Akemi's birthday... Continuing our Stargate: Atlantis re-watch with...The Prodigal! Another Carl Binder-san spectacular. I loved this episode even more on repeat viewing. It's got action, humor, and high-stakes developments with all of our characters in play (even Zelenka, Lorne, and Amelia Banks). Fast-paced fun! And Akemi agreed. She laughed out loud a couple of times,…
April 10, 2014: The Chinese foodless Vancouver Chinatown Tour! Our Stargate: Altantis re-watch continues with…The Shrine!
Last night, I met up with my foodie friend - Nicole, Lan, and Missy - for a little culinary tour of Chinatown. Nicole, our guide on this trek, had us hopping from one place to the next, covering four different places in which we sampled about a dozen different dishes... We met at The Pie…
March 31, 2014: Sunday Food Truck Tour – Vancouver Style!
Yesterday, Akemi and I (and our lodger, Petunia) met up with fellow foodies Nicole, Missy, Lan, and Milla Jovovich (No, not THAT Milla Jovovich) for a Sunday food truck tour, Vancouver style! And by "Vancouver style!" I mean wet and miserable. But only the weather! The food was pretty darn good. Since we were food…
March 22, 2014: My Top 10 Pie Countdown!
#10 Apple pie a la mode #9 Pumpkin pie with whipped cream #8 Mississippi mud pie #7 Banana cream pie #6 Tourtiere #5 Sugar pie #4 Joe's Stone Crab key lime pie #3 Cherry pie a la mode #2 Pecan pie #1 Blueberry pie a la mode And one I'm looking forward to checking out:…
March 18, 2014: Casual dining, out and at home! Dogs snacking on phyllo crisps!
I checked the mailbox today where I discovered a note from Canada Post informing me that they tried to deliver a package yesterday morning but no one was home. If I wanted to pick up the parcel, I could do so at the nearby post office. "Package for me?"asked Akemi as I walked back into…
March 14, 2014: A Truly Offal dinner!
But I mean that in the most positive way possible. In fact, Campagnola Roma's recent Quinto Quarto: No Guts, No Glory dinner was perhaps the best offal dinner I've had. There were actually TWO offal dinners happening in Vancouver that night and, while I was greatly tempted by the 7:00 p.m. seating at the other…
March 2014: Eyes! Akemi flexes her culinary muscles! And a little more Book of the Month Club discussion!
This morning, on the drive back home from the farmers market, the conversation turned to eyes. According to Akemi, one of the instructors at her English language school: "Has eyes like Husky!". Clearly, them's some lovely eyes. But, apparently, they don't hold a candle to those of my writing partner. "Munyu Munyu's eyes [her nickname…
February 19, 2014: Eat your veggies! Another Akemi gem! The Stargate: Atlantis rewatch continues with…Before I Sleep!
I eat my vegetables. Honest, I do. The only problem is they're always the same half dozen prepared one of three different ways. I suspect I'd eat - and enjoy them - a hell of a lot more if I could add some new, and more importantly TASTY, recipes to my repertoire. Something like cheesy…
February 14, 2014: The Hot Chocolate Festival Top 5! Plus 1 for good luck! Our Stargate: Atlantis rewatch continues with…The Eye!
Alas, it was a herculean task and despite my best efforts, I came up short. In the end, I sampled only 47 of the some 60 varieties of hot chocolate offered for this year's Hot Chocolate Festival. Still, 47 hot chocolates in 24 days aint bad, especially considering I took those four days off to…
February 12, 2014: The final leg of the Hot Chocolate Festival! Rounds #16 – #20! Our Stargate: Atlantis rewatch continues with…Home!
We're in the stretch run of our Hot Chocolate marathon! Round #16... High Society: Earl Grey drinking chocolate. Served with East Van Roasters' signature gluten-free brownie and candied orange. Available at: East Van Roasters, 319 Carrall St, Vancouver, B.C. East Van Roasters A great cup of hot chocolate with a pronounced Earl Grey flavor, served with an equally…
January 31, 2014: Hot Chocolate Festival Rounds #10 and #11! The Proposition vs. Phaun’s Fancy vs. Passionista! The Brunette Bangle vs. The Intimate Act vs. The Campfire! Kicking off the Stargate: Atlantis Rewatch!
Catching up on our tour of the ongoing Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival. Today, a couple of three-way throwdowns and a few surprises. Round #10... The Proposition: Eggnog and Rum Hot Chocolate with Cinnamon. Served with your choice of cookie. Available at: Koko Monk, 1849 West 1st Avenue, Vancouver LevniKokoMonk Ah, one sip and I was instantly transported.…
January 27, 2014: The Hot Chocolate Festival Tour Continues with Rounds #8 and #9!
Our tour of the ongoing Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival continues with not one, not two, not three, not four, but FIVE new concoctions! The festivities continue through to February 14th, so plenty of time to check out the delectable offerings: January 04, 2014The Hot Chocolate is Here! Round #8... Evita: gBAR flavoured with salted caramel - Argentina…
January 20, 2014: Hot Chocolate Festival Rounds #2 and #3! Aloha Sweetie vs. Put De Lime in De Coconut vs. Monkey’s Uncle! Call Me A Cab vs. A Snowball’s Chance In Hell vs. London Foggy!
I was busy with Football Sunday festivities yesterday and, as result, missed a day in my ongoing quest to sample every hot chocolate being offered at this year's Hot Chocolate Festival. To make up for lost time, we actually tripled our output today, sampling six different flavors. I know, I know. This is a marathon,…
January 16, 2014: An All Food Post!
They just don't make 'em like they used to. Pictured above, Frosted Ribbon Loaf - layers of ham and egg nestled under a cream cheese frosting. Yum! I'm thinking of making it for this weekend's football Sunday festivities. I was inspired, not solely by the horrific picture, or the prospect of a ham and…
January 10, 2014: Truffles! Dogs! Books!
Today, Akemi combined my love of booze, chocolates, and not actually doing anything to come up with the above-pictured bourbon truffles. And then, as if that wasn't enough (and it really wasn't), she came up with these: Yep. For those who prefer the lighter touch, check out these Tennessee Honey Whisky truffles. Well, check out…