The BC Food and Wine Annual 2000

Susan Cleyle is a systems librarian in the QEII Library at Memorial
University of Newfoundland.

The Annual is a daybook compiled with the lover of B.C. food and drink
in mind. The planner contains information, recipes, suggestions, and
reviews of the foods and spirits from the province. It also provides an
organized method by which one can enjoy and take full advantage of all
the seasonal offerings of this bountiful land.

Like most personal organizers, the book contains “at-a-glance”
yearly calendars (2000 and 2001) as well as address and notes sections;
it also allows for handwritten daily entries. What makes this planner
special is its guide to food, wine, and other festivals throughout
British Columbia. Port Alberni’s Salmon Festival, the Okanagan Wine
Festivals, Brackendalse’s Bald Eagle Festival, and Victoria’s
Folkfest are among the many events included.

The bulk of the book is built around recipes, shopping lists, and wine
and cheese reviews. Monthly sections outline the prevalent seasonal B.C.
foods available and feature one-page shopping lists, recipes that
reflect the food list, reviews of cheese or wine, and the daily
calendar. The last section lists the names and phone numbers of
wineries, breweries, and farmers’ markets.

Ring binding allows the book to stay open when laid flat, and the large
format allows plenty of room for note-taking. Although the book would
benefit from the inclusion of an index, it is still a great gift for any
B.C. “explorer.”