the Continuum 2016 (Napa) – a Bordeaux blend that was at once rich-tasting with a deep, beautiful colour and deliciously floral scented. The showy decanter pictured above perfectly suited the wine and the art-deco decor of the dining room. All-around gorgeous wine and presentation.

This was a final meal for us after a long and wonderful stay in the mountains. We opted for port-for-dessert to finish off the meal and toast the trip.

Our wonderful server, noting our love of wine and port, generously treated us to a taste of the outstanding 1964 Messias port.

In addition to the tasty and memorable meal, the service was terrific and, as mentioned, very generous with the surprise gift of such a special port. Dietary concerns/allergies were also handled with the utmost attention to detail, which is always appreciated.

The Fairview Bar and Restaurant is a must for a romantic, tasty dinner while staying at the Chateau and we highly recommend it.

Visit www.fairmont.com for more information or to make reservations.

The Diplomat Steakhouse – Regina, Saskatchewan

April 5, 2022 By karin Leave a Comment

Wonderfully traditional steakhouse elegance

An elegant downtown Regina tradition going back over 40 years, The Diplomat Steakhouse was welcoming, comfortable, and delicious. Featuring Prime Aged Steaks (aged in-house), the expected steakhouse accompaniments, and much more – you’re in for an enjoyable evening.

The steak menu is comprehensive, and that’s what brought us here, but the offerings go beyond steak. Numerous chicken dishes, pastas, and a large seafood selection are also available. There’s something for everyone, with plenty of Greek-cuisine inspired deliciousness.

We began dinner by melting into our cozy plush red velvet booth and ordered very traditional cocktails – a Caesar and a Manhattan.

For a starter, and continuing with old school steakhouse tradition, we shared a shrimp cocktail. The shrimp was pleasingly plump and icy cold, with a balanced and tangy cocktail sauce – just as you’d hope.

Caesar salad followed. Portions were generous without being overwhelming large. And this is as good of a spot as any to mention the impeccable service. The pacing of courses was perfect, and our server possessed the best blend of polite, friendly, and unobtrusive that we could hope for. That paired with the warm, familial welcome from the gracious host right upon our entrance made for a most comfortable evening.

We found the large wine list to be very reasonably priced. We chose a big, bold shiraz, Mollydooker Carnival of Love (2014), one of our favourites. Beautifully decanted, it dressed up our table and was the ideal pairing with our steaks.

Molly Dooker's Carnival of Love — Molly Dooker’s Carnival of Love

I myself ordered the 8oz. Filet Mignon (not pictured). For him – a 19oz. Rib Steak grilled to perfection. Both steaks were absolutely excellent. The Triple AAA Angus beef was rich and flavourful, benefitting from the aging done in-house. The medium rare preparation was exactly right. Fresh bread and garlic butter, soup or salad, choice of potato or rice and vegetables rounded out the meal.

I must mention the unique decor. Besides the sumptuous materials and dark colours that give the restaurant a very traditional feeling, there are of course the oil portraits. On every corner, you’ll find ornately framed paintings of Canadian Prime Ministers and other dignitaries. It’s unique – it works! – and adds to the enduring charm of this historic restaurant.

You’ll also note the jam-packed wall of signed celebrity photos near the entrance. Clearly The Diplomat is a beloved and much-recommended destination. And now, Small Barrels recommends it to you!

Gallery of Canadian Prime Minister oil portraits

Visit www.the diplomat steakhouse.com or call 306-359-3366 for more information or to make reservations.