Delights
Sri Lanka’s residence is full of charm — and charms
The odds are good you’ve never seen a dumb waiter quite like the one in the Sandy Hill residence of Sri Lankan High Commissioner Madukande Asoka Kumara Girihagama. In fact, at first glance, you might mistake the wood-panelled beauty concealed behind a white interior door as an elevator for short people who don’t suffer from […]
Champagne: Why smaller producers are worth a try
When we hear “Champagne,” our minds tend to conjure up images of opulence and prestige. Years of brilliant marketing on the part of Champagne producers have resulted in an instant association between the region and a few major brands — Dom Perignon, Veuve Clicquot, Moet & Chandon and Pol Roger, to name a few. The […]
New views of 19th-Century icons
The National Gallery of Canada has intriguing looks at two 19th-Century icons of modern culture, the artist Paul Gauguin and writer-philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. Gauguin is one of the world’s best-known artists, so it’s incredible that any aspect of his work has not been studied, studied and restudied. Yet Gauguin: Portraits is the first exhibition anywhere […]
Summertime, and the entertaining is easy
It is that wonderful time to celebrate not only barbecue season, but the fresh fruits of summer. The variety and versatility of summer fruits enable them to be included in any course of a menu and at any time of day. My summer menus highlight recipes in which fruit stars. Presented with personal creativity, these […]
‘Love letter’ to Canada prefers passion over policy
Bruce and Vicki Heyman’s The Art of Diplomacy (Simon and Schuster, 2019, 266 pages, $32) is a syrupy fan letter to Canada — a collection of clichés about our weather, our pronunciation, Tim Hortons and Sourtoe cocktails. About the only thing missing is an ode to the BeaverTail. Still, Canada these days needs to welcome […]
Israel: The land of creation
When Canadians ask me what to do when they visit Israel, I tell them that the possibilities are endless, as there is so much to do and see and something for everyone to enjoy. Here are some of my favourite spots. Family Fun: From north to south The North: Tiberias, located on the western shore […]
Spring awakening: Adventures near Ottawa
Blue cheese, steel beds and A.Y. Jackson: An unlikely combination, but they’re part of our spring round-up of travel tips for anyone hankering to throw off the shackles of winter and explore places and events within driving distance of Ottawa. We’ve even come up with some suggestions that are within the city limits. Going under: […]
A stately hilltop mansion for Italy’s envoys
When deciding to bring his love affair with wood into his home, lumber baron Robert L. Blackburn clearly realized that some discretion was in order. Blackburn built the stately hilltop mansion on chemin d’Aylmer in Gatineau next to the tony Royal Ottawa Golf Club in 1924. It has been the official residence of the Italian […]
Beaujolais: Bold, beautiful and budget-friendly
Beaujolais gets a bad rap. For years, consumers have come to associate the region with the cheap, one-dimensional Beaujolais Nouveau that hits the shelves at the LCBO on the third Thursday of each November. These wines can be fun, but they’re largely responsible for type-casting Beaujolais as a region that makes playful, but not serious, […]
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