Akemi and I were in Vancouver's Gastown area today and happened to come across a BBQ Festival featuring pit and grill offerings from about a dozen local eateries. Also coleslaw. And rain. Lots of rain...BTW - Vancouver does a TERRIBLE job of getting the word out about these types of events. I can only assume…
August 23, 2014: State dishes – Best and Worst!
Every state in the U.S. has an iconic dish to call its own. Georgia has its peach pie, Louisiana its gumbo, and Pennsylvania its scrapple. But not all plates are created equal. I imagine that some came late to the party and, after finding out that ribs and brisket were taken, just threw up their…
August 19, 2014: My Vegetarian Line-up!
Vegetarian Week was a resounding success - insofar as I went seven full days (plus one for good luck!) without eating either meat or seafood. And, surprisingly, it wasn't that hard. I didn't miss it my old eating habits nor was I tempted to fall off the wagon at any point. So, after a week+…
August 17, 2014: My Top 10 Most Disliked Fruit!
This list requires some explanation... #10. Candied Fruit Okay, not really a fruit per se, but I include it at number 10 to round out the list - and because my grandmother would always serve us these when we were kids and I always hated them. Tooth-achingly cloying with a weirdly textured "rind" possessed of…
August 10, 2014: Dumplings! Dumplings! And more Dumplings!
Guess what we had for lunch today? Why, yes! How'd you know? Today, Akemi and I headed down to Chinatown for Vancouver's Golden Dumpling Cook Off, featuring signature dumplings from a variety of local chefs, all in support of The Chinese Elders Community Kitchen. The purchase of a "golden dumpling passport" got you a dumpling…
August 3, 2014: Sunday – food with friends!
Today, Akemi and I checked out the Japanese-Canadian Powell Street Festival with our friends Nicole and Lan. The highlights (most of it food-related, natch)... The onstage entertainment. Guy mans the barbecued salmon grill. Akemi discovers how HOT the udon is. Nicole and Lan: Let the Eating Games Begin! The spam sushi - an Okinawan culinary…
July 2, 2014: Pizza Paaaaarty! Pizza Paaaaaarty!
Last night, we capped off our Canada Day festivities at one of Akemi's favorite pizza places in Vancouver...Chez Rob! The top-notch ingredients and genuine pizza oven yielded some superior pizzas. The ambiance was great as was the service. Terrific value too (considering all it cost me was the gas for the drive over)! I highly…
June 12, 2014: Bees and Burgers!
Last night, we got together with our foodie friends, Nicole and Lan, for an evening of Bees and Burgers. Campagnolo supplied the burgers while Nicole and Lan supplied the bees... Apparently, they picked them up in Portland (or had them shipped from Portland. I'm not sure how it works). They keep them in the above-pictured…
June 7, 2014: Food with friends!
Our old friend Gary, aka gforce, is in town for a few days, so we met up for some eats: Lunch at Nicli Antica (62 E Cordova St, Vancouver) for a parade of pizzas.... Then over to Cadeaux Bakery (172 Powell St, Vancouver) for a selection of sweets... And, finally, back to our place where…
May 31, 2014: Akemi packs it away! Ollie! Judd!
"I ate like a garbage box." - Akemi, the other day, after a particularly filling meal. She has a way with words, no? These are some of the inspired dishes she's been packing away... Last night, we elected to take a break from the kitchen and headed over to our favorite Japanese restaurant: Yuji's (2083…
May 27, 2014: The Weird Food Purchase of the Day = Kombucha!
May 26, 2014: The Weird Food Purchase of the Day = Nutritional Yeast!
May 14, 2014: Hockey, waiting, and alarmingly elaborate culinary creations!
Last night as the game headed into overtime... Me: "Who are you rooting for, the Chicago Blackhawks or the Minnesota Wild?" Akemi: "The Minestrone Wild." Alas, it was a sad night in Minestrone. The Wild ended up losing and were eliminated from playoff contention. Well, we're Vegas-bound for a few days. I was hoping to…
May 6, 2014: What’s cookin’?
Thanks to everyone who actually sat down and not only started May's book of the month club pick, but actually finished it. And an especially big thank you to those who took the time to offer their thoughts on The Rich and the Dead. I kid you not - your reviews were infinitely more entertaining…