A New Year’s Eve (or any) Party Worth Savouring

Ah, New Year’s Eve—a time to say goodbye to the old year and celebrate the possibilities of a fresh, sparkling new one. I refuse to believe that age has anything to do with my shifting impressions of this auspicious evening, but during the last few years I’ve felt that the charm of the New Year’s celebration has worn a little thin. No longer do I feel like tottering out in high heels and a skimpy dress into the freezing cold, wet, possibly snowy weather, to drink pricey not-so-tasty beverages, dance to run-of-the-mill music with people I hardly know, then fight hundreds of other tipsy (or drunk) revelers to snag that elusive taxi ride home. However, I’m not very happy with the alternative either – staying at home in my pajamas and falling asleep before the clock chimes midnight.

So I’ve been searching for an alternative way to ring in the New Year and after attending a catered birthday party last week I think I’ve found it. Picture this: sumptuous food you didn’t lift a finger to prepare, a selection of tasty wines and beverages, a group of friends you know you’re guaranteed to have fun with, your favourite music on the iPod and no need to leave your house. Sounds kind of nice, eh? Well it’s completely doable – just find a group of friends also tired of the ‘same old, same old’, and hire a catering company to prepare an unforgettable New Year’s feast. Before you dismiss the idea as too pricey, add up the cost of a traditional New Year’s night out – tickets, drinks, taxi rides to and fro and time wasted at an event you didn’t enjoy. The catering idea now sounds cheap and cheerful, especially when all those good friends will split the catering tab. There are a few important tips to remember though to make sure it runs smoothly:

1.     If your best gluten-intolerant, vegan friend has accepted the invite make sure there’s something on the menu she can eat.

2.     Pick a food theme – Mexican, west coast, Japanese, Italian – it makes it easier to choose dishes and decide what type of drinks guests should bring to accompany the meal.

3.     Decide if you want the caterers to drop and run or if you want them to stay and serve. That way if you’re doing the last-minute food prep you can make sure it really is last-minute, and doesn’t involve you slaving over dish preparation.

4.     Always round up guest numbers when ordering. Seems like this will only benefit the caterers, but not so. It’s much better to have a couple of day’s worth of professionally prepared leftovers than starving guests.

And finally choose tried and true caterers. A couple of my Vancouver Island favourites are Sharon and Chris Hooten of Woodfire Pizza & Grill (responsible for the delights in the above photos) and Ann Matthews from Occasions Occasions (250-390-2588); for those on the mainland Owen Lightly from Butter on the Endive comes highly recommended. Here’s to a truly unforgettable New Year’s Eve celebration.

Fun stuff to do during a Vancouver Island Christmas

Nothing beats an island Christmas, especially on Vancouver Island, when the sun is shining.

• Tromp through the ‘woods’ and get yourself a Christmas Tree at Gogo’s.
• Ride the Christmas Train at BC’s Forestry Discovery Centre in Duncan.
• Get wowed by the Christmas Lights at Milner Gardens and in Ladysmith town centre.
• Head to Frank Crane Arena for a Winter Wonderland Skate.
• Celebrate New Year’s with the family at the Nanaimo pool. 
• Go for a walk on the Harbourfront walkway or and warm yourself with something hot from Javawocky.
• Hike up Mount Benson (then stuff yourself silly at Smokin’ Georges BBQ – you’ll have earned it.) Or check out the plethora of other hiking opportunities in Nanaimo.
• Ski, snowboard, tube, snowshoe at Mount Washington and check out their Torchlight Parade and Fireworks on Boxing Day.
• Go surfing or storm watching on Long Beach, Tofino.
• Check out an old-fashioned Christmas at the Royal BC Museum in Victoria.
• Shiver your timbers in the Port Hardy Polar Bear Swim.

Unwrap a Christmas Movie or Two

Ah, the holiday movie – as much a part of the season as eggnog, mistletoe and family feuds. In fact, choosing a movie is one of the leading causes of family feuds during the holidays when situations such as Cousin Willy not understanding that Bad Santa is inappropriate viewing for an eight-year-old raise their ugly head. While there is no real solution to said situation, there are a plethora of holiday movie treats that are perfect for tuning-in to once the turkey-coma takes hold. After a very unscientific poll of colleagues, friends and family here are my top picks.

Something for everyone:
The Polar Express: It will make you believe all over again.
Elf: Adults may need a rum and eggnog or two to truly appreciate Will Ferrell’s elf character.
Miracle on 34th Street: The original is still the best (even the trailer is great). 

At your discretion
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation: ‘nuff said
Trading Places: A classic with a message and laughs that never get old

Definitely for the adults in the family
Love Actually: A chick flick movie even the guys can enjoy – hands down my top pick for the holidays.
Bad Santa: Make sure the kiddies are snug in their beds when you start this one.

One final option: Make a huge bowl of popcorn, stock up on easily accessible drinks and make sure the phone is either turned off or close to hand. Then start the movie series marathon. There are tons to choose from that suit every taste: Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Back to the Future, Alien, Friday the 13th, the Bourne Identity series, The Matrix, Pirates of the Caribbean – much like Santa’s, the list is endless.

What are your favs?

It's official - stop doing so much

Eddy Campbell, president of the University of New Brunswick, said something a few months back that was so profound, yet so simple, I wondered why no one had said it before: “Up until now, we’ve been trying to do more with less. I think we probably need to have some very serious conversations about doing less with less.”

I’ll leave the discussion about who originally introduced the idea that we should all ‘do more with less’ for another editorial. But, as I pondered Campbell’s words of wisdom, I remembered the words of poet Robert Browning (which have been adopted by everyone from authors to advertisers to new age philosophers): ‘Less IS more’. Suddenly, I realized I could prove without a doubt that Campbell’s theory is correct. So, here comes the math bit:

If it’s true, as Browning says, that ‘less’ = ‘more’, than the word ‘more’ in the phrase ‘do more with less’ should be replaced with the word ‘less’ so that it reads ‘do less with less’ – exactly what Campbell is suggesting. (Of course, you could also argue the opposite and have the phrase read 'do more with more' -- another perfectly valid and reasonable idea).

So, if you’re feeling overwhelmed by requests at work or at home to continue to do more with less – whether ‘less’ refers to less time, less money, less support – I suggest you show your employer this editorial and/or cut it out and stick it to your fridge as a reminder that we should all in fact be doing less with less.

Confused? Then the next time you see me let’s talk…because I really think I’ve figured it all out…more or less

Go Raw or Go Home

There’s a new restaurant in downtown Nanaimo and it's raw -- full of raw food that is. Adding fuel to the fire of a Nanaimo food trend (check out Rawmbas too), proprietor Toni Jeffires has created a gorgeous cafe, focused on the delights of raw food, the Power House Living Foods Co. This doesn't mean you'll be eating food only fit for rabbits. Far from it. You can try to-die for cheesecakes and other desserts and a plethora of delicious and healthy smoothies including the Euphoria, a moreish  mixture of  bananas, cacoa, maca, agave, mint and vanilla. There are also a variety of entrees including olive tapenade pizza, wraps and, my favourite, the Pad Thai Salad -- chock full of rice noodles, bell peppers, bean sprouts, carrots, almonds, and a delicious sauce.

A raw food version of Pad Thai.

So what is raw food and why bother? According to Raw Food Life a raw food diet consists of unprocessed vegan foods that have not been heated above 115 degrees Fahrenheit (46 degrees Celsius). The theory is that by only cooking foods at a low temperature you ensure none of the nutrients are destroyed. The jury is out on whether or not that’s actually true but what is true is the food at Toni's place is delicious. Best of all, if the raw food proponents are to be believed, even the cheesecakes can be enjoyed without a side of guilt.

One of the desserts -- a delicious lemon ball. 

Location
Price $3-$10

Eco-friendly Moderation

In the bewildering mix of eco-friendly, organic, sustainable living philosophies it’s sometimes hard to know how to act. Should we stop drinking coffee because it’s outside our 100-mile diet or drink more if it’s fair trade and supports third world farmers? And what about shopping at Wal-mart? Are they to be avoided because of their appalling employee practices or patronized because they’re one of the biggest purchasers of organic cotton?

Unfortunately, there’s no clear answer. Indeed, some of these contemporary living philosophies directly contradict one another. One camp says don’t eat meat, the other says eat-up as long as your meat is local, hormone-free and cooked as per the ‘slow food movement.’

So what’s a person to do? Firstly, do something. We all need to work toward a more earth-friendly future even if we just stop using our car so much or bring our own mug to our favourite coffee shop. Wise consumer choices also help -- Wal-mart wouldn’t stock organic cotton if we didn’t demand it.

But our attempt to live sustainably needs to be tempered with a dose of moderation. We could worry ourselves silly trying to live the most organic, eco-friendly life possible (in fact there is now an eating disorder for people who are obsessed with healthy eating) until it becomes such a strain we throw in the sustainable living towel and do nothing. 

So shop local if you can or bike to work one day a week. But have fun breaking the rules, too: I recommend a bottle of non-organic Australian wine and a cracker topped with creamy French brie and thin slices of prosciutto. Bon appetit!

The Most Depressing Day of the Year

When the delights of Christmas and New Year’s are, in this fast-paced world, distant memories, you've broken your New Year's resolutions, the bills are rollin' in and the realization dons on you that there are still at least two more months of grey, drippy, weather guess what? You're ready for what experts have deemed the most depressing day of the year -- the third Monday in January. 

Frankly, I don't feel like being depressed just two weeks into the New Year, so I'm trying to figure out how I can stay lighthearted and happy when this day rolls around.

Options I’ve come up with so far:

1.    Move and don’t leave a forwarding address so my credit card bills never reach me.

2.    Go on holiday somewhere hot so I actually don’t have to deal with the grey, drippy weather AND can also avoid the credit card bills.

3.    Buy one of those sun lamps and create a mini-beach in my living room.

4.    Form a support group made up of very generous wealthy people who can either a) pay my bills or b) fly me south for the rest of the winter or c) both.
5. OR just realize the depression is inevitable and live it up as much as I can over the holidays

I think I'm going to go with option five. 

A Day of Eunoia

Eunoia is an exceptional word -- weird but exceptional. Not only is it the shortest word in the English language to use all five vowels, it also has a sublime meaning – beautiful thinking. (And, it’s the title of a delightful little book that all lovers of language will enjoy. But, I digress). The reason I’m drawing it to your attention is because I’ve noticed recently that beautiful thoughts are not weighing very heavily on people’s minds at the moment. In fact, as the season of stress descends upon us, and the state of the world spirals further and further downhill (if the media is to be believed) I would argue eunoia is the furthest thing from people’s mind at this time. But, as you may have suspected, I’ve thought of an antidote to this problem. Why don’t we institute a National Day of Eunoia? It would be similar to those other ‘national’ days we have, such as National Doodle Day (March 2), or the International Talk Like a Pirate Day, but on the National Day of Eunoia everyone would focus on thinking beautiful thoughts. Those of us who were truly dedicated to celebrating this auspicious day could go one step further and maybe Facebook, Twitter or, I don’t know, actually speak to our friends and share with them our beautiful thoughts. Imagine the consequences! For at least one day of the year the world would be filled with shiny, happy people, pondering and sharing shiny, happy thoughts. It might not solve all the world’s problems, or even our own, but it just might make them a little easier to swallow.

Winter Libations

It’s cold, wet and the weather wizards are predicting a very white winter. How can you stave off what could be a serious case of the winter blues? Indulge in a little liquid holiday spirit.

My favourite is Irish Hot Chocolate which I first had the pleasure of tasting after an intense day of skiing in the crisp, cold air of Mount Washington, just north of Courtenay on Vancouver Island. It’s a simple, yet divine, concoction of Bailey’s and hot chocolate (whip cream optional). When I sipped it the first time, my heart sang, my toes tingled and my body felt like someone had wrapped it in a gentle bear hug.

Sweet drinks not your thing?  Then how ’bout a hearty stout, such as the Imperial Russian Stout, created by Nanaimo’s first micro-brewery the Longwood Brew Pub. It’s a perfectly balanced combination of roasted and black barley, with a hint of chocolate – lunch, dinner and dessert all in one. You can imbibe at the pub, but I prefer taking it home and curling up in front of the fire with a good book or a few friends and a board game.

Then there’s the experience of putting yourself in the centre of the coldest, wettest, stormiest weather right on the edge of the west coast in Tofino. Some love to literally soak it all in, surfing the huge waves or beach-combing through the roaring winds. My spot of choice is either in theGreat Room at the Long Beach Lodge Resort or at On the Rocks Lounge at the Wickaninnish Inn. Both were strategically built beachside and offer the perfect spot to watch the winter weather swirl by outside. The seasonal cocktails are mixed to warm cold finger and toes from the inside out. I love the Wick’s (as the locals call it) Apples & Orange, which features the mouthful-of-a-name liquor: Applewood Double Smoked Buffalo Trace Bourbon.

And of course, I mustn’t forget the Bengal Lounge – tucked into the Empress Hotel in Victoria. I love sinking into the comfy leather chairs, unwrapping all my winter woolens and ordering theOriginal Bengal Tiger – smoky dark rum, apricot brandy and a splash of pineapple juice to give you a hint of tropical warmth.

With a few winter warmers such as these, the season of cold, wet weather suddenly seems a lot more manageable, even something to look forward to. Bottom’s up everyone!

Making a 'Not-to-do' List

There’s a familiar holiday song that goes something like, “He’s making a list, checkin’ it twice…” etc. Well, first of all I’ve always thought the lyrics should be changed to reflect what really happens during the holiday season: “She’s making a list, checkin’ it thrice (then running ‘round like crazy and NO, it’s not so nice). And then I began to wonder if making a ‘to-do’ list is really the best way to deal with the stress of the holiday season (and life in general) – after all, a list is a tangible reminder that we have way too much to do and no time to do it.

Then last week I discovered there was a far less stressful way to approach things: Turn the concept of the list on its head and start making a ‘not-to-do’ list. How? Well, like me there’s probably stuff on your to-do list you actually don’t need to do, especially during the holiday season. For example, do you really need to head to the malls a gazillion times, fight through crowds of stressed out people, just to buy run-of-the-mill presents and made-in-China stocking stuffers? Or can you move ‘mall visits’ to your ‘not-to-do’ list, and shop at local stores, make your own gifts or, better yet, move all your 'purchase-presents tasks' to your not-to-do list and give a gift of time to your loved one. For example, you could have tea with you Great Aunt Mabel or take your Mom out for dinner or build a gingerbread house with your kids. It's such a wonderful concept, although you may get some resistance from your family, especially if it's your turn to cook the turkey dinner. But, if anyone complains I would just tell them you’ve just double-checked your ‘not-to-do’ list and if they want dessert they’ll have to bring it themselves. Already the weight of the season’s expectations is lifting from my shoulders. Now, I’m actually looking forward to the delights of the holiday season – both the nice and the little bit naughty. 

-- 

Coffee That's Top of the Crop

It’s used as an aphrodisiac, was once hailed by religious scholars for its ability to give them divine insight and today, millions of people around the world don’t feel quite human until they’ve had their first sip of morning java.

It’s quite an achievement for the small cherry-colored berry that was discovered 1,500 years ago in the mountains of Arabia. The story goes something like this: A young goatherd was watching his flock munching obsessively on trees bursting with red berries. He noticed that after their red-berry meal the goats were friskier than usual, so one day he decided to try a few of those berries himself and discovered what dedicated java-junkies around the world know – coffee is the elixir of life.

Since that initial discovery, coffee has established itself in almost every corner of the earth and is the world’s second most-traded commodity (the first being oil.) More recently, it’s started to get kudos from the medical world for its health benefits, with the latest missive declaring it might reduce the risk of skin cancer.

Of course, all coffee is not created equal and being a passionate connoisseur of the beverage, I’ve had my share of the good, the bad and the ugly. Because of that there are a few cafés that have won my undying loyalty as I know that every time I go I’ll be served a coffee that’s sublime (and Fair Trade, Direct Trade and/or organic, too). Here are a few of my favourites:

Mad Rona’s: I may live on Gabriola Island, but unfortunately the only time I get to indulge in Mad Rona’s coffee is on the weekend. When Chris and Lana opened for business they offered a different brand of coffee. In search of perfection, they soon switched things up and today brew Drumroaster Coffee roasted in Cobble Hill, Vancouver Island. Every weekend I bless them for making the switch when I head in for my shot-in-the-dark – a shot of espresso, with a perfect ‘crema’, poured into a dark roast coffee. Yep, my weekends are gooood (Bonus: Lana’s baked goods taste like your mom’s).

Café Artigiano: I first discovered this Italian café on Hornby Street in Vancouver. It was before Mad Rona’s had opened and frankly it had been a long time since I’d tasted a really good cup of coffee. I ordered a latte, cozied into the beautiful Italian décor and took a sip. Tears literally sprang to my eyes as the strong, bittersweet taste of good espresso, perfectly balanced with steamed milk, hit my tastebuds, delighting body, mind and spirit simultaneously. (Bonus: They have a number of different locations including one in Victoria.) 

Elysian Coffee: My first experience of drinking coffee here was after I did the Grouse Grind in the pouring rain, following an 80-year-old man, who sprinted up the trail, leaving me panting with embarrassment and exhaustion behind. I was cold, wet and humiliated when I arrived at Elysian, so I barely registered that the barista was brewing my coffee personally – grinding just the right amount of beans for my cup, carefully heating the water and then deftly combining the two. Too desperate to waste time with milk and sugar I took a sip and – epiphany – it was the first time I realized coffee could be divine just the way it is. (Bonus: Here, you can try rare and limited roasts of coffee)

And one on my “to do” list:

Freakin’ Coffee Shop: I have yet to taste the coffee here but a friend of mine swears it’s the best on Vancouver Island. And apparently the décor lives up to its name, too.

Foodies of all ages, rejoice

According to my husband, our ten year old son has been to more restaurants on Vancouver Island than the most dedicated food critic. While the word exaggeration comes to mind in response to this, it’s true our son has followed in my footsteps and become a dedicated foodie, or at least dedicated to eating the finest fries and most heavenly hamburgers. Fortunately for me, Vancouver Island has become a foodie paradise in the last decade or so and there are a plethora of restaurants up and down the island that cater to both his demands, and my more, um, refined palate.

Last time we were in Victoria we spent a memorable evening at Ferris’ Oyster Bar & Grill, where the specialty is BC oysters. They can be had fresh, barbecued or tucked into a variety of dishes including pasta (and yes, there is an oyster burger on the menu). My son’s favourite part was sitting at the bar (the only seats available) as waiters rushed around us and the personable bartender regaled us throughout dinner with (mostly) age-appropriate tales.

If we don’t make it as far south as Victoria then we head to Merridale Cidery in Cobble Hill. My son spends his time exploring the acres of apple trees, and, when he was a younger, looking for fairy homes (they really are there). I prefer sipping a selection of made-on-the-spot ciders and both of us enjoy indulging in a bistro lunch where even I don’t mind indulging in the burger – the house lamb and rosemary burger that is.

By far my son’s favourite restaurant on Vancouver Island is at the Chemainus Theatre. Yep, you read that right. The staff at this delightful theatre created the perfect day or evening out when they started a pre-show buffet. No need to worry about that glass of wine you just had and forget about watching the time — you’re already at the theatre so you aren’t going to be late. The plays are family-friendly and some of the best I’ve seen on the island, although my son still insists his favourite part of the day is eating the “hash-browny” fries in the restaurant.

If your child is not distracted by the gaggle of goats eating grass on the roof at what the locals refer to as Coombs Market in, well, Coombs, then he or she will get lost in the fantastic toy section inside. Adults can browse shelves that are stuffed with goods from all over the world and then indulge in some of the most delicious baked goods this side of the mainland. And yes, they also have hamburgers and fries.

Where they don’t have burgers and fries is at Hot Chocolates – a chocolate-lovers heavan in Courtenay. My son doesn’t seem to mind his favourite foods are not on menu here, as the hand-made artisan truffles and home-made gelato are enough to make him slow down long enough for me to sip one of their mochas and indulge in my own grown-up chocolate delight.

Shoes, Glorious Shoes

After reading that the US is “mulling” the idea of fencing the Canada-US borderto “help keep out terrorists and other criminals”, I thought, “Crikey, here’s a perfect editorial topic.” Then, I reconsidered. After all, why dwell on how badly Obama has let us down, when we could instead discuss something far more interesting and timely – shoes. Yes, shoes. They are a timely subject, for the seasons are a’ changing and when that happens, almost every woman in the northern hemisphere peers into her closet with one question in mind – how can I justify buying new shoes for the new season? I’ll admit many (though not all) men find the topic of shoes confusing, but there is a fundamental reason women everywhere love shoes: no matter what size or shape we are, all of us look fabulous in a great pair of shoes. Like a good friend, shoes support us, are there for life’s ups and downs, and help us celebrate every occasion. There’s the, “let’s party shoe”, the “I need to be comfortable shoe” and the “I’m a professional, take-me-seriously shoe”. There are even shoes for women who profess to not care about shoes (Birkenstocks anyone?). However, there is one problem with shoes I never thought I’d fall prey to – owning too many. Then a friend wanted to know how many pairs of shoes I had. I said no more than 10, and was quite shocked to discover the number was, ahem, slightly higher. As a result, I’m now on a shoe-buying moratorium, living vicariously through other people. Well, I was, until I looked at my favourite-shoe website, El Naturalista. And suddenly I’m thinking…one more pair can’t hurt, right? After all, I don’t yet own a “jumping across a completely unnecessary border-fence shoe”.

West Coast Summer Nostalgia

Looking at the long weekend weather from the vantage point of Friday morning, it looks like our worst-weather-on-the-west-coast summer might, finally, be shifting. I hope this proves to be true and you’re all reading this with a smile on your sun-kissed faces. If not then read on – this is your reminder of what our summers are usually like and why you don’t need to pack up and move to warmer climes. Because the reason we live where we do is there’s no better place on earth than the west coast during a proper summer. Where else can you…

…catch a Pacific salmon in the afternoon and barbecue it for dinner accompanied by locally brewed beer or a delightful BC vintage

…take a break from the summer heat wandering through rainforests

…buy, beg, borrow or steal a boat and cruise through sheltered waters accompanied by speckled seals, orcas, dolphins, eagles, cormorants etc

…sip a beverage of choice at an ocean side pub and watch the sunset over some of the most spectacular mountains in the world

…spend hours at the beach, discovering purple starfish, limpets, crabs, and tiny fish

…jump, dive, somersault off spectacular sandstone cliffs, or just go for a swim in ocean water warmed by sundrenched sand and rocks

…camp surrounded only by local wildlife

…spend lazy summer evenings at the beach with a picnic dinner.

I could go on but word count restricts me. But maybe, if the summer weather continues to fluctuate madly, we should start a Sounder column about our favourite west coast summer activities. At least that way we can remember why we actually live here…or is that just a painful reminder of what we’re missing out on?