TIME Travel to the ‘90s for the Holidays

These 90-point wines from TIME Family of Wines are perfect for year-end festivities 

Wish you were transported back to the ‘90s for the holidays? Home Alone had just released, Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You” was played for the first time, and Amazon only sold books.

Although TIME Family of Wines can’t take you back to 1990, this Penticton winery can give you a taste of the ‘90s with their 90-point wines. 

The Chronos, McWatters Collection, and Evolve Cellars wine brands all received 90-point scores (or higher) just in time for the holidays. If you’re still looking for a bottle to gift, celebrate with, or drink on your holiday break, consider picking-up one (or all) of the below wines.

You can still order any of these wines by visiting timewines.ca.

Photo credit: Chris Stenberg

TIME Family of Wines in the ‘90s

Chronos 2020 Rosé ($24.99) 

Made from 100% Syrah grapes, the Chronos 2020 Rosé received 91 points from John Schreiner (Schreiner on Wine), and 90 points from Rick Vansickle (Wines in Niagara) and Eric Hanson (Richmond News). 

Order online at timewines.ca

Chronos 2020 Riesling ($27.99)  

Tasting of jasmine and lime with a light body and minerality, this wine received 91 points on NatalieMaclean.com and 90 points from Eric Hanson (Richmond News). 

Order online at timewines.ca

McWatters Collection 2020 White Meritage ($29.99) 

This blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon was awarded 92 points by Rick Vansickle (Wines in Niagara), John Schreiner (Schreiner on Wine), Eric Hanson (Richmond News), and Daenna Van Mulligen (Wine Scores). 

 Order online at timewines.ca

McWatters Collection 2018 Red Meritage ($39.99) 

This big red was awarded 92 points on NatalieMaclean.com. Enjoy it alongside your holiday roast or with rich pasta. 

Order online at timewines.ca

Evolve Cellars 2020 Spontaneity ($21.99) 

Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc and Ortega make up this light and fruity wine. John Schreiner (Schreiner on Wine) gave it 90 points. 

 Order online at timewines.ca

If you decide to deck the halls with these 90-point wines, make sure to share your experience on social by tagging @timewines. 

If you live in the Okanagan, you can purchase these wines in-person either at the District Wine Village in Oliver or by visiting the winery in Penticton. TIME Family of Wines is open on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day from noon until 4 PM, with regular hours until New Year’s Eve (open noon – 4 PM with NYE dinner reservations starting at 6 PM). The winery at the District Wine Village will be closed from December 24 – 29 and will be open on New Year’s Eve from noon until 4 PM. For the full list of holiday hours, call the winery at 236-422-2556. 

The Bench Bakehouse is TOP Holiday News

The media is swooning over the items at The Bench Bakehouse, and so are we!

The Bench Bakehouse has been decking the halls and spreading the cheer this holiday season, and media outlets have been excited to share the news. 

We stopped in at The Bench Bakehouse (located at 1st and Commercial in Vancouver) to have a tour and pick-up some holiday treats, and we have to say, those that picked up the story know what’s up!

The Bench Bakehouse has been fully outfitted in holiday décor and stocked with shelves of delicious goodies (all available for pre-order online or by visiting the store at 1641 Commercial Drive), making it one of the top places to get your holiday baked goods in Vancouver. 

To coincide with our season’s greetings, we wanted to highlight the media coverage that the bakery has received over the last few weeks, plus a sneak peek inside our most recent visit.  

 If you make it to The Bench Bakehouse before the holidays, snap a picture and tag us (@townhallbrands) and @thebenchbakehouse on social. We’d love to see your experience!

The Bench Bakehouse is Top Holiday News

Daily Hive’s dished

Hanna McLean includes The Bench Bakehouse in her roundup of where to buy holiday baked goods in Vancouver. Read about this online at dailyhive.com

BC Living 

BC Living includes The Bench Bakehouse in a list of Vancouver’s top festive treat spots. Read more at bcliving.ca

My VanCity 

My VanCity spreads the news by sharing The Bench Bakehouse’s holiday offerings press release. Read the news online at myvancity.ca

Foodgressing

Areta Wong highlights the best dining in Vancouver during the holidays, and The Bench Bakehouse made her list! View the full list of dining options at foodgressing.com

Foodology 

Foodology also shares The Bench Bakehouse’s news by posting the holiday press release to foodology.ca.

Did we miss anything? If you saw The Bench Bakehouse in the media during this year’s holiday season, make a post or message us on social (@townhallbrands). 

Our Festive Field Trip to The Bench Bakehouse

We visited the bakery to see the new holiday goodies, and we were not disappointed. From the homemade stollen and fruit cake, to seasonal cookie boxes, fully assembled DIY gingerbread houses, cookie decorating kits, and bake-at-home goods, the bakery is nothing short of a holiday wonderland this December.  

You can still get all the items on your list at The Bench Bakehouse. Pre-order online at thebenchbakehouse.com, select your preferred time and date, then pick-up your items at the store in-person. 

The décor made the store look merry and bright! 

Regular store hours for December are Tuesday – Sunday between 9am and 5pm, with extended store hours on Thursdays and Fridays until 6 PM. The Bench Bakehouse will also be open on Mondays, December 20 and 27.

If you want to learn more about all the holiday offerings at The Bench Bakehouse, read our previous blog post at townhallbrands.com.  

Taste the Holidays with The Bench Bakehouse

Collect all your holiday treats at one stop!

[Vancouver, BC] ‘Tis the season for baked goodies and easy holiday shopping. The Bench Bakehouse at 1641 Commercial Drive is serving up traditional favourites like homemade Stollen and Fruit Cake, seasonal cookie boxes, fully assembled do-it-yourself gingerbread houses, cookie decorating kits, and bake-at-home goods. Read below for the full list of holiday treats.

The Bench Bakehouse's house made Fruit Cake. Photo credit: Octane Collective

All holiday items are available starting on December 1. Order online in advance at thebenchbakehouse.com for pick-up throughout December or visit the store in-person. Regular hours for the month are Tuesday – Sunday between 9am and 5pm, with extended store hours on Thursdays and Fridays until 6 PM. The Bench Bakehouse will also be open on Mondays, December 20 and 27. Pre-ordering online is encouraged to ensure you get all the treats on your list!

Holiday Shopping at The Bench Bakehouse

The following seasonal handmade goods will be available while supplies last:

• Seasonal Cookie Boxes

• Stollen

• Fruit Cake

• Gingerbread House Decorating Kits

• Cookie Decorating Kits (Hanukkah & Holiday)

• Hand Decorated Cookies

• Assorted Holiday Cookies

• Rum Balls

• Bake-At-Home Goods

• Festive Café Drinks & Pastries

Seasonal Cookie Boxes - $15, $25, or $35

Some traditions are meant to be celebrated year after year. The Bench Bakehouse is once again offering their shortbread holiday collection with three new flavours: Double Chocolate, London Fog, and Lemon. Each box also comes with two other popular flavours (Hazelnut and Original), and cookie boxes are available to purchase in three sizes: mini with 10 pieces ($15), medium with 20 pieces ($25), and large with 30 pieces ($35). A vegan cookie box is also available with Oatmeal Hazelnut Chocolate Sandwich Cookies for $15. Order online at thebenchbakehouse.com or visit the store in-person.

Seasonal Shortbread Cookie Boxes. Photo credit: The Bench Bakehouse

Stollen - $20

This classic German dessert is made with rich dough, skillfully prepared and studded with almonds, currants, and house made candied citrus that have been soaked in dark rum for months. Each Stollen is filled with The Bench’s signature almond marzipan and dusted with sugar for the perfect taste of the season. Order it online at thebenchbakehouse.com or visit the store in-person.

Fruit Cake - $12 or $24

This Christmas cake is a December staple and takes months to prepare. Filled with house made candied citrus, pistachios, figs, and sour cherries that have been soaking in brandy, this dessert is finished with a layer of The Bench’s almond marzipan. Purchase it online at thebenchbakehouse.com or in-person in two sizes: mini ($12) and large ($24).

Gingerbread House & Cookie Decorating Kits - $75 and $30

Skip the baking and construction and just decorate with the fully prepared Gingerbread House and Cookie Decorating Kits. Each house is $75 and comes fully assembled with bags of icing and all the candy trimmings. Cookie Decorating Kits come with an assortment of six cookies, bags of icing, and decorating candy for $30. Hanukkah-themed Cookie Kits are available from November 25 – December 6, while other holiday-themed kits are available throughout the month of December. Order each of these family-friendly activities online at thebenchbakehouse.com or pick them up in-person.

The Bench Bakehouse is selling holiday & Hanukkah Cookie Decorating Kits. Photo credit: The Bench Bakehouse

Hand Decorated & Assorted Cookies - $5 - $7

Purchase hand decorated gingerbread and sugar cookies for $5.50 each, or buy an assortment of cookies that includes shortbread, butter cookies, pfeffernusse and peppermint bark for $5 - $7. Buy everything online at thebenchbakehouse.com or visit the store.

Rum Balls - $6.50 per bag

Santa deserves something extra special on December 24, and these yuletide chocolate treats are packed with tons of holiday spirit. Each bag is $6.50. Pick them up at the store or order online at thebenchbakehouse.com.

Bake-At-Home Goods

Need to do all your bakery shopping in one trip? Visit The Bench Bakehouse or order online at thebenchbakehouse.com and stock up on goodies to keep frozen until you’re ready to eat. Bake-At-Home goodies include the following:

• Croissant and Pain au Chocolat ($14 - $15 for a four-pack) – Freeze, bake, and then indulge in warm chocolate croissants for the holidays.

• Cinnamon Buns ($17 for a four-pack) – Buy frozen and then enjoy freshly baked and smothered in cream cheese icing.

• Puff Pastry ($8.50) – Made from scratch with high-quality butter, The Bench Puff Pastry comes in a 12”x12” sheet ready to use in your favourite recipe.

Festive Café Drinks & Treats

When you visit The Bench Bakehouse in December, grab a festive warm drink or treat from the café. Specials include Eggnog Lattés and house made Mulled Apple Cider, Gingerbread Double Baked Croissants, and Eggnog Kouign-Amanns. Pastries range from $5 to $5.50 and are available in-store or for pre-order online, while drinks ($5) can only be purchased when visiting the café.

Photo credit: Octane Collective

About The Bench Bakehouse

The talented husband-and-wife team of Matt and Tracy Steele modelled their shop after neighbourhood bakeries that charmed them in France. Each of them studied at famed culinary schools: Tracy at École Gastronomique Bellouet Conseil in Paris and Matt at the San Francisco Baking Institute. Together, Matt and Tracy produce exceptional naturally leavened bread, impressive French-style pastries, and tasty bakery classics in their open kitchen for all to admire. Conveniently situated on Commercial Drive in Il Mercato, The Bench Bakehouse has quickly become a cherished regular stop for locals.

Well Seasoned Gourmet Food Store presents the tastiest holiday party in the Fraser Valley

Save the date for the Christmas Open House
Nov 28th 

Christmas Open House in 2016

[Langley, BC] Your holiday gifting and entertaining needs are solved! Save the date to head to Well Seasoned on November 28, 2019. The team at the beloved gourmet food store in Langley is celebrating the holidays and will host their Christmas Open House event.

Members of the community and food lovers from all over BC make the annual pilgrimage to the store each year to sample seasonal goodies from several tasting stations and spread a little holiday cheer. All are invited to enjoy this FREE EVENT on November 28. No RSVP is necessary, simply show up and enjoy.

The store staff will be open extended hours for this special occasion and all are welcome to try samples of the Well Seasoned grab-and-go snacks from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Special discounts will also be on offer for that night only, making this the perfect opportunity to stock up the pantry with holiday treats.

Well Seasoned seasonal treats are a huge success and sell in great volume every year. Cookies, seasonal pies, appetizers, and even the traditional (and ultra-popular) French Canadian Tourtière will be in stock and available to sample and take home.

Angie Quaale and the team at Well Seasoned love to host the community. Their Christmas Open House was created to celebrate loyal customers and over the past 12 years it has evolved to be an annual event where people enjoy each other’s company as they gather to eat delicious local and seasonal food in store while spreading a bit of holiday joy.

Make sure to add this tasty party to your calendar and stop by to celebrate with the team.

 Well Seasoned Christmas Open House

November 28th, 6:00 to 8:00 pm

#177 -20353 64 Ave, Langley

FREE EVENT