Are you feeling as busy as we are? We haven’t even got our tree up yet, but we’re in full holiday mode. We’ll be heading to the Pan Pacific for the Christmas Wish Breakfast, taking some cookie classes and going out to get that tree this week, well, perhaps after the snow. What do this week!…
Author: cassandra
Potters Christmas Shop and A Spot of Tea at Honeybee
An Adventure to Surrey for Holiday Shopping and Afternoon Tea Celebrations of any sort were big at my house, and Christmas was no exception. Our house was fully decorated with a good measure of garlands, ribbon and the occasional poinsetta, and each year my sister and I would get an ornament on the night before Christmas,…
Hostess Gifts and A Little Etiquette
It’s that time of year when you’ve been asked to a party or two and now you’ve got to not only figure out what to wear, but also what to bring. We give you some suggestions and a few thoughts about gift giving etiquette too. Number one rule is if you ask to bring…
Bottles of Holiday Bliss – A Few Wines on Sale at the BC Liquor Store
Steals and Deals at the Liquor Store We were blessed with some decadent wine tasting last week and thought we’d share some of the deals we found on wines that could make great hostess gifts, pair with a holiday meal, be left out for santa, or consumed home alone if you need to drown your…
Premium Tires For Safety – Michelin Premier LTX
Taking Michelin Premier LTX Tires For a Spin Not sure about you but as I’ve gotten bit older my choices of how to spend money have changed and I’ve opt for a “safer” lifestyle all around (I’m so grown up). When I was in university I remember having a terrible car accident and totaling my…
Weekly Goods – CandyTown, Bocuse D’Or and More
What to do in Vancouver this coming week! Okay folks is it just me or does it seem like Christmas is coming even faster this year? I’ve already been through Christmas in November, in Jasper, and been out to Potter’s Nursery and will have a summary of that both of those adventures shortly, and now Vancouver’s streets…
Chef Jesse McCleery Takes Home the Gold at Gold Medal Plates Victoria!
Ten BC Chefs Awarded Gold Medal Plates Emblem of Distinction Last week we rushed off to Victoria, and thanks to Helijet, we got there in time to catch the Gold Medal Plates Culinary Competition. If you’ve been following Good Life Vancouver, you’ll know that I am basically a Gold Medal Plates groupie, and that…
Chef Morgan Wilson Q at the Empress
Chef Morgan Wilson from the Fairmont Empress Hotel doesn’t have far to go to compete for Gold Medal Plates, as he’s Victoria-based, but that doesn’t make it any easier. We learn a little more about his thoughts on trends before the competition. Tell us a little bit about your restaurant and/or style of cooking….
Chef Sam Chalmers North 48
Gold Medal Plates competitor, Chef Sam Chalmers, is based in Victoria, and I just may have to go for the French Onion Soup he describes below. Tell us a little bit about your restaurant and/or style of cooking. North 48 is a modern comfort food restaurant. We take classic dishes and put our own…
Chef Nicholas Waters Toque Catering
One more day until Gold Medal Plates in Victoria and prior to this yearly face off, we try to catch up with all the chefs competing. Chef Nicholas Waters from Toque Catering in Victoria gave us a little insight into his culinary world. Tell us a little bit about your restaurant and/or style of cooking. We are a…
Chef Jefferson Alvarez Cacao Vancouver
Chef Jefferson Alvarez has had a busy fall as he’s recently opened Cacao, inspired Latin American plates in Kitsilano. We had a few questions for him as he preps for Gold Medal Plates to compete for Gold, but there were no hints as to what he’ll be serving! Tell us a little bit about your…
Chef Mark Filatow Waterfront Wines Kelowna
Our next interview is with Chef Mark Filatow from Kelowna who’s also on his way to Victoria to compete in Gold Medal Plates Culinary Competition. He’s competed before and taken the gold so it could be a repeat performance if all goes well! Filatow answered a few questions about ingredients he always has on hand, and who’s coming with…
Chef Ned Bell Vancouver Aquarium Ocean Wise Chef
Chef Ned Bell is on his way to Victoria this week to compete for the in Gold Medal Plates culinary competition and we posed a few questions in advance to get a feel for just what he might be preparing. Tell us a little bit about your restaurant and/or style of cooking. My Focus is on…
Chef Rob Walker Big White Ski Resort, Kelowna
Counting down to Gold Medal Plates in Victoria November 17! Top chefs from British Columbia compete for the gold, silver and bronze medals in this ultra-tough culinary competition. Prior to this yearly face off, we catch up with the chefs competing for and next up is Chef Rob Walker. Tell us a little bit about your restaurant and/or style of cooking. My style…
Tsawwassen Mills Telus Giveaway
Start Checking Off Your Holiday Gift List with a Telus Giveaway Let’s start the week off with a giveway to get you into holiday mode. I just returned from Christmas in November at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge and I’m launching into the holiday season with bells on. Thanks Telus for this package. The bag…
Weekly Goods – Umbrella Day, Cornucopia and Christmas
I walked home last night just as the US election results were being finalized, the streets were empty and it began to rain hard, hopefully not a complete foreshadowing of what’s to come in this new era of Trumpism. We can only hope that the ugly thoughts of those who who seem to feel that hatefulness has…
Uncommon Goods – Retail With A Conscience
This summer when I was searching for some sturdy portable BBQs that could be wheeled out to our local beach, or park, and wouldn’t fall apart after merely one use, I came across a super cool site, UncommonGoods, that featuring a super cool BBQ that I had to have. At the time they weren’t shipping to…
Weekly Goods – Sparkle Gala, Duck, Bingo and Pig
Welcome to the dreary days of November folks. Sorry to report that there will be rain for a while now. If you are lucky you are booking a sunny escape, or perhaps you’re more of a snow fan and thinking about Christmas in November at the Fairmont in Jasper, where I’ll be next week….
Smarten Up Your Home With the Newest Techie Home Gadgets #BestBuySmartHome
Make Your Home Smarter, Lighter and Safer, with Best Buy If you call yourself a techie, you may have the latest smart phone, smart watch, pimped out car and camera, but what about the latest in home technology? While your television may unlock the full potential of HDR, and you’ve even got a home 3D…
Oakland’s Urban Wine Trail
Visit Oakland Where Wines Aren’t Always Among the Vines Heading to California and looking for some wine tasting? There’s no need to venture right into the vineyards of Napa or Sonoma, (although we wouldn’t frown upon that) instead hit the new urban wine trail right around Oakland. Oakland’s a quick jaunt from the San Francisco Airport…
