WEEKENDER | BC Distilled Festival x Croatian Cultural Centre

"[It] brings together our province's great community of distillers and spirit fans."

Kensington–Cedar Cottage—(April 9, 2022) Vancouver's seventh annual BC Distilled artisanal spirit tasting festival finally returned to the Croatian Cultural Centre last month after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic.

KAFFE | New in Town x Flourist Mill & Bakery x East Van

"This is not grocery store flour."

Kensington–Cedar Cottage—East Vancouver's new Flourist Mill & Bakery (formerly known as Grain) is the local brand's first proper brick-and-mortar shop and café from the well-known premium dry good purveyors.

FEAST | Rabbit Food x Đồ Chay Saigon Vegetarian x Kingsway

vegan bánh bột lọc (rice flour "glass" dumplings stuffed with mushrooms wrapped and steamed in a banana leaf)

Kingsway—(May 25, 2019) The brand new, plant-based Đồ Chay Saigon Vegetarian Restaurant opened recently in Kensington–Cedar Cottage. From the well-known Đỗ family—most notably behind House Special in Yaletown, among other local eateries they've opened (Green Lemongrass and Broken Rice) over the years—the restaurant debuted to high expectations for its anticipated vegan and vegetarian Vietnamese fare.

FEAST | King Crab x Western Lake Chinese x Victoria Drive

Kensington–Cedar Cottage—(April 24, 2019) To celebrate their recent win at the Chinese Restaurant Awards, the always reliable Western Lake Chinese Seafood Restaurant held a special king crab dinner for local media and guests at their Victoria Drive dining room in East Vancouver.

WEEKENDER | BC Distilled Festival x Croatian Cultural Centre

Kensington–Cedar Cottage—(April 14, 2018) Vancouver's fifth annual BC Distilled, Canada's premier artisanal spirits tasting festival, took place over the weekend in its second year at the Croatian Cultural Centre in an even bigger, more expanded state, showcasing forty local craft distilleries, including a dozen new ones.

FEAST | Mid-Autumn x King Crab x Western Lake Chinese

Kensington–Cedar Cottage—(September 25, 2017) 'Tis the season for Chinese seafood dining as East Vancouver staple Western Lake Chinese Seafood Restaurant showcased their signature king crab and duck meat dishes (enjoyed in multiple ways) from their fourteen-course Mid-Autumn Festival dinner for ten.

KAFFE | Coffee Break x Prado Cafe + Kitchen x Fraserhood

Fraserhood—The folks over at Prado Cafe have quickly opened up a third location in the Kensington–Cedar Cottage neighbourhood. From owner Sammy Piccolo, Prado is wasting no time in carving out their piece of Vancouver's crowded but ample coffee market.

From Malt to Mint x Earnest Ice Cream x Fraserhood

Dessert from Earnest Ice Cream's scoop shop on Fraser Street in East Vancouver on April 26, 2014.



As we inch ever closer to full-blown summer in the city, Earnest Ice Cream's relatively newish brick and mortar scoop is getting in full swing with line ups out the doors for cones and cups of their addictive artisanal ice cream.

From Whiskey to Hazelnut x Earnest Ice Cream x Fraserhood

Dessert from Earnest Ice Cream's scoop shop on Fraser Street in East Vancouver on September 5, 2013. Published in Vancouver Is Awesome.



To close out summer and welcome rainy season, I got around to stopping by Earnest's brand new ice cream parlour for a cone of the good stuff for myself. Owners and dessert aficionados Ben Earnst and Erica Bernardi have been (not so) quietly hawking their locally sourced artisan flavours (made with quality ingredients) at nearby markets and shops (like here) before opening their own scoop shop.

ChineseBites x Western Lake Chinese x Victoria Drive

ChineseBites signature dishes tour dinner #4 at Western Lake Chinese Seafood Restaurant on Victoria Drive on August 15, 2012.



This was easily the best of the traditional Chinese dinners so far. The portions were large and everything was prepared well with great presentation. (I have no idea about all the strawberries as garnishes.)

ChineseBites x Fatty Cow Seafood Hot Pot x Victoria Drive

ChineseBites signature dishes tour dinner #2 at Fatty Cow Seafood Hot Pot on Victoria Drive on July 19, 2012.



Our second ChineseBites outing was for some more spicy, seafood hot pot goodness.

ChineseBites x Golden Swan Restaurant x Victoria Drive

ChineseBites signature dishes tour dinner #1 at Golden Swan Restaurant on Victoria Drive on July 5, 2012.



I was invited to join a Chinese food dining group to better document and guide the differences in cuisine and dishes at restaurants across Vancouver. I was joined by Kevin, Sherman, Alvin, and Louisa.

Vaisakhi Day 2012 x Sikh Festival x Main Street x South Vancouver

2012 Vaisakhi Day and Sikh street festival on Main Street in South Vancouver on April 14, 2012.



Walking a closed off Main Street with thousands of Vancouver Sikhs, Indo-Canadians, along with Devon and her little dog Fraser too (below).

Dinner x Fatty Cow Seafood Hot Pot x Victoria Drive

YVR Soul Food Tweetup #4 at Fatty Cow Seafood Hot Pot on Victoria Drive on Octobober 14, 2010.



It was time for another YVR Soul Food Tweetup with Sheila and Kemp Edmonds, Colene, Nicolb, Vanessa Chu, Ryan Cleven, and Nick Routley. This time around we went for hot pot at Fatty Cow. It was very good.