27.6.11

iced coffee


It's summer and so it's time to switch to ice coffees!  here is how it should be done! YUM!

19.6.11

Happy Fathers Day

When it comes to our Dad Norbert he is hands down the best! So for brunch we had to choose Vancouver's best and so it was obvious Cafe Medina was were we were going.  Here is a place that takes brunch to a whole new level and a place where one must do two things; order a lavender mocha and try the belgian waffles!  Max was stellar and arrived early for the anticipated hour wait (totally worth it).  I am so lucky to have a great father like my Dad who I see as a mentor and a true idol in my eyes.  He is a someone who seeing the big picture and lives for the joy and the everyday happiness found in the simple things like good company, good adventures and good food like Cafe Medina!  Happy Fathers day!  










Nanny





After our amazing fathers day brunch at Cafe Medina we went to visit our Nanny.  She is hands down the cutest and makes the best mini cupcakes in town.  We went over there with the intension of helping save her magnolia tree from the vine that was strangling it but got lost in chit chat and cupcakes. haha I hope to collect her recipies but she is very secretive about her culinary wizardry!  xo Nanny your the best!

18.6.11



Last week I went to sushi with Max and our good friend Andrea.  Hands down this is my favourite sushi place in Vancouver... and i've tried alot!  Did you know there are more sushi places in Vancouver then coffee shops... thats a whole lotta fish in this town!   I saw the couple next to me order the crab karagi and I looks amazing! Here is what we ordered.  I was in love with the salmon + mango roll wrapped in rice paper.  And the scallop roll is always a win!  (i will hunt down the name of the place but its just off of 17th and main... and please note that the line is always long).

17.6.11

Happy Birthday Ilona

 To celebrate Ilona's birthday dinner we went to Las Margaritas on west 4th.  With a surprisingly quick 15 minute wait we were seating on the patio as the sun was still high in the sky.  Totally loving these long nights but just wish it would turn warm... I can still see snow on the mountains!  We ordered a round of Margaritas (Papa, Ilona and I got the Lime and Max tested the Apricot... which was super sweet!... stick with lime why mess with a good thing).  Its always a lively place with great vibes and amazing food.  So I of course had to order the fajitas, Max got the Taco salad, Dad the chimichanga and Ilona ordered the enchilada verde!  We were all pleased with our choices... however I must be honest it was great food but it lacked that edge and was a bit pricey.


Wicked chips and salsa. YUM!


After we finished our mammoth meals of baked beans, rice and meats we went for none other then desert (you can't pass up a birthday without desert!).  So we hit our favourite go to icecream palace as mentioned here.  In the end we all laughed, ate and smiled for a truly wonderful person who makes us all happy to have in the family! Happy Birthday Ilona.


16.6.11

EAT LOVE Food concepts by eating designer Marije Vogelzang



I am giddy because I have just ordered the book Eat love!  I am so thrilled by the thought process around this book circling around eating.  How we eat, who we share it with, what it is, where does it come from, how do we digest it. Here is the description and it just sounds brilliant!  Cannot wait!  check out here site here

After her graduation from the Design Academy in Eindhoven in 2000 Marije Vogelzang has been designing eating concepts. Her interest is in the verb ‘to eat’. Not only does she think deeply about what is on the plate (if there is a plate at all), but she also thinks about everything that surrounds the act of eating. The atmosphere, the people involved, the stories behind the ingredients, the taste and texture, sound, smell and colour of food and the way it is prepared and served. She explores the intimacy of design that actually goes inside your body and follows the journey of food from seed all the way to poop.
Thinking about all this and working and experimenting in her studio and restaurant and by creating eating experiences for her clients she has developed her own unique way of looking at eating from a psychological, cultural and design point of view. 
This book makes her vision and spectacular eating concepts available for the first time for a large group of people who are interested in food and the culture and experience of eating.

The introduction is written by design critic Louise Schouwenberg and places Marije Vogelzang’s work in context of Dutch design, international design and trends in food, eating culture and society.

11.6.11

Pulino's Bar and Pizzeria

Sometimes like to have breakfast for dinner.... but this is a whole new level of genius!  In NewYork City there is a place where one can have pizza for breakfast! Stop being so fantastic nyc, just stop it.  Pulino's Bar and Pizzerias take pride and focus in their wood fired pizza oven and what a better way to have your pizza then with an egg on it for breakfast!   There is one called the Ottima; ricotta, wild blueberry jam + bacon! If I ate bacon this is what i would order.  .... oh and did I mention they have Baltzar pastries!




via oh joy

via oh joy

The Pop Cooperative


I am thrilled to be doing The Pop Copperative with my two dear friends Jessica and Kate.  For the month of July we were invited to do a pop-up shop (thankx Riz Alliance) with a concept that we all agreed on.  So we came up with The Pop Cooperative.  It's a mixture of furniture, art and popsicles/fruit bars.  We are so pleased to be doing this all together and are gearing up for a wicked month of July filled with music, friends, furniture, art and tasty treats(Its going to be busy).  We will be selling MaxFrut frozen fruit bars.  Yesterday Jessie and I went to go check out the flavours and made our first order! Lime, Vanilla, Watermelon, Bumbleberry, Mango and Raspberry! YUM! We will be located at the Riz Alliance presentation centre where Mothers Magic a local t-shirt company and ourselves will be in the space for all of July!  Come visit 272 east 11th street (on the corner of Kingsway)! Open to the public July 3rd.

ABC Kitchen

We are in the final games of the Stanley Cup and last night was a big win for us (The Canucks).  I have been fighting a fever the last couple of days so the idea of going out into the streets of downtown Vancouver wasn't my idea of a dandy time.  However I did celebrate with a little ice-cream sandwich.   However I wish I was in New York at ABC kitchen eating this ice-cream!  I love the idea of using popcorn in things. I've had a cucumber popcorn salad once and it was great and now the idea of caramel ice-cream with peanuts and popcorn is making me want to get better even quicker so i can fly to New York and go straight here! ... here is another reason i could never do raw/vegan!  


7.6.11

Organic Lives

I have been a vegetarian for some time and recently I went back to eating salmon for health reasons... but I am intrigued by the concept of the raw and vegan life style. After going for lunch with my mom who is always trying new alternative approaches recommended organic lives.  I was in awe of the juice bar menu and vowed to order the hot pink (beet, pineapple, pear and burdock) next time.  We were in love with the way it was all so fresh and clean and after eating our lunch felt bright and 'glowing'.  With it being a bit pricey for some sprouts and almond croutons... it was worth try.  I ordered the wrap and mom got the sushi made with sea veggie and rice (raw?) and the carrot and avocado cold soup! So good!




Food to me is a cultural things, something we communicate through and indulge in.  It is what brings us together and relate.  The idea of veganism and raw for me is really intriguing because it seems there is a higher worshiping of our food, an honour for the earths abundance and a grace for what we have gathered.  Often I find the food in our western culture is over processed, filled with preservatives and shipped from overseas.  I would like to take a step back and see what the soils in BC offer and how I can live a lifestyle where I know what is in my food and where is came from.  I eat mostly organic and make a conscious effort to by local.  For me I am to much a cheese loved to vear to the realm of veganism/raw but perhaps we can learn something from those who are disciplined enough to structure and take time for a lifestyle like this.   I am looking into some local veggie boxes from the vancity and valley gardens.

Grace!