Grano’s Roberto Martella and Billy Munnelly enjoying the sun and the Ontario rosé.
So summer has arrived in Toronto at last, and what better way to celebrate the warmer months than a glass of Ontario rosé?
This is what John Maxwell of Allen’s On The Danforth has been thinking for some time, and just a couple of days back he invited a select group of wine professionals into his willow-shaded backyard patio for the sixth edition of his annual Men In Pink event.
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- There were some discussions regarding many of the group’s interpretations of “pink”.
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- Host John Maxwell welcomes the assembled throng of Men In Pink
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- Thankfully the Weather Gods were kind to us this year…
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- …although at some points things got a bit too warm for some of the group, specifically Hidden Bench’s Harald Theil and Cave Spring’s Tom Pennachetti.
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- Henry of Pelham’s Paul Speck and Rosehall Run’s Dan Sullivan… Winemakers In Arms.
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- Cave Spring’s Tom Pennachetti and Stratus Vineyards’ Charles Baker frolicking in the sun.
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- Stratus Vineyards’ Charles Baker, Southbrook Vineyards’ Paul de Campo, and The Delago Group’s Andrew Cieszkowski getting their rosé on.
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- The ever-gracious Dora kept the wily John Maxwell in check all afternoon.
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- GFR’s Malcolm Jolley, the venerable Tony Aspler, and the always-spry Billy Munnelly.
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- And the freshest face at the table? That would be Ilya Rubin of 13th Street. Fresh meat.
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- Billy Munnelly regales us with a bit of his trademarked banter.
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- A remarkable chilled white Gazpacho… exceptional, and just the job on a day like this.
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- Clean plates all round!
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- Malcolm’s joke raises some looks.
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- And just to mix things up a little, our hosts asked us to bring along some aged reds.
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- Jonathon Kuhling and Mr. Mildred Pierce, Kevin Gallagher enjoying the sunshine.
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- Curried Crab on Watermelon… most refreshing.
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- “Oh Jamie, this heat is really getting to me…”
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- I’m guessing that there were around 25 Men In Pink on attendance this vintage.
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- Kevin Gallagher of Mildred’s Temple Kitchen, John Maxwell of Allen’s, and Paul de Campo of Southbrook share some smiles and rosé.
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- Farmer Henry Traynor’s double-thick Limousin striploin from Butchers of Distinction.
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- …served with a smashing plate of vegetables and mushrooms.
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- Mr. Maxwell had decided to don The Full Monty.
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- Chef Viji and his crew did an exemplary job… the food was simply superb.
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- Billy Mannelly and The Ontario Wine Society’s Ken Burford listen intently to one of Roberto’s ribald tales.
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- Southbrook’s Bill Redelmeier presents his special bottle of red wine.
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- Allen’s back patio is glorious during the summer months.
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- And so began the telling of tales both tall and true…
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- And then out came the Cohiba cigars…
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- “And so I found this really dusty old bottle of Fortant de France Syrah in my cellar and thought, why not?”
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- Jonathon Kuhling from Peninsula Ridge snuggles into Zagat’s Suresh Doss.
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- Grano’s Roberto Martella and MIP Veteran Peter.
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- Tony Aspler and GFR’s Jamie Drummond discuss all things pink.
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- Good Food Revolution’s Jamie and Malcolm with Southbrook’s Paul de Campo.
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- Some serious cigar smoking.
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- John Maxwell and GFR’s Malcolm Jolley.
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- The heat and rosé start to get to Southbrook’s Paul de Campo.
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- Grano’s Roberto Martella and Billy Munnelly speak of a Men In Pink trip to Ireland.
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- And then we retired to the relative calm and serenity of Dora Keogh for Guinness and Redbreast Whiskey.
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- And some serious contemplation of the aged reds in slightly cooler surroundings.
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Edinburgh-born/Toronto-based Sommelier, consultant, writer, judge, and educator Jamie Drummond is the Director of Programs/Editor of Good Food Revolution… And he needs to work on a new outfit.
