While we have many talented chefs on the scene today, not every chef can mentor our future chefs, ensuring that talent is spread, futher developed and not lost. Over the years Chef Jefferson Alvarez, most recently cooking at Secret Location, and now scouting for a location of his own , has taken many eager chefs under his wing and sent them on to further their culinary education overseas. This Friday Chef Alvarez is collaborating with one of his past students, Chef Chanthay Yen, on what is sure to be a most unique and delicious dining experienc at The Aviary in East Van . Chanthay, under Alvarez’s…
Author: Cassandra Anderton
It’s new year and we are going to do some Vancovuer Events weekly picks each Monday (or as close to Monday as I can make it happen). I just got back from a brisk walk home from watching Fly Over Canada (on the to do for this week as tomorrow is the last day) and enjoyed another great happy hour at Joe Fortes (with a lot less happy than I usually imbibe in as I’m drinking less this year). I’m back checking email and getting organized. Wowza there’s so much to do this year and week and I’m loving it. #letsdothis January 5 -…
In 2015 I certainly didn’t get to all the restaurants I wanted to (who could) and I wished I had more time to cook at home, however I read through my fair share of cookbooks, magazines and menus. We’ve come up with a list of what we think will be hot this year and what we’ll be experimenting more with at home. Here’s our Food Trends For 2016 predictions. Veggies Vegetables are an increasingly important part of meals and often a meal in themselves. Jam packed with vitamins, minerals and fiber, these are the key to good health. As our population ages, health…
Well I hope y’all had a fantastic holiday season with lots of love and treats and some downtime too! We had a rather scary start with Michael’s Dad having to have some heart surgery just before the holidays, but thankfully it all went well and he was even able to enjoy some festivities. It certainly gave us cause to pause and put out few thank yous to the universe, and we had a few thoughts about our own health as well. We traveled up to Kelowna for Christmas with my family and had a beautiful white Christmas, with lots of great food…
I’m still being asked about where to go and what to do for New Year’s Eve. We’ll be home enjoying our newest slow cooker and a recipe for lamb tangine I’ve giving a spin. Probably a few amazing beers and a good movie or two. The plan is to hit the cycles first thing the next day. Please wish me willpower. But, if we weren’t…… UVA Wine & Cocktail Bar UVA will show off its spunky side on December 31 when it transforms into Gotham City, a mainstay of DC Comics. Throughout the night, The James Danderfer Jazz Trio will perform…
How are you feeling about the holidays? We’re a little tired over here, but still have some energy to round out the season with some of the sites and scenes we missed while celebrating in the Okanagan. If you are quick you can have some more holiday fun too! The Nutcracker Ballet BC Set in turn-of-the-century Imperial Russia, an era noted for its opulent grandeur, this extravagant production displays more than a million dollars in stunning sets and costumes; including more than 100 children from local dance schools, mice dressed as Cossack soldiers, and snowflakes dressed as Russian princesses. This…
Having just returned from a rather difficult, but rewarding class at The Dailey Method, I’m reflecting on my last few months of stops and starts in the endless battle for fitness and health so I can plan for success in 2016. There’s also only ONE DAY LEFT to win the 3 month PLUS 1 month membership for a friend, to this excellent barre and cylce studio based in both Kitsilano and Dunbar, so if you haven’t entered, do so! a Rafflecopter giveaway I was off to a good start, going every second day for the first month. My cardio was improving,…
We love getting out from the city, especially during bland winter days; often just for a night. We’ll take an easy drive out to Harrison Mills head to Pretty Estate’s and check in to Rowena’s Inn on the River. The Pretty Family still runs this majestic estate, their history in the area dates back to the 1800s. The family’s manor has been converted into a bed and breakfast and several cabins are scattered throughout the property. In the summer golf is popular, as the property is home to Sandpiper Golf Course, but we prefer to go when it gets a bit…
We’ve been waiting for this for Avocado Egg Nog Recipe from Drinks Undressed for a while. Bartender Justin Darnes mixed up our avocado cocktails at the Avocado Showdown and he’s been at it again with the Vegan Avocado Egg Nog with Avocados from Mexico! Very appropriate for this time of year. [vsw id=”mnW8xMoEEgA” source=”youtube” width=”425″ height=”344″ autoplay=”no”] VEGAN EGG NOG!!!!!DRINKS UNDRESSED CHRISTMAS SPECIAL.PLEASE SHARE THE GIFT OF EGG NOG THIS CHRISTMAS. Chill all ingredients before you begin. In a Blender ADD. 6oz Brandy (or Rum if you prefer) 1000ml Soy Milk 8 Dried Figs 1 Avocado from Mexico 2oz Maple…
Sometimes your whole body needs the spa, and sometimes it’s just your head. We are always worrying about how our hair looks, but often overlook the actual scalp. At SELFOLOGY, on South Granville, the team is addressing the scalp itself, in addition to your hair and the rest of you, with a specific scalp treatment. The Selfology Hairstyling & Scalp Detox Head Spa is a 90 minute treatment with a head massage and treatment with a specific oil that addresses the source of healthy hair, the scalp. This salon is one of my favourite places to be, just walking in relaxes me, and…
Have you finished your holiday shopping? If the answer is no, I have a solution for you. I belong to a wonderful group of women who work very hard during the year volunteering for Les Dames d’Escoffier. Les Dames d’Escoffier is a society of professional woman whose purpose is to promote the understanding, appreciation and knowledge of food, wine and hospitality. We raise funds for scholarships for women in these fields and support children’s education through our partnerships with Growing Chefs and Project Chef. When we are not doing this, we are working very hard at our own projects, and many of these…
This holiday season, Best Buy Canada is making it easy for you to get rid of those old electronics and opt for brand new devices! Best Buy’s Trade-In program is an easy and affordable way to treat yourself or give anyone on your holiday list what they really want – a new smartphone! It’s simple! All you have to do is find a store near you, bring in your gently used device and trade it in for a Best Buy Canada gift card. Estimate value: Choose from the Trade-In categories listed online to estimate your product value. The age, condition…
While there’s much to do in Vancouver during the holiday season, there’s a certain special vibe across the straight, in Victoria. I nipped over for a few night’s in November for a sneak peak of the Magnolia Hotel & Spa’s Christmas in Victoria package, available until January 2. Why not leave the car at home and fly over on the Helijet as flights start at $159 this time of year and they’ll drop you off at the hotel if you ask nicely (kids under 12 yrs fly for free)! There’s so much to do downtown this time of year, and you can…
We’ve given you gift suggestions for food lovers on Global TV and in BC Living, and now we are cruising throught the aisles at Best Buy for some more great ideas for those wishing to live the good life in 2016. Our vacuum cleaner sucks, or actually doesn’t suck enough, so we’re thinking the Dyson V6 Absolute Cordless Stick Vacuum is not only a space saver, but the perfect way to clean up holiday parties. Equipped with two floor cleaning heads and a soft-roller cleaner head, the Dyson V6 picks up fine and large debris from hard floors. $649.99 We’ve mentioned this…
There will be many an avocado on our table this holiday season and we went to pinterest to get some ideas. There were some seriously odd recipes, such as Grinch Guac, but there were some serious keepers too! Here’s our Avocado Recipes for the Holidays suggestions to get those healthy Avocados From Mexico in your belly! From Yummy Mummy Kitchen – Harvest Apple Salad with Avocado and Pomegranate From Whole New Mom – Chocolate Avocado Truffles From Bob Vivant – Roast Potatos with Smoked Trout and Avocado From Half Baked Harvest Turkey Smashed Avocado Cranberry Waffle Melts From Whats Gaby Cooking -…
Strange that I would write about finances you think? While food has always been my focus, I graduated from Business and worked in Finance for over fifteen years. I’ve worked at independent and bank-run brokerages, taken the Canadian Investment Manager (CIM) course and even passed the first year of the Chartered Financial Analyst before moving on to marketing in investor relations. Eventually I realized I needed to get out of the office and stop working 9 to 5 (or 5 to 2 as it would often be!) and am now happily dishing and marketing things closer to my heart than stocks, bonds and mutual…
We love Nigella and Nigella loves avocados! With the launch of her latest cookbook, Simply Nigella, comes many new and exciting recipes. We had the chance to chat with Nigella when she was in Vancouver on her book tour and you’ll hear snippets of the interview soon! In the meantime our post on Avocados from Mexico, celebrates this great new cookbook (perfect for holiday gift giving too) with three of our favourite recipes from the book, a rice bowl, salmon salad and lettuce wraps! Be sure to get those avocados with the Avocados from Mexico sticker! Shrimp and avocado lettuce…
What do you get that person in your life who lives for the latest kitchen gadget, best bottle of wine or the ultimate cookbook? I spent some time in cook shops and snooped around many a kitchen to come up with the list for gifts for foodies this year. Here’s the details that I presented on Global TV for 2015. Give and you shall receive! There’s more suggestions on BC Living as I just couldn’t fit them all in. Thanks to Elsa Corsi from Jeweliette Jewelry for the amaze bling that I wore and to Salon Haze and Revlon for my hair and Onyx and CND for…
Chef Ned Bell is all about sustainable seafood and is devoted to spreading the word about chosing Ocean Wise products. If we want to continue having healthy seas, this really is the only choice. At Yew Restaurant + Bar the menu is heavy on the seafood and one of the items we’ve tasted and loved are these Dungeness Crab Tacos. Our friends Avocados From Mexico are also featured in this recipe, which is wonderful paired up with a glass of BC Riesling. Dungeness Crab Tacos SERVES 2 (3 small tacos) Ingredients: Juice and zest of 1 lime, divided 2 tbsp (30…
Pairing of Local Pork Terrine with Foxtrot Vineyards’ Pinot Noir Earns Chef Coveted Title as BC Representative PR NEWS – Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar Executive Chef Alex Chen set the gold standard at the 10th annual Gold Medal Plates in Victoria, BC Thursday night, winning the top regional spot among 10 chefs selected to compete in the prestigious culinary competition and earning the right to represent BC at the Canadian Culinary Championships in Kelowna, BC Feb. 5-6, 2016. Chen’s pairing of Local Heritage Warm Pork Terrine, ‘Head to Tail’ Chestnuts, Foie Gras, Perigord Truffles and Umami Jus with Foxtrot Vineyards’ 2012 ‘Henricsson Vineyard’ Pinot Noir from…
