Favourite Cookbooks From This Year’s Crop I’ve read over 100 cookbooks this year in some form of another and am truly addicted to them and count about 800 in my library that I recently had arranged in a manner that they actually make sense! I pour over these books, reading the stories behind the recipes and sometimes even getting the time to cook more than just a few meals from between their covers. Here’s a few that stuck out this year that are worth adding to your library. I may need additional shelves soon. Everyday Dory by Dorie Greenspan Dory Greenspan…
Author: cassandra
Science World Presents A Night Of Cocktails and Canapes This is our first official listing of 2019 and while it seems a way off, we know the new year will roar in and before long January will be gone and we’ll be well into February. Although the general tickets are sold out, there’s still some VIP tickets left to this delicious event. Thursday, February 7, 2019 GENERAL TICKETS – $159 SOLD OUT! You will receive: Open bar with 25 bar stations serving unique cocktails crafted by Vancouver’s best bartenders Access to a variety of special cocktail science activities, hands-on demos and Science World programming…
Presidents Choice Insiders Collection Simplifies Holiday Meals We love to entertain, but often just don’t have time to make everything from scratch. Yes, even though I’m married to a chef and have been cooking all my life, it’s just not possible to do it all, so we have to cheat a bit here and there so we don’t drive ourselves crazy when cooking for larger groups. Presidents Choice has lots of tasty bites this holiday season and we’ve got a few items stocked up so we can feed our guests and also have time to visit with them. Roasted Asparagus…
Goh Ballet’s The Nutcracker runs December 21 – 23 at Queen Elizabeth Theatre We go every year and wouldn’t miss it! See you Saturday night. Last chance to see this year’s dream come to life….With five performances featuring international dance stars, and accompanied by Vancouver Opera Orchestra, Goh Ballet’sThe Nutcracker runs December 21 – 23 at Queen Elizabeth Theatre. It’ll be a stellar 10th anniversary season! But the enchantment and glamour won’t stop there… “A holiday production we can call our own…endlessly entertaining… impossibly pretty” – The Georgia Straight Unique Interactive Activities Join in on holiday festivities with unique interactive activities and photo…
Say Hello to Hundy New Burger Concept Arrives in Kits by AnnaLena’s Michael Robbins & Jeff Parr We sorrily miss Mission, but this makes the pain a little less severe. There’s a new burger spot in Kits and this chef knows burgers (remember Oakwood Bistro’s epic burger?) Creative burger concept, Hundy is set to launch 2042 West 4th Avenue in Kitsilano on December 22nd. From the team that brought you AnnaLena and Their There, Michael Robbins’ and Jeff Parr’s, Hundy is a thoughtful, minimalist approach to burgers and fries. A signature bun and special sauce, and top quality Two Rivers beef blend of brisket and shoulder make up the…
Alex Black and Christina Hartigan Join Wildebeest And We’ve Got Their Drink Recommendations The team behind award-winning Gastown restaurant Wildebeest continues to raise the bar by adding industry stars Alex Black and Christina Hartigan to the roster as Bar Manager and Wine Director, respectively. Scroll down for their holiday drink and wine suggestions. Black brings an award-winning bartending acumen and convivial nature to his new role as Bar Manager, where he will help curate Wildebeest’s innovative list of handcrafted cocktails and display the warmth and skills that recently earned him the 2018 Golden Owl Hospitality Award as Best Vancouver Bar Personality. Originally from Winnipeg, Black adopted Vancouver as his…
Wild Sweets® Cocktail For The Holidays Why not sweeten up your holiday party with a little something special. Mulled wine is so last year. Ingredients: 8 oz / 250 mL Cherry Cocoa Tea (1 bottle) from Wild Sweets® By Dominique & Cindy Duby 1/2 orange flesh (± 45g) 1 pinch Ancho chili powder 1.5 oz French Brandy 3” piece / 3 g Cinnamon stick Procedures: Add all ingredients in a mason type glass jar except for the brandy Heat mixture in microwave to about 80°C, cover with a plastic film to create a vacuum and let infuse for at least 5…
What Drinks To Bring to Holiday Parties Sure cookies and candies are great, but if you really want to be a hit at a party bring some stellar booze to share. Parallel 49 and Central City 2018 “Alpine Adventure Pack” Beer Advent Calendar Parallel 49 Brewing and Central City Brewers and Distillers have another great version of their yearly joint annual beer advent calendar. This year’s version is called the Alpine Adventure Pack and has contain 12 mystery beers from P49 and 12 from Red Racer, with plenty of different styles to please everyone, some new beers and old favourites. Pick up the Alpine Adventure Pack at the Parallel…
Caren McSherry And Her Gourmet Warehouse Are Full Of Culinary Treasures Any cook in the city that knows what’s what has been to Gourmet Warehouse and surely come home with much more that they went for, as there’s just too many good ingredients and tools to play with her. I’m an addict and always leave with something I never thought I needed, but once used, I can’t imagine living without. Caren McSherry is one of the founding members of Les Dames d’Escoffier, an organization of women leaders in food, beverage and hospitality whose mission is education, scholarship and philanthropy and…
Treat Those You Love To Some Self Care This Holiday Season If your friends and family members are always on the go, it may be necessary to give them something that they will be forced to slow down because of. A good book, some beauty treats, a candle, tickets to a play, or a gift certificate to a spa perhaps. Here’s a few things for those gals who need to slow down. The ultimate cleanse & glow trio from dermalogica I use a variety of different skin products, but these three products are always on my shelf. The PreCleanse gets…
Canadian Inspired Christmas Gifts For Fierce Loyalists This holiday season why not spoil your fellow Canadians with some Canadian-themed goodies. These items will warm hearts and reinforce your mutual love for this great country. Canadian Ornaments- Set of 4 Holiday ornaments available at Etsy here. Aren’t these just the cutest things you’ve seen? What’s more Canadian than hockey, maple syrup, snow shoes and Timmies? Beavertails has a variety of items that are very indicative on the true North strong and free. How about a long-sleeved jersey or a woodland candle. Purchase here. Hudson’s Bay the Stripes Mittens All of the…
Make The Holidays Sweet With Jacek Chocolate The 2018 Holiday Collection from Jacek Chocolate Couture, is both gorgeous and delicious includes a perfectly curated selection of hand-crafted chocolates, artisan bars like The Audrey (tart cherries & pistachio) or The Colette (marbled chocolate), and other delicious surprises your readers will enjoy gifting to their list this year! Made in Alberta, this post is mainly for my Alberta readers, but they do also sell online. They’ve even got a selection of Vegan Chocolates. We’re loving: Box of Joy – Holiday Edition $54 – $130 For the book-loving BFF – the Artisan…
Good Earth Coffeehouse Offers Up $$ to Food Bank If you check our Instagram account you’ll see there’s some festive cinnamon buns at a nearby coffee shop on Alma, so why not make a stop in just down the street and pick up some Gingerbread too? The holidays are all about giving. With your help, Good Earth Coffeehouse will give to families in need. For every Gingerbread Family you purchase at Good Earth, they will donate $1.00 to our local Food Banks. We also encourage you to share a picture of the Gingerbread Family on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Instagram with the hashtag #FamiliesFeedFamilies, and…
Artisanal culinary offerings and holiday gift baskets arrive at cozy Chinatown grocer and restaurant Need a gift for someone who loves food. This release landed in our inbox today and we want one of everything and a big bowl of noodles too. CJA Historic Chinatown’s premier one-stop gourmet grocer and restaurant is celebrating the arrival of winter with an array of seasonal culinary delights. A cozy escape from the new-found chilly weather, Harvest Community Foods specializes in nourishing meals and locally-sourced ingredients, providing fine food products for the most discerning of epicureans alongside comforting rice and noodle bowls. As one of the best…
Michelin-Star Trained Chef Catherine Stewart Joins Coal Harbour’s Iconic French Bistro Tableau Bar Bistro is pleased to announce the appointment of Chef de Cuisine Catherine Stewart, alongside the release of her three-course set dinner menu for New Year’s Eve. Born in Vancouver, BC, Catherine began her culinary career under renowned chef Alain Rayé at West Vancouver’s La Régalade in 2004. Three years later, her passion led her to Europe, where she spent nearly a decade working her way up the line at prominent Michelin-star restaurants La Pyramide in Vivienne, France and La Cuisine de Joël Robuchon in London. From there, Catherine took over the kitchens of Château…
Canada Place Lights Up For The Holidays Free walk-through experience includes the Woodward’s Windows, Avenue of Trees, winter lighting display, Sails of Light and more at Canada Place! Capture the spirit of the season at Canada Place! Celebrate Christmas at Canada Place presented by the Port of Vancouver. Running for four weeks this year from December 7 until January 3, the public is invited to experience the nostalgic tradition of the Woodward’s Windows, a magical holiday lighting display, the Sails of Light, and the festive Avenue of Trees. “Every year we look forward to inviting the community to enjoy this colourful…
What To Do Around Vancouver This Week Well we’ve already had our holiday party for my company as well as our office building party, so I’m fully into the holiday spirit. I’ve got a hot chocolate station ready to go for Friday, with boozy treats included and I’ve been quite spoiled with items being shipped for the gift guides I’m working on. My Gifts for Foodies should be up on BC Living very soon! Love doing that one! I’ve also even started my holiday shopping, but still have lots left to do, and the decorations aren’t even up yet at…
London Drugs Supports 15,000 Elderly Canadians This Holiday Season If you are looking for an easy way to give back this season just head on in to London Drugs and look for the holiday tree! Pick a wish from the tree and go shopping for a deserving senior in your community. I did this yesterday and you have until December 8th to participate! #StockingStuffersForSeniors I found a tag with a wish for tea, a blanket, and cookies, so tried to find the nicest of each item and even bought an electric blanket so I’d get extra points with Santa. (JK) really…
Sleek, pan-Mediterranean eatery offers a new culinary perspective to Vancouver’s dining scene December 10th will see the launch of 75-seat Verre at 550 Denman Street in Vancouver’s Coal Harbour neighbourhood, marking the Canadian return of internationally acclaimed chef Liam Breen and his singular culinary philosophy. A staunch individualist, Breen preferred hands-on training to a formal culinary education, working the lines at restaurants across Canada. Eventually, the Vancouverite’s wanderlust took him to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where he won accolades — and several awards — for his eclectic cuisine. Dubbed “The Canadian Rebel,” by local media, he was a driving force behind such…
Nespresso Coffee Pods Celebrate The Season Earlier this year Nespresso launched it’s new Metrotown Boutique and we made the switch over to Nespresso at home. The pods are now fully recyclable and our coffee has never tasted better. My only wish is that I’d remember to order the pods before we run out, as when we do it’s truly a crisis. In any case I’ve got an order in right now and I’ve also heard that they have partnered with renowned interior designer, India Mahdavi, and have launched the Parisian Gourmandise inspired Limited Edition festive collection of pods. Mahdavi is based…
