Mom was out of town last weekend for Mother's Day so we ended up celebrating yesterday instead. For the past few years we've spent the day doing something interesting in Niagara and then coming home for dinner. We kept up this tradition yesterday.
The first stop was the park at Queenston Heights, commemorating a decisive battle in the War of 1812.
Paul and I wandered around a bit while mom provided lectures to stray tourists about the Battle of Queenston Heights before we found a picnic table.
We had asparagus and mushroom frittata, melon wrapped with prosciutto, three types of salads, BBQ chicken drumsticks, and watermelon for dessert. It was great watching the antics of our fellow picnicers . . . of course we were perfectly normal ourselves. *smile*
After we packed up we headed to a new winery - Between the Lines.
Opened only last year, this tiny winery is producing amazing wines at a reasonable price. They gained a cult following when a well-regarded wine columnist wrote:
You gotta love a winery that comes storming out of the gate with good wines at very good prices. One of Niagara-on-the-Lake’s newest, Between the Lines, has a well priced, delicious Cabernet Franc and an even better priced Riesling.
It wasn't long before they started selling out of things as the Torontonians who 'know wine' descended on the winery.
The next stop was another newer winery - Colaneri. A colleague at work suggested that I pay a visit to them which turned out to be fine advice. Yesterday was my third visit this spring! While the winery itself is unfinished the wines are not . . . following the Italian amarone methodology of drying the grapes before pressing in order to focus flavours, colour and sugars provides for an intriguing wine. This St. David’s Bench winery applies this appassimento process to different red and white grapes, creating unusual wines including some in the ripasso style.
Once we got back into the car we headed to the Niagara College Greenhouse where we bought some more plants - this has got to be the best-kept secret in Niagara - beautiful plants about less than half of what you'd pay at a regular greenhouse.
SHHH
Don't tell anyone!
When we got pack to Burlington I was exhausted so a nap beckoned. Apparently we all fell into a coma as a result of the sun, wine, food, fresh air, walking . . . it was after 6 when we woke up!
Luckily we had planned a simple dinner and just about everything was already made.
The day was starting to cool a bit so we ate on the terrace. We enjoyed salmon sliders, mini pork buns, an antipasto platter, veggies and dip, the asparagus and king mushroom salad I wrote about last week, chips, and a bottle of the incredible rosé from Between the Lines winery.
For dessert we had cupcakes (bought from the amazing cupcake bakery in town) and some of the limoncello creama we brought back from Naples.
After a full-day like this you can bet that it wasn't long before we had crashed for a really long night of sleep!
I wondered what you were going to do for your mom on Mother's Day. You don't disappoint do you? What a well planned, well executed and marvelous day you had. Bravo! Love all the photos. Again I say your mother is one lucky soul and well deserved I'm sure.
Posted by: Barb Cabot | May 21, 2012 at 09:02 AM
What a great Mother's Day for your mom! All the food looks wonderful, as always, and all the little activities were just so special and fun to hear about. You are a good son!
Posted by: Kayte | May 21, 2012 at 11:56 AM
If you guys ever make it up to the Niagara area i'd be happy to plan a day of food and history fun for y'all!
Posted by: JDeQ | June 11, 2012 at 06:57 AM