May 1-9 is Chickpeas Fest in Vancouver – Vancouver Food Networks Celebrate Year of the Pulses Grain, a farmer-direct, socially and sustainably focused dry goods business recently donated 2,000 of chickpeas to Vancouver Neighbourhood Food Networks. These visually imperfect, but otherwise completely consumable legumes couldn’t be sold through Grain’s regular channels, so the company wanted to make sure they go to feed those in need. Monday at Little Mountain Neighbourhood House is the Newcomers Community Kitchen; Tuesday is Seniors Lunch at Kits Neighbourhood House; Thursday at Cityview Church is the Open Table Lunch; Friday at Little Mountain is the Community Meal…
Author: Cassandra Anderton
Blossoms and Beer at the Abbotsford Tulip Festival and Field House Brewing Abbotsford has been growing rapidly recently, and the city is attracting many new and very cool businesses and festivals! We recently ventured out for the Abbotsford Tulip Festival (which runs until May 1, 2016) and stopped in for some craft beer and a locally sourced pop-up dinner at Field House Brewing. The area is known for its farmland, and while the Abbotsford Tulip Festival is seasonal, many farms and attractions are open year round; check the Circle Farm Tour website for touring suggestions. Be sure to mark your calendar for…
Mother’s Day Gifts Global TV asked us to suss out some items that won’t break the bank for Mother’s Day and we delivered! You don’t have to cheap out when it comes to Mother’s Day! You can find some great buys around, all less than (mostly) $30. Just remember to buy something that your mother may not spoil herself with. No ironing boards! Oxo French Press – 4 Cup $39 (Cook Culture) Salt Spring Coffee and Mug Purdy’s Mother’s Day Chocolate $21 (Purdys) Oxo Good Grips Hand Spiralizer $20 (Cook Culture, Well Seasoned Langley) Presidents Choice Cheese Board $10, Natural…
Events in Vancouver We’re back from our Okanagan getaway and seem to have brought the sun back with us! Perfect weather to check out indoor and outdoor events in Vancouver! The Greasy Spoon Vol 14. Featuring Trevor Bird from Fable Kitchen – April 26 An evening affair that will defy your preconceptions of diner food!The Greasy Spoon Diner was conceived by a group of passionate Vancouverites led by Mark Brand who hosts it monthly at his Save On Meats diner. It pairs a chef and his chosen team, often from many other kitchens, alongside a front of house team comprised…
Canadian Cheese stars in a Seafood-based Mac n’ Cheese We’ve always got some sort of Canadian Cheese in our refrigerator and pasta is never complete without a grating of a little extra atop. Last week four top chefs and foodies from across Canada took to the stage in an attempt to create the ultimate comfort food using Canadian cheese, pasta and a little imagination. Alexandra Feswick, Chef de Cuisine at the Drake Hotel in Toronto, today emerged victorious in one of Canada’s highest profile culinary comfort food battles, Dairy Farmers of Canada’s (DFC) Grate Canadian Cheese Cook-Off. With Mac & Cheese again…
Taking Skipper Otto’s Cortes Island Oysters from Ugly to Awesome If you are an oyster lover, you know oysters come in all sizes and shapes. Some are best slurped fresh, right out of the shell, some dressed up with a bit of mignonette, and some of the bigger ones are better in stews or baked. Recently we were offered a sample of Skipper Otto’s Cortes Island oysters, a gnarly bunch of creatures that aren’t exactly supermarket shelf pretty as they cling to each other and are wildly misshapen. However ugly these may be deemed, they are absolutely delicious, and at $9…
Temperatures are rising in Vancouver, but by the weekend should cool off and we may even see some rain, so get out on those patios today and tomorrow! If you love oysters you’ll want to pack your bags for the Okanagan’s Osoyoos Oyster Festival, but there’s plenty to do around town should travel not be on the agenda. Osoyoos Oyster Festival – April 20-24 The oyster festival was created to give oyster farmers a bit of a break, while entertaining locals and visitors in the shoulder season. The weather is always sunny, and just a little bit crisp, and the…
New Zealand Wine Visits Vancouver May 5, 2016 New Zealand is my birthplace and I have returned on far too few occasions and I’m left with a gap in my heart each time of think of my home country. I miss my relatives (four generations are still living as my grandparents are in their 90’s) and all the great food and wine that occurs when we are together. The last time I visited New Zealand I visited many cellar doors in Hawkes Bay where the majority of the extended family lives now, and have been to a few on Waiheke Island, but…
It’s another busy week ahead! What’s Good In This Week in Vancouver? Garagiste North – April 17, 2016 First and foremost, wine lovers need to set this Sunday aside, well at least a few hours of it, to explore the smaller producers of our province. Held at the Wise Hall in East Vancouver, this once a year experience will walk you through the up and comers, and those who just don’t want to go big. Chat with the winemakers and owners and sample some bites for Chicha Vancouver, a wonderful Peruvian spot! TICKETS! Sakura & Sake at Shangri-La’s Market until April…
What to do in April in and around Vancouver We’ve been busy focusing on the positive in Vancouver with the #VancouverIstay project (you’ve checked it out right?) and looking ahead to April there’s even more reason to love what Vancouver has to offer. Garagiste North – April 17, 2016 First and foremost, wine lovers need to set this Sunday aside, well at least a few hours of it, to explore the smaller producers of our province. Held at the Wise Hall in East Vancouver, this once a year experience will walk you through the up and comers, and those who just don’t want…
We Love Vancouver – Join the Vancouver I Stay Team You may have seen my Facebook rants, along with many of my friends, as we are not pleased that our dear city is has been receiving hate mail of late (well at least one Dear John letter). We’ve decided to do something about it and are starting with a bang March 31, 2016! Can we count on adding you to the Vancouver I Stay team? [vsw id=”tDN_GS0wV5M” source=”youtube” width=”425″ height=”344″ autoplay=”no”] Media coverage: CBC News CKNW Lynda Steele Vancity Buzz The Vancouver Sun The Province CBC Radio (kinda missed the point) 25:40 Vancouver I…
Where to Eat, Stay and Sip – Savour the Good Life in Penticton! We are often in the Okanagan, as my parents, sister and all her crew live in Kelowna and Michael would move to Osoyoos if he could, he loves it so much. So, we often find ourselves in the middle of the valley, traveling to and from destinations and stay a night in Penticton to enjoy some great food and their local craft beer! Where to stay? Barefoot Resort The coolest spot to stay in Penticton is the Barefoot Resort in a Yurt! What’s a yurt you ask? “Most…
Rocky Mountain Flatbread Showcases Local Artisans One of my favourite places to lunch at is Rocky Mountain Flatbread as I am massively addicted to their shrimp sandwich; juicy Ocean Wise shrimp, sunflower sprouts, and tomatoes on their house made bread. I also love the frozen pizzas for a quick meal at home, and the pasta and pizza is excellent. Everything is made from scratch with local and well thought out ingredients, and they are super concerned about being green and looking after their diners as well as the environment. This spring they’ve partnered up with local artisan food providers to bring…
Now that the Easter eggs have been found and you’ve eaten your fair share of turkey or ham, it’s time to turn your thoughts to what is up for this week. Experience Taste Washington There’s still time to book a trip down to Seattle and hit up Taste Washington as it’s this coming weekend! It’s all about Washington wine and food and it’s everything delicious. Purchase your tickets to all of the premier events happening during Taste Washington’s four days – March 31 – April 3, 2016. Tickets for the Grand Tasting*, Red & White Party, The New Vintage and Seminars are…
Osoyoos Oyster Festival Events for 2016 April 20-24 For the fifth year in a row I am heading up to Osoyoos for their annual oyster festival and it’s Michael’s third year! We’re huge fans of bivalves and when they are paired with oyster friendly wines, beers and libations, we love them even more. The oyster festival was created to give oyster farmers a bit of a break, while entertaining locals and visitors in the shoulder season. The weather is always sunny, and just a little bit crisp, and the room rates are reasonable. The youngest oyster shuckers in action above! This year,…
I am not a fan of shopping, unless it’s for food or cooking utensils, but I have a few spots I have found that I can head to and not leave in tears, and that’s basically my current approach to fashion. So, in the hopes of reducing some tears of other non-shoppers out there, I’m sharing a few of my spring finds. I’ve bought a few of these and am coveting the others. These are all body flattering outfits as that is the number one concern around these parts! Here’s my fav’s that work for me right now! [slideshow_deploy id=’34108′]…
What’s Up for Easter Around Vancouver?? We’re staying in town this weekend and I think the theme will be more spring cleaning than bunny hopping, but we’ll likely at least get a brunch in and Tess, Michael and I will be boozing it up on Saturday night at BC Distilled. I mean tasting and evaluation some local spirits. We’ll also be checking out the newest Greek Restaurant in the city – Nammos Estiatorio, I’m thinking there will be some octopus, dolmades and tarama on my plate soon. However, we will fit in at least a few Easter festivities and think you should too. Here’s what’s up for…
Head to Olympic Village For Brunch at The Flying Pig Olympic Village is no longer the ghost town it first was, and now there’s plenty to choose from when it comes to eating out. When it brunch comes to mind, however, we’ve recently been sold on the menu at The Flying Pig. While the name implies a heavy, meaty menu, and there’s plenty of pork should you wish, there’s also lots of lighter fare such as the trout salad that I enjoyed at brunch. The Flying Pig refers to the restaurant as a “nouveau Canadian Bistro”… offering a simple, seasonally inspired…
Butter Celebrates – Rosie Daykin Shares her Fabulous Sweets Butter Celebrates, is bakery owner Rosie Daykin’s second cookbook (Butter Baked Goods was released in 2013) and this time she is sharing a year of celebratory recipes. From Valentine’s Day to New Year’s and everything in between, Daykin has recipes for every festive occasion. If you define celebrations as time with family and friends, full of laughter, love, witty toasts, good music, general chaos and delicious food, as Daykin does, you’ll love this book and the anecdotes that make both a great resource for baking, and an entertaining read. Full of…
Vancouver Events March 21-26, 2016 There’s brilliant sunshine blasting in through our windows today in Vancouver and plenty of distractions that could keep us from our many tasks! Here’s what’s Good This Week March 21. Locals Only Wines, Meads, Spirits and Ciders at Edible Canada Tuesday March 22 Trade: 12:30 – 2:00 | Public: 2:00 – 4:00 An afternoon exploring the diversity & creativity of our coastal producers. Meet the farmers, fermenters and distillers that define our cool climate coastal appellation. Info Ugly Duckling Dinner at Royal Dinette Tuesday, March 22 – Cast-offs, offcuts and scraps considered the “Ugly Ducklings” of the culinary…
