Eat This! Drink That!

The world of social media opens up a network of connections and knowledge. Through Twitter (X) and LinkedIn (find her there) I have met new people and connected with old friends. Eniko Dub has worked around the world (including in London's Shard) and now is a content creator, freelance wine writer, and wine marketer. We have a conversation by Zoom on wines of Hungary and the larger playground of enjoying the fruit of the vine.

Want to learn more about garlic? How to grow it? How to cook with it? How to enjoy it? Yes, even where to get garlic ice cream (the answer is at the Ukrainian Centre in Sudbury). My guest in this episode of QOL is Peter McClusky, author of Ontario Garlic: The Story from Farm to Festival. Peter shares garlic's history - starting in central Asia - how it was shunned and now embraced. While Sudbury has its festival at the end of August, Toronto holds it celebration of all things garlic on Sunday September 29th. Visit their website www.torontogarlicfestival.ca for a full list of vendors, participating restaurants... Attend and try garlic desserts, garlic beer, and even expert advice on "... how to keep vampires at bay."

Food banks are playing an ever growing role in the lives of many across all Canadian communities. The need is there year round. Dan Xilon, Executive Director of the Sudbury Food Bank has a plus 20 year involvement in responding to this need. Our conversation is about how to support the Food Bank and how it delivers to the agencies across a large geographic region.

I had an amazing opportunity in interview Canadian singer Beth Nicole Torbert. She is best known by her stage name Bif Naked. This conversation was recorded in August 2024. She will be performing at Pride in the Woods in Lavigne Ontario on the 24th at 7 to 8PM.

In this episode I speak with owner Trent Falldien and chef Jennifer Jusic about their new venture on Notre Dame in Sudbury. They say Sudburians are hungry for the eating option that Vegan Ready presents. We explore their primary motivation for opening and run through the menu items.

I was - and likely still am - a fan of the Sherlock Holmes stories. The fictional character (though it feels he was a real person) has been part of our mystery and crime fighting reading for generations. In his Deerstalker he is easily identified by even young readers. Created by the busy and productive Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, in this episode of QOL I get to have a conversation with Cliff Goldfarb beyond the world of Sherlock. Come along and learn so much more about Conan Doyle and his passions and writing.

Maria Pia Bianchini is a wedding planner. Not your average wedding planner she has delivered weddings "Italian Style" in China (pre-COVID) and she now wants to explore the Canadian appetite for her services. In this program Maria describes her expertise and the elements of the exceptional event she creates with your ideas, budget, venue and expectations. Her company, Ubi Amor, is ready to help you. Our conversation, by Zoom, was recorded in the early summer of 2024.

Getting tickets to a special game or concert? Could be hockey, basketball, baseball or any other sport. You will discover Dawson Reale has what you want. In this episode we learn about more than just the purchase but the mechanics of marketing and the broader entertainment industry as well as the passion fans have for "their team" and favourite artists and bands.

A neighbour handed me a book. Something out of my normal reading spectrum. I was captivated by the content. Dan Rocheleau recounting of his career arc includes undercover work as well a his later years in the OPP motorcycle cadre. I think you will find it fascinating and a a bit like seeing things you don't want to know about. Be prepared to learn about organized crime and its tentacles.

After year of COVID disconnect Kristy Rousseau and I just happened to overlap at the library. Naturally I asked what she is working on these days. "Operation Smile" was her answer. I just had to find out more! In this episode you will hear about how Canadian doctors, local nurses, and so many others share energy and time to change children's lives.

Julie Aube insists I don't beat around the bush. So this podcast is called "Where to Die"! This conversation takes place at the Hospice in Sudbury. Specifically the site is called The Maison McCulloch Hospice. Julie and I have last talked some years ago. The building is the largest of its kind in Ontario. The recent 10 bed expansion doubled the facility's ability to help individuals and families in the last days of a daughter', a father's, a grandparent's, living.

Join me on this visit to talk about Sherlock Holmes and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Collections Specialist at the Toronto Public Library Reference Library, Jessie Amaolo shares her knowledge of the depth of contents (books, manuscripts, photographs, paintings, letters...) in the collection. On the mantlepiece a pipe, and Deerstalker ready for Holmes and Watson to go sleuthing.

Retired Sudbury couple Susanne and Roger Couture love to travel. They are organizing trips that include more than sun and sand (in fact their next trip is Iceland... pack a sweater) and often has an ecological aspect. They have developed a relationship with EF Tours and we have a conversation about the values and safe travel focus of this company no matter the destination.

Have you considered floating? I cannot recall exactly what lead me to the experience, but it is more than a decade since I had my first session. At that time there were two facilities in Sudbury. Marcel Petruzzelli is the General Manager (Victoria/Westshore) of Float House Victoria. He kindly offered to agree to a conversation on the topic on "Sensory Deprivation & Floatation" and wide ranging observations from general to personal.

Rita Pereira has a butcher shop in the Mercado do Bolhão (Porto, Portugal) where you will find dry aged beef, chickens, other delights... but on the righthand side there are two amazing "eat now" options. Carpaccio and Tartar (with her own secret ingredients). She is fun to talk with: engaging, full of energy, and passionate about what she delivers. You can request wine directly from a booth about 10m away. All very civilized!

On a blustery day, Canadian - and even more geographically specific - Victoria author Jean Paetkau talks about her book "Blood on the Breakwater". Paetkau reveals the title of her upcoming sequel is "The Sinking of Souls" with a storyline that also is based locally. To be released in September 2024 you will find it on Amazon and local booksellers like the elegant and acclaimed Munro's on Government Street and Bolen Books in the Hillside Centre. Have a listen to this conversation which also delves into the writing process.

Hugh's Room is Toronto's destination for live jazz, folk, Canadian, emerging artists and world music. Executive Director Michael Booth shares the history of Hugh's Room, how and where it started, as well as what unfolded just before COVID. Now in it's own space in Broadview 200 or so guests can find a comfortable place to listen to vocal and instrumental performances... in great acoustics. The one time church now also has a bar featuring Ontario craft beer for your added pleasure! Make it your next destination when visiting Hog Town.

Alex and Annie Bowers moved to Canada almost a year ago now. This is their first full winter, and boy are they having adventures. Between a broken snow shovel, slick roads, being stuck in the driveway and now snowmageddon they have lots to write home about. They have supplies and firewood so are prepared for nature to bring on more. Right now they can just hunker down. Hugh and Alex also talk about the impact of winter on battlefronts as Alex is a military historian.

Officially the Alzheimer Society of Sudbury-Manitoulin North Bay & Districts... has a new Executive Director. Shannon Ketchabaw was most recently at Meals on Wheels and knows how to get things done. We have a conversation about Alzheimer's and Dementia generally and then the programs offered here in North Eastern Ontario. Much of our dialogue is on the changing demographic of Canada, the effects of an aging population, and the rising number of those identified. By 2050 that figure is staggering!

With a long list of publications I came across another Gerontologist in my "backyard" and with her interesting in both teaching the next generation as specifically her research on dementia I just had to reach her. With our demographic shift we better encourage more gravitation to understanding (and planning for) aging and specifically how to mitigate the impacts of dementia.