The Dog Days of Summer

The end of August is approaching, summer holidays are ending but the hot sultry days continue.

Since my last entry I had a sense, until looking back, that little happened in the last couple of weeks to chip away the writer's block. The dog days of summer however have been a good cover and distraction from the happenings around us.

Sadly the topic of the MMS has returned to the criminal law and I do not mean Multimedia Messaging Service. MMS in the context of criminal law is the dreaded Mandatory Minimum Sentence. Traditionally judges have been given wide latitude when sentencing offenders in Canada as the Criminal Code sets out parameters rather than mandatory terms. Currently the  Criminal Code does call for minimum sentences for a limited number of offences(i.e. repeat DUI and weapons related offences). The Federal government however, is poised to amend the Criminal Code and introduce more MMS penalties.

This plan has been criticized by many both inside and outside of the legal community. To my surprise even one of the daily newspaper editorials in my city commented negatively on the proposed amendments to the Criminal Code. It is not likely the opponents the MMS amendments will cause for a change in course. Unfortunately Canada will jail more of its less fortunate, focus less on rehabilitation and increase the tax burden to support costs associated with both more and lengthier periods of incarceration.

My newspaper friend DSK returned to the news following the long awaited announcement by New York Prosecutors that a recommendation for dismissal of charges was filed in the Manhattan Supreme Court. In Canadian terminology, the prosecution is of the opinion there is no reasonable likelihood of conviction. Small comfort for DSK who was arrested and hauled off an Air France flight on the allegations and effectively forced to resign as the head of the IMF. It is unfortunate the investigation into the allegations took place after the arrest, the embarrassment and costs incurred by DSK.

Regarding matters culinary, I visited Winnipeg's latest arrival to the pizza scene - Carbone Coal Fired Pizza -  http://www.carbonecoalfiredpizza.com/ . The pizza's are baked in an anthracite coal burning oven. The menu is simple, the atmosphere upbeat and the service attentive. Lactose intolerant and gluten free diners are happily accommodated. Pizzas are served on wooden pizza peels. We shared a salad and a 16 inch Peppino pizza - more than enough for two. With 2 glasses of wine the meal was slightly more than $50.00. The pizza was so good we ate half before taking a photo,

Lastly, a thought for the day passed along to me by a colleague,

"When asked “What thing about humanity surprises you the most?”, the Dalai Lama answered: 

“Man…. Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived." 

Enjoy the dog days!!!

Enjoy each and every day !!!

Max and Roxy - Life 101

The past week was shared with my dog Max’s girlfriend Roxy. Some of you know Max, a slender, fast running and loud baying beagle. His girlfriend, Roxy, is a large girl, a cross of Shepherd and Rottweiler with more whimpers than woofs. Max is the son of an AKC Champion hunter and Roxy, a girl of mixed origin. You might say a boy and a girl from opposite sides of the track!

The two have known each other for few years now. Max was looked after by Roxy’s adopted parents early on in Max’s life when he was left there while his adopted family went on vacation. Since the first date Max and Roxy continue to be a very special loving couple. Roxy and Max live apart because they have no choice. The daily separation brought on the two by circumstance does not affect their relationship.

Max has had many sleepovers in his life at Roxy’s and this past week was Roxy’s first sleepover at Max’s house. Like all kids Roxy was restless and missed her adopted parents but quickly adapted and settled into the routine at Max’s -  early to rise, early to bed, lots of exercise, healthy eating and spoiling.

This was a good week for Roxy's visit as my court obligations were light and my time more manageable making working from home easier. My flexibility allowed me to watch first day of the visit and be around if needed. What I learned quickly is that Max and Roxy have an order, a routine and apart from eating, exercising and evacuating outdoors are fine without me.

The adoptive parental concern - how Max and Roxy will get along - that they are oblivious to, both at home and away, did dissipate allowing me the opportunity to be reminded of some important lessons.

Max and Roxy remind us that size and colour, shape and background, birthright and origin do not matter – they are possessed of no prejudice.

They have disagreements but quickly work them out, make up, know how to and want to live in peace.

They have different diets and eat different food, they can eat together at the same time and be respectful of each other.

They share each other’s toys and sleeping areas.

In their own simple way Max and Roxy are so different but so alike – just like all of us.

As the week with Roxy ends today I am sad to see her return home.

If they only knew how much they could teach people that the world can be a so much better place.



Two Midsummer Nights' Dinners

Winnipeg can be challenging climatically. The extremes of a -40 C winter day

just do not seem to make sense when contrasted with a hot summer day where the humidex can reach  +40 C sending many Winnipeggers to Grand Beach a little more than an hour drive from the city centre.

The hot days of late July and early August are my favorite days of the year. Sadly Winnipeg does not get enough hot weather.

Enough of the weather! It is contrast that drives my agenda. You may recall that less than two weeks ago I wrote about my experience at Gordon Ramsay's Maze Grill in London - http://www.gordonramsay.com/mazegrill/ . On August 1st I had dinner at one of Winnipeg's finer steak houses - "529" http://www.wowhospitality.ca/restaurants/wellington.html .

The greeting at 529 is leaner than the Maze Grill, no table hostess, sommelier and busboy visiting regularly.

We were however promptly escorted to our table and visited by the waiter who within minutes of our being seated took drink orders and appetizer requests.

At 529, unlike Maze we were offered the "meat tour". The “meat tour” is the display of the cuts of meat offered in the raw. I have no problem seeing the meat as I might look at it in the butcher shop. It is the restaurant “meat tour” I do not need having taken the time to learn about what I am eating before I go the restaurant. It is unfortunate Maze did not offer the option.

Diners can easily learn the different cuts. http://www.thehealthybutcher.com/livetoeat/volume2/LiveToEat-Volume2-Beef_Basics.html .I would recommend such study so that you can opt out of the tour but more importantly to learn about what you are eating.

We shared an appetizer and salad. The presentation of the raw oyster appetizer was awful, oysters on a bed of wilting shredded iceberg lettuce. Some ice crushed in a blender spread over a glass platter would have been a cheaper and better alternative. The beefsteak tomato and fresh mozzarella salad drizzled with olive oil, balsamic reduction and basil chiffonade was excellent.

The 529 people say they serve "Canadian Prime, the best available beef in Canada. Canadian Prime represents less than 1/2 of 1% of all beef production in Canada and is served exclusively at 529 Wellington". In contrast Maze serves 13 different cuts of meat from 5 different breeds of beef. Our "Canadian Prime" the 8 oz. filet was just as good as the Aberdeen Angus grass fed, aged 28 days.

My cut was so poorly cooked at Maze that 529 had little to compete with however, Steph's cut at Maze was so good that it was my comparable for the evening review. Thankfully I did not get a triangular portion at 529. Both filets were grilled as ordered and perfect.

The beefsteak tomato was so good that I ordered a few slices, undressed, to have along with my steak. Along with the tomato we shared wild mushrooms and fries. The fries were not greasy and held their crisp and warmth throughout the dinner.

For dessert we shared the Warm Loaf of Blueberry Bread Pudding with Caramel Cream. This dessert is so good that Maze should replace any one or more of its desserts with the 529 bread pudding.

London - Winnipeg / Maze -529. Two different cities two different restaurants. One big name one remodeled prairie mansion, five (5) different breeds/13 cuts, Canadian Prime 4 different cuts.

Many contrasts but one winner - 529!