What’s Good This Week in and around Vancouver It’s a little too hot for me these days in Vancouver and I’ve got the fan blasting in my ear in an attempt to remain coolish. This week you might be catching the fireworks, watching some Improv (I’m actually on stage – yikes), eating some Canadian Food or catching up with BC’s beer scene. Don’t forget to celebrate PRIDE and sample some tasty pride-themed treats! Food Day Canada What are you doing on July 30, 2016? We know you always choose a ton of Canadian food products when shopping and dining…
Author: cassandra
Hand Crafted Spirits Radio Show Checks Out Barteneder Marc Smolenski at Mission in Kitsilano We’re doing some radio again thanks to Joe Leary and TSN1410 on a new show called Hand Crafted Spirits. My segment will involve checking in with a local craft-spirit using bartender along with Joe to find out what’s been shaken and poured in our favourite spots. The first week we visited Marc Smolenski at Mission Restaurant in Kitsilano, a spot Michael and I recently headed to for date night. Smolenski’s cocktails were so great that night, we had him choose a few more seasonal drinks for this segment and…
Food Day Canada is a chance for all Canadians to celebrate our farmers, fishers, chefs, researchers and home cooks Guess what GLV readers? I am the Food Day Canada Ambassador for Vancouver and am helping with a twitter party – on July 26th from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. PDT, join the FoodDayCanada Twitter Party at TIMBER on 1300 Robson Street. Join us for drink specials and Canadian food specials and tell us what Canadian–grown foods you love. Follow @FoodDayCanada and @goodlifevan using the official Hashtags #FoodDayCanada #CanadaISfood. I’ll be tweeting from @VanFoodTour @GoodLifeVan and @PassionForPork to help…
What’s Good This Week in and Around Vancouver We are well into July, which means into the second half of the year! Time is flying by this summer. Last week’s Deighton Cup was a grand success and this week we are heading to a White Caps Game, Vancouver Theatresports newest show, Firecracker, checking out the newest hot spot in town, Fable on Broadway, and starting a new radio segment on spirits with Joe Leary and TSN1410 with the first recording at Mission with bartender Marc Smolenski. What else is up you ask? Firecracker! July 21 and 28 Get ready for some fun folks. First up…
What’s Good This Week – Events in and around Vancouver We’re back from the Okanagan and had about the best trip ever there. Scouted out our wedding location, had some amazing meals at home and out, visited new breweries, cideries and wineries and got some good family time in with not even one argument. Now it’s time to unpack, prep for Deighton Cup, and get back to it in Vancouver. July 16 Deighton Cup Outfit planning has commenced and now I just need jewelry and a hat. Thank god for Jeweliette and Hive Mind Millinery (and there’s still time for you…
BC Place and BC Lions Announce Enhanced Food and Beverage Concepts for 2016 Truth be told I’ve not been to many football games, but I was game when I was invited down to sample some new menu items from Chef William Tse and his team and check out the new craft beers now available. The impressive “Beast of Fire” kitchen featuring a rotating selection of butchery-style roasts that are carved-to-order. We sampled prime rib. I also learned that someone had made off with a prime rib, the whole roast, at one of last year’s games. I just sampled a bite, but was…
Looking For A One Stop Shop For Make Up and Hair? The Glamoury Delivers On Glam! Over the years I have got a bit better at make up application and hair doing, but it’s not really my forte. I really do need serious help in this department and was super excited to discover a new one stop shop for hair and make-up right in Yaletown, The Glamoury. The room is gorgeous, lavish decorated NS designed by Ste Marie (Homer Street Cafe, Meat and Bread, Savio Volpe). Creative design firm Glasfurd & Walker (Meat and Bread, Wilfred, Boboli) led all creative direction…
Where to Brunch in Vancouver? We suggest Brunch at Wildtale I’d love to go for brunch every weekend, but unfortunately I seem to be stuck in front of my computer far too often eating leftovers or toast with peanut butter and pickles; an odd combo but a good one. Once in a while I do get to go out for a treat, and I must say this day was pretty cool, as I got my hair done and I had an amaze meal. First up, thanks to Blo for my blow-out. I went for the Victory Rolls again. I love…
It’s July and Vancouver is hopping! Here’s What’s Good In July in and around our fare city! I can’t believe it’s July already, meaning we are half way through 2016! How’s your year going? I am overdue for a break and will be taking a few days off next week. However, that won’t mean I’m off the internets, so do tune in to our social feeds for some insight into what’s good in the Okanagan these days! July 7 – Britannia School Garden Fundraiser On Thursday, July 7th from 5-9, the Britannia Secondary sports field, next to the garden will be transformed…
June 30 Global TV talking picnicking in style. ****In the interest of getting some reference material up this is just in point form for now. Check back for full story*** 1) Canadian Tire – outdoor Shelter, portable coolers, picnic blanket 2) Picnic Items from Bacci’s on 12th and Granville – Place Settings & Cutler and Picnic food from Dirty Apron 3) Picnic Items from Real Canadian Superstore and Picnic food from Presidents Choice and Pete’s Meats on 12th and Arbutus Start at Canadian Tire where you can pick up a shelter, coolers and picnic table clothes. Shelter, Beach Blanket, Picnic Coolers, Table Cloth If…
It’s the season of picnicking! We’ve got the details on where to picnic in Vancouver We love grabbing a baguette, some cheese and pate or perhaps some leftover BBQ chicken and heading out to eat outdoors. Our summer sunshine is limited, so when the sun is out we celebrate while we can. I teamed up with Expedia.ca to bring you a few places we love to dine el fresco. English Bay If you are into people watching, this is the spot for you. While it’s often crowded, there is almost always a spot for a blanket or two, and if…
Halibut Season – It’s What’s Fresh at the Wedgewood Hotel’s Bacchus Room There’s a new chef in town at the Wedgewood, Executive Chef Simon Bolsover and he’s sourced some Haida Gwaii Halibut, featured daily on the menu. We stopped in for a leisurely Friday lunch, but as my pal Melissa is not only gluten free, but also dairy, poor thing, we had to switch it up from the fish and chips that day. Melissa’s BC Steelhead Salmon with spiced quinoa, root vegetable, caper raisin & orange vinaigrette was perfectly seared and full of flavour. I made my own creation, modifying…
Join Chef Dana Reinhardt in Tuscania for a Roman Countryside Culinary Adventure Is their anything better than traveling, enjoying good food and learning to cook better. Well, I think not. We are lucky enough to have Chef Dana Reinhardt in our midst, she’s a friend and a fellow Les Dames d’Escoffier member, and an amazing cook. I’ve take a few cooking classes with her and have the recipes to prove it! Recently I joined a group of food lovers at Siena restaurant where Dana revealed the details of an amazing trip to Italy and served up some very tasty olive-oil…
The UNCLE BEN’S® brand serves up new RICE & GRAINS – Uncle Ben’s Rice & Grains UNCLE BEN’S® brand now offers Rice & Grains, a combination of rice with ancient grains, such as quinoa and couscous and we’ve got some great recipes from local restaurants to inspire you to add more than just rice to your plate. “Our team is always looking for ways to create gourmet flavours everyone can enjoy, and Rice & Grains has been a strong addition,” says Sommai Gordon, owner and head chef at Super Thai Food. “Canadians will be able to get creative in the kitchen with this…
What to do in Vancouver this week The sun may not be shining bright, but there’s a lot to do both inside and out. It’s another busy week in Vancouver! Wine Wednesday at Provence Marinaside Wine Wednesdays have become ‘a thing’ – a wonderful way to get over the mid-week hump and slide into the weekend. Yaletown’s Provence Marinaside has always been a favourite gathering spot on Wine Wednesdays with its gorgeous patio overlooking the False Creek Marina, its impressive wine list (145 wines-by-the-glass, 48 on tap) plus Tappy Hour with wine and food specials from 3-5 p.m. Just when…
Father’s Day Pairings – Pick Up some Jacob’s Creek Double Barrel Shiraz and Whip Up Bison Carpaccio Whether he’s a wine or scotch lover –(or, the perfect gift if he loves both!) – pick up a bottle of the new and innovative Jacob’s Creek Double Barrel Shiraz and wow Dad this Father’s Day. Jacob’s Creek Double Barrel Shiraz is the first of its kind to undergo a unique aged scotch whiskey barrel finish. The outcome? Additional layers of complexity and smoothness, which combine beautifully with the rich plum, sweet red fruit and dark chocolate notes of Barossa Shiraz. Jacob’s Creek…
Grab Locally-Grown Eggplants and whip up this Roasted Eggplant Dip On the weekend we went strawberry picking and on Sunday night were ready for a BBQ. We love dips and served a trio of them this night. Green garbanzo, hummus and this awesome roasted eggplant dip made with locally-grown eggplant. 5 mini Windset Farms Baby Eggplant 3 garlic cloves, minced; 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice; 1 Tbsp Maille Dijon Mustard; 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil; 1/4 cup cream cheese 3-4 dashes hot sauce Salt and pepper to taste; 4 Tbsp chives plus a few for topping Preparation To roast the eggplants,…
Events in and Around Vancouver – What’s Good Lot’s to do this week including Global Wellness Day, drinking Negronis, eating French Food, celebrating Picasso and heading out to the Arts Club Theatre for Billy Elliott. Billy Elliott at They Stanley until July 10, 2016 We saw this extremely fun-filled and well done musical last night and adored it. It’s a must. Based on the acclaimed film, and supported with music by Elton John, Billy Elliot is an inspiring tale of courage, ambition, and overcoming adversity. It’s 1984 and County Durham’s coal miners are set to go on strike when 11-year-old Billy finds…
Spot Prawn Boil Do’s and Don’ts We were lucky enough to gobble up some of the first spot prawns of the season last month at The Blackbird Pub. The Donnelly Group’s head Chef Glavas put on a massive spot prawn boil and it was superb! We asked for his tips to share with you. Spot Prawn Boil Tips Always pick up your prawns day of the boil so they are still alive. Go to Granville island and buy right off the pier. You can any blanch your potatoes in heavy salted water ( almost like sea water ) first as they…
What to cook this spring? We take some lessons from Dirty Apron We updated this post from 2012 as it’s still so very relevant. Especially with spot prawn season starting this week! The Arts Club Theatre Company is known for it’s theatrical productions, but each spring they produce more than just theatre and host cooking classes. Each class is put on by one of Vancouver’s renowned chefs at a gorgeous private home and raises money for the company. Over three hours guests enjoy cooking demonstrations, some hands on options and a four-course dinner paired with wine. Unfortunately they aren’t doing…
