Esoterica: ramblings, wanderings, photos & more

When the lens speaks louder

June 27, 2011

One of our few regrets, we never seem to have enough time to get the photograph we really want. Images are becoming even more crucial these days, especially in the more visually driven on-line world. We like this shot of winemakers Howard Soon and Stephanie Leinemann for any number of reasons, none the least of […]

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Time to Exorcise Excise: The Perils of Cross Border ‘Smuggling’ in Canada

May 13, 2011

Amazing how a guy driving through the Rockies with a couple of boxes of wine in his trunk can get people so stirred up: All power to Terry David Mulligan for single handedly bringing this issue to such prominence. If you’re not familiar with the topic, you can read up on it in this excellent Wine […]

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Hired Belly Newly Elevated to Sainthood. Well, almost!

April 9, 2011

My dear friend Elaine Savoie is a remarkable woman and very gifted artist (as well as a kick-ass organic gardener) who paints (among many things) wonderfully offbeat icons—ever so slight variations on the traditional Middle Ages style, inspired by her Catholic upbringing. Her work is extraordinarily detailed, vivid and full of life. … Just like […]

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Tales of the Cocktail Vancouver: Looking Forward to Next Year

March 21, 2011

We’ve been taking stock of last week’s cocktail infused days, sifting through images and notes from Tales of the Cocktail—the New Orleans success story brought to Vancouver by TOTC founder Ann Tuenneman. Kudos to the contingent of savvy folks behind the Canadian Professional Bartenders Association—such as Jay Jones—who brought to this event an energy that […]

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Why This Tulip Won’t Be Blooming in Our Gadget Garden Any Time Soon!

January 30, 2011

Maybe it’s not surprising. but the Hired Belly has a thing about corkscrews. Even though these days we likely encounter almost as many screw caps (or even the occasional Zork) as we do corks, the choice of weapon—the venerable ‘church key’ or whatever you may call it—is crucial when it comes to pulling the bark […]

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Barbara-jo’s Books to Cooks: A Favourite for Last Minute Gifts

December 18, 2010

Our column in Friday’s Vancouver Courier offers up some handy, bookish suggestions for fun stocking stuffers, as well as a few more serious offerings that explore the culture of culinary foraging, both here in the Pacific Northwest and elsewhere. One unexpected perk of research: seasonal treats that Vancouver’s Books to Cooks lays on for its […]

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Farewell, Sweet Abalone. Again.

December 11, 2010

Over the last few years, we’ve been moved by the compelling story of the gradual revival of West Coast Pinto Abalone, driven by the efforts of the Bamfield Community Huu ay aht Abalone Project. Funded in part by Environment Canada and Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre—this was an outreach pilot project aimed at reintroducing the Pinto […]

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First Tastes of Portugal: Fried Little Fish and Tentacles

November 10, 2010

Two hours after landing in Oporto, we’re hot on the trail of two essentials: sardines and octopus. Oh—and wine! Well, that’s not too hard to find around these parts. Nor are the first two. Down a narrow side street, not far from our hotel, in the centre of the old town, we discover capacious, two-tiered […]

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Excuse Us … But How Does Flatulence Figure Into Your Diet?

October 24, 2010

Even though Vancouver prides itself on being a forward thinking dining scene (and has no end of choice and variety to prove that point), introducing new tastes and ingredients can still be a challenge. Just ask Mark Hills. He’s the founder of Hills Foods, which has been single-handedly elevating The Game Game in Vancouver since […]

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