FALL 2023
AUDI Q6 e-tron PROTOTYPE Catching Lightning In Tórshavn!
FIRST DRIVE 2023 Porsche 911 Sport Classic
FEATURED MOTORCYCLE 2023 Aprilia Tuareg 660
DISCOVERED Three Paths To (Driving) Heaven
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CONTENTS
DISCOVERED 2023 Land Rover Defender 130 60
48 DISCOVERED
10 12 14
Editor In Chief Editor At Large Contributors
Catching Lightning In Tórshavn
DISCOVERED 100 th 24 Heures du Mans
54 SPECIAL FEATURE The Moto Social
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22 FEATURED REGION
60 DISCOVERED
The Island Of Barbados
The Genie Is Out Of The Bottle
“Is there any car out there that has the legendary status the Ford Mustang does.” – 2024 Ford Mustang, 74
28 ROADSIDE CHIC 32 RITZ RECIPES 34 CORKSCREW 40 FIRST DRIVE 2023 Porsche 911 Sport Classic
66 FEATURED MOTORCYCLE 2023 Aprilia Tuareg 660
70 RIDER’S SEAT
Let The Speed Find You
DISCOVERED Three Paths To (Driving) Heaven
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44 FEATURED CAR
82 WEEKENDS
2024 Audi RS7 Performance
4X4 Training For The World
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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
CONTRIBUTORS EDWARD NARRACA EMILY ATKINS KELLY TAYLOR MARK HACKING MERCEDES LILIENTHAL SAMANTHA RADICS SCOTT PATRICK COWAN
QUEBEC CITY
88 DISCOVERED
BMW Takes To The Track
96 FEATURED SUV
SUE CALLAWAY VIKTOR RADICS
2024 Jeep Wrangler
DESIGN & LAYOUT JENNIFER ELIA
100 GAME CHANGERS
The Sound Of Silence
NEWSSTAND DIRECTOR CRAIG SWEETMAN ADVERTISING INQUIRIES advertising@trqmedia.com
104 TIMEZONE
Marathon Watches
“Aprilia is a manufacturer that knows how to build a chassis.” – 2023 Aprilia Tuareg 660, 66
108 JOY RIDE
Singer’s Secret Sauce
PUBLISHER TRQ MEDIA INC. 16 Heritage Court, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada L2S 3H9 COVER PHOTO TOBIAS SAGMEISTER
114 EXIT LANE
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EDITOR’S LETTER
JEFF VOTH
“What’s behind me is not important.” – Raul Julia as “Franco”- The Gumball Rally
WELCOME TO VICARIOUS! To some, that might sound a little strange if this is not your first look at our exceptional enthusiast magazine. But if you have been with us from the beginning, or joined us recently on this passionate adventure of auto and moto culture, you are certain to notice something is very different. Our team has been working
defines us, but it is not the whole of who we are at any given moment in time. Vicarious will always be about telling great automobile and motorcycle stories, providing expert insight and inspiring photography that makes you turn the page with anticipation. But we never want to become predictable in the traditional sense and as
overtime and significant changes have been made to the cover and pages of our magazine to offer you, our valued reader, an even better experience. And for those of you picking us up for the first time, we’re happy you have joined us and are very confident you will enjoy the ride. We promise to keep it exciting! The quote at the top, “What’s behind me is not important.” has been an inspiration to me since the first time I heard it at the local downtown movie theatre way back in 1976. Times have changed and that building is no longer a cinema, but a fine dining restaurant -- I digress. The Gumball Rally wasn’t the best movie that year. That was arguably Taxi Driver or maybe for the many who experienced it firsthand, Sly Stallone’s original Rocky . But for those of us with a high-performance car bent and aspirations of driving at blistering speeds on a cross-country drive of a lifetime, the word “gumball” took on new meaning. And to this day, that famous line by the late Raul Julia remains one of my favourites. Where we come from is part of what
we continue to grow, our goal is always to raise the bar and deliver the best magazine possible. After all, if it’s not the best, than it is simply not good enough. Speaking of the best, we have added again to our already impressive stable of expert writers and contributors. Canada’s top automotive journalist for the past four-plus decades, Jim Kenzie, is now a regular contributor both online and in the magazine. Canada-based, The Moto Social, a global motorcycle initiative dedicated to building community and connecting people, will be highlighting events from all corners of the globe in each issue. Also, I would like to personally welcome for a second time Sue Callaway, writer extraordinaire and lifelong auto- aficionado, as our newest columnist as she takes us inside where only true insiders can go in her ongoing “Joy Ride” series. Vicarious has been a fun adventure ride right from the start and it continues as we turn the page and embrace the future. It may sound cliché, but the best is yet to come. So without further ado, let the adventure continue!
“Vicarious will always be about telling great automobile and motorcycle stories, providing expert insight and inspiring photography that makes you turn
the page with anticipation.”
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Need more than smoke and mirrors?
Get advice from real experts at Vicariousmag.com. News, reviews and features. Premium content. On the Regular.
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EDITOR AT LARGE
MATTHEW NEUNDORF
“All my means are sane, my motive and my object mad. ” – Herman Melville
WE ALL – EACH AND EVERY ONE of us – have our own “White Whale”. That car, watch, or motorcycle we obsess over. We scour the internet, brick-and-mortar shops and back-alleys, searching, hoping it’s available and maybe, hopefully, gasp… affordable? Nowadays, with so many incredible things – both new and those from yesteryear – I’m pretty sure most of us have pod. I know I do. The search for one of my elusive beasts began some eight years ago. Shiny, polished, new. It plucked at the strings of my petrol pumping heart at the North American International Auto Show in Toronto, and it played them hard. Fast, sleek and practical, it was a 345 horsepower sport-tuned wagon. That generation of Volvo V60 with the Polestar treatment signalled the beginning of the end for Volvo’s high performance, non-hybrid/electric wagons. In Rebel Blue, I was in love. A couple of years would pass and those Polestar-tuned wagons would swap their turbocharged, inline-sixes for Volvo’s engine du jour, the Twincharged four- pot. Some purists will argue that the O.G. versions were better. That six could sing a song, sure but for 2017 and 2018, the Twincharged units were more powerful (362 horsepower), lighter and packed a much better 8-speed transmission, too. My Whale! The search for a used one started before the pandemic. Prices for new Polestars weren’t something I could tackle (and they still aren’t), but just like any other car, picking one up off-lease could easily save a bucket or two of cash right?
Built in limited
numbers, those Polestars didn’t exactly depreciate. And, since buyers tended to hold their vehicles in high
praise, they weren’t getting rid of them either. The real work began a few months ago when I spotted one on a lot in Ottawa. A 2017, with relatively low kilometres, it still commanded a premium but since I wasn’t in a rush (I’d waited this long, right?) I just kept an eye on it. And then another one surfaced. This time around it was a year younger and had nearly half the kilometres. The CARFAX wasn’t clean but there was nothing overly alarming about it. The only catch was that it was swimming with the Orcas out in British Columbia. Once the snow melted, I thought someone might snatch up the Ottawa whip, but still it sat. A trip to the Nation’s capital for my other gig meant I’d be in town to take a closer look but the dealership wasn’t interested in negotiations and it was still priced too high. I had all but given up. I shifted my focus onto something else entirely. Less a White Whale and more a “car that would suffice”, when a third miraculously surfaced. And this time it was within reach of my financial hunting net and close enough to land. It may not be Rebel Blue (nor white), but unlike Captain Ahab I caught my Whale! So, onto the next one then? There is still plenty of thrill in the chase, after all.
That generation of Volvo V60 with the Polestar treatment
signalled the beginning of the end for Volvo’s high performance, non-hybrid/
electric wagons. In Rebel Blue, I was in love.
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BUILDING COMMUNITY & CONNECTING PEOPLE.
BIKES. BUDS. HIGH FIVES. GOOD VIBES.
THEMOTOSOCIAL.COM
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CONTRIBUTORS
MERCEDES LILIENTHAL Award-winning journalist, photographer, and contributor for T he New York Times, Car and Driver, Forbes, Autoblog, TREAD Magazine , and more, Mercedes Lilienthal creates engaging editorial covering the automotive industry, global travel and experiences tied to it, and inspirational people doing their part to change it. Mercedes uses creativity as a wordsmith to craft unique, carefully curated content (primarily using her own photography). Mercedes travels the world and competes in automotive rally events as a competitor/media. She’s partnered with automakers like Volkswagen of America, Subaru of America, and Jeep. She successfully piloted an all-electric crossover 1,400 miles across a barren desert with her co-driver, a map, and compass. With her husband as the driver, Mercedes navigated their 1991 diesel Pajero to the Arctic Ocean and back in temps to -43 degrees Celsius during a 10-day, 8,000-plus-kilometer road rally, and more. Mercedes expects the unexpected. She documents each experience along the way.
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.
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
100 TH 24 HEURES DU MANS A CENTENARY OF SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST
Story
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Mark Hacking
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DISCOVERED
THERE ARE A SMALL HANDFUL of motorsports events on the annual calendar that qualify for must-see status. Two of these races, the Monaco Grand Prix and the Indianapolis 500, are single-day competitions that offer spectators two to three hours of excitement. The other race, the 24 Heures du Mans, is a round-the- clock marathon that explores a season’s worth of highs -- and lows -- in one fell swoop. Of course, there are other worthy endurance races to consider, such as the Dakar Rally and the Rolex 24 at Daytona. But in terms of legacy and tradition and heightened drama, nothing compares to Le Mans. This year’s event, the 100th anniversary of the first 24 Heures du Mans, ratcheted up the pomp, the circumstance and the anxiety to the absolute redline. At this French classic, drama is always around the next corner. There’s the inherent pressure of wanting to win one of the most prestigious motor races in history. There’s the thought of earning that Rolex winners of the top class receive,
and placing it on your wrist, something so many racers have attempted without success—this can be a motivating factor or a self-destructive force. The competition has a role to play, too. There are so many cars in four different classes on so many different strategies, it’s difficult to keep track of the ebb and flow of the race. Things change all the time. But, in years past, the competition hasn’t always been so tough. From 2018-22, Toyota fielded the only factory supported team in the top LMP1 class and won the race each time out. At Le Mans, you effectively race against yourself—but that’s a simpler task when not chased by a pack of adrenaline-fuelled maniacs. This year, at the 100th running, things would be different. The headlining class at Le Mans, renamed Hypercar back in 2021, was the strongest it had been in many, many years. The class now combines top prototype machines running in the FIA World Endurance Championship—called LMH for “Le Mans Hypercar”—with those competing in the IMSA WeatherTech
“At Le Mans, you effectively race against yourself—but that’s a simpler task when not chased by a pack of adrenaline- fuelled maniacs. This year, at the 100th running, things would be different.”
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SportsCar Championship—dubbed LMDh for “Le Mans Daytona hybrid”. The realignment of the Hypercar class created a compelling rule set, drawing interest from all sorts of manufacturers – Ferrari, Porsche, Cadillac and more all fielded entries this year. This was the kick-start the top class needed after 20-plus years of domination by just three manufacturers, from Audi (2000-02, 2004-08, 2010-14) to Porsche (2015-17) to Toyota (2018-22). The fact that this revitalization coincided with the 100th anniversary of the race just made things all the more interesting. For race fans of a certain demographic, the 1971 film Le Mans made an indelible imprint on the mind. Starring the uncontested King of Cool, Steve McQueen, the film captured the drama of racing for 24 straight hours, deep into the French countryside and deeper into the night. A more recent film, Ford v Ferrari from 2019, reignited interest in the classic endurance race, propelling it back into the headlines when the action on track was at a relative low point. Without a doubt, spectating at Le Mans is an absolute necessity for the true motorsports enthusiast. The stands opposite the garages still resemble how they looked in the McQueen masterwork. The tunnel that leads from that side of the track to the infield is a graffiti-infused
concrete bunker; many people still don’t know about it because the entrance is completely unmarked. The stands above the garages are old school as well; hard plastic seats arranged in rows that are positioned at a dizzying angle of elevation. A race facility built in 2023 would never look like this—and that’s precisely the point. Then, there’s the track itself: Over 13 kilometres of tarmac that encompasses a modern Grand Prix track linked to public roads that skirt farmers’ fields. Prior to the introduction of a series of chicanes in 1990, top speeds along the Mulsanne Straight hit a stratospheric 400 km/h. That’s insane. This year, the incredible legacy of the race and the strength of the revamped Hypercar class drew a record crowd. Estimates place the number of fans at more than 325,000 for the weekend. The campgrounds were filled to capacity with motorhomes and tents; the local airport across the street from the track was chock- a-block with helicopters and private jets. For this writer, it was the fifth chance to watch one of the great spectacles in racing. Each of the past visits has been memorable in its own right. There were the early years where we endeavoured to stay awake the entire night, before admitting defeat in the wee small hours. On other occasions, we attempted to view the entire length of the
Above image is of the Privateer Entry Hertz Team Jota Porsche 963 referenced on page 21.
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DISCOVERED
track, but fell short by a few kilometres, prevented from continuing by having the incorrect access pass. In 2009, we had the unique privilege of driving a lap of the track in road-going Aston Martins, following a pace driver in an Audi R8. Even then, though, we were required to leave the track a few corners before crossing the start/finish line to complete a full tour. Our group also nearly had a huge coming-together at Arnage with at least two cars having to take to the grass to avoid sending pieces of British motoring excellence all over the place. So I’ve failed to stay awake for the full race, failed to complete a full lap and nearly had a massive accident—and I’ve only been a spectator! For sure, the teams face a much bigger challenge; this was definitely true for our
host contingent, the fine people at Porsche Motorsport. The lure of winning the 100th anniversary race was immense for the brand with 19 overall wins at Le Mans, the most in history. So it was that they entered the Hypercar class with the new Porsche 963, an all-new car built by another epic presence in the world of motorsport, the mad geniuses at Multimatic. The factory cars were also run in partnership with yet another legend of motorsports, Team Penske. Regardless of how much expertise is involved in the build, though, a Le Mans winning car is usually one that’s endured a baptism of fire. The first outing for the Porsche 963 was the Rolex 24 at Daytona in January 2023. Although both team cars showed flashes of brilliance, reliability issues consigned them to seventh and eighth place overall. There
“Here’s the thing about Porsche, though: Motorsports is at the very core of its brand identity.”
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were more positive results later in the year, including a podium at Sebring and a win at Long Beach. But insiders agree that Le Mans is another animal altogether, particularly when facing off against the likes of Toyota, Ferrari and Peugeot—three manufacturers that have won outright in the past. Here’s the thing about Porsche, though: Motorsports is at the very core of its brand identity. Endurance racing in particular is a big part of that identity. Each of the four 963s that started the race—three full- factory cars and one for customer entry Hertz Team Jota—all featured prominently at one point or another. When the chequered flag finally waved after 24 hours, it was not meant to be for Porsche, at least not this year. But there’s still plenty of speed and reliability yet to
come from the Porsche 963; it’s only a matter of time before outright win number 20 is in the record books. Until that moment comes, race fans will be perched on the edge of their seats, watching as the best endurance drivers in the world in the best cars battle it out for ultimate glory.
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FEATURED REGION
THE ISLAND OF BARBADOS
Story
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Jeff Voth
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FEATURED REGION
BARBADOS IS FAMOUS for its pristine beaches and each coast offers a unique experience. The west coast is known for calm, turquoise waters, making it ideal for swimming and water sports. The south coast is more lively with surf spots and bustling nightlife, while the east coast is a surfer’s paradise but has rougher waters. Each is so unique, it’s hard to comprehend how an island with just 97 km of coastline can be so diverse. To fully appreciate all the island has to offer, I recommend renting a car. Public transit is very reliable, but driving is so much more engaging. Renting is also easy as there is only one main airport, Grantley Adams International, so everything is available as soon as you arrive. But remember, driving takes place on the left side of the road, the opposite of how North Americans drive, so pack your nerves of steel and get ready for some added adventure. Speaking from personal experience, tourists are easy to spot as new arrivals typically try to signal left or right with their wipers. But after a day or so, you should have it figured out. Be sure to look right then left, not left then right when crossing an intersection to avoid oncoming traffic. Accommodations range from the traditional Single House, a long, narrow
one-room home with a single gabled roof, to all-inclusive resorts and private home rentals. Our stay would be at Royal Westmoreland, a private luxury resort located in St. James, Barbados. The gated community highlights a championship 18-hole golf course, restaurants, spa and more on lush grounds overlooking the Caribbean Sea. Holetown, with access to shopping and dining, is just a five minute drive from the resort. While Royal Westmoreland is not situated directly on the beach, the resort provides its guests with access to the exclusive Mullins Beach Club. Complimentary shuttle services are usually available to take guests to and from the beach club. Divided into eleven parishes, ten days is not enough to experience all the island has to offer. But I had my list of can’t miss places and was determined to check off every one. A must see for many tourists is the heart and soul of Barbados Rum production, St. Nicholas Abbey. The Great House is a beautifully preserved mansion that dates back to the early 17th century. It is one of only three Jacobean-style houses remaining in the Western Hemisphere. The story of St. Nicholas Abbey is long and filled with intrigue, and it is closely tied to Barbados other equally famous
Divided into eleven parishes, ten days is not enough to experience all the island has to offer. But I had my list of can’t miss places and was determined to check off every one.
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rum distillery, Mount Gay. A tour of the distillery is a walk through 350 years of history. Using traditional techniques, workers ply their trade crushing sugar cane in the 1890 steam mill to release the juice that will be made into the finest Barbadian rum. To fully appreciate the depth and beauty of St. Nicholas Abbey, take a classic train ride that circumnavigates the property, or one of their guided walking tours. Knowledgeable hosts will take you through the house, sharing their insight of the plantation’s past and present. One of the best ways to explore Barbados is to see it from the sea. On the water, you witness the beauty of the landscape from a different perspective and get a sense for what makes the island so unique. The best way to spend time at sea is to book a morning or afternoon cruise aboard Cat & The Fiddle Catamaran. Leaving from the Port of Bridgetown, the cruise highlights luxurious surroundings and plenty of space for guests to relax and feel the ocean breeze. The 62 ft. Lagoon Luxury Catamaran offers two unique sitting areas; the main deck with its outdoor seating and indoor
dining/lounging space, and the upper deck with additional sunshine spots or the option to relax and spend quality time seated with the captain. The cruise follows a route along the west or south coast of Barbados, passing by some of the island’s most stunning beaches and landmarks. You’ll get to see picturesque coves, cliffs, and maybe even spot marine life such as sea turtles and dolphins. A scheduled stop provides the opportunity to put on some flippers, a mask and goggles and swim with schools of fish, while exploring the remnants of a long-lost sunken ship. The Caribbean waters are warm and clear, especially this close to shore. Guides provide instruction on where to look while keeping everyone within easy distance of the ship. With a deeper appreciation for the beauty surrounding Barbados, the anchor is released and the catamaran heads back into open water. Few things rival the thrill of sails flapping in the breeze and the splash of salt water on your face. The opportunities for dining out in Barbados are almost endless. From ordering street food at the White Billy
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FEATURED REGION
Goat, to arranging for a personal chef to prepare your dinner and pair each course with perfectly chosen wine, driving to the Local & Co in Speightstown or the Cocktail Kitchen located in St. Lawrence Gap, all feature authentic Bajan dining at its best. And that is just the start. Tides restaurant is situated on the west coast of Barbados, known as the “Platinum Coast” due to its upscale resorts and beautiful beaches. The dining room enjoys a prime beachfront location, providing guests with incredible views of the Caribbean Sea. The restaurant offers a charming and sophisticated ambiance, with both indoor and outdoor seating options. Beamed ceilings and ornate lighting adds to the sense of space. Tides is renowned for its emphasis on fresh seafood sourced locally from the waters around Barbados. The menu typically features a variety of seafood dishes, including fish, lobster, shrimp, and more. The restaurant also incorporates local ingredients and Caribbean flavours into its culinary creations. No trip to Barbados would be complete without a visit to Oistins Fish Fry for a traditional Friday night experience. It’s as if the whole island stops and gathers in this modern fish market in the southwest corner of the island to enjoy the local catch. Line-ups are typically long, but no one is in a hurry as different vendors ply their grilling skills on an open flame.
First image: Private chef prepared dinner Second and third images: Entrees prepared by Local & Co. Right side image: Cocktail Kitchen in St. Lawrence Gap
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Picnic tables encourage conversation with islanders and tourists alike and there is always music or live entertainment playing in the background. Car culture is on full display in Barbados. A tour of The Mallalieu Motor Collection at Pavilion Court is a must for anyone interested in classic cars. Situated in a former hospital built in 1803, the private collection of cars is outstanding, representing a history of motoring on the island and the story of the Barbados Rally Club founded in 1957. For speed-lovers geared more towards the contemporary race cars of today, Bushy Park Barbados offers a complete circuit-racing facility with corporate boxes and paddock area. Karting is available for kids of all ages, or you can take it up a notch and sign-up for the Suzuki Swift Sports Car and Radical SR3 Supercar Experiences. Bushy Park is the home track of rising F2 star and Red Bull F1 reserve driver Zane Maloney. With so much to see and do in Barbados, the choice of either spending a day under a beach umbrella with your toes in the sand, or ripping up asphalt and smoking tires on a world-class racetrack may not be easy. But spend enough time on the island and you may not have to choose, you can do both and then finish off the day with a sunset dinner looking out to sea. When it comes to world-class island destinations, Barbados has it all.
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ROADSIDE CHIC LINDI DELPORT
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. Here are two exclusive getaway destinations that we believe offer not only a welcome end to your journey, but an equally inspiring route to get there.
FAIRMONT LE CHÂTEAU FRONTENAC QUEBEC CITY, THE ONLY fortified city in Northern America, with its cobble stone streets, charming boutiques and French speaking residents is a must for any traveller. In an instant you will feel like you are experiencing the culture and charm of Europe. Undoubtedly, the jewel of this City is the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac. This picturesque hotel with stunning views of the St. Lawrence river creates a fairytale- like experience to anyone willing to let
their imagination run wild. With 610 beautiful, contemporary rooms you will experience luxury without losing out on the charm of the original 1892 design. The indoor pool and outdoor terrace with cocktail bar provide a relaxing atmosphere after a busy day of exploring. Lounge in the sun during the day, or enjoy a glass of wine under the stars at night. The spa offers relaxing, 5 star experiences that will revitalize the soul and leave you feeling pampered and fresh.
Photography by Tovi Delport
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Quebec City offers a wide selection of restaurants and cuisine, but the Château Frontenac is home to one of the best culinary experiences you will find. The Champlain Restaurant, fronted by chef Gabriel Molleur-Langevin offers an 8 course menu with wine pairing that will romance your tastebuds with every bite. From the comforting homemade sourdough to Foie Gras, Chef Gabriel will be taking you on a food adventure you won’t easily forget. The kids menu offered at The Champlain will ensure you don’t have to miss out on a world class meal, and will satisfy even the pickiest of eaters. Breakfast at Place Dufferin offers an endless selection of pastries, yogurt, fruit and eggs made to order. The French crêpes are an absolute hit. Make sure to visit the Sam Bar and bistro for a late night cocktail before strolling on the terrace overlooking the St. Lawrence river. Many excursions can be booked with the concierge at no additional cost while the guided tour provided by the hotel is an experience to be taken advantage of during the summer. Learn about the incredible, rich history of the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac as you tour the hotel as well as surrounding areas, including a ferry ride crossing the river. With room service, turndown service at request, soft robes and complimentary slippers, you will not want to spend much time outside of your room. The Château Frontenac is a cultural gem that offers so much more than the conventional hotel experience. Excellent service together with history, culture and world class cuisine will have you planning your next holiday in Quebec City.
With room service, turndown service at request, soft robes and complimentary slippers, you will not want to spend much time outside of your room.
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ROADSIDE CHIC JEFF VOTH
PARK HYATT TORONTO THE NEIGHBOURHOOD OF Yorkville is renowned for museums and design studios and is a favourite destination of visitors and residents of the greater Toronto area for it’s fine boutique shops and art galleries. Canada’s largest city has several similar affluent districts throughout its sprawling geographical footprint, most available by taking the subway or streetcar, but none quite hold up to the glitz and glam offered here. The Park Hyatt Toronto has recently completed a significant four-year upgrade to what was already a posh and welcoming hotel located immediately across from the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM). Other recommended attractions not far from the hotel include the Art Gallery of Ontario, Gardiner Museum and, of course, you can Uber to The Hockey Hall of Fame. After gazing at Lord Stanley’s Cup for a while, walk a little further down Front Street and take in a Toronto Blue Jays game during the spring to fall season should the team be in town.
ROYAL ONTARIO MUSEUM
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Dining at the Park Hyatt Toronto is an experience in elegant ambience as much as it is a feast for your palate. Joni Restaurant is situated on the main floor of the hotel, with excellent views of a bustling city through floor-to-ceiling windows. Modern, cozy wood panelling provides a comfy dining setting bookended by a grand fireplace and a majestic winding staircase. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and a weekend buffet are all served here. Afternoon tea servings can be booked on Thursday-Sunday from 1-4 pm. A total of 219 rooms including 40 suites are elegantly appointed, following the same theme of casual cool established in the restaurant and main lobby. Rich tones of natural wood, thick blue area rugs and muted wall colours are designed to relax guests from the moment you step in. Rooms and suites feature 55 and 65-inch TVs and Chromecast streaming. Suites add Bluetooth speakers and a full-size desk with city views. It’s the perfect place to get some work done should the need arise and a fully stocked Nespresso coffee maker
is never far away. Bathrooms are large and luxurious; all feature Le Labo bath products. For those times when a full meal isn’t on your list, but rather a warm and inviting place to sit and share drinks with friends, the Writer’s Room Bar has a 50-year reputation of great storytelling and exceptional mixed cocktails to enjoy. Located on the 17th floor of the hotel, it is the ideal setting to chill and experience incredible views of Toronto in every direction. There is no place quite like it in the city and a must see when staying here. Need to relax and de-stress? Make an appointment at Stillwater Spa. Guests can take advantage of 13 treatment rooms and a full compliment of spa and nail services. Wear your housecoat from the room and don’t be surprised if you spot a celebrity or two in the lobby as this is a favourite stop for Hollywood’s elite when visiting the city. Those in the know understand this is one of Toronto’s finest places to stay and now with all of the recent changes made, the desirability factor has increased tenfold.
Modern, cozy wood panelling provides a comfy dining setting bookended by a grand fireplace and a majestic winding staircase.
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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
EPOCH BAR & KITCHEN TERRACE serves produce-forward cuisine guided by the seasonal offerings of our local purveyors. We nod to the food and beverage trends of the past and reimagine them. We are inspired by the gastropub movement that shook the culinary world in the 90s. Our concept redefines pub culture and pays homage to innovative international dining. Our cocktails respect a notable past full of tradition, but with modern interpretations. We are inspired by the storytelling around us – from the vibrant film industry to the ultimate storyteller, Mother Nature. We tell these tales through creative mixology. ABOUT THE RITZ-CARLTON, TORONTO In downtown Toronto, a hotel that embodies luxury with five-star amenities, attentive service and access to top attractions. The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto embraces the cosmopolitan edge of the city alongside its luxury heritage to offer an elegant escape in the heart of downtown. Here, guests can explore different cuisines at TOCA, EPOCH Bar & Kitchen Terrace and Ritz Bar & Cafe, enjoy locally inspired experiences in The Ritz-Carlton Club Lounge, and be pampered at Spa myBlend. Toronto’s biggest attractions, shopping, restaurants, nightlife and an array of diverse neighbourhoods await just outside.
“Our concept redefines pub culture and pays homage to innovative international dining.”
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Cinéma Vérité
Originating from The Ritz Hotel in Paris, this refined version of the iconic ‘Sidecar’ honours our past, while looking ahead to the future.
INGREDIENTS • 1.5 oz Chai Tea & Orange infused Rémy Martin VSOP Cognac • 1 oz Cointreau • 0.5 oz Vanilla Rooibos Tea Syrup • 1 oz Lemon Juice PREPARATION METHOD: SHAKEN
Served: Straight Up Garnish: Lemon Twist, Raw Sugar Rimmer Glassware: Nick & Nora
MIXOLOGIST JON NEILL
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Wine and Spirits Story Scott Patrick Cowan I Photograhy Mandi Drohman CORKSCREW
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 onto 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.
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“Terroir.” A chef introduced me to that word, not a sommelier or a winemaker— a chef. He was out bushwhacking and turning over stones for ingredients, and he was quite famous. Too famous to be out glossing over ants to find a succulent to decorate the plate. It’s true, Newfoundland may have one of the shortest growing seasons of anywhere in these parts. The barrenness of 9 months of the year, if you’re not looking, can be stark and captivating (glistening snow is very pretty), but also haunting. Recently, I started a job in the deadpan whiteout of Winter. Fogo Island is known for its 9 seasons. And starting out here in -30 degrees Celsius blizzards did not indicate to me that there would be anything growing. Every pipe froze. The shelves lined themselves with tins and all form of gin and nuclear winter survival food. I did not have even a bottle of wine from the grocery store. At this time, there was nothing to be seen of terroir. Just snow and sleet assaulting my forehead and hammering gently against my car. Among many jobs, my main job was to add to a wine program that is vehemently attached to a sense of place. There is a forager on the payroll and amongst unwelcome ingredients are olive oil and lemon. These two ingredients, along with salt, make up almost the entirety of structural wine pairing theory. Nobody talks about it, but it’s true. That’s the easy part, anyway. I digress. Around March when the whiteout ended and fog encased the trails and the harbour flooded with pack ice from Greenland, we had an opportunity… Go for a walk. See what there is to see. Apparently there were things in the
woods that a human could eat if they were starving, or if they were a chef in a five star hotel; they could transform it into artistry. My guide had been living here for nine years. That’s 63 seasons for those listening. He showed me to a lake and to some fronds poking through the ice. That’s sweet gale. It tastes like cotton candy and bananas when it flowers. Right now it tastes like underripe asparagus but it smells like ginger beer. He took me through the woods. That’s myrrh. Not frankincense and myrrh. This stuff oozing from the tree over there. You can chew on it for an eternity. Myrrh used to be there for people to patch up wounds when there was nobody around with a thread and needle. But it’s bitter and floral and it’s the strangest bubble gum on the planet. Over there by that lamp of sunlight: creeping snowberry vine, which yields one single berry annually, and brightens your breath like a forest floor pocket mint. There were many more. This was all valuable stuff for a chef, even for a bar program that I was inheriting along with my usual wine den. However, how do we match the wines to these kinds of undocumented ingredients? Atlantic Beach greens that taste like wasabi don’t show up in the textbooks. Beach orach is not dissected in the book What to Drink with What You Eat by Andrew Dornenburg and Karen A. Page. In the present again, snow crunching under boot. Time is an ingredient. That’s what the chef said. This was the first thing I learned about this terroir. There was a human element, just like how a horse trotting over the soil is the terroir of an old timey biodynamic vineyard, or at least
“Time is an ingredient.
That’s what the chef said. This was the first thing I learned about this terroir.”
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CORKSCREW
a part of it. Here was the missing piece of this island’s terroir. It was people. But also, it was patience. Is a wine representative of this place because it shed an ocean 150 million years ago, and now the vines roots trickle beneath metres of fossilized oyster shells? I thought that might be a starting point. Thus, I inhaled books on soil geology. Mapped out the entire island and in my mind I could see wine regions like Beaujolais popping up a few miles away where volcanic schist appeared 120 million years ago. Or Gabbro soil in the Loire Valley of France, which glistens with nickel and quartz and decorates most of Fogo island. This wine called Muscadet smells like sea salt and flaked fish. It’s how the house smells when you open up the window. And it’s grown on the same soil somewhere else. But wine pairings aren’t just about smelling things and rocks. As I’ve learned, food is more than that. It’s the creative exercise of one person’s mind, and it’s habit based. I have tasted tens of thousands of dishes in ten years as a sommelier (10 plates a day on average, for 260 days a year, times 10 years is 26,000 dishes) and most of the time the pairing changes if the chef picks up smoking, or drinks lots of Pepsi, or isn’t sleeping right, or is going through a divorce. It also changes if any of that is happening to me, especially if I’m not hydrating. (For the record, none of that is happening here that I can tell. Pepsi is rarely sighted in the hands of a chef.) Inconsistent seasoning and emotional Not trying the dishes out is a big one, too. I realize that a lot of this will be controversial, even for experts in the field. When the entire mood of the cuisine is the island itself. Well, you have to understand the island more than the chef. How to figure out pairings from an unchartered cuisine? I borrowed state are the main factors for any sommeliers failures with pairing.
from food chemistry. I read through hundreds of years of trade history. I was given a book that my employer had commissioned about the plants of the island and I scrawled a hundred pages of disjointed thoughts along the margins. I might have been struggling. I had many all encompassing conversations with the whole team about history, intention, and philosophies. I audited the recipe books for consistent ingredients and asked for access to the kitchen inventory. I read every article ever produced here and dug through the endless thoughts of the many people who had graced the wine program. And they were brilliant. However, there were so many meetings with them, I didn’t have time to have a single sip of wine until the day before guests arrived. Well, then I tried them all, in one afternoon. I was not drunk, just inspired by the device that could pull out a single taste of every bottle there without exposing the wine to an untimely and vinegary death. Maybe a little tipsy. Tough gig. Further to that, I remembered it all, but only because that workday was 18 hours long, of my own joyful volition. In the end I settled on this. If you need to do a pairing at home: squeeze a lemon on a dish if the wine makes your mouth water. If the wine dries out your gums, flicker salt all over your steak. If the wine is too big for the piece of poached salmon, enrobe it with cream. Find the right weight, or make it happen all on your own. It’s a lot easier to plop a bridge ingredient on a dish than it is to alter the wine. And I’ve tried that, too. There is a place in hell for me from the time I injected argon C02 into a bottle of juicy red wine just to freshen it up for a pairing that nobody ever tasted except for me. And when all is lost, smell and taste the dish and wait for an image to pop in your mind, if you’re lucky. But if you’re out there turning over rocks and cracking through branches, or picking up seaweed from a few metres from the shoreline, smell it. Commit it to
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memory. It’s important, even if you’re not pouring wine. Wine is tricky, there are over a thousand different grapes in Italy alone, all nuanced by the right chef and the wrong olive oil, or all fussy about whether the salt used is Himalayan or from the Atlantic and baking in the sun on rooftop basins. Or does it need more fat so that the wine can show off all of those swanky cool climate acids to cut through all of those fats. Recently, I picked up a weed and rubbed the oils on my fingers down by a community potato patch peppered with broken sea urchin shells. I poured a honeyed Sauternes and they smelled identical. Wild chamomile they call it— it’s just like microscopic pineapple. The combination of the two made my spine tingle. Smell and taste are integral to wine pairing, but they are mutually exclusive. Pouring fermented grapes in the right context can be a lot of fun. Guests have broken down into tears in our dining room. Never with me — usually on my days off when the other sommelier is pouring the right thing at the right time for the person that can receive it. It takes one to swirl the glass and patiently wait for the memories to pop up in front of you. You might need to haul them in like the men I see reeling in cod lines over the side of their punts while the ocean nods peacefully. Or you might need to hold it in your mouth and slurp in air and pause. Place is the key thought so far. I stopped
saying the word “citrus” in the dining room because a lemon is so far removed from us here, that even on a subconscious level it might pull you away. “Here,” is the new buzzword for terroir. Even if you’re sitting in a lobby right now, focusing on these words to distract you from the cost of routine maintenance on your car, there is not hope, not unless you step outside. The terroir of your surroundings might be an urban jungle. It might be a mountain villa. But make sure you’re present, wherever you are, or wherever you’re traveling, and then maybe the beach will incite a moment in your wine glass and in your mind. RECOMMENDATION: Benjamin Bridge ‘11 Blanc de Noirs - Underwater Quest embodies Fogo Island terroir. The grapes themselves are flanked by wild blackberry, mint, chamomile, an onslaught of wild flowers, and sweet grass. Then it cellars in the Atlantic ocean before an anticipatory release. When we have it, we don’t pair it with food, because the wine itself is an event. It pairs best with a longing gaze into a foggy mist which curls around the coast line and, also, a blazing, stuffed wood stove.
“Wine is tricky, there are over a thousand different grapes in Italy alone, all nuanced by the right chef and the wrong olive oil...”
Benjamin Bridge ‘11 Blanc de Noirs - Underwater Quest
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