By Ken Collura As a professional wine buyer and an active consumer, I’m inundated with ratings. Each major wine publication has seemingly hundreds of them each month. If that wasn’t enough, they’re encountered in big, bold numerals everywhere wines are sold. You’ll see them in newspaper ads, on shelf-talkers, and neck-hangers on the bottles themselves. – Read more…
All About Wine and Food Pairings
Another popular article from the past, by Ken Collura Have you ever tried Coca-Cola with a steak? Or coffee? How about a margarita? Each of these beverages can be seen accompanying steaks around town on a nightly basis. I know that everyone has different taste buds, but the thought of something sweet and effervescent mingling – Read more…
Wine Paraphernalia – Corkscrews, Decanters, Glassware, Etc.
Food Dude Article #9 (Wine Paraphernalia) By Ken Collura I’ve never cared for the term “Wine Collector.” To my way of thinking, a collection is something that has been passionately assembled, shined up and cataloged, then put out on display. I’m not so sure this expression should apply to wine, per se. Bottles of wine – Read more…
Granville Island Market, Vancouver BC
Here are some photos of the Granville Island Public Market in Vancouver BC to accompany Ken Collura’s Story. As you can see, it is quite an interesting place to while away a morning. Click on the pictures to expand them.
Ramen Dreams in Vancouver BC
Have you ever dreamt about a certain kind of food? Not necessarily a dream while sleeping, but more of a daydream that repeatedly encompasses your thoughts. I’ve recently had such a recurring dream about Japanese ramen, and the dreams were about the real deal: Shio, Shoyu, Miso and Tonkotsu. I first fell in love with – Read more…
Reaffirmations – as a Sommelier, How Am I Doing?
Food Dude Article #10 By Ken Collura Every year, I try to assess the goals I’ve set for myself as a sommelier and whether they are being achieved. I know most people do this around New Year’s Day, but August is just as good. So now is the time to reaffirm a couple of these – Read more…
Restaurant Customer Etiquette
By Ken Collura Introduction: I work the floor as a sommelier/manager in a busy restaurant five nights a week and try to dine out on at least one of my days off, so I’ve written this piece from the perspective of someone who has been an active participant on both sides of the table for – Read more…
Small Wines – Suggestions for Good, Everyday Drinking Wines
I have this memory from when I was a teenager. I had developed an insatiable appetite for Mandarin oranges. You know the kind, the ones that come in a can covered in sweet syrup. I would pop them open and devour one after the other. Then one day, after about four of these cans, I – Read more…