Nathan Brown is back on home turf, joining Fairmont Pacific Rim as Executive Chef. The Ontario raised culinarian has arrived on Canada’s west coast after a decade spent at top hotels and restaurants from Asia to the Middle East to the Caribbean. Brown’s knowledge of cuisine begins at its very roots, and the concept of farm-to-table has been the essence of his culinary life. Having grown up in the small Ontario farm town of Lucan, he discovered his culinary passion early in life. On the family horse farm, Nathan was surrounded by an abundance of food riches. This taught him…
Author: cassandra
Fitness phenomenon allows Vancouverites to enjoy unlimited access to top-notch boutique studios throughout Vancouver for 99 CAD per month! We’re giving it a try this month and will report back on the best classes in the city. ClassPass, a monthly subscription to Vancouver’s most coveted boutique fitness studios, has expanded into Vancouver, granting users unparalleled access to the best workouts in the city. ClassPass members can book unlimited workout classes at boutique fitness studios including The Dailey Method, Barre Fitness, Moksha Yoga, Urban Fitness, Cadence Cycle and many more. While the membership will normally cost 99 CAD per month, for…
Just Like Dinner at Nonna’s’ Supper Series Returns to Campagnolo The pastel colours of spring conjure up glorious memories of family gatherings with Grandma. Chef de Cuisine Nathan Lowey has created a series of home-style dishes prepared with the season’s freshest ingredients in honour of Nonna. Each dish reflects a nostalgic meal and is best enjoyed with loved ones. “This dinner series brings people together,” says Campagnolo Chef de Cuisine, Nathan Lowey. “We plate up supper for twenty-two guests at the same time so everyone can eat together—like a big family supper.” ‘Just Like Dinner at Nonna’s’ returns to Campagnolo Tuesday nights…
The Heights is rich in diversity and culture, and nowhere is this more apparent than when it comes to dining. With everything from casual to fine dining and Greek to Continental, there is sure to be something to satisfy even the most discerning palates. Head to the Heights for Crave from Tuesday, April 21 to Thursday, April 23, 2015. Each participating restaurant will offer various options as part of their set menus at $15, $20 and $25 price points. Click on the restaurant name to see its menu. BrokenriceVietnameseRestaurant BurgersEtcBBQHouse CaffeDivano ChadThai ChezChristophe ChocolateriePatisserie CristosGreekTaverna GlenburnSodaFountain&Confectionery LaVillettaRistorante SoCrabSoGoodSeafoodRestaurant&Bar Stan’sPizzaJoint SushiUomo TakeSushi YoSushi…
Now that I’m in my 40’s, I have other issues than when I was I was oh so fresh and young. My skin was pretty good to me growing up, however, now if I stare too long in the mirror, I notice the skin on my face is a little, or perhaps, a lot less tight. I value myself more now on other things other than looks, thankfully, but still, if I can freshen up, I will. Some may say “age gracefully”. But grace has never been my forte, so when I heard I could have a little “facelift” without actually…
Have you ever heard of Che, the Vietnamese beverage that is basically dessert soup? I had not. I’d once had bubble tea, a similar concept, but was not a fan of the texture. When I saw that a place was opening focusing on this strange brew, I saw no need to visit, but then saw they also served Banh Mi ( Vietnamese Sandwiches), Goi Cuon (Salad Rolls), and appealing grilled skewers, so I wandered on down to Denman Street to give Che-Licious a shot. There was another excellent deal with SocialShopper for $14 which included, two Vietnamese subs, an appetizer and Che dessert for two people. It’s…
The Meatball Challenge features 14 restaurants in Vancouver, Burnaby, Langley and Pitt Meadows, and runs from April 1 -26, 2015. AND we are judging! That’s a lot of meatballs to consume! Participating restaurants are showcasing new Meatball creations invented for this meatball challenge. These are just some of the unique Meatball creations in this challenge: Linh Café – Bun Cha ( pronounced Boon Cha ) Price: $12.95 Created by: Chef Tai Luong Nguyen Description: Pork meatballs, vermicelli, fresh herbs, pickled green papaya & carrot, fish sauce. Main Protein Ingredient: Pork Optional: Add Spring Roll for $5.00 Offered: Wednesday to Sunday between 9AM – 9:30PM.…
Calling all foodies & lovers of local fare! 2nd annual Know Your Lamb event on Sunday April 19th at 6 pm. This 6 course menu celebrates the best free-range, grass-fed, un-medicated lamb from the Fraser Valley! For the Table house made focaccia with lamb fat candle amuse bouche – lamb merguez corn dog tomato chutney chicken fried sweetbreads shallot tarte tatin, red wine gastrique lamb shank ravioli creamed leeks, brown butter braised neck wild garlic lentils, smoked garlic espuma stuffed loin noisette asparagus farce, marquis potatoes, white beans & peas chocolate paté & lemon meringue mousse $65 per person exclusive of taxes & 17% gratuity optional wine pairings will be available Optional 5:30…
Those who follow our GLV Adventures know that we’ve not missed a local Oyster Festival if we could help it, and we’ve made this one every year. We’ll be back, and so should you! This four-day oyster extravaganza features West Coast oysters, Canadian wines and craft beers, and more. Just look at these pictures we captured in past years. It’s a must. The event showcases oysters produced by West Coast fishermen, alongside Canadian wines and craft beers. A number of delicious events are happening during the festival, including: the signature event of the festival, Art of the Oyster Pearl Gala…
We recently hosted a Moroccan-themed dinner. A typical Moroccan meal always begins with a few dips and spreads, and we whipped up a few to ensure our guests didn’t go hungry before the main event. I always make Hummus so I wanted to venture into the land away from the chickpeas to the fava bean, so Bessara it was. For my recipes I generally troll the internet and compare a few and then adjust (usually quite a bit) to my liking. Took this picture – pre garnish. You are tasked with fancying it up with olive oil, spices and herbs. Bessara 1…
A little hungry for something more than a soggy sandwich for lunch? Nicli’s Next Door now offers a prix fixe lunch menu. For just $15 enjoy a veggie-packed salad and delightful pasta. Chef Josh Gale’s menu is rustic Italian and focuses on using fresh and seasonal ingredients. He makes his pasta in house and his sauces fresh daily. The TAGLIATELLE with fennel sausage and creamed garlic was superb. Super tasty house-made sausage, just the right amount of garlic and quite a lot of deliciously reduced cream. I will definitely be back to try the other pastas. Which include PAPPARDELLE with pork ragu and kale…
My second day in Costa Mesa I decided to do something I infrequently do, shop. Luckily for me South Coast Plaza was a just steps away from my hotel, so after a bit of time in the gym, a hearty breakfast and a small prayer that I’d find something that fit, I was off. You can win your own $2500 getaway to Costa Mesa until May 6, 2015 Just click this link to find out how. South Coast Plaza has 250 stores and restaurants and is set in the heart of Orange County, it’s more like a shopping theme park than a mall. 23 million visitors have been through…
Those familiar with Main Street know there’s a ton of sushi spots to choose from, but not all are created equal. Recently we ventured into Ryu Sushi and sampled some of their creations. When we called to book the table there was some difficulty getting the time slot we wanted, as we were told they were too busy for the time we wanted, but we went in as a walk in and there were only two other tables. On the second visit, however, we were welcomed as though we were old friends, and I thought perhaps there was a bit of…
Whether you are heading to Costa Mesa to shop at South Coast Plaza, play at Disneyland, hit the nearby beaches, or attend an event at one of the city’s many art centers, you are going to want to spend a few days to explore the vibrant area. I suggest you book into the Wyndham Avenue of the Arts Hotel and stay a while. The hotel is on the “Avenue of the Arts,” just across the street from Segerstrom Center for the Arts and a quick 3 miles from the John Wayne Airport (Orange County). You can win your own $2500 getaway to Costa Mesa until…
The second annual Healthy Family Expo is coming to the Vancouver Convention Centre on Sunday, March 29th, 2015. The dynamic team of local moms and businesswomen behind the Healthy Family Expo know that raising a family in a more eco-friendly and healthy way can seem like a daunting task for parents, so they’ve created an event that introduces parents to ideas that are easy to implement. Parents can shop, sample healthy food & drinks, test-drive hybrid vehicles, win $10,000 in grand prizes (including a one-year lease on a Toyota Prius), and learn about small steps to healthy, active, eco-friendly living…
This spring the CND™ Garden Muse Collection has arrived colours reminiscent of floral spring gardens. I dropped my usually very nude nails and went a little bolder with some sparkly pink. I even got some fish net-like stamps done. I’m not usually a fancy pants nail person, but it’s been fun living on the wild side these past couple weeks. Try the Garden Muse salon Shellac in Beckoning Begonia, Hot Pop Pink, Wisteria Haze, Lost Labyrinth, Water Park, Butterfly Queen. They now even have a home kit to remove the shellac so you don’t have to head back to the salon, or, chew off the polish…
Competition and Creativity with big dash of Healthy Benefits For 16 years the Healthy Chef competition has been challenging groups of BC based culinary schools, hotels and restaurants to gather their fruits, herbs and vegetables, square off against each and create fantastic plates where the produce is the star. On Wednesday, March 25th The British Columbia Chef’s Association (BCCA) and the British Columbia Produce Marketing Association (BCPMA) will again collaborate for a common cause: to anchor in people’s minds that healthy foods and delicious foods can be one and the same. Held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, as the guests…
C’mon Get Happy, Vancouver Live Happy magazine has joined The United Nations with its own mission to lead a global movement to make the world a happier place with the #HappyActs Challenge, which invites everyone, including residents in the lower mainland, to spread a little joy in honor of International Day of Happiness (March 20) through random acts of kindness and share them online. #HappyActs are small acts – with a big impact that can make someone’s day a little brighter. A hug, a kind word, or helping a neighbour. On March 20, participants can help bring about change by…
On Thursday, March 26, dine out for breakfast, lunch or dinner at participating restaurants and support people living with HIV/AIDS right here at home. From Whistler to White Rock and across the Lower Mainland, our fantastic restaurant partners will contribute 25% of their food sales to registered not-for-profits Friends For Life and A Loving Spoonful. All proceeds directly benefit the programs and services they provide free-of-charge, including: Over 110,000 meals per year delivered to those affected by HIV/AIDS in Metro Vancouver and surrounding regions Nutritional counselling and meal planning 60+ support therapies ranging from therapeutic massage to naturopathy, music therapy to yoga End-of-life care to people in their own…
March 17 falls on a Tuesday this year, but that needn’t keep you raising a pint or two in celebration of Irish luck. The Irish Heather “No Cover, No Green Beer, No Plastic Clover” is the mantra at the Irish Heather as they celebrate their 19th St. Patrick’s Day since opening the Irish Heather’s doors in Gastown. The decor, prices, menu and beer will be the same as always and there definitely be no green beer. Also check out Sean Heather with Fiona Forbes “7 Questions” with Sean Heather at The Irish Heather to get in the spirit for St. Patrick’s day! [vsw id=”BwEdvFFa2lI”…
