Wanderlust and Words

Melipal Wines, Mar. 1  Meet Irene Aristi, co-owner of Bodega Melipal , and learn more about the wines of Argentina at 7:30 pm , Mar. 1, at Co-op Liquor. The Local Kitchen  The Local Kitchen , 123 Avenue B South, has a retail store . There will be both food products and prepared dishes, and it will serve as an outlet for members to try out their creations on a small scale. Chef Jenni hosts private events at The Local Kitchen. One of your options is a Black Box Challenge . She’ll create a menu, on the spot, from whatever ingredients she finds in the box. Lettuce Soup  The fridge was full of lettuce when I started a new housesitting assignment this week. Way too much for salad for one person, so I decided to make a batch of lettuce soup. It turned out really well with good flavour. I kept it simple with leek, potato, coconut milk, and a few flavourings – the choice is yours. There are lots and lots of recipe options online. Food Waste Solutions  A Europe...

Building its brand with honesty and pride in the people, the land, and the vines At the Melipal winery in Mendoza, Argentina, the Aristi family is establishing their brand with a focus on quality and personal involvement. The next generation Ignacio Aristi is an agronomist who has always made his living from the land, watching the weather and the soil, trying to predict the harvest. But his work involved commodities. It wasn’t hands-on, and he often talked to his family about his desire to play a more active role in developing a value-added business. In 2001, Ignacio visited Mendoza, Argentina’s premier wine-growing region, and recognized that a winery would provide an opportunity to maintain his commitment to the land while also shaping a distinctive brand that reflected his family’s values and personality. It takes a long time to establish a winery and make it profitable, but that was okay because Ignacio was building for the next generation, his five children. Ownership...