What To Do Around Vancouver This Week As The Holidays Creep Even Closer Every year the holidays come breathing down your throat sooner and sooner, and I’m all for it! Well, to a certain extent, like, after Halloween at least please. I’ve already been to Christmas in November at the Fairmont’s Jasper Park Lodge, so that’s really put me in the mood, and the trip out to Potter’s Christmas Store in Surrey had me wanting to get my tree up asap. I’m looking forward to The Capilano Suspension Bridge, Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremonies, Ice Skating, the Christmas Market, Fly-Over Canada Christmas…
Author: cassandra
What’s Better Than Some Great Road 13 Vineyards After A Good Punch Out At Turf Not so long ago Turf (Work Out, Hang Out) opened on Fourth Avenue in Kits. They have all sorts of classes, everything from yoga to boxing, and a great selection of healthy eats, going beyond the ever-prevalent avocado toast (which, by the way, they do have), to include items such as bison meatballs, and a tasty mushroom and spinach salad. I’d stopped in to check it out before for tea, but hadn’t delved into the spot much further, so was rather thrilled when I was…
New Urban Eatery provides guests with healthy food offerings, a contemporary space and introduces online pickup service I missed the official opening of this Urban Eatery, but I’m sure my holiday shopping will take me in the vicinity at some point! I initially thought this was a new restaurant, but it turns out it’s the food court, but vastly updated. It looks unlike the food courts in my day where we gorged on neon sweet and sour chicken and maybe had a malted milk or two. The mall was the place to be on Saturdays and I remember I’d cruise…
Learn To Decorate Like A Pro With The UnCommon Cafe Cookie Class How are your baking skills? I do an okay job of baking, but when it comes to icing, my game ain’t so strong. Last year, though, I surprised myself and after a bit of a demo from some more experienced bakers in the Uncommon Cafe Cookie Class, I managed to come up with some cookies that I wasn’t totally embarrassed to give out! Now if you have a bit of skill, just think what you could do! No judgement please, I’m just learning. This year the Cookie Class: Decorate…
BOULEVARD KITCHEN & OYSTER BAR CHEF ALEX CHEN WINS HIS SECOND GOLD MEDAL PLATES TITLE AT THE 2017 REGIONALS IN VICTORIA Previous Champion Returns to Top of Podium at 12th Annual Prestigious Chef Competition, Earns Right to Represent BC at the Canadian Culinary Championships in Kelowna, February 2 to 3, 2018 Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar Executive Chef Alex Chen claimed the crown for the second time at the annual Gold Medal Plates culinary competition in Victoria, BC and earned the honour of representing the province at the prestigious Canadian Culinary Championships in Kelowna, BC February 2 to 3, 2018. Months of meticulous…
Joseph Tran to compete at 42nd Annual La Chaine des Rôtisseurs event in Taiwan in September 2018 Congrats to Joseph Tran, from Victoria’s Inn at Laurel Point, who won the gold medal and the Fulgence Charpentier Trophy at the 2017 La Chaîne des Rôtisseurs Jeunes Chefs (Young Chefs) Rôtisseurs Competition held in Ottawa, ON on October 27th. The silver medal was presented to Vancouver’s Nathan Sundeen from Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar and the bronze medalist was Calgary’s David Ryc from The Fairmont Banff Springs. Winnipeg’s Darnell Banman from the St. Charles Golf Country Club was recognized for having the highest…
What’s On Your Agenda Vancouver? It’s been a busy week! I’ve been on the road at Christmas in November in Jasper, and researching a few other destinations. I’ll be glad to be home in Vancouver for a couple nights tomorrow and then off again to the Okanagan. Here’s a few suggestions for you in the meantime, more on the other adventures soon! The Woman In Wine at Legacy Liquor November 15 On November 15 from 5 to 7 pm French Wine Celebrity Catherine Mellot (www.josephmellot.com) will share her adventures in wine at Legacy Liquor Store in the Olympic Village. This…
Last Chance: Limited Tickets Available For EAT! Vancouver Signature Events The 25th annual EAT! Vancouver is on and we’ve got a sneak peek menu reveal for EAT! Harvest and EAT! Pastry events. Most events are sold out but limited tickets are still available online for a few : http://eat-vancouver.com/ EAT! Harvest (November 10 from 7-10pm): Amanda Cohen, Dirt Candy (NYC) Shanghai Shoots with Fermented Black Bean Bagna Cauda Carl Heinrich, Richmond Station (Toronto) Pork and Rabbit Pâté Dave Mottershall, LOKA (Toronto) Nduja Sausage Jeff Kang, Canis (Toronto) Cured Tuna Tarte Makoto Ono, Mak n Ming (Vancouver) Chicken Liver Mousse on a Savoury…
Scare Up Some Fun in Surrey This Fall Before All Hallows Eve, you’ve still got time to head out to the farms in Surrey and pick a pumpkin or two, take a ride out to the patch and pick up some delicious veggies for a monstrous feast; there’s even a haunted house or two if you’re brave enough. This fall we spent a day exploring a small part of Surrey, an often overlooked destination just outside Vancouver. We headed out for some pumpkin patch playtime at Rondriso Farms and General Store (8390 172 Street), a family run, small-scale farm that…
Checking In With Chef Jeff Park Just Before Victoria’s Culinary Championships Chef Jeff Park weighs in on our interview questions. Great restaurant, we visited this summer in Squamish! Tell us a little bit about your restaurant and/or style of cooking. The Salted Vine’s menu focuses on small share plates that place a premium on fresh, sustainable and seasonal ingredients. I like to represent the very best of the Pacific Northwest with my cooking. Where do you eat in your city? On my days off, you can usually find me dining at other restaurants in Squamish, like Sushi Sen. What would…
Checking In With Chef Lisa Ahier Before Victoria’s Culinary Championships Chef Lisa Ahier hails from Tofino and is the absolute real thing. She can be found, when not in the kitchen, out kayaking and foraging and I’d join her anytime in any of these pursuits! Superstar chef, so down to earth. We must get back to Tofino soon. Many thanks to Jennifer Schell for the photos for this article! Tell us a little bit about your restaurant and/or style of cooking. Sobo has been called grassroots gourmet by some, but I call it a mom and pop cafe that was…
Checking In With Chef Andrea Carlson Before Victoria’s Culinary Championships Tell us a little bit about your restaurant and/or style of cooking. Burdock & Co seeks inspiration from British Columbia’s tangle of islands and coastlines, sourcing ingredients from local growers, farmers and foragers and presenting them in a fluid culinary experience. In May 2013, Andrea Carlson opened her cozy neighbourhood eatery at the East End of bohemian Main Street. Her farm-to-table philosophy intrigued and enchanted diners, and the restaurant soon earned a reputation as a pioneer of naturalist food and drink. Now, Burdock & Co is recognized citywide as a…
Checking In With Chef Alex Chen Before Victoria’s Culinary Championships Tell us a little bit about your restaurant and/or style of cooking. At Boulevard, I draw upon my personal experiences, my childhood memories of cooking with my family, and of course my training with some amazing chefs throughout the Pacific Rim and West Coast. These experiences all influenced my cooking style, my love of seafood and my desire to always use fresh, local ingredients. I also like to use a very balanced flavour profile, which is something I picked up from cooking with my Mom. Where do you eat in your city? I…
Checking In With Chef Clement Chan Before Victoria’s Culinary Championships Who doesn’t love Torafuku and the whole team behind this project! Can’t wait to give them all some hugs and high fives and wish them the best at Gold Medal Plates. Thanks Clement Chan and crew for all you do! Tell us a little bit about your restaurant and/or style of cooking. I call it modern Asian . They call it Pan Asian or Fusion Where do you eat in your city? Zakkushi/Motomachi/Guu/Santouka/Suika/Mr.Reds What would be your ideal food day? Ramen all day every day Thanks to Nancy Wu of…
Checking In With Chef Rob Cassels Before Victoria’s Culinary Championship Tell us a little bit about your restaurant and/or style of cooking. Saveur is a small, 30 seat restaurant in the Chinatown district in Victoria. We specialize in Five Course Tasting Menus, one Chef’s and one Vegetarian which change regularly according to what is available at our local farms on the Island. I would say my cooking style is French-Inspired Contemporary. Where do you eat in your city? My wife and I like to go out for dinner on Mondays, being my day off, and of course most other chefs’…
Checking in with Chef Castro Boateng Before Victoria’s Culinary Championships We met Chef Castro Boateng last year at Gold Medal Plates and look forward to trying his dish again tomorrow night at the competition, especially since there is Bartier Brothers Merlot on hand! Here’s his answers to this year’s interview questions. Tell us a little bit about your restaurant and/or style of cooking. My inspiration comes from my west African roots and the bounty Vancouver Island has to offer. Where do you eat in your city? Olo, Yalla, Northern Quarter, shizen sushi, Bin4 Burger. What trend/s do you wish would…
Checking in with Chef Chris Remington Before Victoria’s Culinary Championships I’ve had the luck of meeting Chef Chris Remington a number of time and he’s even taken us out to the restaurant’s farm in Penticton. Chef Remington is at the Penticton Lakeside Resort at the Hooded Merganser Restaurant and he’s competing this year in Gold Medal Plates and we wish him all the best. Tell us a little bit about your restaurant and/or style of cooking. The Hooded Merganser is a restaurant situated on Okanagan lake, lots of windows and great views. We have a west coast menu that is…
Checking in with Ryan Zuvich of Hilltop Bistro Before Victoria’s Culinary Championships Each year I interview the chefs competing in Gold Medal Plates and here we go again! Can’t wait to see them all next week in Victoria! Thanks Ryan Zuvich for being the first to answer. Tell us a little bit about your restaurant and/or style of cooking. Well, we have two restaurants in Nanaimo, La Stella Trattoria in the old city and Hilltop Bistro in the North end. Both restaurants follow what I’ve come to realize is my style of cooking. Ingredient driven, technique focused, classic cuisine often…
Events and Happenings In and Around Vancouver It’s supposed to be slower in the fall, but so many businesses take advantage of the pre-Christmas season that it’s chock full of possibilities. We covered the David Foster concert here and even have a giveaway – Steve Tyler and the Tenors are performing! We’ll be at Superhuman on Saturday (similar to Ted X Talks) and more information is here. Wednesday dine out and give back with Restaurants for Change, there’s a Ferment Festival in Town on Sunday (no booze this time, but lots of other goodies) Friday night is Toast to The…
Ellevate Together – Fairmont’s Collaborative Fundraiser Dinner Another chance to dine on spectacular food made by top chefs in the country, fundraising for cancer and they are all female this time! #girlpower Join Fairmont Chateau Whistler For A Collaborative Culinary Dinner on Sunday, November 12 with three of Canada’s Top Powerhouse Chefs Lending Their Time and Talent For A Cause – An exclusive Cornucopia Food and Drink event at Fairmont Chateau Whistler. The purpose of this event is two-fold; first and foremost, to raise money for cancer research, a cause that is deeply personal to all three chefs. And while doing…
