Savouries From Anna and Michael Olson For The Holidays and Beyond Part of the fun at Christmas in November, the annual festival at Jasper Park Lodge, is learning a few new takes on recipes, and sometimes new recipes altogether. Anna and Michael Olson’s main stage performance this year involved Bacon Okonomijaki ( a Japanese pancake), Pork-a-Leekie Pie and Pork Sausage Square. These two are super entertaining and their recipe work. Make sure you source your pork locally with BC and Alberta Pork! Bacon Okonomiyaki Makes 24 bite-size pieces Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 12-15 minutes Okonomiyaki is an inexpensive…
Author: Cassandra Anderton
What To Do Around Vancouver This Week It’s the count down to Christmas and we’re almost ready, are you? Yesterday we tripped up to Kelowna to visit the family, and it’ll be pretty low key here for the next few days. It’s extra special because my aunt is visiting from New Zealand and we haven’t seen her for a while and we’re pretty close as she’s closer to my age than my Mom’s. We’ll see my niece and nephew enjoy Christmas, they’re the only kids in our family, and we missed them last year as they went to NZ, and…
Getting Pretty With Joanna Keller Beautique – Lash Extensions and Make-Up I am somewhat challenged when it comes beauty; firstly I have that great hair for the 80’s, super curly, but not so easy to smooth out, secondly I am hardly youthful these days, and thirdly, I am pretty hopeless as doing anything on my own. Perhaps in 2018 I’ll take a course or two, or watch some you-tube videos, but in the meantime I need to outsource some serious help. For my latest TV appearance on Global TV (I talked about tech in the kitchen – more here) I…
Michael and Ann Olson Entertain – Ribs, Pull apart Bread and Banana Foster I was super lucky to return this year to Christmas in November at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge. This three day festival prepares you for anything the holiday season could throw at you. Here you’ll learn how to decorate, bake, entertain, set up a bar, and experience all the joys of the holiday season. There’s an actual “Man Cabin” that is open to all, and each year Anna and Michael Olson grill up some amazing Alberta pork and this year they added in some extra demos of…
Festive Pomegranate Gin and Tonic If you follow my friend Karen Van Vloten on Instagram, you probably get thirsty! She’s got a great engagement rate as her feed is full of the cocktails she crafts; her’s is the party you want to get invited to. It’s been a holiday tradition for her and I to get together for a little lunch at her house this time of year, and I swear I will get my house in order soon so I can return the favour! Her house is holiday ready early and always quite festive, her cats add entertainment, she…
What My Husband Wants For Christmas And Yours Might Too I always do food gift guides, but this year I’ve been asked a lot about gifts for the men as well, so I asked my husband what he wanted and then added a few suggestions too because his list was a little thin. Here’s a few suggestions for gifts For The Man In Your Life. First up was the PlayStation VR for his PlayStation. SIGH! I don’t want to encourage his introverted behavior, but gaming makes this boy happy so how could I deny him? We’ll see if this makes it…
How to Get Through the Season Beautifully – My Beauty Picks As I write this I seem to be breaking out in some type of rash! This time of year seems to be cruel to me as there’s lots of stress, lots of going out, lots of later nights than usual and a real need to look my best, when I feel at my worst. Here’s a few things I’ve rounded up that are keeping me together when it comes to beauty. 1 – Face Atelier Ultra Camouflage Duo – Right now I seem to look and feel tired…
What to do in and around Vancouver this week? Good lord it almost Christmas and we’ve got so much to do. How’s your holiday prep going? We’ve got presents to buy, cookies to bake, articles to write and packing to do for Kelowna. We’ll be spending the holidays with my family and zipping back to visit with Michael’s as well. No plans for New Year as of yet, but we’re pretty low key and will likely spend time with a few friends at home. In the meantime there’s lots we hope to do this week before we leave, and here’s…
Personalized Labels of Glenlivet Scotch Available For That Real Whisky Aficionado Every year we wonder what to get those friends or family that have everything, or if they don’t they would have bought it for themselves already? That’s usually how it is around our house for Dad, and he ends up with more socks, another cashmere sweater, or more itunes, but this year it’s going to be different, as we’re taking a gift giving to the next level with a personalized, complimentary label on a bottle of the Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve. My Mom and Dad aren’t big drinkers, but around the…
Stanley Park Classic Gets A Makeover One rainy Vancouver day not so long ago, we headed into Stanley Park to check out the renovations and menu updates at the Prospect Point Cafe. I had actually never eaten at the cafe, having assumed that it was one of those touristy trap type restaurants, and apparently I was somewhat correct, but the past is now well behind us with the more than just cosmetic updates. The exterior is stunning, wood beams and floor to ceiling windows so you can truly catch the view of the Lions Gate Bridge and Burrard Inlet. The…
Potters Nursery Christmas Store Growing up in Burlington, where I lived from the age of four until eight, we used to live around the corner from a place called The Elves Workshop, which seems to still exist, but not in the same spot. We also lived near a ravine, crematory and cemetery, which could explain a lot, but we’ll stick to my fondness for Christmas in this post, although it is worth mentioning our decorations include many day of the dead-themed ornaments. The workshop was open all year and it was 100% Christmas-themed, 100% of the time, and we adored…
What to do Around Vancouver This Week It’s now December and I can’t believe how fast the year has zipped by! I’m already sick of the weather, so I’m heading to sunnier skies on Sunday and off to Palm Springs. In the meantime I’ve got a few things to do before I go including Vancouver Theatre Sports annual Christmas Queen, the opening of Lumiere in the West End, and a couple classes at The Dailey Method in an attempt to look a little better in my short sleeved tops. Here’s some suggestions for you this week! Christmas Queen 4 –…
What’s New In The World Of Kitchen Gadgets? Tune into the noon news on Global BC tomorrow for my segment on Kitchen Gadgets and we’ll run through some of the newest items we’re using at home in our kitchen. Philips Air Fryer – Best Buy – $299 ($179 for Black Friday) Why we like it: The Philips Air Fryer heats air super fast and it circulates more evenly than other fryers to fry and crisp food with very little oil, plus you can bake, grill and roast It’s also attractive, easier to clean, and takes up less counter space than…
What To Do Around Vancouver This Week As The Holidays Creep Even Closer Every year the holidays come breathing down your throat sooner and sooner, and I’m all for it! Well, to a certain extent, like, after Halloween at least please. I’ve already been to Christmas in November at the Fairmont’s Jasper Park Lodge, so that’s really put me in the mood, and the trip out to Potter’s Christmas Store in Surrey had me wanting to get my tree up asap. I’m looking forward to The Capilano Suspension Bridge, Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremonies, Ice Skating, the Christmas Market, Fly-Over Canada Christmas…
What’s Better Than Some Great Road 13 Vineyards After A Good Punch Out At Turf Not so long ago Turf (Work Out, Hang Out) opened on Fourth Avenue in Kits. They have all sorts of classes, everything from yoga to boxing, and a great selection of healthy eats, going beyond the ever-prevalent avocado toast (which, by the way, they do have), to include items such as bison meatballs, and a tasty mushroom and spinach salad. I’d stopped in to check it out before for tea, but hadn’t delved into the spot much further, so was rather thrilled when I was…
New Urban Eatery provides guests with healthy food offerings, a contemporary space and introduces online pickup service I missed the official opening of this Urban Eatery, but I’m sure my holiday shopping will take me in the vicinity at some point! I initially thought this was a new restaurant, but it turns out it’s the food court, but vastly updated. It looks unlike the food courts in my day where we gorged on neon sweet and sour chicken and maybe had a malted milk or two. The mall was the place to be on Saturdays and I remember I’d cruise…
Learn To Decorate Like A Pro With The UnCommon Cafe Cookie Class How are your baking skills? I do an okay job of baking, but when it comes to icing, my game ain’t so strong. Last year, though, I surprised myself and after a bit of a demo from some more experienced bakers in the Uncommon Cafe Cookie Class, I managed to come up with some cookies that I wasn’t totally embarrassed to give out! Now if you have a bit of skill, just think what you could do! No judgement please, I’m just learning. This year the Cookie Class: Decorate…
BOULEVARD KITCHEN & OYSTER BAR CHEF ALEX CHEN WINS HIS SECOND GOLD MEDAL PLATES TITLE AT THE 2017 REGIONALS IN VICTORIA Previous Champion Returns to Top of Podium at 12th Annual Prestigious Chef Competition, Earns Right to Represent BC at the Canadian Culinary Championships in Kelowna, February 2 to 3, 2018 Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar Executive Chef Alex Chen claimed the crown for the second time at the annual Gold Medal Plates culinary competition in Victoria, BC and earned the honour of representing the province at the prestigious Canadian Culinary Championships in Kelowna, BC February 2 to 3, 2018. Months of meticulous…
Joseph Tran to compete at 42nd Annual La Chaine des Rôtisseurs event in Taiwan in September 2018 Congrats to Joseph Tran, from Victoria’s Inn at Laurel Point, who won the gold medal and the Fulgence Charpentier Trophy at the 2017 La Chaîne des Rôtisseurs Jeunes Chefs (Young Chefs) Rôtisseurs Competition held in Ottawa, ON on October 27th. The silver medal was presented to Vancouver’s Nathan Sundeen from Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar and the bronze medalist was Calgary’s David Ryc from The Fairmont Banff Springs. Winnipeg’s Darnell Banman from the St. Charles Golf Country Club was recognized for having the highest…
What’s On Your Agenda Vancouver? It’s been a busy week! I’ve been on the road at Christmas in November in Jasper, and researching a few other destinations. I’ll be glad to be home in Vancouver for a couple nights tomorrow and then off again to the Okanagan. Here’s a few suggestions for you in the meantime, more on the other adventures soon! The Woman In Wine at Legacy Liquor November 15 On November 15 from 5 to 7 pm French Wine Celebrity Catherine Mellot (www.josephmellot.com) will share her adventures in wine at Legacy Liquor Store in the Olympic Village. This…
