LaurenMote.com

Kir – nothing tastes quite like it. It’s simple, elegant, palate-cleansing and the cassis makes the drink. That juicy, viscous peppery “bite” to the liqueur is the quintessential characteristic associated with this cocktail. So here’s what I did – I changed the cassis. This cocktail is an adaptation of the classic black currant cassis and [...]

by Lauren Mote The Publican Magazine, Winter 2010 Issue These days, it seems that my perception on the sparkling wine industry is a bit of a child’s teeter-totter; do I go up on the left, and embrace the single vineyard, single variety champagne, or do I go down on the right, and follow my instincts? [...]

by Lauren Mote (original story can be seen at www.urbandiner.ca) We ended one festival to start another. After Victoria’s Art of the Cocktail was successfully put to bed the previous weekend in Victoria, Cornucopia, Whistler’s celebration of wine and food, was just stepping on the stage in the snowy coastal mountains 100 km in the [...]

When I was invited to taste the Mission Hill portfolio, I couldn’t help but think about the bargain bin at the local liquor store. What else exists between their innocuous stock wines and Oculus? The Shangri-La hosted a complete tasting that effectively changed my perception of this long standing vineyard and winery in the Okanagan. [...]

by Lauren Mote So far the first day of the Trade Tasting seems to be a success. Contrary to the problem I encountered last year, where I was aimlessly strutting through the pavilion with brochures, a map and a sticky wine glass, today I have a plan – I’ll start in BC, end “everywhere else” [...]

by Lauren Mote Last night, I felt as if I was part of a women’s rally – and not in the pro-feminist way that was borderline detrimental to my brain back in university while studying for my finals in Political Science – a rally to celebrate the ambition, and soon after, the success of 6 [...]

by Ed Dugas, Industry Blender For over 5 years now, Vancouver policy planners have been trying to implement a liquor service policy that will both satisfy the majority of shareholders, and represent an appropriate solution for the city. The draft must appease public safety officials, protect applicable businesses, and reasonably address all citizen concerns. A [...]

by Lauren Mote Last Wednesday night, some of British Columbia’s elite chefs, wineries, athletes, diners and industry professionals, gathered at the crowded Westin Bayshore Hotel in Coal Harbour for one of the most prestigious culinary competitions in Canada, The Gold Medal Plates. It is a celebration of Canadian excellence in food, wine and athletic achievement, [...]

by Lauren Mote When an invitation to join in at one of the rarest, most exotic wine tastings, I jumped at the chance – part of me knew it would be a great story, but the other side knew that an opportunity to try 4 decades of Cousino Macul Antiguas Cabernet Sauvignon probably wouldn’t come [...]

by Lauren Mote As an avid diner, and passionate restaurant worker, it has always been my rule of thumb to go with Johnny, the perfect dining companion, and spend an evening marveling, or questioning the methods and dishes of potential employers before my first shift – as you will read in previous reviews, if I [...]