Some things we’re excited about and think you should be too It’s a rainy August day and I’m so happy to have one. Let’s hope this weather calms the flames flaring around our precious province and helps bring the gardens back to life. I want to crawl back to bed, but if I put one foot in front of the other today, I may end the day on a higher note. Anyone else exhausted from hearing about the insanity resulting mainly from the idiocy brought on by anti-vaxxesrs and anti-maskers? It’s a very scary world out there. Stay safe and…
Author: cassandra
BC Blueberries Star in this Basque Cheesecake by Chef Justin Witcher of Como Taperia They’re back! Celebrate Fresh BC Blueberries with #GoBlueBC Celebrate the arrival of fresh BC Blueberries in British Columbia by visiting GoBlueBC.ca. Win Amazing #GoBlueBC Prizes from White Spot and BC Ferries with their GoBlueBC.ca until August 2nd, 2021. Sponsored by White Spot and Triple O’s, enter for a chance to win a total of $1,000 in gift cards to White Spot and Triple O’s! On August 3rd, one British Columbian will win this special prize to try out the seasonal BC Blueberry offerings at both restaurants!…
Keep Cool with Yuzu Citrus Cold Brew Granita This is a super easy dessert, great at brunch or for a mid-afternoon pick up! Recipe courtesy of Presidents Choice. Makes: 9 cups (2.25 L) Course type: Dessert Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 5 minutes Chill time: 4 hours Ready in: 4-1/2 hours This refreshing Italian-inspired dessert is a lazy cook’s dream. Simply heat the cold brew with sugar to dissolve, pour it into a baking dish and let your freezer do its thing – you’ll give it a good rake with a fork every once in a while, but other…
BC Blueberries Star in this Summer Salad by White’s Spots Chef James Kennedy They’re back! Celebrate Fresh BC Blueberries with #GoBlueBC Celebrate the arrival of fresh BC Blueberries in British Columbia by visiting GoBlueBC.ca. Win Amazing #GoBlueBC Prizes from White Spot and BC Ferries with their GoBlueBC.ca until August 2nd, 2021. Sponsored by White Spot and Triple O’s, enter for a chance to win a total of $1,000 in gift cards to White Spot and Triple O’s! On August 3rd, one British Columbian will win this special prize to try out the seasonal BC Blueberry offerings at both restaurants! Enter…
July 24 is National Tequila Day why not fiesta it up a notch with Espolon Tequila? As if you needed an excuse to celebrate this Saturday with summer in full swing and the city coming alive in all its post-pandemic glory – it’s also National Tequila Day! Turn this weekend’s fiesta up a notch with Espolon Tequila tequila-topped cocktails. Order at your fave bar or whip up a batch for you and your friends to enjoy at home! Whether you opt for an elegant Grand Margarita or a refreshing Espaloma, these cocktail recipes look to recreate the timelessness of classic tequila cocktails but with a…
A Few Happenings Around Town and in the Fields to Keep You Busy This Summer We headed up to the Okanagan last night and drove through a thick blanket of smoke, just past Merritt and well into Kelowna. Our thoughts are with all that have been evacuated and are on alert and we are devastated thinking about all the wildlife and agricultural and forest that this beast has consumed. It’s a nasty situation. I have a few suggestions for those that can travel or take advantage of a few online happenings this week. Celebrate Fresh BC Blueberries with #GoBlueBC and…
Acura combines comfort, roominess, power, and style in the Acura MDX 2022 If you are looking for vehicle that accommodates your whole crew in style, or need that extra cargo space, but don’t want to give up power, the Acura MDX is fully loaded and ready to be your ride. We tested this three-row, luxury vehicle out on a trip out to White Rock and around the city this spring and were impressed with the updates on this quality SUV. The new Acura MDX now has a ten-speed transmission with paddle shifters, as opposed to the previous nine-speed, with a…
Mexican Food Elevated at Alimentaria Mexicana News from the newest opening today, Alimentaria Mexicana – GLV Mexican-Canadian Chef and Entrepreneur Ernesto Gomez and his team of creative collaborators behind the beloved Chancho Tortilleria, Nuba and former Fayuca are taking guests on an early sensory tour of things to come at the groundbreaking new cultural-culinary experience Alimentaria Mexicana by softly opening its cantina and patio in the heart of Granville Island. In partnership with Director/Partner Darragh McFeely and Chef/Partner Martin Vargas, Gomez’s latest undertaking occupies the expansive former Edible Canada space and offers an authentic cultural and culinary experience that proudly…
A few things on our radar these days Provence Marinaside’s Lobster Fest with Tantalus Vineyards Whether you prefer them steamed, grilled, boiled or sautéed, fresh Atlantic lobster is superb. For the rest of July, you can indulge your crustacean passion as Provence Marinaside presents its annual Lobster Festival Menu – this year paired with wines from award-winning Tantalus Vineyards in the Okanagan. This special two-course dinner is value-priced at $72. Wine Director Joshua Carlson has thoughtfully paired wines from Tantalus to complement each dish. The optional pairing is available as a regular or petit pour. If guests don’t wish to…
A few things to eat, drink and do this week The temperature is a little less insane this weekend, so I actually feel a little more motivated to get out and do something. Here’s a few things that might appeal for those staying in and heading out. Order up some beer and pies from The BeerVan collection or The Pie Hole, sip on some Blue Grouse apertif and register for brunch class at The Dirty Apron. Currently drinking? Wolf & Grouse Aperitif from Blue Grouse Wines Meet your new summer companion, Wolf & Grouse Aperitif from Blue Grouse Wines. This…
Penticton’s Laughing Stock Winery Summer Release In 2003 Laughing Stock Vineyard Founders David and Cynthia Enns left their lives in the financial industry and invested heavy in the wine industry. Some perceived them as the “Laughing Stock” in the group for this risky decision, and hence the name as their financial peers did not feel they made the wisest of moves. David had already started as a true ‘garagiste’ winemaker in 2001 creating beautiful vintages of small batch, hand-crafted wines with fruit sourced from some of the best vineyards in Washington State. He augmented his knowledge with various courses and…
S.Pellegrino® Announces Chef Collective Initiative in Support of Canadian Restaurants and the Future of Canada’s Culinary Community We got a sneak peak of a couple menu items on offer at Hawksworth and L’Abattoir this weekend and encourage you to choose to dine out to support the culinary community from June 30-July 4. Hawksworth, L’Abattior, Say Mercy, Boulevard, Mackenzie Room and Como Taperia in Vancouver are serving up special menus and S. Pellegrino will donate $100,000 to three hospitality charities to support our restaurants future. We cooked along with instructions from Chef David Hawskworth and created the cured wild sockeye salmon tartare…
Things to keep you cool this week Our friends have done the smart thing and checked into an airconditioned hotel and were last seen at happy hour at Boulevard, so let’s just start right there as it’s a good a place as any. Boulevard Happy Hour Whether you just drop in some quick oysters and a glass of bubble or grab a beer and wings, this little menu has a little something for everyone. AND it’s available on the weekend, which is great for those of us who don’t get off work until after 5 pm during the week. Available…
What I’m thinking about today Again, the heat? Yep, it’s another scorcher, so I’m in the coolest part of the apartment, my “office”. I had some time to share a few more good things today, so here’s what I’m currently craving. Stanley Park Brewing Passion Fruit Sour We ran through the summer beers at Stanley Park Brewing this week and one of the standouts for me was the Passion Fruit Sour. Sours are super refreshing and perfect for this heat. This is a Sour Weisse brewed with North American Crystal hops and a blend of wheat and barley malt, and it’s…
Things I stopped scrolling for this week Anyone else slightly warm this week and feeling their productivity plummet? So much for housework this weekend, not that that is ever much of a priority here. If anyone has a spare hotel room with air con, and a pool, we’re here for it. At 10 a.m. it’s already 26 degrees and I’m between two fans, spending a fair amount of time lethargically scrolling through Instagram reels wondering why people are changing outfits to a ridiculous song about oral sex (seriously people, did you hear those lyrics?), and flipping through cookbooks and magazines…
Veuve Clicquot sails into Summerland Who would have imagined that France would come to the Okanagan this summer? Summerland’s OAK Estate winery and Veuve Clicquot Collaborate for a Picture-Perfect Picnic July 10th! Tickets here. From the release – Summer is here and one of the best things about the season is eating alfresco, especially a picturesque picnic with friends and family. Enjoy a rare opportunity to picnic in the vineyards of the Okanagan at OAK Estate for Summerland’s Veuve Clicquot in the Vines event. With the return of outdoor gatherings, OAK Estate in Summerland is pleased to partner with prestige…
Chef Chris Lam reopens Straight and Marrow restaurant and cocktail bar with ambitious new menu of nose-to-tail dishes and signature libations from bar manager Chad Rivard After a 10-week hiatus, East Vancouver eatery Straight and Marrow has officially reopened its doors for indoor dining with a fresh selection of adventurous, meat-forward menu items and handcrafted signature cocktails. The intimate neighbourhood restaurant and cocktail bar, which does not have an outdoor dining space, temporarily suspended service on March 29 when B.C.’s COVID-19 circuit breaker lockdown measures came into effect. Throughout the closure period, Straight and Marrow chef and owner Chris Lam and…
Mission Hill Family Estate offers special meals and wine tastings to brighten the seasons ahead It’s time to start visiting wineries again and Mission Hill Family Estate is always on our to do list. Don’t miss lunch or dinner at the winery. From the release: Mission Hill Family Estate’s tastings and experience collections showcase exquisitely crafted wines, thoughtful food pairings, and renowned architecture. This season, guests can choose from two different wine tastings, or three different food and wine-paired experiences. In addition, the winery’s onsite Terrace Restaurant offers a two-course lunch or four-course dinner menus. The al fresco dining oasis…
Feed your Dad something delicious this Father’s Day BURGERLAND SMASH-UP ‘Big Smash’ Father’s Day Kits The hot new one-stop-Smashburger-Kit-stop known as Burgerland Smash Up is giving Vancouver a unique, family friendly way to show the burger-loving dads in their lives the love for Father’s Day by launching a new Big Mac-inspired ‘Big Smash’ Kit. Available for a limited time beginning Sunday, June 12 for pickup or delivery from Uber Eats and Doordash, each Big Smash Kit includes everything Dads need to replicate the iconic burger at home, in the park or on the beach. The all-in-one Kits include all the…
Street Food Series, featuring Kula and Elbo Patties at Coho Collective Experience an Afro-Vegan cookout from June 25 to 26, 2021 as Coho Collective launches its second Street Food Series, a collaboration between commissary members Kula and Elbo Patties. Located just outside Coho Coffee (1370 East Georgia Street), enjoy summer vibes with BBQ-style eats such as Soul Bowls, plant-based Jamaican patties, and mini donuts. The community will have the chance to meet Kula’s Asha Wheeldon, Elbo Patties’ Chris Boreland, and the team from Coho. The Coho x Kula x Elbo Patties menu features: Soul Bowl – Mac & Cheeze and…
