a night with local lounge & township7

At the start of a week there's nothing more exciting than thinking of all the possibilities for the days stretched out ahead of you. As someone who still needs a traditional 9-5 gig on weekdays (hopefully not for long), my time to shine is evenings - and weekends.

During these times, I covet. Things. Events. Food. Wine, too.

Last Sunday I crossed a distinct finish line: I had pledged to write a novel (minimum 50,000 words) in the month of November (30 days). After a challenging month I crossed my finish line on Sunday, November 29 at 9:16pm pacific time...well above the minimum word count. But the challenge for me wasn't the number of words - it was getting the darn thing done. And I did. So I decided we needed to celebrate.

I started to plan.

Friday, December 4 was going to be the eve of celebration. My husband and I extended the invite to include a couple of friends. The more the merrier.

What was I to covet? Two things: a dinner at Local Lounge & Grille and a bottle of Township7 2007 Merlot / Cabernet Sauvignon. Yum.

I thought about Friday night all week. My husband was almost salivating at the thought of a juicy, perfect chuck burger. Our heads swam with thoughts of sensory delights. It was a great week to live through. The before part - the coveting - was almost as good as the event. Almost.

Our server - Goldie - was attentive, personable and engaging. Owner Cam stopped by for a chat, which made us feel welcome and appreciated. We ordered some wine and beer (great selections of both, by the way) and spent some time with the menu before deciding. It was a tough decision, as always.

My friends - and hubby - indulged in what has been described as the best restaurant burger. Ever. That's a serious claim, but it holds true each visit we make. Made with ground chuck and topped with honey dijon, yellow (seasonal) beets and whatever ridiculously good seasoning the chef uses, the burger is stacked, dripping and magnificent.

I upped the ante and ordered the salmon with risotto. I don't know how many words there are for perfection but I'll have to start researching now. Slightly seared outside and melt-in-your-mouth soft in the middle, my salmon was just the right combination of textures and flavour. As for the risotto...well...words can't describe.

By the end of the meal we were sufficiently sated so we headed out - after a tour of the newly opened lounge, which was beautifully appointed and had a great energy. Four of our original five convened in an apartment in Penticton to relax and share a bottle of Township7 2007 Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon.

The wine was, well, dangerously drinkable. I'm consistently happy with each Township7 bottle I drink. My predilection is for full reds and this winery does not disappoint. There was a party in my glass, and I was invited.

The wine smelled like fall hikes I'd take in the forests back in Ontario. It was a ritual that my mom and I had: each fall we would find the first day that showed an edge to the air - the kind of day with bright sunlight and red-tipped noses - and we would go to a local conservation area to walk the trails, collect leaves and talk about anything.

By the time my glass was half finished I was immersed in one of those hikes. I felt warm, close to the earth and the crisp air. The wine captured a feeling of being outdoors on a fall afternoon, skin slightly warmed by the last intense rays of a waning sun. I could close my eyes and hear the leaves crunch under my feet.

My glass drained far too quickly. Like I said - dangerously drinkable.

Take a walk with this easy drinker. You'll be amazed where you end up.


~Jeannette