Cloud 9 Closes: Time’s Up for Dining in the Sky

By |2018-01-21T15:05:00-08:00September 29th, 2017|Uncategorized, Dining|

Cloud 9 is (or was) the City of Vancouver’s loftiest restaurant. On September 30th it will close forever. And the giant turntable in the sky, which since 1973 has brought pleasure to so many, will stop revolving. We dropped by Cloud 9 the other night, to be whisked skyward for one last time. It was [...]

Malbec: King for a Day…and More

By |2024-03-05T10:17:44-08:00April 13th, 2016|Uncategorized, Wine|

Malbec World Day (April 17th.) is again fast approaching—yet one more reminder of the value to be found from the South American producer. While it’s true Argentina has built its reputation on Malbec, what might surprise you is that the grape’s popularity is relatively recent. In fact, we can probably, in part, thank Michel Rolland [...]

Judging by the Juice: 2014 Okanagan Preview

By |2018-01-21T15:05:15-08:00October 15th, 2014|Uncategorized|

Grapes being harvested in Oliver, BC. (courtesy BCWI) Fancy yourself a wine geek? How about this? This week I went to one of the more unusual tastings in which I've participated. The idea was to bring the excitement of the harvest right to Vancouver—for those of us city slickers who aren’t able to make [...]

Victoria’s Steamship Grill: a Tasty Nautical Nod

By |2018-01-21T15:05:18-08:00February 12th, 2014|Uncategorized, Dining|

I’m a bit of a history buff, especially where buildings, food and art intersect. That thought crossed my mind when I looked out of our window from Victoria’s Hotel Grand Pacific to see the stunningly refurbished and restored Steamship Terminal.  The majestic, Francis Rattenbury designed structure dates from 1924, when it was built to serve as [...]

10 Sure Bets: The 2014 Dine Out Vancouver Short List

By |2023-11-03T09:32:03-07:00January 8th, 2014|Belly's Best Bites, Belly's Budget Best, Hired Belly's Best Wines, Uncategorized|

Dine Out Vancouver: It's about food and wine UPDATED, Jan 16, 2014. The Trouble with Dine Out Lists... Is that you're guaranteed to miss not only a few worthy restos but likely many. So be it. However, here, in random order (i.e. as I think about them or hear about them from reliable sources), is [...]

Books to Cooks Redux: The Holiday Season Hot List

By |2018-01-21T15:05:20-08:00December 12th, 2013|Uncategorized|

Books to Cooks - Marmite and a whole lot more! Here I am again at Barbara-Jo's Books to Cooks. I can't help it. I'm a creature of habit. Besides, I can only take so much of the chain store crowds. And I'm not about to line Amazon's pockets so they can drop next year's [...]

Vancouver’s Loss is Saskatoon’s Gain: Dale MacKay Opens Ayden Kitchen & Bar

By |2019-02-12T16:05:59-08:00November 19th, 2013|Uncategorized|

Ayden Kitchen & Bar boasts a talented team led by Dale MacKay This hard-hitting, exposé of a blog is mainly about Vancouver and BC’s scene but occasionally addresses topics “beyond”—in this case Saskatoon. But there’s still a very definite Vancouver connection. One of Canada’s brightest culinary stars, Chef Dale MacKay officially pulled the [...]

In the Footsteps of Champagne Charlie: 20 Years On

By |2018-01-21T15:05:24-08:00September 1st, 2013|Uncategorized|

In the Footsteps ... the night before The Night They Invented Champagne! A slightly younger Tim & Heather toast the next 100 days on the roof of Hotel Vancouver - Jack Wong photo Hard to believe, but exactly 20 years ago today, on September 1, 1993, my wife, Heather, and I embarked on “In [...]

Go to Top