Buca is mouthwatering!

How do two Greek boys come up with outstanding Italian? Gus and Peter have outdone themselves! There is nothing that makes you feel better than Italian food and it is at it's best at Buca. The restaurant has not been open long and Chef Rob Gentile is cooking like I believe his grandmother taught him. Yes he comes from famous McEwan but his heart is in Italy. I have not tasted true Italian like this in a long time. The food has heart! The Vongole thin crust pizza with cured sausage is so simple and tasty with a stewed tomato sauce that is only found across the water. Serving with scissors to cut is brilliant. There is not one drop of oil on the plate as it is cooked perfectly. The stuffed Tortellini with veal, mortadella and grana served with preserved tomato and butter and sage is the best I have ever tasted. Each bite is a mouthful of sheer delight. The Orata must have been flown in and sent by limo to Buca directly from the boat it was caught on that morning in the Med. Served with the "hard headed" olive oil that is exquisite! The wines are served at the right temperature in the right glass by expertly trained staff who are always there when you want them with knowledgeable suggestions and advise. The room is stunning with a fabulous feel with Salumi di Buca adorning the walls. Menu and wines are at great prices. You must Run to Buca or fly to Italy! 'Felice Anno Nuovo' 604 King Street West 416 865 1600

Veuve Clicquot 'La Grande Dame' with Riva

The result of the combination the history and luxury of Veuve Clicquot with the history and luxury of Riva Yacht manufacturers is a stunning peice of design with beautiful lines, stunning details, and brimming with champagne!

La Grande Dame is a custom designed trunk filled manufactured by Riva Yachts, and is filled with four bottles (Vintage 1988) and two magnums (Vintage 1998) of Clicquot's coveted La Grande Dame champagne, six Riedel crystal champagne flutes and elegant table settings for six people.

The perfect gift for the boating enthusiast.
Price tag, $ 80,000.00

The History of Veuve Clicquot

The Widow Clicquot: The Story of a Champagne Empire and the Woman Who Ruled It by Tilar J. Mazzeo is a fascinating book about Barbe-Nicole Clicquot Ponsardin, who was "a young witness to the dramatic events of the French Revolution and a new widow during the chaotic years of the Napoleonic Wars."

A legend in her native France, Barbe-Nicole's story is not well known abroad. Mazzeo has uncovered many fascinating details about the grande dame of champagne, including the following:

• By her late 30s, Barbe-Nicole was one of the richest women in France, with annual sales of more than $30 million per year. She's credited with having taken champagne from marginal to mainstream and making it synonymous with style.

• As the Napoleonic Wars wound down, Barbe-Nicole risked her entire fortune and ran the blockade with 10,000 bottles of her most precious vintage, positioning herself to corner the huge Russian market the moment it re-opened. She was there weeks ahead of her competitors, selling her champagne for $100 a bottle to the celebrating Russians, becoming famous practically overnight.

• Barbe-Nicole invented champagne-making techniques that shaved months off production time and are still used today. Thanks to her employees' loyalty and a shrewd profit-sharing plan, she kept her method secret for almost a decade, solidifying her market dominance.

New Years Eve Toast App Clink-Clink

There really is an App for everything!
Clink-Clink is an App for toasting a glass of bubbly.
The only drawback is that you miss out on the best part -- drinking the champagne.

Wine Label Wednesday: Tear Away Labels

Have you ever had the problem of having a great bottle of wine, then a few weeks later going to pick up more at the liquor store, but forgetting the name of that great bottle?

Some very smart label designers have recognized that this is a common occurance, and have designed tear away name tags as part of the label.
This allows you to remove the tags, and keep them for safe keeping until the next wine buying trip.

Australian Student Design Awards: Black Ice Wine Fridge by Jinghao Lin

When I was in high school, my family moved to Adelaide, Australia for a year while my father did a sabatical term at The Waite Institute as part of the University of Adelaide.
We lived in the southern part of Adelaide, and would drive past vineyards regularly when driving into town, or shopping.
We would spend weekends exploring the many winery areas around Adelaide -- with McLaren Vale being just a short drive away.
School in Australia was quite different - firstly, being in uniform, but also finding that design is part of the curriculum from grade 9.
Design was accepeted as being an integral part of a students education.
Today, the design industry in Australia(print, product, interior, etc.) in my opinion in is far and away ahead of the design industry in Canada.
All one has to do is look at Belle Magazine, the line of Breville appliances, as well, the Australian Student Design Awards sponsored by Dyson.

Below is a fantastic Wine Fridge by Jinghao Lin. The cabinet allows for the storage of 28 bottles, with a 180 degree view of the wine bottles.

Decanters as art by Etienne Meneau

Is your decanter collection full of traditional decanters, and you are looking for something a little different?

Etienne Meneau has designed a series of wonderful decanters which will certainly cause a collective "WOW" around the dinner table.
That said, I think this would look wonderful as a work of art sitting a sideboard in the living room.