Happy Planet’s Nut Smoothies Make Mornings Sweet I’ve just returned from California and had the most spectacular time with plenty of amazing food and wine, and now it’s time to getting back into my home routine. When I travel breakfast can be anything from just a cup of coffee, a muffin on the go, or a full sit down meal with the works (yesterday I even had shrimp and grits), but now that I’m back home I have to get back to my routine as I am focusing on my increasing the nutritional value in my meals and need to drop…
Author: Cassandra Anderton
Wedding Count Down Is On After attending the wedding of my very good friends this past weekend, I am suddenly acutely aware that I better get planning my own! We’re going to be covering a few things in our new wedding count down series. My amazing friend, Summer Dhillon, looked like royalty alongside her king, Patrick Giesbrecht, and I am sure she had a few facials and make-up sessions along the way, and I had better ask her for some pre-wedding advice soon, but I fear I need far more sprucing, and I’ve got to put a plan in place. There…
Vancouver Icon Bin 941 Shines On I was a devotee to the Bins back in the day, both 941 and 942, and had many a first, and a few last, dates there. These were the first real tapas-style dining opportunities outside a few of the Spanish and Greek options that existed at the time. Owner and Chef Gord Martin took home many a restaurant award and chefs as amazing as Tina Fineza assisted on menu design and made the place legendary. Recently we revisited Bin 941 (Bin 942 closed a while ago) and I was a little shocked to find out…
Happy Planet Grab And Go Single-Serving Soup We’ve often thrown a bag of Happy Planet Soup into our grocery bag for those times when we don’t have time to cook from scratch. Squash and cashew with coconut, tumeric and cinnamon is a favourite and we’ll usually grill up some cheese bread to complete our meal and pop open a beer or two as well. Now it’s even easier to sup on soup even if you’re solo, or perahaps if your partners in the mood for one soup and you another, as Happy Planet has just released the Grab & Go single…
Testing Out The New CND Beauty Collections Last fall I discovered Onyx Aesthetics Studio at 425 Abbott Street in Gastown and was thrilled (yes nails thrill me!) to return for the unvailing of a new collection of my favourite nail polish brand, CND. CND has the Shellac Brand, which tend to last about 2 weeks and the home Vinylux weekly polish. If you are in the salon there’s no reason not to get the Shellac, especially since you can take it off a home if you are patient with their nail polish removal system. This does takes patience, and I have…
A Round Up Of What’s Good In March around Vancouver VIFF presents Crushed Her father’s death brings Elliot back to the family home and business, a 100-year-old vineyard on the brink of bankruptcy. Here, she unravels the mystery of his death by facing her own traumatic past. The film explores themes of loss, memory, and renewal, while paralleling the disintegration of a family with the corporate abuse of a landscape. This “environmental thriller” has been enthusiastically received by juries and audiences alike, screening at the Montreal, Napa Valley and Melbourne Underground film festivals. Friday March 11th at 6:30 PM -…
Hopcott Farms Expands Retail Space Family-run Hopcott Farms opened their retail space in 2006 and has now increased it’s Pitt Meadow facilities to a total of 7,700 meat-filled feet! We never miss the chance to stock up on grass-fed beef, meat pies, sausages, bone broth and pepperoni if we are passing through, or even near Pitt Meadows, and now we can stop in for lunch as well. We sampled menu items and toured the facilities in January and wish we lived closer! The Hopcott’s are now providing even more healthy “pick up and go’ dinner options, and there’s a bistro focused…
International Women’s Day – Industry Insiders This International Women’s Day, L’Abattoir invites guests to their private dining space for an empowering panel discussion between some of the leading ladies of Vancouver’s hospitality industry. Moderated by L’Abattoir’s Assistant General Manager and Wine Director, Lisa Haley, guests will include Andrea Carlson (Owner/Chef, Burdock & Co.), Kimberly Hall (Restaurant Manager, Hawksworth), Lauren Mote (Owner/Operator Bittered Sling, Bar Manager Cibo Trattoria and UVA Wine & Cocktail Bar), Karri Schuermans (Owner, Chambar), Jill Spoor (Wine Director, Fairmont Pacific Rim), and Meeru Dhalwala (Co-owner/Chef Vij’s and Rangoli). These high-profile women will discuss the challenges they’ve faced in getting to where they…
Maybe this is the year that we watch The Oscars, or at least the red carpet part. There’s many a house party we’ve heard and if you’re invited to one, perfect, if not there’s still a few spots around town to celebrate. Oscar Party at El Camino’s Catch the Academy Awards during El Camino’s annual Oscar Party on Sunday, February 28, from 3 – 8 pm. Oscar-themed fun will take centre stage during the soiree, including rousing games of Oscar Bingo. Food and drink specials will be offered (including a Bocadillo and a Pacifico for $12). And of course — the…
The Bagels are ready .. are you? Bagel Chase combines two of my favourite things; running (well sort of) and bagels (TOTALLY). I did a few laps last year and will head out on the course once again this year for at least one on Sunday! Bagel Chase is on Saturday, February 27th and Sunday the 28th and raises funds for the Backpack Buddies program! REGISTER. Siegel’s Bagels. We wouldn’t be the Bagel Chase, if you didn’t get a bagel. So when you first check in, have a bagel on the house. Vancouver Running Company. As runners, we can never have too much…
Slow Cooker Recipes to the Rescue I try to have something in the fridge or freezer that can be reheated for the nights where I get home later or don’t feel like cooking, but if I am really orgainzed I can plan ahead and have my slow cooker do most of the work. Hence I seek out new slow cooker recipes. Last year I switched to a new slow cooker, one that is also a pressure cooker, rice cooker and yogurt maker! I’ve yet to get through all the functions. The Lux Electric Multi-Cooker from Fagor is my new favourite cooking appliance,…
Plan Your Financial Future with TD Bank’s TD Your Story, Your Future Seminars While we often talk only of food, travel and fun on the Good Life Vancouver, one can’t live very much of a good life without a thought towards finances. I partnered up with TD Wealth to help shine some light on this more serious topic and attended a seminar recently. When it comes to finances, are you prepared for the future? Do you have a financial plan and have specific goals set out? Many people don’t and it’s difficult to know where to start and for women this…
Revlon Nutri Color Creme Brightens Up Dullying Color I like my hair black and it’s been that way for a while, but in the summer I lived a little on the wild side added some red streaks and loved it. Below is my Selfology Hair colour and style, read more about that here as it was a great afternoon at the salon. So now it’s my new thing to throw in some colour and it’s easy to keep up with Revlon Nutri Color Creme. My latest trip was to Salon Haze, which is in my hood on Broadway (Shop West Broadway) and fabulous. Loretta…
When asked what Michael wanted for Valentine’s Day sweets, he asked for Snickerdoodles. I think it’s just because it’s such a fun thing to say. They are basically just a sugar cookie dipped in sugar and cinnamon, and very easy to make, as well. You can refridgerate or freeze the dough too. It has a bit more baking soda in it that regular butter cookies so they puff a bit. Snickerdoodles (or Snickerdoodleydoos if you so choose to call) 2 3/4 cups all purpose flour 1/2 tsp salt 2 tsps baking powder 1 cup butter, room temperature 1 1/2 cups…
There’s lots Cooking at the BC Home and Garden Show Real advice. Real inspiration. Real experts. The BC Home and Garden Show is the most trusted resource for every home improvement project, inside and out. Get no-nonsense advice from Canada’s favourite home, horticulture and landscaping specialists including HGTV’s Bryan Baeumler and Carson Arthur, lifestyle expert Leigh-Ann Allaire Perrault and designer Amanda Forrest. Catch in-depth seminars and live demos from Vancouver’s culinary masters, and visit more than 425 exhibitors and features that are sure to whip any home or garden into shape. There’s innovation, inspiration and expert advice at every turn. www.bchomeandgardenshow.com…
Canadian Lentils with Sausage, Spinach and Veggies The United Nations has declared 2016 the International Year of Pulses (IYP). Canada is one of the world’s largest pulse producing nations, growing lentils, beans, peas, and chickpeas. In celebration of IYP, Chef Michael Smith and Canadian Lentils invited Canadian bloggers and foodies to submit a pitch video featuring our own signature lentil recipe, and I threw my recipe and video in the ring. If I win I will be invited for an all-expenses paid trip to Prince Edward Island (where I’ve been dying to go!). AND in Chef Michael Smith’s test kitchen I’ll get to…
Lunar New Year Tea Service We’ve been up in Kelowna for Gold Medal Plates and getting around to taste some of the new restaurants up there, but before we left got a preview of the Lunar New Year Tea Service at Urban Tea Merchant and would recommend you get there too. Asian-inspired savouries and sweets are decoratively are being served to honour of the Year of the Monkey at Urban Tea Merchant until February 29, 2016. We loved this tasting with TWG Tea’s Jasmine Monkey King Tea, and recommend you sample a few of their fragrant selections. Go with good friends and…
One more day until Kelowna where the mystery bottle of wine is revealed! Chef Jan Trittenbach has been here before and he’s back. Now at Soltice Seasonal Cuisine in Edmonton, his answers follow. Tell us a little bit about your restaurant and/or style of cooking. We are a small boutique restaurant with 40 seats. We change our menu every three month with the focus on seasonal ingredients. What would be your ideal food day? For breakfast fresh croissants from the bakery around the corner with home made jam, cheeses and dry cured meats. For dinner a cheese fondue with…
Just a few days before Gold Medal Plates in Kelowna. Next interview? Stuart Cameron from Patria, Byblos (Miami & Toronto) and STORYS. Tell us a little bit about your restaurant and/or style of cooking. : Patria is a Spanish tapas restaurant that follows the traditional flavours of Spanish cuisine. At this restaurant, we focus on importing only the best ingredients directly from Spain with a marriage of local produce that Canada is known for. Byblos represents a marriage of Eastern Mediterranean cuisine with strong influences from both traditional and local ingredients. At this restaurant, we focus on using classic cooking techniques and…
We are now counting the days until Gold Medal Plates Culinary Championships in Kelowna. . Tell us a little bit about your restaurant and/or style of cooking. We are a casual dining spot in the vibrant neighborhood, Osborne Village, focusing on International flavors hoping to represent the multicultural heritage of Winnipeg. Where do you eat in your city? Kum Koon Garden on my day off for dim sum, and Deer + Almond when I feel I deserve something extra special What would be your ideal food day? A pot luck Filipino fiesta eating and drinking with reckless abandon What…
