Have (Hope Action Values Ethics) Culinary Society is an amazing culinary training school providing foodservice job training and job placement to individuals in Vancouver who have had many life issues that have made finding work difficult. There are students with mental and physical disabilities, those facing poverty or addiction issues or homelessness. Over the past…
Category: Good Life Samplings
The Urban Tea Merchant Sakura Westcoast Afternoon Tea Service
The Cherry Blossoms are here and Vancouver is celebrating with its very own Cherry Blossom Festival from April 5-28. Although not an official event of the festival, The Urban Tea Merchant has one of the most culinary tempting offerings in honour of the blossom, its Sakura Westcaost Afternoon Tea Service is an ideal way to spend part of an…
Terra Breads Hot Cross Buns
Hot Cross Buns remind me of my childhood. We had them at Easter every year, but they weren’t always my favourite. I hated the ones with the candied and coloured fruit in them and used to pick those out, and preferred the icing over the other strange plastic-like topping some had. Later on in life…
Vancouver Does St. Patrick’s Day
Vancouver makes a big deal of St. Patrick’s Day, so I thought I’d give you some hints on how to celebrate the day locally. Here’s some local, pubs, beers and Irish treats available around town. AND PLEASE NO GREEN BEER. Also check out my article on Daily XY for St. Patrick’s Day Suggestions. Local Irish…
Ensemble Tap Does Brunch
Ensemble Tap is now open for brunch on Saturday and Sunday from 11-2. How could we not jump at the chance to have our breakfast cooked by Top Chef Canada, Dale Mackay? Mackay actually remains an approachable and down to earth chef, despite the fact that he has certainly garnered enough attention in the last while…
Prestons Dinner (First ImPrestons) with @VanEats
VanEats has once again released a dining package, this time for Prestons in the Coast Coal Harbour. For a mere $21 the restaurant has put together a menu that delivers a lot of bang for your buck – you will not leave hungry. Purchase now on VanEats and use from February 29 to April 29, 2012….
The Urban Tea Merchant Sweetheart Trio for Two
In honour of the month of February and the season of love, Urban Tea Merchant is offering Valentine’s Sweet Tea Services, an ideal way to spend part of an afternoon or early evening. Until the end of February Chef Michael Batoux has created tea infused cakes, fondues and sandwiches for sharing with loved ones; whether…
Suika To Me Deal from VanEats
Suika has partnered again with the boys at VANEATs.ca (see the previous one) for a promotion called #SuikaToMe, an $18 menu running from February 15 – March 31. While Suika is not overly pricey to begin with, this four course menu is an absolute steal. The menu consists of salmon carpaccio, beef filet steak, oxtail ramen soup and…
San Pellegrino Almost Famous Chef Competitor Hans Berg
Last week a few of us curious food-loving types ventured to the Arts Institute to meet Hans Berg, the British Columbia competitor for the S.Pellegrino Almost Famous Chef 2012 regional championships taking place in Toronto on January 30, 2012. This is one of the 10 regional events that bring together culinary schools to compete for one winning…
Recommended #Dineout at Raincity Grill – On Until Feb. 12
With another week left for the official Dine Out Vancouver (on until February 5), there’s still time to book a few restaurants for the $18, $28 and $38 three-course menus. Over at Raincity Grill Chef Jennifer Peters is cooking up the Dine Out menu at $38 until February 12, giving you another week to enjoy her…
Recommended – #Dineout at C Restaurant – On Until Feb. 12
Dine Out Vancouver runs until February 5, 2012, and while many of the most ideal times may be booked, there are still seats to be had around town, even some left at the more popular spots such as C Restaurant, who have conveniently extended their Dine Out menu until February 12. Located at the foot…
Urban Tea Merchant Year of The Dragon Afternoon Tea Service
To honour the Year of the Dragon The Urban Tea Merchant is offering a unique afternoon tea service in their downtown location at 1070 West Georgia Street, Vancouver. From January 16 – January 31 Chef Michael Batoux has crafted tea infused items, along with some versions of the traditionally served items and there is even…
Recommended – Dine Out Vancouver Preview Society/glowbal/Sanafir
While it might be the time of year many are cutting back on dining out, post holiday indulgence, once you look over the Dine Out Vancouver menus for many of the restaurants around town you’ll be certain to at least be tempted to book a few. With three course dinners priced at $18, $28 and $38 there’s…
Sun Peaks Resort Winter Wine Festival 2011 – Flash Back
If you are a wine lover and an outdoors-man/woman, Sun Peaks is the place to be in the next few weeks. From January 14-22 the village offers wine seminars, dinners and tastings in various restaurants and bars around the mountain, and the skiing, snow shoeing and sleigh rides are all worth discovering. Deals on accommodations are icing on…
#Giveaway – #Contest #Win Rogue Kitchen and Wetbar – CONTEST OVER
CONTEST CLOSED – CONGRATS @DAINTYSECRET (Anna) on the win. Care to win a $100 Gift Certificate to Rogue Wet Bar? MUST DO BOTH! 1) Follow and RT 2) Comment on this post as to what item you’d order if you won the cert. My review of Rogue below….. Also note a great gift…
House Wine Wines of Australia Tasting
It’s wine tasting season in Vancouver, an annual occurrence as the fall weather sets in and the local grape harvest is underway. On October 1 the house wine ladies, two of my favourite local wine educators and writers, hosted Dishing Up With Australia at the Vancouver Museum. Actually Michelle Bouffard, half the house wine team, was away,…
Suika Me Silly
Suika, an Izakaya on Broadway near Fir, has partnered up with VANEATs.ca for a promotion called #SuikaMeSilly, a $16 menu running from Oct 1-31. VanEats asked me to preview the tasting menu and post my thoughts. I had been meaning to go to Suika, the sister restaurant to Kingyo Izakaya, one of Vancouver’s top Izakaya’s on Denman Street….
Escape to Whistler
Before winter sets in and hats, mitts, scarves and thermal underwear take up the majority of your luggage, there is still time for one last fall escape to Whistler. Stay Nita Lake Lodge Newly built in 2008, this 77-suite boutique hotel overlooks Nita Lake at the base of Whistler Mountain. At this time of year,…
Westjet World Class Bistro at the PNE
While the PNE is usually known for it’s crazy take on food items such as this year’s deep fried pop tarts, and the usual fair snacks including corn dogs, burgers, and mini donuts, there are a few gourmet items to be had. This year’s menu at the Westjet World Class Bistro is worth trying out (SCROLL…
Culinary Escapes to Salt Spring Island
No matter what the season, there are always great culinary experiences to be had on Salt Spring Island. I’ve been heading over there for the past two years for the Chef’s Across the Water dinners at Hastings House, which have been fabulous, each time. There are still two dates left on September 12 and October 3 for…
