September 17, Day Three: Myriad View Artisan Distillery, Cheese Ladies Gouda Cheese, Blue Mussel Cafe, Lucy Maud Montgomery, New Glasgow Lobster
Platter House Morning
Mornings at Platter House Retreat are something that one either dreams about or sees in the movies. The morning was silent and still on the large deck that surrounded the house. A wisp of wind would brush against my face ever so gently as I looked out across the little bay that separated the house from Souris and the causeway.
A Great Blue Heron waded in the shallow water as it looked for small fish and other food while on the dock Cormorants landed and took off much like at a city airport. Two Sandpipers tagged along with each other as they searched for their share of the goods and on the red sand that lined separated the beach from the water two Ravens lurched their ugly heads looking for any scraps.
In the air gulls of all types glided as if in an air demonstration just for me. Mornings at Platter House-----just like the evenings----were something very special and I had to drag myself away from the view as Roy prepared breakfast.
Breakfast in my tummy and with Roy getting the car ready, I made my way down the stairs of the two story Platter House and got into the car. Our first destination: Myriad View Distillery.
Myriad View Artisan Distillery Inc.
Driving from Platter House in Souris to Myriad View took only about ten minutes. Ironically the distillery was very easy to miss---not because it was tiny or hidden but because it had an enchanting and lovely view as a rival. One could get overtaken by Myriad View----a seductive scene overlooking the seashore and all it offered that the other side where the distillery was located got missed.
We did not get caught up in all this drama however and spotted the vineyard stretching down to the road and drove up the long roadway to the distillery boutique.
Driving from Platter House in Souris to Myriad View took only about ten minutes. Ironically the distillery was very easy to miss---not because it was tiny or hidden but because it had an enchanting and lovely view as a rival. One could get overtaken by Myriad View----a seductive scene overlooking the seashore and all it offered that the other side where the distillery was located got missed.
We did not get caught up in all this drama however and spotted the vineyard stretching down to the road and drove up the long roadway to the distillery boutique.
Six foot four inch Ken Mill was a very friendly, gregarious fellow. His enthusiasm was infectious and his sincerity unquestionable. We met Ken outside his distillery and he quickly went into a how he got started.
It seems that islanders have made distilled products or "Moonshine" on Prince Edward Island throughout most of its history. Ken was encouraged by his peers to make it on a legal basis and he applied for his license. He ordered a copper still which was held up at customs in Halifax until he could prove he actually had a license. He stated that superstitions run high in P.E.I. concerning making your own "Shine" for a wedding in your family. The best way you can tell who makes the best"Shine" is to see who people go to to make their wedding spirits since they did not want to take a chance of making a bad batch and ruining the event. It seems that Ken certainly must have been asked quite a bit since his "stuff" is so smooth.
The term "Moonshine" refers to the smuggling of illegally made liquor under the cover of darkness or under the illumination of the moonlight, hence "Moonshine". This happened a great deal when Prohibition was the day. Ideas of Al Capone types doing this in the 1920's and '30's came to mind but that was quashed because apparently Prince Edward Island was under it until 1948----longer than any other province.
Ken gave us a tour of the building and explained the spirit making process. While it seemed very straightforward, I imagined that there was more skill and talent that went into the business or else everyone would be into it.
Ken makes several products for sale: Strait Gin---made with triple distilled grain Vodka and distilled a fourth time with carefully wrapped herbs. Strait Lightening----made with double distilled sugar cane and high quality molasses--the end product ended up with a 75 proof for purchase. Strait Rum------made from cane sugar and molasses, distilled and available in two strengths----40 percent or 100 proof (57.1%) . Strait Shine----made with an alcohol level of 50 percent.
The other life for Ken is that he is a part of the Coast Guard which protects Canada out at sea! He is part of that all important group of people who continually protect and often put their lives on the line to enforce the law and protect those in need. Ken was to become a good friend and Roy and I felt privileged to meet this gentleman.
Blue Mussel Cafe
Roy, Tara and I then went for lunch at the Blue Mussel Cafe in Cornwall. I enjoyed the Smoked Salmon on a Bagel with the Seafood Chowder while Roy had Steamed Mussels and Tara had the Chowder and Quiche. The food was good as was the service from a hostess by the name of Gail.
Our tummies settled and fed, we made our way to Jan Holmes Vineyard located in Kingston. Jan with her husband Allan had an exceptional cattle/beef /sheep business but she also wanted to try her hand at raising vines. With experience at Grand Pre Vineyard and a degree in Plant Sciences from Nova Scotia Agricultural University she planted and keeps up a small vineyard with hardy hybrid vines. Her first vintage was in late September of 2009 and though this year was a tough one weather wise her hopes are to make fine wine from such vines as L'Acadie Blanc in the future. Her vines looked healthy and I was sure that with further good weather, her vineyard will flourish. Strictly organic! I am sure with all the sheep and cattle fertilizer will not be a problem.
Lucy Maud Montgomery
After lunch we were off to Cavendish to the house where famed Anne Of Green Gables author, Lucy Maud Montgomery was raised after the death of her mother from Tuberculosis. She was born in nearby Clifton in 1874 but at the age of 21 months was given to her grandparents by her father who moved to Saskatchewan. She had a lonely childhood but endured to achieve a teaching certificate. She achieved further university training in Literature at Dalhousie in Halifax Nova Scotia.
She later moved to Ontario, settled in Uxbridge but did move to several other areas including the Halton Hills and Swansea (Toronto). Lucy Maud Montgomery died in Toronto in 1942 at the age of 67. Her body was buried in Cavendish Cemetery.
She published some 500 stories and 20 books and became famous the world over for the story of a orphan child who became a teacher and a writer.
Cavendish
We visited her Cavendish home and then went off to the cemetery to find Montgomery's grave.
Her burial plot was simple by design with a chain barrier keeping idle curiosity seekers away. Buried at the same plot was her husband. We did several photo and televised scenes for the series and then moved to other areas of the cemetery. Also buried at the cemetery were her mother and grandparents.
Anne Of Green Gables House
After the grave we spent time filming at the representative house and barn. The Green Gable House/Farm operated by Parks Canada was located in Cavendish. A great public attraction, this home is the one Anne was thinking of when she wrote the famous book. It actually belonged to her cousins, David and Margaret MacNeil but ironically, was not used for the feature movie because its popularity made it impossible to film there. Instead, two separately owned houses located in Southern Ontario sufficed----Ah! The wonder of television!!
Filming there was great fun and touring the site with Tara and Roy was a special event since the connecting of such a historic masterpiece of both a tourist and literary concern and the world of wine was the concept I had in mind when I started this Trek in 2006 when I visited Fess Parker (Davy Crockett/Daniel Boone star) at his winery and filmed "The New Wine Frontier" series.
Lobster A Go-Go!!!
We made our way to New Glasgow, a tiny village located in Queen's County amongst some picturesque scenery of hills and with the River Clyde in the background. Originally supposed to be a fundraiser back in 1958 with a building that was transported from another community, the fundraiser started to take off---first once per week in 1963 to seven days a week in 1970 to a huge following that has kept them busy enough to run it as a business rather than a fundraiser.
In 1980 the remaining four partners took over the business and in 2008 after much expansion and many pounds of lobster later, the business celebrated its 50th year in business.
Sterling MacRae was as nice a person as you would want to meet. It was obvious that he loved his work and still, at almost 80 years of age, enthusiasm for life and his business was infectious. Sterling took us for a grand tour of the establishment which was operated by people from the community as well as managed by family members. The one thing I noticed was that they all had smiles and working like a well oiled machine but in this case the machine knew that it liked its job.
The customers had smiles also but it was not work that they were smiling about but the great food. You name it, there was all you can eat (delicious) chowder, soup, desserts, drinks and of course there was the main course of either lobster, salmon, chicken, ham or scallops. Everything was being done to perfection and the home made rolls were a delicious meal in themselves.
It was great looking at the process that went into obtaining the products and following them through the cooking and finally serving. As I said, the customers really seemed to be enjoying it.
After dinner, we were entertained by a young man named Jonathan Horrocks, whose piano talent was beyond his years and it seemed that this person was destined to develop into a celebrity some day.
We also met the Mayor of Summerside, Basil Stewart, whose distinguished career would be legend in most communities. Summerside was a community a couple of hours away and his very attractive family seemed to be enjoying the evening. It was an honour to meet him and in general----- it was a great day!
Then it was time to go back to Platter House and prepare for the next day.
End of Day Three
It seems that islanders have made distilled products or "Moonshine" on Prince Edward Island throughout most of its history. Ken was encouraged by his peers to make it on a legal basis and he applied for his license. He ordered a copper still which was held up at customs in Halifax until he could prove he actually had a license. He stated that superstitions run high in P.E.I. concerning making your own "Shine" for a wedding in your family. The best way you can tell who makes the best"Shine" is to see who people go to to make their wedding spirits since they did not want to take a chance of making a bad batch and ruining the event. It seems that Ken certainly must have been asked quite a bit since his "stuff" is so smooth.
The term "Moonshine" refers to the smuggling of illegally made liquor under the cover of darkness or under the illumination of the moonlight, hence "Moonshine". This happened a great deal when Prohibition was the day. Ideas of Al Capone types doing this in the 1920's and '30's came to mind but that was quashed because apparently Prince Edward Island was under it until 1948----longer than any other province.
Ken gave us a tour of the building and explained the spirit making process. While it seemed very straightforward, I imagined that there was more skill and talent that went into the business or else everyone would be into it.
Ken makes several products for sale: Strait Gin---made with triple distilled grain Vodka and distilled a fourth time with carefully wrapped herbs. Strait Lightening----made with double distilled sugar cane and high quality molasses--the end product ended up with a 75 proof for purchase. Strait Rum------made from cane sugar and molasses, distilled and available in two strengths----40 percent or 100 proof (57.1%) . Strait Shine----made with an alcohol level of 50 percent.
The other life for Ken is that he is a part of the Coast Guard which protects Canada out at sea! He is part of that all important group of people who continually protect and often put their lives on the line to enforce the law and protect those in need. Ken was to become a good friend and Roy and I felt privileged to meet this gentleman.
Blue Mussel Cafe
Roy, Tara and I then went for lunch at the Blue Mussel Cafe in Cornwall. I enjoyed the Smoked Salmon on a Bagel with the Seafood Chowder while Roy had Steamed Mussels and Tara had the Chowder and Quiche. The food was good as was the service from a hostess by the name of Gail.
Our tummies settled and fed, we made our way to Jan Holmes Vineyard located in Kingston. Jan with her husband Allan had an exceptional cattle/beef /sheep business but she also wanted to try her hand at raising vines. With experience at Grand Pre Vineyard and a degree in Plant Sciences from Nova Scotia Agricultural University she planted and keeps up a small vineyard with hardy hybrid vines. Her first vintage was in late September of 2009 and though this year was a tough one weather wise her hopes are to make fine wine from such vines as L'Acadie Blanc in the future. Her vines looked healthy and I was sure that with further good weather, her vineyard will flourish. Strictly organic! I am sure with all the sheep and cattle fertilizer will not be a problem.
Lucy Maud Montgomery
After lunch we were off to Cavendish to the house where famed Anne Of Green Gables author, Lucy Maud Montgomery was raised after the death of her mother from Tuberculosis. She was born in nearby Clifton in 1874 but at the age of 21 months was given to her grandparents by her father who moved to Saskatchewan. She had a lonely childhood but endured to achieve a teaching certificate. She achieved further university training in Literature at Dalhousie in Halifax Nova Scotia.
She later moved to Ontario, settled in Uxbridge but did move to several other areas including the Halton Hills and Swansea (Toronto). Lucy Maud Montgomery died in Toronto in 1942 at the age of 67. Her body was buried in Cavendish Cemetery.
She published some 500 stories and 20 books and became famous the world over for the story of a orphan child who became a teacher and a writer.
Cavendish
We visited her Cavendish home and then went off to the cemetery to find Montgomery's grave.
Her burial plot was simple by design with a chain barrier keeping idle curiosity seekers away. Buried at the same plot was her husband. We did several photo and televised scenes for the series and then moved to other areas of the cemetery. Also buried at the cemetery were her mother and grandparents.
Anne Of Green Gables House
After the grave we spent time filming at the representative house and barn. The Green Gable House/Farm operated by Parks Canada was located in Cavendish. A great public attraction, this home is the one Anne was thinking of when she wrote the famous book. It actually belonged to her cousins, David and Margaret MacNeil but ironically, was not used for the feature movie because its popularity made it impossible to film there. Instead, two separately owned houses located in Southern Ontario sufficed----Ah! The wonder of television!!
Filming there was great fun and touring the site with Tara and Roy was a special event since the connecting of such a historic masterpiece of both a tourist and literary concern and the world of wine was the concept I had in mind when I started this Trek in 2006 when I visited Fess Parker (Davy Crockett/Daniel Boone star) at his winery and filmed "The New Wine Frontier" series.
Lobster A Go-Go!!!
We made our way to New Glasgow, a tiny village located in Queen's County amongst some picturesque scenery of hills and with the River Clyde in the background. Originally supposed to be a fundraiser back in 1958 with a building that was transported from another community, the fundraiser started to take off---first once per week in 1963 to seven days a week in 1970 to a huge following that has kept them busy enough to run it as a business rather than a fundraiser.
In 1980 the remaining four partners took over the business and in 2008 after much expansion and many pounds of lobster later, the business celebrated its 50th year in business.
Sterling MacRae was as nice a person as you would want to meet. It was obvious that he loved his work and still, at almost 80 years of age, enthusiasm for life and his business was infectious. Sterling took us for a grand tour of the establishment which was operated by people from the community as well as managed by family members. The one thing I noticed was that they all had smiles and working like a well oiled machine but in this case the machine knew that it liked its job.
The customers had smiles also but it was not work that they were smiling about but the great food. You name it, there was all you can eat (delicious) chowder, soup, desserts, drinks and of course there was the main course of either lobster, salmon, chicken, ham or scallops. Everything was being done to perfection and the home made rolls were a delicious meal in themselves.
It was great looking at the process that went into obtaining the products and following them through the cooking and finally serving. As I said, the customers really seemed to be enjoying it.
After dinner, we were entertained by a young man named Jonathan Horrocks, whose piano talent was beyond his years and it seemed that this person was destined to develop into a celebrity some day.
We also met the Mayor of Summerside, Basil Stewart, whose distinguished career would be legend in most communities. Summerside was a community a couple of hours away and his very attractive family seemed to be enjoying the evening. It was an honour to meet him and in general----- it was a great day!
Then it was time to go back to Platter House and prepare for the next day.
End of Day Three
posted by Chuck Byers - Wine Consultant | 7:25 AM
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