Tasting Together

Most of us have had some sort of adversial relationship with tequila, but both Miroki and André have discovered its magic over the years. Far from the bad stuff pounded back in university, tequila, like all fine spirits, can be the complex result of terroir, distillation, and small batch practices.They may be aficionados of the drink, but Katy O'Donnell, VP, Brand Development at Tequila Tromba, along with Grayce Yuen, VP, Finance, blow Miroki and André's minds through a tasting of Tromba's tequilas, from the terroir driven blancos and elegantly barrel aged reposados and añejos, to the all-Mexican Cafeto coffee liqueur. And just what is that green drink being paired with the blanco?Founded by a Canadian, with Master Distiller Lilia Quintero at the helm, they dig into Tromba's story to make pure, additive free tequila, paying respect to the people, heritage, land and quality distilling.You can follow Miroki on Instagram @9ouncespleaseYou can follow André on Instagram @andrewinereview

She didn't necessarily traverse many galaxies to smuggle in goods, but when Miroki spotted a bottle of one of André's beloved bourbons during a trip in the states, she agreed to cart it back for him. But perhaps her efforts mean little, as rumours are circulating that US alcohol may find their way back on Canadian shelves soon. Is this the move we want though? A recent Nanos survey says otherwise. Miroki and André discuss the rise of local wine over the last year, and whether it has made enough of an impact to stay.Speaking of the local wine world, Tawse Winery has just won WineAlign's Winery of the Year Award. What do recognitions such as this mean for a wine business? Are awards simply marketing collateral, or titles worth pursuing as a reflection of their excellence? You can follow Miroki on Instagram @9ouncespleaseYou can follow André on Instagram @andrewinereview

André and Miroki are joined by André’s younger brother Gilbert - and his two young sons Tristan and Kylin - to talk about the challenges and surprises of travelling through Europe with a self-described picky eater. Gilbert explains how his family balances adventurous eating with food aversions, texture sensitivities and the reality that sometimes not everyone wants to eat at the same restaurant.They also dig into how childhood food experiences shape our tastes, why “picky eater” can mean very different things to different people, and how a little flexibility can help families create great travel memories without turning every meal into a battle.One family member loved escargot so much he ordered it for dessert - and a unanimous family verdict on which country had the best food.You can follow Miroki on Instagram @9ouncespleaseYou can follow André on Instagram @andrewinereview

André joins Miroki diving into his recent trip to Halifax and Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, where he put Canada's 100 Best Bars list to the test. He visited two spots on the list - The Narrows Public House (#12) and Dear Friend (#15) - and while The Narrows delivered a great, cozy meal, it was Dear Friend that truly blew him away. They take a look at what it takes to get on these lists - and how it feels when you find that restaurant that delivers a near flawless experience. Places visited/mentioned - Canada's 100 Best BarsThe Narrows Public House Dear FriendFortune OystersThe Canteen on PortlandMystic Nova ScotiaArt Gallery of Nova Scotia - not food... or drink... but worth the visitYou can follow Miroki on Instagram @9ouncespleaseYou can follow André on Instagram @andrewinereview

Happy Canada Day from Tasting Together! We’re reaching into the way-back machine for one of our favourite episodes from our radio days: a Canada Day special that unpacks a hard to define question — What is Canadian food?André and Miroki dig into a deeper conversation about Canadian identity, multiculturalism, reconciliation, and the way food carries history, culture, and politics whether we like it or not.They’re joined by Chef Tawnya Brant, a Mohawk Nation chef helping revive the traditional foods of the Haudenosaunee, for a thoughtful and delicious conversation about Indigenous cuisine.They takes the episode coast to coast with a look at Canadian wine beyond Ontario, heading to the east coast with Nova Scotia’s Tidal Bay and sparkling wines, to Quebec - the next emerging Canadian wine region, and out west to find out what is happening in British Columbia.You can follow Miroki on Instagram @9ouncespleaseYou can follow André on Instagram @andrewinereview

This episode is a litteral roller coaster - starting on a high note as Miroki got the opportunity to check out Playa Bowls a new restaurant that opens in Toronto on June 18. They then reflect on nomad culture - and proper etiquette when camping out in a coffee shop - especially given that so many restaurants are in a tough financial spot these days. And move to entertaining - André has been itching to get out the smoker - but the price of beef is ... well insane. You can follow Miroki on Instagram @9ouncespleaseYou can follow André on Instagram @andrewinereview

André joins Miroki fresh from a short trip to the east coast. He had a chance to visit two wineries in the Annapolis Valley in Nova Scotia. He had a chance to visit Benjamin Bridge, and Lightfoot and Wolfville. There were many surprising moments he experienced while visiting the wineries - but none were more surprising than when he tasted a sparkling Rosé from Benjamin Bridge that gave him goosebumps. He was further moved tasting the still hybrid wines from Lightfoot and Wolfville. These delicious wines got him thinking about the way we look at hybrid grapes - and how Miroki may have been right all along about how we vinify these often maligned varieties.You can hear our interview with Haley Brown from Wines of Nova Scotia from when we were on the radio here - https://open.spotify.com/episode/1vaQDchypZpFwbCTx2FGGP?si=T9e2EXSHRvmc7y2c1RZVWQYou can listen to us taste through Tidal Bay with Danny Longo here - https://open.spotify.com/episode/5izo88iwfp4tuUQNJexmQ6?si=qgP8C_9SQeGQLiVGVDWpEQWineries visited -Benjamin Bridge - https://benjaminbridge.com/Lightfoot and Wolfville - https://lightfootandwolfville.com/You can follow Miroki on Instagram @9ouncespleaseYou can follow André on Instagram @andrewinereview

The cocktail scene has come a long way since Strawberry Daiquiris and Sex on the Beaches. Toronto has become especially rich with innovative cocktail spots, a number of which recently made it into's Canada's Best 100. Miroki was particularly thrilled to learn that Suite 115, the place that currently makes her favourite cocktail (what is it?), is among the other prestigious locations on the list.She and André catch up with Suite 115 co-founder Oliver Leung to see if they can figure out the secret sauce behind their delicious beverages, how they stand out in a sea of talented mixologists, and how they pair cocktails with their menu. Oliver also drops some deep philosophy on the difference between hospitality and service, something all folks in the industry should take notice of.You can follow Miroki on Instagram @9ouncespleaseYou can follow André on Instagram @andrewinereview