British Columbia’s Local dining promotion Launches If you’re following me on Instagram, or any of my social feeds you’ll see there’s a whole lotta local going on lately. Last week we dined out in the greenhouse in Langley as part of BC Greenhouse Veggie Days, and yesterday we visited Milner Cheese, Maan Farms, Fraser Valley Cider and Mt Lehman Wines to celebrate Angie Quaale of Well Seasoned new cookbok, Eating Local in the Fraser Valley. We’re always locally focused, and we’re happy to help spread the news that the bounty of British Columbia is be celebrated in restaurants across the province…
Author: cassandra
It’s Not Too Late To Go All Out For Mother’s Day You’ve still got a few days to find that special something for Mother’s Day and we’ve got some great sweet suggestions, because basically, flowers are so very overdone. Les Dames d’Escoffier Dames Wine Rose Wine – $31 Marquis Wine Cellars Give your Mom a nice dry rose and she’ll be tickled pink. This wine also gives back, as proceeds from the sale go to scholarships for women in hospitality. You can even get it gift wrapped at Marquis Wine Cellars on Davie near Burrard. Stock up on some wine…
Events and Happenings In And Around Vancouver This Week Looks like sunshine is on its way this weekend and we’re getting up to 24 degrees by Sunday. We’ve already let you know about the Spot Prawn Festival here, and the BC Buy Local initiative here, but we wanted to mention some great ways to learn some new cooking techniques, the fact that the North Van Shipyards are back and a chance to try some premium tequilas. Get out there and celebrate the sun. THE GOURMET WAREHOUSE – CHOCOLATE CHALLENGE 2018 | 6:30 PM-9:00PM Proceeds from this event will benefit: Vancouver Firefighter Charities SNACKS…
On Saturday May 12, 2018, join the Chefs’ Table Society of British Columbia for a celebration of iconic, local delicacy at the 12th Annual Spot Prawn Festival. Available online: Get your 2018 Spot Prawn Festival tickets. This year, there are three ways to enjoy the Spot Prawn Festival: FREE – access to the docks, view cooking demos and more $10 – Spot Prawn Chowder – to go if you want. $60 – A grazing style tasting menu with a selection of 6 delicious spot prawn dishes. The same family-friendly festival remains with live cooking demos featuring some of Vancouver’s top chefs,…
Mealshare Works Towards a Brighter Future for Canada with its Annual Fundraiser – Tonight for Tomorrow Non-profit inspires Canadians to take action and raise money by dining out, while UNICEF reports the country is lagging in the fight to end child hunger. Won’t you join me for dinner on May 9th! We’re headed to Fable Diner this Wednesday for Mealshare at 6:30 pm? Message me at cassandra at goodlifevancouver.com if you’d like to join in! All you have to do is eat a meal and $$ goes to help feed those in need. For a third year in a row,…
What’s Up In And Around Vancouver This Week I’m just a week away from a big fundraiser I’ve been working on for Little Mountain Neighbourhood House, plus we are just days away from BC Greenhouse Veggie Days, and both projects are taking up just a wee bit of my time so I’ve had to let my own social media and blog take a second seat for a bit. I’ve got a bit of time today between all the planning, before I head off to the Where Magazine Awards, Canadian Produce Marketing Trade Show, a visit to the Arbutus Greenway Open…
The Union Dishes Up South Asian Flavours We stopped in for the Handcrafted Spirits Show on TSN1410 to catch up with bartender Rob Hoover at The Union in East Vancouver and sampled a few of the drinks currently on the list. They’ve just launched a new food menu too, so we’re looking forward to returning for that, but in the meantime give our radio segment a listen for some of the happenings on Union Street. Listen to the segment here and scroll down for the recipe. Milk of the Wolf 1.5 oz Odd Society Mongrel 0.5 oz Cointreau 1 oz…
Where to Hop to For Easter Feasts in Vancouver Daffodils are blooming and spring is in the air, and even though I’m currently freezing and it feels far colder than 6 degrees out today,I’m sure that warmer days will soon come. But while we are waiting for more spring blooms and sunnier days, we can always eat, and eating well has always been for me what Easter’s all about. Here’s a few feasts that I’m contemplating indulging in this coming weekend. Boulevard – Easter Buffet Brunch Sunday, April 1, 10:30am to 2:30pm On Sunday, April 1, a grand Easter buffet…
Chef Shelome Bouvette Serves Up Empanadas We met with Chef Shelome Bouvette at The Wellness Show to find out more about her restaurant, Chicha, on East Broadway. Scroll down for her Empanada recipe too! So delish! Tell us a little bit about your restaurant and/or style of cooking. Chicha Restaurant interprets modern Peruvian cuisine with local, sustainable BC Ingredients. Where do you eat in your city? I’m a creature of habit. Pink Pearl for dim sum. Thai son for pho. Dumpling at Longs. What would be your ideal food day? Dim Sum all day What trend do you wish would die?…
Healthy Chef Competition & Dinner Results On Wednesday, March 21, 2018, ten restaurants and culinary schools created entrées and desserts for attendees where fresh produce is a key component at the Healthy Chef Competition produced by the BC Produce Marketing Association (BCPMA) and the BC Chefs’ Association (BCCA). Guests only know what they are eating when they open the secret envelope and view their food destination. It was a delicious night with funds raised going to the BC Chefs Scholarship program. Best entrée – Executive Plaza Hotel, The Wild Fig Beet cured smoked sous vide pork loin – Pork loin cylinders, Fig and cream cheese…
Bobbette & Belle Share A Sweet Recipe For Valentine’s Day I don’t think cupcakes could ever go out of style, especially when they are salted caramel. Sure macarons, eclairs and donuts that have gotten their fair share of play of late, but I will always choose a cupcake over most sweets, sometimes just for the icing. Allyson Bobbitt & Sarah Bell have a whole bunch of amazing sweet recipes, including macarons, in their beautifully laid out Bobbette & Belle Coobook, and they’ve shared their recipe for Salted Caramel Cupcakes with us for Valentine’s Day, or any day you need a…
Greasy Spoon Diner at Save on Meats March 19 We’ve attended a couple of these dinners and I psyched to return to this year’s version which features all female chefs. March 19 Chef Charlotte Langley is coming in from the East to cook for us! Dine out for a cause (Better Life Foundation); you won’t be disappointed with this experience as it’s far more than just dinner. TICKETS The Greasy Spoon Diner Supper Series is truly one of a kind. It pairs the best chefs in the world with the legendary Save On Meats to create a monthly four-course dining experience.…
Vancouver’s Healthy Chef Competition & Gala Event 03. 21.18 I’ve been to this event many times and it’s a great way to support your local upcoming chefs, as funds go to the BC Chef’s scholarship program, as well as support the cause of promoting more fruit and veggies on our plates! On Wednesday, March 21, 2018, ten restaurants and culinary schools create entrées and desserts for attendees where fresh produce is a key component at this Healthy Chef Competition produced by the BC Produce Marketing Association (BCPMA) and the BC Chefs’ Association (BCCA). Guests only know what they are eating when they…
What To Do Around Vancouver This Week We’ve been busy traveling and then catching up from traveling, so our posts have been rather infrequent of late. Life and work balance is always a challenge and sometimes I just get exhausted trying to keep up. Hopefully this sunshine will motivate me to get back in the groove, and there’s certainly a lot of reasons to get out this week and I’ll be doing so! Mosquito presents Scott Korzack x Mark Singson March 12 6 Course dinner, Snacks, Paired drinks. Mon, 12 March 2018 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM PDT Mosquito 32…
Raising a Glass to Women For International Women’s Day With so many women standing up and speaking out, it is wonderful when we can stop and celebrate and lift one another up. There are many strong and inspiring women in the wine and food industry, and we caught up with a few of them to see who they would like to raise a glass of their BC wine to. Who would you raise your glass to on this important day? Dawn Reimer of Mirabel Vineyards, Kelowna, BC: “I would like to raise a glass to my friend Lotte Davis founder…
Vancouver – International Women’s Day 2018 – Empowering the Future With Minibar Networking event, titled “Empowering the Future” brings together women in the hospitality industry, taking inspiration from this year’s International Women’s Day global theme The who’s who of Vancouver’s hospitality scene will gather at Cafe Medina on March 8 to mark International Women’s Day at a networking event titled “Empowering the Future”. Women have a long, rich history in the hospitality industry, bringing both a playful and maternal instinct to bars, restaurants, cafés and associated manufacturers and steering an ever-growing industry towards higher levels of distinction. As women continue…
CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE: VIWF ANNOUNCES 2018 TRADE COMPETITION WINNERS We’re heading down to the Vancouver International Wine Festival for some more tasting today, but thought we’d report on the wine award first. From the press release today! The Vancouver International Wine Festival announced the 2018 trade competition winners on Friday at Celebrating Excellence: 15th Annual Awards Lunch Featuring Wines from Spain & Portugal, presented by ContainerWorld. The Celebrating Excellence program is part of the three-day Trade Days Conference; the program honours those professionals who contribute to this region’s exceptional wine and food culture. Guests enjoyed a meal prepared by Vancouver Convention…
Vancouver’s Sushi Experts Take Aburi To The Next Level I went to high school in Kelowna and there certainly weren’t any sushi places there way back then, or anything at all remotely Asian other than Manchu Wok at the food fair and maybe a rather suspect “Western-Chinese” buffet somewhere off the main highway. I first had sushi when I came to Vancouver for University on a place on Fraser Street in the late 80’s, but this Aburi- “flame-seared” style that many places are serving around town now was new to me until Miku and Minami showed up on the scene. Now there’s…
Love Look Inside Offers Reiki And Pilates On The North Shore This year I’ve picked the theme of self-care and I’m working towards happiness and health as opposed to unrealistic goals and self-judgement. If you’ve been following me this January, you’ll know I’m currently I’m doing the Fit Body Boot Camp, which is so much more than just heading to the gym and working out (more on that soon) and I’m also back on the bikes at Dailey Method, and truly love these particular cycle classes which are combined with Barre workouts. But, self care is more than just breaking…
Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver’s Chinese New Year Menu Whenever I’m running around in the back kitchens at the Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver, which often happens, strangely enough, I am always intrigued by the authentic Chinese kitchen, that many do not know the extent of. This is how the hotel caters their banquettes in true Chinese form and here’s where this extensive dinner for Chinese New Year is coming from. From February 14 to 28, 2018, guests are invited to book an over-the top ten-course dinner complete with Champagne, sake and wine pairings. For CAD 888* per person revellers will enjoy dishes…
