Teaser | Vicarious | Winter 2023

WINTER 2023

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CONTENTS

DISCOVERED Genesis EV Scotland 16

56 SPECIAL FEATURE The Moto Social

10 Editor In Chief 12 Editor At Large 14 Contributors

62 DISCOVERED

16 DISCOVERED

2023 Trek Off-Road Competition

Genesis EV Scotland

68 FEATURED MOTORCYCLE 2023 Ducati Diavel V4

22 FEATURED REGION Belfast To Dublin 28 ROADSIDE CHIC 32 RITZ RECIPES 34 CORKSCREW 40 FIRST DRIVE

“Driving it, you are convinced someone has covered the pavement with Gorilla Glue.” – 2023 Porsche 718 Cayman GTS 4.0, 46

72 DRIVER’S SEAT 2024 Ferrari Roma Spider 78 GAME CHANGERS Hemi’s Last Call 86 FEATURED SUV 2024 Audi SQ8

2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre

46 FEATURED CAR

90 RIDER'S SEAT

2023 Porsche 718 Cayman GTS 4.0

2024 BMW R 1300 GS

96 DISCOVERED

50 DISCOVERED

Making Memories At Mattel

History Takes A Front Seat

OUR TEAM EDITOR IN CHIEF JEFF VOTH jvoth@vicariousmag.com EDITOR AT LARGE MATTHEW NEUNDORF mneundorf@vicariousmag.com SENIOR EDITOR DAN HEYMAN dheyman@vicariousmag.com DISCOVERED EDITOR STEVEN BOCHENEK sbochenek@vicariousmag.com

FEATURED REGION Belfast to Dublin, 22

CONTRIBUTORS BENJAMIN YONG

COSTA MOUZOURIS EDWARD NARRACA IAIN CRAWFORD KELLY TAYLOR

104 SPECIAL FEATURE The Crew Motorfest 108 POWER BROKERS Pedro De La Rosa

MARK HACKING MATTHEW KEITH PETER BLEAKNEY SCOTT PATRICK COWAN

SUE CALLAWAY VIKTOR RADICS WILLIAM CLAVEY DESIGN & LAYOUT JENNIFER ELIA NEWSSTAND DIRECTOR CRAIG SWEETMAN ADVERTISING INQUIRIES advertising@trqmedia.com

110 GEAR UP!

Holiday Finds

112 GEAR UP!

Saint Motorcycle Jeans

“168 hp and 93 lb-ft of torque is as prodigious as it sounds.” – 2024 BMW R 1300 GS, 90

114 TIME ZONE

Longines Watches

118 JOY RIDE

Charging Ahead

PUBLISHER TRQ MEDIA INC. St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada L2S 3H9

122 EXIT LANE

COVER PHOTO 2024 PORSCHE 911 S/T Use the QR code to read the full review.

EDITOR’S LETTER

JEFF VOTH

“If you no longer go for a gap that exists, you’re no longer a racing driver.” – Ayrton Senna

I HAVE BEEN A FAN of Formula 1 racing from the time I can remember setting up my first Hot Wheels tracks and driving my classic Redlines in the living room until my mother

memories are watching the Gretzky/Messier Edmonton Oilers of the 80’s and the Jordan/Pippin Chicago Bulls of the 90’s. Witnessing firsthand the best in their sport succeed at the highest level is not something I take for granted. So where do my feelings of indifference come from in the modern era of F1? I think

said enough. In her defense, she'd rarely tell me to quit, but would pick up a car and shoot it down the track with the best of us. She also made great sandwiches, but I digress. The names were and still are as classic as those first Hot Wheels; Clark, Andretti, Hunt, Lauda were just some from that golden era. Gilles Villeneuve was a favourite for years and he passed too soon, but it wasn’t until the era of Senna, Prost and Mansell that my excitement went to the next level. There was an artistry and passion for racing that commanded my attention every time Ayrton took to the track. You were watching mastery in motion and I couldn’t get enough. Prost was incredible as well, though more calculating and so less entrancing. Mansell was a like bull in the ring and he could compete with the best. But Senna, well he was the show and in my mind, has yet to be replaced. The 2023 F1 season wrapped recently and while it was interesting to see Max Verstappen completely dominate the field for almost all twenty three races, it is hard for me to say it kindled my passion for the sport. I felt as though something was missing. Now, don’t get me wrong, dynasties have been an important part of sports since the beginning of time and probably will be for as long as we compete to see who is the best. In fact, some of my fondest

the lack of real competition is what has caused me to pause and reflect. The Oilers always had to find a way to get past the Calgary Flames, Jordan had to beat Magic, Bird, Sir Charles and the Detroit Pistons. But without the right equipment, not even Lewis Hamilton or Fernando Alonso can muster a challenge to Red Bull #1. Sport needs competition and without it, it is much less exciting to watch. Hopefully Ferrari, Mercedes-AMG, McLaren and Aston Martin will continue to improve in 2024 and you can bet I will be watching. Once again, our writers have been busy travelling the globe to drive or ride the new and classic vehicles we all dream of. In this issue, Dan Heyman takes one last look at the mighty Hemi engine as it makes a final bow before roaring off into the sunset. F1 takes a seat as we spend time with former drivers Jochen Mass and Pedro de la Rosa in two unique stories. Mark Hacking takes us on a Genesis EV adventure in Scotland and contributor Matthew Keith offers his holiday buying advice for tech and we are pleased to welcome Longines as the official sponsor of our Time Zone section. So, kick back, pour yourself a cup of Vicarious Black Creek Coffee and enjoy the holidays with us!

“There was an artistry and passion for racing that commanded my attention every time Ayrton took to the track. You were watching mastery in

motion and I couldn’t get enough.”

EDITOR AT LARGE

MATTHEW NEUNDORF

“I guess I can. ” – Wouter-Jan Van Dijk

HAVE YOU EVER been watching a race – bikes, cars, trucks, any kind really – and thought, “I’d have a go at that”? And I don’t just mean that “it’d be a fun thing to try”, but that you believe you’d have the skills, abilities and fortitude to plop yourself into the starting grid, put in a respectable time and make it to the chequered flag. What if you had to cover all of the costs, had no pit crew, no GPS system, were riding a used motorcycle you’d just bought off of Craigslist and had to ride said bike from that point of purchase directly to that starting line over one thousand miles away? Wouter-Jan Van Dijk did just that when he entered this year’s Baja 1000. The Dutchman took on the task after a gentle nudge/suggestion from a friend who had competed in the race previously. Van Dijk sussed that he had enough enduro riding under his belt that it fell within the realm of possibility, and figured that the 1300- mile race across Baja sounded like fun, so he bought a plane ticket to San Diego. While definitely close in proximity to our favourite peninsula, San Diego is not Baja. More importantly, it’s nowhere near the starting line for this year’s race, which was at the southern tip in La Paz.

Unfazed, Van Dijk pointed his 21-inch front knobby south and (while other riders were pre-running the course, planning strategies and tuning their machines) started making tracks. Upon arrival at tech-inspection, Wouter’s bike was flagged as a no-go. The trip to La Paz had caused his tires to wear down to slick-like conditions and his subframe had cracked. Thankfully the racing community is a generous one, so a welder was found and some new hoops were scored allowing Wouter to start his Baja 1000 race, setting off under cover of night at 1:32 in the morning. If the preamble to the green flag isn’t enough to have earned your admiration, know that Wouter – while essentially navigating by the stars – was leading his class when he clocked in at the first checkpoint, some 370 kilometres later. At the next check-in just outside of Vizcaino, he had only lost one spot, sitting in second, roughly a minute behind the eventual class winner. Other problems arose – a rim bent so bad it could no longer hold air being a big one, a number of run-ins with Baja’s notorious Creeping Devil cactus – but Wouter found help was around whenever he needed it, pulling needles from his arm, feeding him tacos and zip-tying that rim so he could continue, often without having to even look. Forty-eight hours and twenty-seven minutes after setting off from La Paz, Wouter crossed the line in Ensenada to complete his first Baja 1000. He didn’t win – he finished in 7th of 9 riders in his class – but he took home a victory nonetheless. Congrats, Wouter! Thanks for reminding us to get off of the couch.

Author Matthew Neundorf

"The Dutchman took on the task after a gentle nudge/ suggestion from a friend who had competed in the race previously."

DOMINATE ADVENTURE

CONTRIBUTORS

KELLY TAYLOR Kelly Taylor took over an

MARK HACKING Mark Hacking is an award-winning editor/writer/photographer with over 25 years’ experience working with leading publications around the world. His byline has appeared in Architectural Digest, Azure, Departures, enRoute, Forza, The Globe and Mail, Intersection, Luxury Magazine, Montecristo, NUVO, Robb Report and the Toronto Star. Mark has also competed in a range of motorsports over the past 20 years. He finished on the class podium at Targa Newfoundland three consecutive times from 2004-06. In 2011, he raced at the Nürburgring Nordschleife with the factory Aston Martin team. In 2013, he became the first journalist to race in the Ferrari Challenge, finishing third in class in both outings. In 2019, he was the first journalist in the world to race in the Jaguar I-PACE eTrophy, the first-ever all-electric production car race series.

automotive section from an editor who didn’t drive, and hasn’t looked back since. He’s moved on from editing to writing and loves the freedom unshackling from the desk provides. Winner of multiple awards, including twice as Canadian Automotive Journalist of the Year and the recipient of the 2015 Gold Medallion and Best in Newspapers award from the International Automotive Media Competition, Taylor’s passion is everything automotive. He’s covered cars on three continents and looks forward to one day completing the circuit, though a media event Down Under seems unlikely. When not taking a deep dive into some automotive topic, he spends time at the local archery range perfecting his shot or the local golf course working on his drive. He’s also an avid amateur radio enthusiast, competing in several competitions.

SUE CALLAWAY Entrepreneur, award-winning journalist and author, media marketing pioneer, and automotive insider, Sue Callaway has built and transformed global brands for Time Inc., Wenner Media and Hearst, co-founded Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Summit and innovated marketing and content platforms for brands from Esquire and Jaguar to TrueCar and THE AUTO 100. Most recently, Sue founded Glovebox Media, a boutique strategy and content shop that helps companies achieve ROI by telling their most passionate stories—the authentic way. Prior to Glovebox, she was the Senior Editor, Automotive, for Time Inc ., where she oversaw automotive and luxury industry coverage—digital, video, social and print—for Fortune , Sports Illustrated , Time , and Money , among the company’s 90-plus brands. Her industry coverage has also appeared in Conde Nast Traveler , Town & Country , Rosso , as well as on CNN , CBS’s The Early Show , CNNMoney.com , the Today Show and other TV, online and print outlets.

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DISCOVERED

GENESIS EV SCOTLAND AN ALL-ELECTRIC EXPLORATION OF ALL THINGS SCOTTISH

Story

Mark Hacking

DISCOVERED

LAUNCHED IN 2016, Genesis, the luxury spin-off of Hyundai is really hitting its stride. The brand began with three sedans, a dicey proposition in this SUV-obsessed era in which we have been living. But the inherent quality of those cars, particularly the G70 sport sedan, kept the fire stoked until a second wave broke in 2020. At the turn of the decade, the inherent potential of Genesis started to gain real traction as the class-competitive GV80 and GV70 utility vehicles were introduced. Then came the first of the brand’s electrified offerings, the Electrified G80, followed by the Electrified GV70 and GV60. These vehicles have resonated so strongly, the Genesis share of Hyundai’s global sales reportedly surged to 5.4 per cent in the first quarter of 2023. In comparison, it took Lexus 32 years to assume that percentage of parent company Toyota’s global sales. That’s a rapid rate of progress for Genesis. Being a challenger brand, though, there’s still work to be done. New models, new technologies, new markets, new sales and distribution strategies—it all requires plenty of investment and no small amount of big thinking. Take, for example, the United Kingdom. Its government recently confirmed that 80 per cent of new vehicle sales must be all-electric, or feature some other form of non-emissions producing motor, by the year 2030. For each vehicle above the 80

per cent threshold, the manufacturer will receive a £15,000 penalty. For some manufacturers, this mandate represents a bit of a crisis. But for a relative newcomer like Genesis that’s backed by the monolithic Hyundai Motor Company, it’s an opportunity. If a summer’s drive in Scotland of the Genesis GV60 and Electrified GV70 proved anything, it’s that this luxury automotive brand intends to seize this opportunity. Our drive out from Edinburgh starts in the GV60. Available in two different powertrain specifications, it’s the first dedicated electric vehicle in the line-up, meaning there isn’t an internal combustion engined GV60. The Advanced version generates 314 horsepower, 446 pound-feet of torque and a driving range of some 399 km. The GV60 Performance delivers 429 horsepower and 446 lb-ft of torque, but range is reduced to 378 km. An overboost button on this model kicks the horsepower up to 483 and the torque to 516 lb-ft. In this setting, the GV60 can hit 100 km/h in just four seconds. Built on the same platform as the multiple award-winning Hyundai IONIQ 5 and Kia EV6, the GV60 is a top performer. It’s smooth and enjoyable to drive, easily darting in and out of traffic on city streets, then breezing effortlessly along the M9 outside Edinburgh. With one motor mounted at the front axle and other motor at the back, the Genesis handles reasonably well though

“Available in two different powertrain specifications, it’s the first dedicated electric vehicle in the line-up, meaning there isn’t an internal combustion engined GV60.”

it’s no corner-carver. Despite its healthy acceleration, it’s better suited to relaxed cruising. There’s nothing wrong with this approach; in fact, it kind of defeats the purpose if an EV is a rocket ship. For this reason, the Advanced version seems a better choice; it’s still quick enough and it delivers more range for a lot less cash. After a lunch stop in the picturesque town of Alexandria, nestled on the shore of Loch Lomond, we made the switch to the Electrified GV70 for the drive back. Slightly larger in size, this compact crossover features the exact same powertrain as the GV60 Performance. As such, the feeling of the acceleration is familiar—it’s fractionally slower than the GV60 because it’s a larger vehicle—but the GV70 also feels less floaty and more sporty. Range for the Electrified GV70 hovers around the 383km mark and, like the GV60 Performance, its 800-volt architecture facilitates fast charging. According to Genesis, both vehicles can go from 10 to 80 per cent charge in 18 minutes. With the GV60 and Electrified GV70 having so much in common, picking one over the other is a tough call. The more futuristic, jellybean-shaped GV60 is a very unique design, perhaps a bit polarizing.

DISCOVERED

But as it was developed as an EV right from the start, it has some definite advantages, like the airy passenger cabin and its multitude of spaces for storing items, large and small. With its slightly larger footprint and “more familiar” design, the Electrified GV70 will perhaps resonate with the more traditional driver. The fact that it costs some $4,000 more to start than the GV60 will have little impact. But what may send potential customers sideways is the fact that the non-electrified GV70 base model, a decent vehicle in its own right, is some $25,000 less than the all-electric version. If you’ve already decided that electrification is in your immediate future, though, then you could do a lot worse than these two crossovers. The Hyundai Motor Group has a lot of resources to throw around—and with the Genesis GV60 and Electrified GV70, that money has hit the target. I’ve got a theory about travel and it goes a little something like this: many of the most beautiful places to visit would be

practically uninhabitable in winter. Over the course of my travels, I’ve had the good fortune to set down in Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Newfoundland and the Canadian High Arctic. All were stunning in their own right—and I can’t imagine returning to any of them when the sun is at its weakest. The same is true of Scotland. The place is stunning, from nearly every possible angle. The inherent charm of a city like Edinburgh is matched by the glorious natural beauty of a place like Glen Coe or Cairngorms National Park, or the pull of a legendary sporting venue such as St. Andrews Links. These are places that make a lasting impression, stamping themselves in the memory and bubbling up every now and again to prompt a return visit. I’ve had the chance to visit Scotland five times now, the latest adventure hosted by luxury automaker Genesis. While it may seem odd for a South Korean carmaker to be interested in such a relatively small market, the country has two big things

“I’ve got a theory about travel and it goes a little something like this: many of the most beautiful places to visit would be practically uninhabitable in winter. ”

going for it: cultural significance and a love for the game of golf. Over the course of a whirlwind visit, we stayed at the quirky and artistic Kimpton Hotel in Edinburgh, dined in fine establishments like Bonnie Badger in nearby Guilane, and toured the Johnnie Walker facility on Prince’s Street. It’s no stretch to suggest that scotch is a culturally significant drink in Scotland—it’s practically a religion. At Johnnie Walker, we learned about the history of the brand, sampled a wide variety of mixed drinks made with various blends and dined in the rooftop restaurant, with unmatched views of Edinburgh Castle. It was a memorable visit from start to finish, one that was worth the trip to Scotland all on its own. But there was more to experience. In 2016, Genesis began an association with the most Scottish of sports by sponsoring the men’s tour in South Korea. A year later, the carmaker became the title sponsor of the PGA Tour’s Genesis Open. Three years after that, it began an

association with Tiger Woods and the Open became the Genesis Invitational, one of the most prestigious events on the PGA Tour. As of last year, the brand also became the title sponsor of the Scottish Open, which brings us back to Scotland. In addition to getting a shot at driving the Genesis GV60 and Electrified GV70 on a route from Edinburgh to Loch Loman and back, guests also had the chance to watch some top flight golf. The tournament ended with one of the great comebacks, as Rory McIlroy birdied the final two holes at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick to take the victory. After winning the tournament, McIlroy visited the Genesis Lounge and gave an extremely gracious speech. As he was approaching the final hole, the Northern Irish golfer told himself to embrace the moment: “You’re going out there to fulfill your boyhood dreams.” It was a magical end to the Genesis Scottish Open—and a fitting final day of my fifth visit to this magical land.

FEATURED REGION

BELFAST TO DUBLIN

Story

Kelly Taylor

FEATURED REGION

JAMES JOYCE ONCE REMARKED ”a good puzzle would be cross Dublin without passing a pub.” He might be surprised to learn his words ring truer today than in his century. In Ireland, a country forged through centuries of conflict, people are quick to party and quick to laugh, with razor-sharp wit that lights up virtually any public house in the land. The quantity of pubs in Ireland, even in areas well off the beaten tourist path, speaks to their importance. For many Irish, a pub isn’t an occasional visit, it’s a lifestyle fixture that, for some, resonates as a daily ritual. For tourists, pubs offer a glimpse into Irish life: busy, loud, teeming with energy. Many pubs have stood witness to history — the country’s oldest, Sean’s Pub in Athlone, was founded in 900 A.D., when Vikings ruled. It persevered through the end of the first Viking age, the second Viking age, the invasion by the Normans in 1169, the rise and fall of slavery, conquest by the Tudors and the rise of a free Republic of Ireland in 1922. In Dublin, the Brazen Head is the city’s oldest, dating to 1198 A.D. The famed Temple Bar Pub remains family owned (even if not by the same family), having slung pints since 1840. Both were in operation during the Easter uprising

of 1916, in 1972 when news of Bloody Sunday swept the land and when the Good Friday (1998) peace agreement ended centuries of rebellion. It is perhaps this difficult, and relatively recent, history that gives Ireland its cheery demeanour. When true, honest adversity is so fresh of mind, issues that seem so important in other parts of the world barely raise an eyebrow here. Freedom is recently won here, so they’re not going to waste it worrying about the contents of someone’s laptop or whether the prime minister is a former drama teacher. Or maybe it’s just the rain. Spend two weeks in Ireland and the reason for its lush green landscapes becomes readily apparent. “In Ireland, if it’s not raining, it’s going to rain and if it is raining, it’s going to rain some more,” a passer-by said during one of our daily rains in Limerick, on the country’s west side. It typically didn’t last, but it did serve as an almost daily cleansing, leaving behind a fresh, clean scent. Planes, trains and automobiles, and maybe some buses: our trip to Ireland was often like the famous John Candy movie, but without the scorched K-Car and infamous “two pillows.” We landed in Dublin and caught a bus to Limerick, where my wife and I spent the first week

The quantity of pubs in Ireland, even in areas well off the beaten tourist path, speaks to their importance. For many Irish, a pub isn’t an occasional visit, it’s a lifestyle fixture that, for some, resonates as a daily ritual.

attending the 2023 World Archery Youth Championships. We’re hosting the 2025 version of that event in Winnipeg, so we went to gather intelligence on the tasks that lie ahead. Limerick is a city steeped in ancient, and recent, history. Although it was founded in 1197, the site’s history goes back to 922 and Viking rule. The city’s historic core is on King’s Island, which is also home to King John’s Castle, built in 1200 and still standing today. It’s reportedly one of the best existing examples of a Norman castle, and welcomes visitors. Best to book online; a self-guided tour is €13 for adults, €10.50 for children. For a city nearly a millennia old, it has its share of historic architecture, but also a blend of the old and the new, especially as seen from the walk along the River Shannon, which the city straddles. New residential buildings rise above historic pubs and restaurants; from within the walls of King John’s Castle is visible the city’s modern rugby stadium. Limerick is also home to recent musical history, too. Walking along the river, we turned to walk up a side street, chosen entirely at random. At one point, something compelled me to

look up at a plaque high on a building: it commemorated the date — March 18, 1978 — when, according to Adam Clayton, the band formed by Paul Hewson, David Evans, Larry Mullen Jr. and Clayton first performed as… U2, winning a pop music competition at a music venue formerly at this location. Limerick is also the perfect starting point for a tour of the Cliffs of Moher, about an hour away from Limerick. Tours from Dublin are also available, but the journey to the cliffs is three hours each way. The cliffs and associated walking trails run for 14 kilometres along the sea at the southwest of an area called The Burren (more on that shortly), and stand between 120 metres (390 feet) and 214 metres (702 feet) above the Atlantic Ocean. Comprising relatively soft shale and sandstone, the cliffs display rugged beauty that is vulnerable to erosion by the tides. From O’Brien’s Tower, a stone tower built north of the visitor centre, on a clear day you can see the Aran Islands to the west and Maumturks and Twelve Pins mountain ranges to the north. The Burren covers 530 square kilometres and is a karst landscape covered in bedrock. It lies just north of the Cliffs

FEATURED REGION

of Moher. Watch your step: the surface is uneven, with large cracks to traverse. It would be easy to roll your ankle. When our time in Limerick was up, we hopped on a train to Dublin where we spent four days before taking another train to Belfast. In Ireland, trains run with near Japanese efficiency, departing within a minute of the prescribed times. They’re cheap, too: Limerick to Dublin was €32. Not each; total. Dublin to Belfast was the same price, even at a higher fare class. So civilized. Dublin is home to numerous sights, too many for only four days. We took in Dublin Castle, which is a holdover from British rule but remains a ceremonial location today for the swearing-in of the new president. It serves as a museum otherwise. Across the street from our excellent lodgings, O’Neill’s Victorian Pub and Guest House, is Trinity College, where a tour provides a glimpse at what’s been called the world’s most beautiful library and the historic Book of Kells, a biblical manuscript and Celtic gospel treasure. It is believed to have been created around the year 800 A.D. in either Ireland or Scotland. Not far from Dublin Castle is the Guinness Storehouse, which you can tour for €26 per person, or more if you choose the Stoutie — a pint of Guinness that features your face on the head. You learn the process of making the famed

Image above: Guinness Storehouse

Image to the right: Dublin Castle Court

Bottom left image: Guinness Fish

beer, including the importance of 232 Fahrenheit — the temperature the barley is roasted — and at the end, you can sample a pint. The Irish take their whiskey as seriously as the Scots, and with a similar number of varieties. You can have a very clean tasting Jamesons, or go for a more peaty Teeling. The difference is Jamesons uses hot air to cook the mash, while Teeling and others might use peat or hardwood fires for cooking. The peat is readily apparent. Dublin and Belfast are a tale of two cities, but not as polar opposites in the way Dickens opened his classic novel. In Belfast, there seem fewer examples of Irish accents and more Scottish and British accents. Government offices are marked “Her Majesty’s…” (guess the sign guy didn’t get the memo) and there are Union Jacks everywhere. The quick wit remains, but perhaps a bit more restrained, at least until slightly lubricated at the local pub. The Titanic Museum in Belfast — built on the same land the famous, doomed ship was built — is a must-see for any first-timers to this historic city. It may well be the benchmark by which all other museums should be judged. It’s design

carefully considered, its artifacts expertly curated and its tour narrated by signs and by portable audio players well worth the extra eight quid to rent. The tale of the ship’s construction is fascinating, and drives home how in those days work was work — hard, sweaty labour devoid of health and safety considerations. The narration tells of how workers had a total of seven minutes off time per day, and how casual labourers — who made up the bulk of the staff — had to arrive at the shipyard by 6 a.m. to queue up for work. At one point of the tour, you board what resemble ski lift cars for a ride through a mock-up of building the boat while narration tells of the hard work and the pride Belfast took in its construction. More than 100,000 turned out to watch its triumphant launch, from a spot marked out on the ground outside the museum, where the Titanic and its sister ship, the Olympic, were built side by side. Windows overlook the spots. From there, the tour turns to outfitting the Titanic, from its lavish first-class staterooms and dining rooms to its third-class staterooms that aren’t that far removed from their modern cruise ship counterparts.

ROADSIDE CHIC JEFF VOTH

ROADSIDE CHIC is all about finding those hidden gems, the places that provide a perfect balance of comfort, luxury, exceptional service and the opportunity to do as much or as little as you want. In the spirit of this holiday season, here are four of my favourite European places to stay at any time of year and especially when the weather outside is frightful.

Rival Hotel Opened on September 1, 2003, the Rival Hotel is a “dream come true” for Swedish music composer turned entrepreneur Goran Bror “Benny” Andersson. You will recognize him mostly for his work as part of the Swedish mega music group ABBA. Mama Mia, this is one amazingly sophisticated, yet splendidly simple and elegant 99-room hotel. Originally designed as a cinema in 1937, painstaking reconstruction crafted the seven-storey structure to allow for seamless flow between bars, bistro, entrance hall and the main lounge. Filled to capacity on a nightly basis

with the hip and elite of Stockholm, the Rival Hotel is as much an entertainment destination today as it was nearly eight decades ago. Dining takes place in the Rivals Bistro, the setting for a spectacular buffet breakfast, lunch or dinner. At street level, caffeine and croissants flow freely at The Tavern. Tables are scarce throughout the day as customers share their stories in the tight, friendly confines of this excellent coffee bar.

Marustorget 3, Box 175 25, SE-118 91 Stockholm, Sweden rival.se

Hotel Savoy Florence A Rocco Forte Hotel, it is perfectly placed in the middle of old Florence with easy access to all tourist sites. Exit the front doors and a quick stroll to the right will take you to the Duomo and galleria, or left to the main square, shopping, gelato and a short 15-minute walk to the famous Ponte Vecchio bridge. Streets are narrow in spots, even for Italy, and driving here requires a great deal of concentration and patience, but the effort is well worth it. A total of 80 rooms and suites grace the interior of the hotel. Piazza View rooms feature a king-size bed, marble bathroom

and separate walk-in shower. Large windows look out towards the Piazza della Repubblica. Who needs climate control when the view through an open window is so magnificent? A truly authentic dining experience awaits at Irene restaurant. Breakfast is served buffet style or a la carte, but the real magic happens at night while dining street side in glorious Florence. Piazza della Repubblica 7, Florence, Italy roccofortehotels.com/hotels-and-resorts/ hotel-savoy

“Exit the front doors and a quick stroll to the right will take you to the Duomo and galleria, or left to the main square, shopping, gelato and a short 15-minute walk

to the famous Ponte Vecchio bridge.”

ROADSIDE CHIC

Fairmont Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Located in the centre of the city on the Binnenalster (Inner Alster) of the River Elbe, the Fairmont Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten offers the prime location for an overnight or weekend stay in Hamburg, Germany. Founded in 1897, a total of 156 rooms and suites feature state-of-the-art amenities to meet the needs of today’s traveller. Muted shades of ivory and rich wood decorate the newly renovated lakefront accommodations. Many feature a large living area, oversized desk, several couches and, of course, multiple flat screen TVs. A massive window looks into the central courtyard; the perfect setting to soak and relax in the gigantic bathtub nearby. Grill restaurant features the eclectic art deco style of the 1920s with the experience of traditional Hanseatic dining. There is also the opportunity to dine at NIKKEI NINE, a Japanese-style restaurant with a Peruvian twist or Restaurant Haerlin, awarded 2 Michelin stars under the watchful eye of Head chef Christoph Rüffers. Be sure to stroll downtown and see if you can find the Beatles statues signifying where it all started for the Fab Four. Neuer Jungfernstieg 9-14, Hamburg, Germany D-20354 fairmont.com/vier-jahreszeiten-hamburg

“The 1,200 sq. metres Carlton Spa offers a full menu of services in a lavish setting filled with views of snow top covered mountains. Two pools, one indoor and one heated outdoor, adjoin to form a cocoon of relaxation. ”

Carlton Hotel St. Moritz The Carlton Hotel is a beacon of comfort in this one-of-a-kind resort destination. Sixty south-facing suites and junior suites overlook the lake and Alps adjacent to St. Moritz. Interior designer Carlo Rampazzi was given a blank canvas on which to re-create a hotel complimentary to its illustrious heritage, but equally in tune with today’s savvy traveller. His design theme showcases unique décor in every room, even going so far as to implement different colour schemes and artwork throughout each hallway. The 1,200 sq. metres Carlton Spa offers a full

menu of services in a lavish setting filled with views of snow-covered mountains. Two pools, one indoor and one heated outdoor, adjoin to form a cocoon of relaxation. Dining takes place at Grand Restaurant as of 2023 and Da Vittorio – St. Moritz, a 2 Michelin star restaurant with the renowned Cerea brothers authentic Italian dishes. At the end of a busy day skiing in the Alps, the hotel bar is an excellent place to reflect and relax. Via Johannes Badrutt 11, CH-7500 St. Moritz, Switzerland carlton-stmoritz.ch

VICARIOUS has partnered with The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto to bring you some of their favourite recipes with each issue. Try these for yourself and enjoy the pleasure of fine dining in the cozy confines of your own home or home on the road. RITZ RECIPES

ABOUT TOCA TOCA Trattoria elevates Toronto’s culinary scene with authentic Italian flair. Nestled in the heart of Toronto, TOCA Trattoria is a culinary gem offering a genuine taste of Italy. Specializing in classic Italian cuisine, the restaurant prides itself on using locally sourced, seasonal ingredients to craft homemade pastas, delectable seafood dishes, and traditional desserts. The menu is further enriched by aged selections from the cheese cave, ensuring a diverse and flavourful dining experience. TOCA’s commitment to excellence extends beyond its menu. The establishment enhances the culinary journey by hosting wine dinners, interactive cooking classes, engaging tastings, workshops, and a variety of other culinary opportunities. This dedication to fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of Italian gastronomy elevates the dining experience, providing guests with a rich tapestry of flavours, education, and immersive experiences.

tocarestaurant.com | @tocatoronto

“Nestled in the heart of Toronto, TOCA Trattoria is a culinary gem offering a genuine taste of Italy.”

TOCA’S SIGNATURE CARBONARA INGREDIENTS: • 10 mL Olive Oil • 40 g Guanciale (Diced) • 100 g Spaghetti • 2 Egg Yolks • 30 g Pecorino Cheese (Shredded) • 30 g Parmesan Cheese (Grated) • 5 g Freshly Ground Black Pepper • Salt (to taste) Cooking PREPARATION METHOD:

1. In a large pot, bring salted water to a boil. 2. Add the spaghetti to the boiling water and cook for 10 to 11 minutes until al dente. 3. In a separate medium pot, heat olive oil and medium diced Guanciale over medium heat until it turns golden brown in colour. 4. In a small bowl, mix the egg yolks, Pecorino, and Parmesan cheese, and set aside. 5. When the Guanciale reaches a golden colour and is about to turn crispy, add around 25ml of hot water from the pasta pot. 6. Add the drained al dente spaghetti into the pot with Guanciale, then remove the pot from heat. 7. Gently add the egg mixture into the spaghetti pot and use a pasta fork to mix it thoroughly. (Add a little hot water if needed and rotate the pot on low heat if necessary.) 8. When the egg mixture reaches the desired thickness, adjust the seasoning with salt and freshly ground black pepper. 9. Serve the Carbonara in a pasta plate.

CORKSCREW

Wine and Spirits

Story I

Scott Patrick Cowan

TO ANYONE WHO APPRECIATES the finer points of taking corners at speed on a race track, the word ‘Corkscrew’ means only one thing; turns 7, 8 and 8a at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. It’s iconic. Get it right and you will be smiling for a least the next 1:25.44 seconds as your work your way back for another go around should you happen to be driving a Czinger 21C Hypercar, the current record holder. Of course, there is an equally compelling use of the word corkscrew that evokes a sense of surprise and delight as you anticipate the simple joy found in a fine glass of wine or spirits. While it may be a different pleasure than deftly making it through the famous set of turns located just east of Monterey, California, the pleasure is no less intoxicating. In fact, it is certain to last longer than a perfect lap of the race track. Scott Patrick Cowan takes us inside the world of wine and spirits with insider knowledge only an expert can share.

ABOUT SOMMELIER SCOTT PATRICK COWAN A Court of Master Sommeliers Certified Sommelier for ten years, Scottie Cowan considers hospitality more of a lifestyle than an occupation. He has stepped foot on many restaurant floors across the country, ranging from the mountains to the Atlantic, where he now lays his head in a Chartreuse coloured salt box house. Scottie is the current beverage manager at the Fogo Island Inn, consults for restaurants and hotels nationally and abroad, and has held the title of Best Sommelier of Atlantic Canada from 2021 to 2023 by The Association de Sommeliere Internationale. He will be fusing Newfoundland dialect and raw French in the coming years in order to compete for the title of Best Sommelier of Canada. He aspires to someday start an importing business and has a zestful interest in food and wine journalism.

MY LIFE? WHERE TO BEGIN… The holiday season can be mixed up within financial turmoil, familial obligations - uncomfortable or cozy - and a myriad of other shortcomings. If you’re a beverage manager, as I am, this is a great time to over-plan drinking. I associate this time of year primarily with hygge, a 19th century word that bowls out the idea of coziness when we are buried in snow and the sun recedes uncomfortably early. My neighbors in Fogo keep birch burning in their wood stoves, but I keep a liquor cabinet. Sidenote: I don’t really keep a liquor cabinet. My girlfriend insisted that I include that part. However, sometimes, I will have a bottle of old grape juice stowed away under the stairs. Lightfoot & Wolfville is a biodynamic Nova Scotia winery that shepherds a herd of designer farm animals to facilitate organic farming. Their wines are devilishly enjoyable. In particular, the feat of their Ancienne Series Pinot Noir always leaves

me gobsmacked. With flavours of deep cherry and bright Virginia rose radiating from the glass, it has settled itself in as an impossible-to-grow grape in an impossible climate. As I stare out to the Atlantic right now and a weather system pelts the windows with sleet, I find it unfathomable that the heartbreak grape can be stewarded in Nova Scotia. The heartbreak grape is pinot noir, and it is a real piece of work. How do you sustain a vineyard with a will-to-die grape in a place where polar vortexes routinely appear? Outside of the devastation of losing years of work, this team pivots with courage. Year-in-year- out, they motivate themselves to continue onward even though nature is feuding with them. Their Terroir Series is a brooding example of this persistence. The Lightfoot family are as earnest in principle as they are in name. Their vines are doted on year-in and year-out with delicate, nature-made fertilizers. Babydoll sheep roam the estate and have a purpose

"I associate this time of

year primarily with hygge, a 19th century word that bowls out the idea of coziness when we are buried in snow and the sun recedes uncomfortably early."

CORKSCREW

in the vineyard’s modest ecosystem. They mow the grass, and they also bashfully assist with compostable vineyard sprays (see: manure). I gravitate towards these kinds of wines and these people, and it’s not just because of the rectitude of maintaining decent farming practices. It is because you can taste the difference in the glass. While many people are on vacation, biodynamic farmers are sweat-struck by 9AM. There is a preconceived notion among some so-called wine experts that biodynamic farming resembles witchcraft. In the biodynamic calendar, a fruit day is only performed when the moon is in Aries, Leo, or Sagittarius. I may be under a spell, and I have no idea what any of this stuff means save for some well-placed Instagram meme jabs about being a hectic Aquarius. The wines taste great, that’s all I can say about that. There is a style of wine that always gives my somm spirit a little jubilee. A late harvest wine elicits heat fusing into warm fruit with the sameness of pie caramelizing in the oven. These late harvest wines are chinched (Newfoundland word for stuffed) with gum twisting acidity and tongue curling sweetness. There was a special bottle I tried a couple of years ago with a fleet of Somms touring B.C. When the vintner talked about the bottle, his eyes were misty. A bear once staggered into their vineyard in the last beat of the season, when they had avoided every imaginable deterrent, around December.

It seemed as though the grizzly devoured every last grape and trampled many vines. These vines later took years to establish themselves if they weren’t ripped out. The winery had given up. Then a few weeks later, out of the blue, they discovered a patch of grapes unbothered by the brown bear’s havoc. It’s the forbidden honey that the bear could never reach and it tasted amazing. What is hygge about this? When you are opening something restored, or protected, and sharing it, even with yourself, the act is that. It’s more than cozy. It can become an exalted state of being. For that reason, I recommend opening any of your treasures. Even if it is the blueberry wine that has been resting unlawfully in your parent’s (Bud and Win’s) junk room for 7 years. Or if you are fortunate enough to have a bottle of Clos du Soleil Saturn Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc sharing residence with you, now may be the time. If you’re after that raging fireside thing, I would have Syrah. It must be Big Head Raw Syrah from Niagara, Ontario. They call it raw wine because it is untampered with, unadulterated juice from grapes grown in a hard-to-handle vineyard. In the glass it exudes camp-fire smoke, cinnamon cindering in a hot toddy, and plum flesh still abound in an artisan jam. The last time I had it, a friend had waited months to uncork it, and we stopped in conversation for literal minutes just to sawder the wine and sit silently in the moment.

Big Head Raw Syrah

So, that’s great, but where are you going to find a bunch of relics from a sommelier’s jewel sack? You can try their websites (all of them do ship) but you would have to buy an alternative, which I insist you do. If you do not wish to be taunted by my tasting experiences and memories any longer, I will tell you a secret. There is a wine that most of us can locate that goes by the title of Hidden Bench from the Lincoln Lakeshore of Niagara, Ontario, Canada. Their gamay lives in the seedy underground chatterings amongst sommeliers all along this country. It’s in almost every market. It is buzzing with juicy, MarshBerry pâte de fruits flavour. It is light, poignant, and refreshing in your mouth. It loves a turkey leg. I think you should enjoy your own personal brand of hygge and rest during the holidays, however that may look, even if the dining room table is in fact a TV dinner foldable tray. Or If you are grazing through the hallways of your workplace as a babydoll sheep. Or perhaps you are the bear ready to devour the cassoulet and the porridge and ritz and wear the cranberry sauce on your scruff. The skip to recipe is as follows: savour wine if you like, or savour solitude as though it were a tealight candle. You can also, if you prefer, savour the party as though it were a stuffed woodstove blazing with birch. Be safe and happy holidays.

“I think you should enjoy your own personal brand of hygge and rest during the holidays, however that may look, even if the dining room table is in fact a TV dinner foldable tray.”

PS With turkey, enjoy gamay or pinot noir. With ham, Riesling is nice. When in doubt, traditional Belgian sour beer is always a relaxing, quiet pastime and it fits well in a Champagne tulip.

“Take a seat. Let’s go for a drive!” ~ Unknown

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