Maple syrup: Learning the new language

 

MONTREAL - What does maple syrup taste like?
Sweet, most people would say. Maple-y.

Nathalie Martin, though, has a more florid vocabulary to describe Quebec’s most popular natural commodity.  She’ll close her eyes and describe “the aroma of vanilla,” “notes of chocolate” and “hints of hazelnut and spice.”

Martin is a research scientist in maple chemistry and a trained “sensory evaluator” at Centre Acer in St. Hyacinthe, a research centre devoted to maple syrup.
Until recently, there weren’t too many words to describe the taste of boiled-down sap. Maple syrup has long been described by its colour. The official classifications – extra light, light, medium, amber and dark – are based on visual cues that have nothing to do with taste or quality. Spectrometers are used to measure the amount of light that passes through the different grades. The more light that passes through, the higher the grade.

But over the last several years, a new language has emerged to describe the taste of maple, much like the terminology wine lovers use to speak of their favourite vintages and varietals. In 2004, scientists working with Agriculture Canada and Centre Acer developed something called the Flavour Wheel for Maple Products, or La roue des flaveurs in French. It is a tool that sets out six “flavour groups” with nearly 100 words to describe the taste of maple – from marshmallow, butter, grassy, kiwi and mango to sawdust, pine, cloves and black licorice.

“Contrary to what most people think, maple syrup isn’t just maple syrup. Like with wine, cheese, chocolate and olive oil, there are many nuances in the tastes and aromas,” said Martin, citing a recent study that found more than 60 chemical compounds in maple syrup, all of which affect taste and aroma.

A confluence of factors affects those variations – everything from where and when the sap was tapped to how the fire to evaporate the syrup was fuelled, and whether the sap dripped from the tree trunk into a bucket or was pulled by gravity through a network of plastic tubing.

For instance, maple syrup from sap tapped early in the season is typically light or extra light in colour. And it usually holds hints of delicate flavours. Think vanilla, marshmallow, light brown sugar.

By the end of the season, around late April or early May, the syrup coming out of the evaporator is more likely to be medium or dark in colour. Its taste will have changed, too, to more pronounced flavours falling into what sensory specialists call the “empyreumatic” group. Then, the maple syrup will evoke crème brûlée, coffee beans and dark chocolate, even a subtle hint of smokiness.

Martin says those changes are in part due to the evolving chemical composition of the sap as the maple trees go from dormant to budding. As spring advances and the trees come alive again, the blend of sucrose, glucose and fructose sugars within the sap alters, and amino acids are formed, which, with heat, causes the syrup to be stronger-tasting.

The boiling temperature in the sugar shack is another factor that affects taste. Martin says studies have found that a cabane à sucre where the evaporators are fuelled with wood have a less constant temperature than cabanes à sucre where the operations are fuelled by oil. Typically, the syrup from the wood-fired sugar shacks leans more toward caramel and crème brûlée.

Producers in different regions often boast that their maple syrup is the best. In the Beauce, for example, they swear they can tell their syrup from one coming from Montérégie or the Outaouais. Martin says regional differences may well exist – they just haven’t been scientifically proved yet.
But there is hope that one day Quebec’s maple syrup industry will be able to boast of the special characteristics that the geography, climate and geology of the province’s 10,000 maple groves lend to their syrup. Terroir, they call it.

“If France can have its wines from Bordeaux and Bourgogne, each with its own terroir, then maybe one day Quebec can have its own maple syrups from the Beauce or the Bas Laurentides,” said Martin.

But that’s still a long way off, says Yvon Bois, director-general of Centre Acer. The kind of fine-tuned tasting they do in the lab is hard to do in large-scale production. Of the estimated 10,000 maple syrup producers in Quebec, 8,000 are members of the Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers, who sell their harvest in bulk. (Nearly 80 per cent of it is destined for export – mostly to the United States and Japan.) Many of those are large-scale producers who aren’t so much interested in dissecting aroma notes in the 200,000 barrels a year produced as in controlling quality and spotting off-flavours in defective batches.

For now, the flavour wheel is an efficient way for small-scale maple syrup producers to evaluate the quality of their harvest from season to season. And it lends consumers a new way of describing what they like or don’t like.

France Bisson doesn’t have a chemistry degree and she works out of her family’s traditional cabane à sucre in St. Damase, rather than a lab. But she knows what her customers like.
In the past few weeks, as with every year at the start of the season, the customers who come to visit at the maple grove are serious aficionados in search of extra light and light syrup.
“It’s a Quebec thing, what we are used to. We love the delicate flavour,” she explained. “Maybe it is partly emotional. The first syrup is the sign of life returning to a cold place. It offers hope that things will warm up.”

By contrast, Bisson says she has noticed that customers who buy maple syrup from her stall at Jean Talon Market later in the summer tend to ask for amber or dark.
“Internationally, medium and amber syrups seem to be the most popular,” she said. “Among the tourists who buy, that’s what’s popular.”

Last night Paul and I attended a "Sugaring Off" party at L'Erabliere in Ste-Marthe, Quebec. 450.459.9469. 960 St-Henri, Ste-Marthe.  You can bring your own wine or beer. Many agents from Village attended (all offices) and I have to say the food was delicious. Give them a call!!

By Susan Semenak, The Gazette March 9, 2012

Read more: http://www.montrealgazette.com/life/Maple+syrup+Learning+language/6271783/story.html#ixzz1pI7uFkPM

Ten ways you can avoid being fleeced

 

Avoid scams by asking right questions

 

By MARTIN PELLETIER, Financial Post March 14, 2012

Read more: http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/ways+avoid+being+fleeced/6298137/story.html#ixzz1pCkgk7Sh

A couple of years ago upon the birth of our second child, my wife convinced me that it was finally time to sell my two-door sports car and buy a minivan. After a couple of sleepless nights thinking about it on the couch, I agreed and placed an ad in the newspaper.
I received an offer over the phone from someone out of province who was going to fly in, potentially buy the car and drive it home. He liked the car and after the test drive he asked if I would like to go to the bank with him to conclude the sale. The teller prepared the draft and I handed him the keys and the bill of sale to conclude the transaction.
After immediately depositing the draft (we had accounts at the same bank), the teller said that I must have done my homework because a common fraud is when an out-of-towner buys a car with a fake bank draft and drives off with the car before the seller makes it to the bank.
It was quite fortunate I decided to go to the bank with the purchaser, because I had no idea about this type of scam - not surprising given my infrequency of selling cars. Many Canadians have not been so fortunate.
During our many years in the investment business, we've read and heard about a number of scams that investors, with the right questions and precautions, could have avoided. With that in mind, we've put together a Top 10 list of the basic rules for assessing new investment opportunities.
1) Ask if the investment is registered with a provincial securities commission or Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC). IIROC and many regulators have a check-first search engine on their websites where you can find out if the firm and the individual selling an investment are registered. If they're registered, check for past warnings or disciplinary actions. If they're not, stay away.
2) Beware of "Friends and Family" or "Hot Deal" taglines. If the investment is that good, you'll never see it because the seller would likely take it to an institutional investment manager who has much deeper pockets than you.
3) Be cautious when approached with a "great investment opportunity" from someone in your church, professional association or community group. Con man is short for confidence man and the quickest way to gain someone's confidence is to move in the same social circles and purport to share their values and ethics.
4) Unrealistic rate of return. Remember that if it sounds too good to be true, it most likely is. Most scams reel in investors with a pitch of "guaranteed" or "low risk returns" of 30% or more. Risk and investment return go hand in hand: The higher the return potential, the greater the risk.
5) Show me the money. Ask about the disclosure requirements and access to information, meaning access to regular financial statements audited by a well-known independent third-party accounting firm.
6) Never write a cheque payable to the person offering the investment. Just ask those who wrote cheques to Earl Jones or Bernie Madoff. In particular, look for a third party custodian who will hold your investment independent of the person managing the investment.

7) Always ask for specifics about the timing and process of getting your money out.
8) Stay away from any investments being offered by sales seminars, telephone pitches and unsolicited investment emails.
9) Always ask how the investment seller is getting paid and remember there is no such thing as a free lunch.
10) Finally, and most importantly, don't be afraid to show any investment to your accountant, lawyer and investment counsellor. Fraudsters will do everything they can to prevent you from doing this.
A little due diligence can go a long way toward minimizing the chance of falling victim to investment fraud. If, despite all these precautions, you still get victimized, make sure to immediately report it to the RCMP and your local provincial securities regulator. The vast majority of investment fraud and scams go unreported and continue to operate for long periods of time, drawing in even more unsuspecting people. Victims often feel embarrassed, or are afraid to report to authorities a member of their church or community. But the only way to stop investment fraud is to take action and report it immediately.
- Martin Pelletier, CFA, is a portfolio manager at Tri-Vest Wealth Counsel Ltd., a Calgary-based private client and institutional investment management firm specializing in discretionary risk managed balanced portfolios as well as specialty offerings including an oil and gas hedge fund.

© Copyright (c) The Montreal Gazette

Read more: http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/ways+avoid+being+fleeced/6298137/story.html#ixzz1pCkT1guX

Research and risk are key to buying a foreclosed home

Jason Holt and Jym Genesta in the Riverbend house they bought under foreclosure. Although there is money to be made, Holt says, buying a foreclosure doesn't make sense for everyone.

Photograph by: Ted Rhodes , Calgary Herald

After a month-long search for the perfect home to remodel, Jason Holt and Jym Genesta were eager to follow the lead of their real estate agent to a foreclosure in the southeast.
But when they walked inside the premises of a bank-owned home that was just hitting the market, the couple discovered a grisly scene.
"It was like a total CSI DNAfest in here," says Holt, a manager at IKEA, pointing out the stains on the subflooring.
What greeted them were walls formerly used as dartboards and punching bags, living quarters that had served as a hockey rink, and a colour palette that featured curry brown and shocking pink.
The foreclosure has become emblematic of our times, at least in the U.S., and stories of Canadians getting steals on distressed properties there abound. Genesta, who runs a salon in Los Angeles, was well aware of the opportunity this sort of property can present to home buyers, but wondered what value they might find here in Calgary.
On his first visit, he kept an open mind, pulled the sleeves of his cashmere sweater below his hands and cautiously peeked around the corner.
The duo uncovered a four bedroom, 3.5-bathroom family home in Riverbend, complete with a backyard next to a green space with a walking path.
"You know, Jason, it does have a lot of potential," Genesta ventured.
Holt couldn't help but agree.
As the U.S. economy spiralled down, Canadians were turning their attention south of the border.
"We had clients who were going down and buying foreclosures from the banks in big blocks," says Jeff Kahane, senior partner with Kahane Law Office in Calgary. "They were buying big houses with a pool for 25 cents on the dollar for what they're worth."
Canadians now represent 60 per cent of business for some U.S. real estate agents.
The hype surrounding foreclosure sales surfaces in Calgary as well. One bank-owned property in the northeast of the city visited by the Herald for this article was shown to 20 interested parties over the course of just three days. Yet Canada is a completely different ballpark.
"I don't see tremendous deals," says Kahane, who founded what is now one of the busiest real estate law firms in Alberta. "There's one every once in a while. . . . There's always been a rationale for it."
The biggest discounts are often former grow ops or properties that need significant work. Since foreclosures don't come with any guarantees, the risks can be jaw-dropping - and there are costs homebuyers may not have considered.
To get a Real Property Report, a survey showing property lines and structures, the new owner can expect to shell out about $700 plus $100 for a stamp of compliance from the city. And what the documentation reveals can be the real surprise.
If a garage or a fence is in the wrong place, you may have to pay for an encroachment agreement, which could cost anywhere from $500 to $20,000. Plus there's a chance you'll discover structural damage or serious mould problems after the fact.
Foreclosures can be a good buy, however, if you're purchasing with the right perspective, says Ann-Marie Lurie, chief economist with the Calgary Real Estate Board.
"It depends on your objective," she says. "Are you going to be able to buy it, hold onto it and expect those strong appreciations that we saw in the boom years? Unlikely."
At one point Lurie herself considered purchasing a foreclosure, but decided against it, realizing she wasn't interested in a fixer-upper.
A month into their reno, Holt and Genesta are still in the thick of it. They're saving a bundle doing all the labour themselves. They've ripped up the carpets, removed all the door moulding, and are constantly patching and sanding the walls. They feel lucky they haven't come across any serious problems - yet.
"You have to look beyond what you're going to walk into," Genesta says. "You make it amazing."
Having saved 17 per cent off the sale price of the average benchmark home in the area that month, and sticking to a $25,000 remodelling budget, they're confident they'll come out ahead, whether they decide to live in the house or flip it.
Holt says buying a foreclosure wouldn't make sense for every-one.
"This would be very difficult to do with children," he offers, adding necessary renovations could also present a cash-flow issue. "For most people, it takes them some time to save down payment money, let alone a whole other pot of money to then start doing renovations."
And they've started to become part of the community, too.
Neighbours wave as they drive by and pass along horrendous stories about former occupants.
"This place was a disaster," remarks Genesta. "But the thing is, would I do this again? Absolutely."
Tips for purchasing a foreclosure
- Pay for a home inspection before making an offer, if you can
- Neighbours can be an excellent resource when researching the history of the property.
- Do your homework on average sale prices for similar homes in the area
- Set a budget and stick to it
- Before making an offer, ensure financing is securely in place
- Check furnace for efficiency and gas leaks
- Do renos yourself if you have the skills, time and expertise required; obtain any city permits needed
- Seek lightly used instead of new appliances
- Home insurance may end up paying for itself
- Buy necessary items in bulk
- Search the Internet for DIY ideas to help speed up home reno projects

© Copyright (c) The Calgary Herald

 By Drew A. Penner, The Calgary Herald

BAD AT SHARING? TRY THESE 3 SOCIAL NETWORKS

By Andrea Bartz and Brenna Ehrlich - Sharing is a wonderful thing -- when executed correctly. It's super fun to share hugs (when they are wanted, it's important to note), delicious desserts and interesting, thought-provoking books but not so fun to share colds, STDs and/or upsetting, possibly dangerous secrets.
Some genres of sharing, however, are a little less black and white.
For example: When is it OK to share something rad I just found online? Am I being helpful by passing along/posting said tidbit, or am I slowly morphing into my addled mother, clogging my friends' inboxes with poems about Jesus, kitten GIFs and, if Mama has a dark side, chain letters promising certain death if not passed along to 200 people within the hour? (We wish Mom were still active. ... That was the only weapon in our arsenal.)
It's hard to tell in this expansive world wide web of ours, but certain tipoffs can be telling: 1. Does anyone respond when you post your new favorite ukulele cover to Facebook? 2. When you whine about the declining quality of model-train-collecting literature on Twitter, do you score any retweets? 3. Have you enjoyed any real, substantial human interaction in the past month or so?
If you answered "No" to any of these questions, you might be putting your precious pearls before swine. (And if you answered "No" to number three, you might want to go outside. Maybe say "hi" to the mailman).
In order to reap the praise you so certainly deserve for your expert curating abilities, might we recommend hitting up one of these three social sharing networks instead of appealing to the masses -- you know, before your digital face becomes one that only a mother could love.

1. Pinterest
Abby is your name, and antique thimbles are your game. Seriously, you're just wild about those whimsical little doodads! Sadly, not a one of your pals is quite as ardently anti-finger-pricks as you. No, they're all about the sports and the shorts, the fun and the sun, and you with your porcelain skin (and porcelain pointer covers) much more prefer quiet contemplation and hot tea sipped whilst making those creepy Amish dolls with no faces.
Fret not, dear Abby, there are kindred spirits out there, just waiting to ooh and ahh over your daisy-emblazoned babies. Where? Well, on Pinterest, of course! If you haven't heard of Pinterest -- locked away in your cave of mothballs and yarn -- it's a 2-year-old social bookmarking site.
Users can create online idea boards of sorts, all centered around categories like art, home decor, technology and more. Boards are themed ("Cat Wedding Ideas," "My Favorite Whiskey Drinks," "Tattoos To Get On My Forehead" ...) and populated with media collected during one's online travels.
The best part of the service, however, is that "social" factor: You can follow friends (from Facebook and Twitter) and other users who share your interests, as well as "re-pin", "Like" and comment on posts that tickle your fancy. Finally, dear Abby, you'll get the respect you deserve for that trove of thimble snaps you've been hoarding on your hard drive!
And no, you don't have to like antique thimbles to join Pinterest. This was merely an example.

2. Chill.com
Oh, Ike, you indie-band savant! You're always so up on the latest viral videos zipping around the Web. I mean, Gotye's "Somebody That I Used to Know" was your favorite jam BEFORE that other band covered it using one guitar, and when that vid hit the Web, you were super angry that the original tune's integrity had been jeopardized by what you deemed a "straight-up stunt" (you were the first one to share that video, too).
Still, your friends have yet to recognize your video-finding genius -- so behind the times they are that they're just now discovering that "Bon Joviver" video and they STILL think Rebecca Black is funny. We pity them too, Ike, and no, we can't understand why your band, She's A Witch House (Mighty, Mighty), has yet to take off, either.
We know that no one will every truly understand you, we get it, but we think you'll be able to find some kind of solace in Chill.com, a video-sharing site that's a lot like Pinterest in some respects. The site allows users to create "Categories" of videos and share them with other users.
So, dear Ike, you can create a cache of "Super Sell-Out" vids or "Songs That Think They're About Anarchy." Or, you know, "Videos of Dogs Sleeping In Funny Places," if you're so inclined.
As with Pinterest, you can also follow other users, re-posting, commenting on and expressing your emotions (via a series of emoticons) about their videos. The site even has a Chat feature, so, friend Ike, you don't have to limit your rants and raves to the confines of a mere comment box.

3. This is My Jam
Oh, Sad Sarah, we know you were dumped ... mostly because Facebook tells us that you listened to "The Cave" by Mumford & Sons 70 times in a row on Spotify (that jam is one of the top breakup tunes, the Web tells us).
You apparently didn't want to hide your shame by

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Read more: http://www.abc2news.com/dpp/news/science_tech/bad-at-sharing-try-these-3-social-networks#ixzz1p6CGh9Mz

Why Work With An Agent?

 Trouver le bon agent

Vous désirez trouver la bonne maison, le bon emplacement et ce, au bon prix - et vous désirez le faire rapidement avec le moins de problèmes possible. La meilleure façon d'unir tous ces éléments est de travailler avec un agent qui comprend bien vos exigences, vos délais à respecter et vos limites financières.

Pourquoi travailler avec un agent ?

Parce que vous économiserez du temps. Un agent peut dénicher avec précision les maisons rencontrant vos exigences et écarter celles qui ne les rencontrent pas.

Bénéficiez d'un négociateur d'expérience. Votre agent saura gérer avec soin vos propositions et contre-propositions, de façon à vous assurer le meilleur prix possible pour votre maison.

Obtenez l'information juste

Un agent connaissant bien le voisinage saura vous renseigner avec précision au sujet de la valeur immobilière locale, les taxes, la nature et les coûts des services et les aménités.

Et . . .

Vous pouvez toujours compter sur des conseils judicieux. Parce que votre agent est très familier avec le processus complet de l'achat d'une maison, celle-ci ou celui-ci est en mesure de vous conseiller au sujet de vos options légales et financières, ainsi que de vous recommander les services d'évaluation, d'inspection et de sous-traitance.

Finding the Right Agent
You want to find the right home, in the right location, at the right price - and you want to do it quickly, with minimum hassle. The best way to do that is to work with a professional realtor who understands your wants and needs, your time frame and your financial boundaries. 
Why Work with an Agent?
Because you'll save time. An agent can pinpoint homes that fit your needs and dismiss those that don't. 
Benefit from an experienced negotiator. Your agent will manage your offers and counter-offers, ensuring that you get the best possible price for your home.
Get the Right Information
An agent that knows the neighbourhood will give you accurate information on local real estate values, taxes, utility costs, services and amenities. 
And . . .
You can always count on great advice. Because your agent is familiar with the entire home purchasing process, he or she can advise you of your legal and financial options, as well as, recommend appraisal, home inspection and contracting services.

Buyers Say No To Fixer Uppers

In the overheated housing market of five years ago, buyers often felt they had to accept homes in woeful condition. But these days, most look at "as-is" properties and say, "No thanks."

 

 

"I try to stay away from things that need a lot of work," said Michael Lisa of Chestnut Ridge, New York., who is searching for a home in New Jersey.

"Buyers will tolerate nothing," said Maria Rini, a Re/Max agent in Oradell, N.J. A recent Coldwell banker survey found that 87 per cent of first-time buyers said a move-in-ready home is important to them.

"This is absolutely the story of this market. It seems buyers will pay a premium, engage in a bidding war and even overpay just to avoid buying a 'project' house," said Beth Freed of Terrie O'Connor Realtors in Ridgewood, N.J.

As a result, real estate agents strongly advise sellers to fix up their homes for quicker and more profitable sales.

For example, when Kate Conover recently listed a Franklin Lakes, N.J., colonial, she encouraged the seller to replace the roof and driveway, repair ceilings, rip up carpets and paint interiors.

Paying contractors to do the work cost almost $40,000, but Conover estimated it added well over $100,000 to the asking price.

"There is no question homes that have been spruced up for the market sell quicker," said Conover, a Re/Max agent.

But she recommended against major renovations - such as replacing the kitchen and baths. Most agents agree with that philosophy, saying sellers shouldn't risk spending more than they'll get back in the sale price. That's especially true with major kitchen and bath renovations because they're so much a matter of taste.

"No matter what you do, it may not be the buyer's choice anyway," said Antoinette Gangi, a Re/Max agent in Woodcliff Lake, N.J.

On the other hand, agents say that major maintenance and safety issues - such as underground oil tanks and leaky roofs - must be dealt with before the home goes on the market, because buyers are unwilling to take them on.

Beyond those kinds of headaches, sellers can make a big difference with simple and relatively inexpensive fixes: painting the walls, getting rid of clutter and pulling up carpets to show the hardwood floors.

And spruce up the front yard and entryway to make a good first impression. In the same vein, Gangi recommends painting the front door if it's looking tired.

"Curb appeal is very important, and the front door is the first thing you see," Gangi said.

Getting rid of clutter (as part of an overall deep cleaning) is probably the most cost-effective step, agents say. When sellers resist this advice, Rini reminds them they'll have to pack up their stuff when they move anyway.

"You've got to clean it out sometime; if you do it now, it's going to benefit you financially," she said.

http://www.househunting.ca/montreal/Buying-Homes/Buyers+fixer+uppers/4731318/story.html

Prepping before painting is paramount

Prepping before Painting is Paramount
An essential part of a painting project happens before you ever lay a brush or roller on the wall. The key is preparation.  Put in a little time and effort beforehand, and you’ll be rewarded with a professional looking finish afterwards.  Here are a few steps to ensure proper painting prep:

Patch & Repair
Fill small holes and hairline cracks with patching compound and sand when dry.  For larger holes, apply the compound in layers, making sure each layer is dry before applying the next.  For badly damaged plaster walls, apply a thin coat of plaster on top of the existing one by skimming, to achieve a nice, smooth finish.  Skimming is a bit of an art form, so don’t hesitate to get help from a professional plasterer.

A Clean “Canvas” is Critical
Just as you wouldn’t paint a picture on a dirty canvas, you don’t want to paint a room with dirty walls.  Remove dirt and marks by washing with mild detergent and water; grease marks with Trisodium phosphate (TSP); and floor wax build-up on baseboards with wax remover.  Mildew in damp areas such as bathrooms should be addressed and removed entirely.  Many find a solution of one part household bleach to three parts water works well.  Vacuum textured walls and ceilings to get rid of dust and cobwebs.
Prime the Walls
Paint primers help to ensure a professional-looking paint job. It increases the bond between the paint and the surface and it is particularly helpful to cover surfaces painted with semi-gloss or high gloss paints or bare surfaces such as wood, plaster or drywall. If you are painting with a deep colour, ask your local paint store to tint your primer with your paint colour. This technique will enable you to cover your walls quicker and with less paint.
Don’t Forget about the Outside!
Our outside walls don’t usually undergo the same scrutiny as our inside walls do, but spring is a great time to think outside the house!  Start by removing loose, peeling paint or dirt with a wire brush or power washer and repair and sand as needed.  Good quality surface preparation provides maximum durability, a must for outside paintwork. 
A fresh coat of paint can really improve the curb appeal of your home, and proper preparation will ensure the best return on your investment.