Please don’t tell my mom about today’s two posts, she’ll kill me. This morning we talked about the 2nd Annual Baconfest over the weekend, and we mentioned that Nathan Sears from Vie in Western Springs took home the “Golden Rasher” for the best bacon dish. Well yesterday, as Sears was basking in the glory of his … Continued
IXTAPA-ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO – In what is quickly becoming a monthly occurrence, there was another food and wine festival this past weekend. But unlike events in Aspen, Pebble Beach and Las Vegas – which draw top-tier culinary talent and more winemakers than you could possibly sample in 48 hours – this one was held in Mexico, … Continued
I was walking along the Embarcadero in San Francisco earlier this week, and spotted a familiar sign on the side of one of the enormous piers that juts into the harbor. It said simply “New American Chocolate” and next to it, “TCHO.” Then I realized I had just read a huge profile about the company in last week’s Dining … Continued
As much as I like hanging out with the Blackhawks’ Niklas Hjalmarsson at Tre Kronor, I’ve always been curious about the Swedish food scene – beyond the cafe at IKEA. ‚ Last week, I attended a brief Swedish gastronomy tour for food journalists, sponsored by the Swedish government. ‚ Not everything was stellar (some of it was … Continued
It’s bad enough Chicago doesn’t have a yearround market, at least like they do in Philadelphia, New York, Boston and Toronto. But when I saw the bustling Public Market on Granville Island, in an old fishing supply warehouse in the heart of Vancouver, I realized – yet again – that Chicago is light years away from … Continued
Even though I’ve been talking a lot about the food up here this week, it’s the wines that really grabbed my attention after a week of dining. At nearly every restaurant or upscale bar we walked into, a list bulging with BC pride – most of it from the Okanagan Valley – dominated the varietals we saw … Continued
I’ve fished in lakes throughout Minnesota – even went up to Lake-of-the-Woods once on the Canadian border – in search of walleye pike and Northerns. But fishing off the coast of Vancouver, it’s all about the sockeye salmon. Fortunately for me, the local fishery is in the midst of a four-year cycle, and last … Continued
There are some North American cities where a visit to Chinatown is a must: San Francisco, New York (actually prefer Flushing to Manhattan’s) and of course, Chicago. But when in Vancouver, a visit to Chinatown is a must. The Chinese population in the city is about 600,000 (125,000 of which are Canadian born). One … Continued
Chicago restaurateurs have been trying – in vain – to jump-start the izakaya trend here, but it hasn’t worked, at least not yet. These Japanese pubs are more lively than the typical sushi joint, with boisterous crowds, excellent sake and beer lists, and food options that go far beyond spicy tuna rolls. Masu Izakaya … Continued
Its been six months since Vancouver hosted the Winter Olympics, and while the rest of the world may have turned its attention elsewhere, there is still plenty to be excited about in Canada’s jewel on the West Coast. The signs of post-traumatic tourist disorder are everywhere: you can snag an official Olympic hat, shirt or … Continued
I’m not what you’d call an adventure-seeker. I haven’t sky-dived, and I don’t plan on doing a bungee jump anytime soon, but I would jump at the chance to get on zipline again, after my experience with Adrena Line Ziplines near the town of Sooke, about 45 min. from Victoria. You’re outfitted with a helmet … Continued