Robbie Burns Island Tour

Single malt tasting

It was fortunate for us that Robbie Burns was born in the middle of the winter. What better way to spend a crisp January evening than toasting Scotland's famous poet with a little of their most famous export?

On Wednesday January 23, 2008 we are featuring seven fine single malts from the islands. Scapa (Orkney), Dun Bheagan 1997 (Skye), Ardbeg 10 yr. (Islay), The Arran Single Sherry Cask (Arran), Tobermory 10 yr. (Mull), The Isle Of Jura 21 yr. (Jura), and Smokehead (Islay). For peat's sake don't delay, tickets are now on sale online for $32 (all taxes and charges included).

Makes a great Christmas gift. Just start reciting Robbie Burns until a loved one buys you a ticket. Have them click here to purchase in advance.

Memories Of What?

Tell us about your most memorable visit

Two short months from now, on February 13, 2008, we will be celebrating our twentieth birthday, so it seems appropriate to reminisce a little. If you have a story or anecdote related to C'est What, write it up and send it off to us. All authors will get invited to the anniversary party and the winner will receive a commemorative personalized C'est What hockey jersey.

The deadline for entries is Monday January 7, 2008 so put your holidays to good use and get creative. We will publish a selection of stories in our next issue.

Christmas Cheer

Top 'o the season

Thanks for opening your inbox to us every month and for visiting our establishment (we hope at least as often). To show our gratitude we would like to buy you a meal. Just send a request to George for a coupon (put the words "free lunch" in the subject line) and he will ship one off to you.

Fine Print: It's valid for any combination of food items up to a maximum value of fifteen dollars from December 26, 2007 to January 8, 2008. One coupon per table, not valid in conjunction with any other promotional offer. Please tip your server.

Music

The Donefors

We four anomalies who call ourselves The DoneFors have but one reason for existing here on this repugnant rock called 'Earth', and that is to bring you the music you'll be dying to hear as the doctors are pulling the plug on your respirator. The delightful buffet of tragedy and comedy that will be echoing through the factory before you trip headfirst into a vat of boiling maple syrup. The beautifully scandalous music that will be tickling your ears through your mp3 player as the anvil drops from the sky to morph your body into a sticky meat pancake. Don't look so sad, little grain; there never was any guarantee this would end pretty. Just don't give death the chance to steal you away without listening for yourself. Who knows? This may just be what saves you in the end.

Saturday December 15, Doors 10:00 p.m., Show time 10:30 a.m., Advance tickets are available for $7.00

What Whisky Comes From Where?

(Hint: It's not Scotland)

The intriguing mystery at the whisky tasting at C'est What on Wednesday October 24, 2007 was "Is this a American, Canadian, Indian, Irish, Japanese, or Scotch whisky?" The brave tasters that assembled that evening can attest that it was not an easy question to answer. In fact, the most accurate taster was only able to identify four of the six countries of origin correctly - confusing the home of Nikka Yoichi with that of the Macallan. He was not alone, as none of the tasters correctly identified the Nikka Yoichi as Japanese.

What the tasters did identify was the quality of the offering from the Nikka Distillery giving it the top score. Least you think that Nikka is just capitalizing on the current popularity of Scotch, they have been in the whiskey business since 1934. For more information on their history check out their website.

The full table of scores can be found here.

New On The Menu

At C'est What we like to think that we have a timeless quality, are an island of calm, an oasis in our fast-paced world. As relaxed as we like to be, our menu is always full of new and interesting things.

Since the last e-news we have seen Amsterdam Oktoberfest and Grand River Galt Knife Lager come and go and now have the Grand River Jubilation Spiced Ale, Neustadt Big Dog Porter, Nickelbrook Maple Porter, Black Oak Nutcracker Porter, and Great Lakes Winter Ale taking a turn. A special one-off Neustadt Decade Cask Bitter is just about finished and will make way for Wellington Imperial Stout on cask by next week.

We are on the second batch of our Caraway Rye to which a little more caraway has been added and an altered hop schedule has given it a cleaner finish. Look for a new batch of our Hazelnut Chocolate Ale in a week or so. It has been tweaked to give it a little more backbone behind the luxurious dark chocolate flavour.

Our complete beer list featuring forty-eight craft brews, is available online. Our in-house version has extended information and an ingredient list is available for those concerned about specifics.

On the wine side of things we now have 20 Bees Cabernet Merlot 2006, Chateau des Charmes Sauvignon Blanc 2006, and Pelee Island Gewurztraminer Reserve 2005 available by the bottle.

Some interesting whiskies have been added to our limited-time offerings: Amrut (Indian Single Malt), An Cnoc, Clontarf, Green Spot, Wild Geese Rare, and the Nikka Yoichi.

Holiday Hours

Crazy as this may sound, our staff have friends and family that they would like to see over the Christmas holidays so you'll only be able to get your fix of local flavour by tuning into our internet radio stream when our doors are closed.

Closing on Monday December 24 at 5:00 p.m. and re-opening on Wednesday December 26 at 5:00 p.m. We also have a late opening of 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday January 1 and are closed on Sunday January 6 for our staff party. Otherwise C'est What is open the usual 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 a.m seven days a week.