Creative Cocktail #2 – PARC Royale

| Mac

I openly admit that my first creative cocktail, the Mojtini, is not for everyone. First you have to like rum, albeit good rum, and second you need to be able to handle an extremely potent cocktail.

If you’re a little more faint at heart, my newest libation creation might be for you. I call it the PARC Royale,  and it is downright delicious if I do say so myself.

  • 2 parts Lillet
  • 1 part Luksusowa vodka
  • 1/4 part Grand Marnier
  • 2 splashes of bitters
  • Orange or Lemon rind to garnish

Must be shaken not stirred.

The observant reader will note that though this cocktail doesn’t consist entirely of 40% alcohol, it’s still far from diffused with mix. In defence of my intoxicating concoctions I refer to the wisdom of my late 94 year old granddad, who preferred scotch, and on occasion would half jokingly say, “Remember, it’s the mix that will kill you.”

I challenge you to make yourself a PARC Royale and post your thoughts here after you try it; you won’t be disappointed!

Tofino Waves

| Mac

I was recently extremely fortunate to be able to spend 3 nights at the world class Wickaninnish Inn located in Tofino BC. My wife’s and my first trip out of town together was to this Relais & Chaeteaux independently owned and operated resort. So, four years later we returned for an anniversary celebration.

The resort is nestled into a wild, seaside landscape on the wonderful Chesterman Beach, and all rooms have water views. The waves are absolutely mesmerizing. I could literally watch them for hours. With a glass of champagne in hand, sitting in an armchair or double soaker tub situated in an expansive window, I could watch the waves come rolling in indefinitely.

At breakfast one morning in the onsite restaurant on the pointe I decided to film the waves from my table by the window so I wouldn’t miss any of the brilliance. I discreetly set my iPhone on the windowsill and hit record. Atttached is some of the footage set to one of my favourite songs – Monkeys Uptown by Iron & Wine. I’m sure it’s not as good as the real thing but I hope you find it mesmerizing nonetheless.

Learning to See

| Mac

I’m pretty busy with work right now. I’ve set myself on the path towards my next credential, which means I’m doing a lot of thinking and reading about work related topics on my own time. I have literally purchased myself a stack of books on this new topic and one of them has a title or subtitle regarding “learning to see”.

The notion of learning to see resonates with me. There is something about its zen nature… You must unlearn what you have learned; you must train your mind; there is no try there is only do or do not… there are poetic underpinnings lurking beneath this phrase that imbue it with a profound resonance.

Like my entry art and poetic snap-shot, below is another camera phone shot of something that captured my eye. I wonder what it is about this scene that caught my attention? Is it the harmony between the coffee cup, orchid and  artwork? Is there some aesthetic mystery embedded in this triptych? Or am I finding more beauty in everyday things because I’m slowly learning to see?